Scotland were good. England were bad. It still ended up a 50/50 game. The press are acting like Scotland dominated the game and had the best chances. I disagree with that. The Stones and Mount chances first half were the best chances in the game. I'm not even sure that a draw was good enough for Scotland. Croatia also need to win to qualify and they too have superior players to Scotland. They won't be as kind as England were last night.
I wasn't just talking about last night's game though. It's the same every time England don't win. Credit is never given to the opposition. England have been poor for years. I know it doesn't help having an incompetent in charge, but if the players were as good as people seem to think they are they'd at least put some effort in and raise their game in spite of whatever tactical bollocks they've been given. The evidence on recent form alone would suggest there are many better teams in Europe than England. I'm just amazed everyone is surprised when England turn in a poor performance. It happens all the time so maybe that's as good as it will ever get.
Someone mentioned on Facebook that our top teams rely too much on foreign talent so I had a quick look at the lineups for the Champions League final (obviously contested by the two best teams in Europe). Southgate has 7 players available to him who were in the starting 22 that day, it shows just how much he is lacking as a coach
The problem Essex is the arrogance, especially from the press and supporters. This is something that has been around since time began and gets ramped up even more when a big tournament is on. The crap spouted by Mark Wright on Sky was embarrassing. England will still get into the last 16, Scotland won't and then it's a knock out, so even though England weren't up for the challenge against Scotland, they could still on the day get further in the competition.
Agreed Shaks, so arrogant, but nothing to justify that arrogance. At least if the top teams like France, Germany, Italy etc display a certain arrogance it's based on the fact they've actually won things.
A lot of I can only think of one man would would be willing to get rough and ready with the crazy skirt wearing, cave man temperament, Nicola Sturgeon lovin jocks!
I agree but… If Bielsa was in charge and had the talent pool to choose from that Southgate does we’d have beaten Scotland with ease. The players available to Southgate is like top of the premier league compared to bottom of the Championship. Now and again you’d get a fluke result but it would have been just that. Yesterday was no fluke as the England team was unbalanced and nobody seemed to know what their role was. Scotland played as good as they can do, each player played to the max of their ability. The England players were not even at 75% of their ability and it’s the fault of Southgate Look at Che Adams, he’s played for England u20s then the Scots found out he has a Scottish grandmother so he is eligible for them, that’s how desperate Scotland are for players. He scores 9 goals for Southampton last season and 4 the season before, he was far more a threat than Kane yet Bamford with 17 goals wasn’t picked. Adams was a player Bielsa wanted, he saw something in him that would benefit a team effort. Coaches like Bielsa pick players to compliment each other, they all have a role. Southgate picks 11 big names and throws them together and hopes it works. Maguire and Henderson, what was the point in picking them, coming back from injury and unfit. You can’t give them game time for the last 30 minutes of a match as our style of play is so negative and they’re not game changers.
Listen Ristac, us Irish really over used the Granny rule, so I can't really have a go at the Scots, but even yourselves have pinched two of our former youth players Rice and Grealish (granted they are England born). Although even Paul McGrath and David O'Leary were actually born in England.
So roderneee jocky stewart well know scotland supporter is in fact English and a traitor. He was born in London and gets a lot of stick from scots for being a wannabe jock.
Southgate got it so horribly wrong. When you want to break down a team, who is determined to defend you have to spread the ball wide to create space. England's game was incredibly narrow and without the creative influence of Grealish, it turned into a game of ping pong. It's the game that we needed overlapping wing backs working with the wingers to get continual balls into the box
A pedestrian approach killed it, not even basic triangles being played. Every time England regained possession the Scots had already made it back in to their defensive shape.
You want quiet, let's discuss how both the paddy teams have played. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Couldn't believe VAR didn't give that penalty and why the total silence about it across the media? Draw was a fair reflection of the game but you'd think Scotland were incredible by the reaction.
Ooops sorry, just seen the Dublin games have been given to England and Russia, due to the Irish having no interest in football this summer.