I also thought the Germans were poor and were totally lacking in ideas in possession. Take nothing away from the England performance. A well deserved win with some great performances from Pickford, Maguire, Phillips and Sterling.
I wasn't comparing Germany to their great teams previously. I still think they were decent at times though and could well have won it if they'd had someone who could finish. It's a myth that Southgate sends us out with two holding midfield players and it's not accurate to call 3-4-3 playing "seven defenders". It's well documented in interviews with Southgate that he instructs Phillips to play ahead of Rice. Rice sits in front of the back four, but Phillips does much of his work much further forward. Yesterday he was ahead of Trippier and Saka on numerous occasions. Out of possession he will inevitably be alongside Rice etc at times, but in possession he's encouraged further forward. This nearly backfired yesterday as Rice was horribly exposed in the middle at times, with only the two of them in midfield. This is why I don't like 3-4-3. Wing backs are not defenders. They're wide players with both attacking and defensive duties. The Germany wing backs play more like wingers. I agree that I look at the technical side of the game and enjoy doing so. I acknowledge that not everyone does and get bored if we're not attacking all the time. Out of interest, what side would you have picked yesterday and what side would you pick for Saturday? I think we'll revert to 4-3-3, which will allow for an extra creative player like Grealish or Mount. I'd quite like to see Foden start too, on the right. You?
It seems to be a uniquely English phenomenon that some so called supporters can whine and complain about the national team and the coach, when they've got into the quarter finals of the Euros without losing a game or conceding a goal. No other Nation on earth would do it. Bizarre.
Every game at this level is becoming more tricky to manage. International teams when condensed down to a starting 11 have real quality within them, playing at top European clubs. When you expand the 11 to a squad of 23 or 26 then the gap in quality becomes a little more apparant. This is Englands biggest asset in my opinion. Southgate has managed the games well. I disagree with Col above (i know he wont mind that) but we did start with 7 defensive minded players outfield. Thats Phillips role week in week out at Leeds. Southgate has pushed him further on and full credit for him doing so, hes been one of, if not our best player. Its his awareness at times that enabled Shaw and even Walker from a CB position, to move forward. These tactics worked a treat and Southgates first concern when selecting his team was obviously not to lose. Thats not a bad thing in my book and 0 goals conceded is some achievement. I wouldnt expect him to use this same set up against the Ukraine but can understand in not changing a winning performance.
Just to add, the fitness levels at Leeds are something else and Southgate has obviously seen this in Phillips. At one point he was covering Walker at CB, a minute later hes our furthest player forward pressing their keeper. He can play further forward, as he is for England and still do the majority of his usual load. Rice was lucky to have him by his side yesterday.
Supercilious, moi? Wanting to watch an exciting game does not signify a lack of technical understanding. Some supporters want to see their team play to its best attacking ability, not just set up to cancel out the opposition and leave its creative players on the bench. As I've said, Southgate's initial negativity was vindicated in the end by the resut, but the first 70 minutes was deadly dull in my opinion. Everyone is pleased with the result, some would like to be entertained at the same time. It's not a crime.
Did i ever mention that i plastered Southgates house? Never actually met him but his wife is a lovely woman. Good payers aswell!!! One of my brothers cleans his windows and says hes a top bloke.
First of all I didn't refer to you as a twat, I referred to you as a patronising twat as that is how you come across in the way you post. You need to be a bit more neutral in your tone of posts if you want others to engage and interact with you, other posters don't want to be lectured to by a poster who in his own mind always right and everyone else is wrong. Lets face it you were the one who said not long ago "And this post perfectly sums up why I'm not bothering with this place during this tournament" in response to a post after the Croatia game...... yet here you are!!!!!!! I get that you like the technical side of things, but then you need to accept that others aren't that bothered about the technicalities, they just want to enjoy the game and make observations on here as it makes up for the fact that us in this little community live all over the globe and this feels like we at the game with mates where we can make comments without them being picked over too forensically........ You are not the only one who's delighted that England have progressed and look a decent side, I think it's safe to say that all on here are delighted and that we'll continue to support them and want them to win the whole thing, that doesn't mean that we can't be critical of how things unfold, that's part and parcel of following the game and there have been times when you've been critical of the R's "we really are ****e" ring any bells? To be honest 3 more 1-0 wins would be great as it would mean that we've won the title and that is after all the whole reason for watching the tournament........ Lets leave it at that....... C'mon England........
I was tipping him for England 18 months ago. He's some player. Our wing backs were pushed quite high Bob, or at least the intention was to do that. I disagree it was totally defensive, but hey, we won mate. On to Saturday where I reckon we'll probably revert to 4-3-3.
You're usual one eyed take on things. Bravo! Couldn't care less what some on here think about my comments. Some of the rubbish spouted on here about England has been laughable. Sterling being compared to SWP a particular stand out. You give me a long, school teacher type lecture, but your pal Stroller doesn't get anything similar for his abuse. Don't lecture me. Oh, and the comparison with my comments on rangers is ridiculous. I wouldn't call us ****e if we were unbeaten and not conceding goals. We were ****e when we looked like we were heading for relegation and losing every week.
I don't actually know Stroller, never meet him........ He was told to cut out the personal abuse, seems to have done that...... I'm not in the slightest bit bothered what you think, but Beth, 999's and I do try to deal with things in an even handed way......... You obviously don't think so but hey life goes on........
One day with no games in the Euros and its back to arguing and disagreements on here...we clearly need the footie to keep our praise/criticism focused on the pitch and not on each other. So, can I just ask...has anyone else been walking around today and occasionally grinning to yourself whilst thinking, 'we actually did it, we beat Germany.' Just brilliant.
I was still smiling when I woke up this morning. Far too happy for any online arguments. I trust Southgate fully now. I'd love to hear why he's not played Sancho more personally, but I do feel he's earned a huge amount of trust. Can't wait for Ukraine game now.
