Yes I too think we have a decent pool of players available to England. A manager with a clear plan or alternatively a man like Redknapp with an insight as to how a team works and what players it needs should be able to at least have got us to the semi-finals. On the other hand is it a level playing field as regards player tiredness? Is it the intensity of the PL that produces knackered players in time for the major international tournaments? Belguim, with a large number of their players in the PL were below par too. The Germans always seem to be fresh, is this a big factor?
Redknapp will never get the job. The FA don't want a manager who can win us trophies, it wants a manager whose face fits. If the face fits, all that the FA then ask is that their man doesn't **** up too disastrously over the span of 1 World Cup and 1 European Cup.
Bit of a non-sequitur HIAG - Harry has won exactly the same number of major trophies as a manager as England have - one!
Oddly France have to play the Europa-League-like Sunday-Thursday-Sunday in the last week which means both their opponents get an extra day......
Well that was a pretty crap first half. Don't fancy Wales to beat Portugal on pens so hopefully they can get a goal before then. Anyone know why both Wales and Portugal are playing in green away kits btw?
Wales marginally edged that half, for me. Not great, but had glimpses and didn't allow any for Portugal. Both sides weren't up to much, though. Lots of players on show that have spent time in the Premier League.
Shame Wales couldn't come up with something a bit more in the end. They missed Ramsey out there once they conceded. Bale was often acting as playmaker when really you have to be putting your best attacking player in attack when you're chasing the game. Hope Coleman stays on, he just needs to work out what to do against sides that sit back. Northern Ireland and Portugal both nullified their attack too easily by not commiting many players forwards, which is what Wales like to do. Great tournament for Wales though, they've done themselves proud.
Trying to think which was the most odious thing: the greasy rat's smug goal celebration, the greasy rat's even more smug full time celebration, seeing Pepe sat in the stands grinning from ear to ear when they went 2-0 up, the Portuguese fans singing for the first time in the whole tournament when they were 2-0 up with ten minutes to go, or Portugal playing Moronhoball and once again fluking their way through. :::EDIT::: ...or the England-supporting saddos that are currently gloating about Wales losing.
Free kicks in international tournaments: Cristiano Ronaldo: 42 attempts, 0 goals. Erik Lamela: 1 attempt, 1 goal. Eric Dier: 1 attempt, 1 goal.
Whilst I don’t think I am gloating about Wales losing, I do think that as is usual in the UK media a bit of perspective is probably required. Yes Wales have exceeded all expectations in reaching the last 4 and of course they deserve some credit for this. But out of the 6 matches they played they were excellent once, (Russia), good twice but with some good fortune (Belgium & Slovakia), and distinctly average 3 Times, and of course they lost to an England team that we are now led to believe by the media is the worst England team in living memory. One Englishman who will be happy is Mark Clattenburg who is now expected to referee the final!
This should inspire France or Germany to do what needs to be done... please log in to view this image
