Germany were the better side, but it was good to see England fight back. They were looking like scoring leading up to the penalty and finished the stronger side. Grealish made a huge difference.
Southgate is a tit, Grealish is obviously the main creative force along with Foden, but of course Mount is his favourite and can't be left out. Saka was abysmal tonight and Sterling not much better. The biggest hurdle to us winning a major tournament is Southgate's selections and his inability to make game changing substitutions before its too late. You'd have thought he would've learned after the Croatia and Italy games but he still doesn't realise when things need to be changed immediately.
Hi Hammersmith. It's still too soon to talk about the Italy game. Please don't mention it for at least another three years.
Except, Grealish often isn't great when he starts. I agree that Southgate must free up all the talent at his disposal. I'd find a way to get Foden and Grealish in as starters. Probably a front three of Grealish, Kane and Foden would be the most attacking.
I'd be more attacking and play Grealish on the left, Kane in the middle and Saka on the right. I'd play Foden in a floating role behind them ! I'd obviously have to put a decent centre half or 2 in that line up though so Maguire wouldn't be starting !
View from a ‘Welsh’ bystander - Southgate’s innate conservatism is holding England back. You snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Italy - if you’d gone for the jugular after taking the lead against Italy, you’d have won by 2 or 3 in my view. Tonight, when you had to chase the game, you looked so much better. For the record, if you aren’t playing Wales, I want you to win, just as I did 56 years ago
Yes I'd like Foden there too. As you say, that's even more attacking. Our entire back four were all over the place last night and Maguire looks to have huge confidence issues. Not sure there's anyone to replace him though.
The problem with the Center Backs is that if you go through all the Premier League sides there's probably only a handful of English players playing in those positions and those that are a re playing for sides that are invariably relegated or struggling around the drop zone....... we just don't have any real quality which probably explains why Maguire retains his place........
I know I’m biased because he had a couple of seasons with the Swans on loan, but Guehi has the potential to make one of the places his own
Woah there. You can't leave us there. Do tell more. How did you get those tickets? What was it like? What are your memories of the day?
My father played for the Swans Reserves whilst still in Neath Grammar - he was 16. At around the same time, Liverpool asked him to go for a trial, but my grandfather talked him out of a football career as “there was no money in it….” Famous last words! He was involved in football all his life - playing, Secretary of a Welsh League team, and finally Chair of the West Wales FA. Yet, unbelievably, it was my late mother who got the tickets - she had no interest in football at all. In fact, there were times when I think she hated it! Anyway, she decided to write to the Secretary of the (English) FA and request 2 tickets for the Final. She wrote that her husband had been involved in football all his life (he was 34 then) and that I was football mad and that the date of the Final was the date of my 8th birthday. She sent a cheque for £2 10 shillings. The above letter arrived, and the following day 2 tickets came in the post, with this receipt: Still have the (tournament) programme and various pieces of memorabilia, including: We drove up the day before, stayed in Sussex Gardens, went by tube to Wembley and I can remember waiting outside for the gates to open. We were next to the Players’ Tunnel. A fantastic day - I can remember much of it!
Nice one Taff. I seem to remember you shooting down my claim to have been the only person other than the Queen to have been at both the 1966 final and the 1991 rugby final at Twickenham!
Yes - I was at Twickenham that day, and I still believe that if England had stuck to the style of rugby that they played in reaching the final, they’d have beaten the Aussies. I drove up with my (late) brother in law with me and parked in the Harlequins car park - £15. We were the 4th car in there, so parked in the front row. 2 cars away was Ray Gravelle, fast asleep, God knows what time he’d left Llanelli. Left as soon as the final whistle blew, were the first out of the car park and straight back. Parked outside my in laws’ house, and straight down the pub for my first pint of the day
