Must say I disagree on the Scotland penalty question. It was six of one in my opinion. The Scottish player had hold of the Hungarian man's shirt at exactly the same moment as he was 'tripped'. I don't think the ref would have changed his mind even if he did look at it again. But I don't share this apparent glee at Scotland going out of the competition. They are a small Nation (by population) who dare to dream of a bit of tournament glory. What harm would have been done by them getting a round of 16 game? Credit to their fans, who have done themselves proud. Imagine what would (and might still) happen if England lose on Tuesday evening? There will be drunken hooligan trouble. Tough luck Scotland, I hope you have better fortune qualifying for the next tournament.
Let’s not forget that the Sweaties gloried in Maradona’s Hand of God goal, and wore Argie replica shirts for year after. The referee who turned down the Scot’s penalty claim last night was …an Argie
How miserable Steve Clarke can moan about injustice is laughable. One shot at goal before injury time , and 70 mins before the first Scottish corner. The Sweaties parked the bus, and it ran them over. Last night’s game reinforced the case for the next Euros to go back to a maximum of 12 elite countries in the finals. Far too many minnows & no hopers this time around, the games are not enjoyable to watch.,
Trouble is, the European Championship Finals isn't about football anymore. It's about making this That's why we'll be having 48 teams at the World Cup Finals soon That's around a quarter of all the Countries in the World that play football. And why we'll be having a World Club Cup Final tournament soon - that no fans want. And why Arse Wenger wants the World Cup Finals held every two years. Naked greed. Top level footballers earn massive wages, but they are being exploited and burnt out. It's being said now that England players are too tired to play properly. And in a few weeks they'll be back at their Clubs, going on pointless pre-season tours to Arabia or the USA or the Far East without a chance to rest. Making ever more money is killing football.
My final thoughts on Scotland … They have been panned by their own media this morning , in three of their six halves of football at the Euros, they had zero shots at goal . Their xg was 0.00 on three halves. The Scots love a whinge, and David “I am a lifelong Socialist” Moyes must have been taking the p1ss with his excuses ? Scotland is a small country that has cold weather for 9 months of the year the Government hasn’t invested enough in indoor sports facilities in Scotland (they have had devolved socialist Governments in Scotland for the last 26 years, with devolved sport’s budgets …) It was pointed out that Denmark has a population and a climate similar to Scotland, and that the Dane’s are comprehensively out performing them.
SCotland didn't deserve to go through, neither did Hungary. Both teams parked the bus. Until the last 15 minutes both teams were scared of their own shadow. Same as the last Euros- one decent performance for a draw against a good team, two passive performances. Steve Clarke has done well overall, but has to bear some responsibility for the negative mentality.
The bottom line is that Scotland don’t have the players. The Premiership in Scotland is a joke. With only two teams capable of winning it. I remember in the past they produced such players as Jim Baxter, Denis Law, Pat Crerand, Souness, Kenny Dalglish etc. I don’t know the reason why they don’t produce that calibre of player anymore.
It is funny the level of moral outrage over the "Hand of God" goal. but great celebration when Paul Scholes did exactly the same thing shortly afterwards to open the scoring in a vital qualifying match, with a diving "header" against Poland. When Scholes repeated his feat for ManU he was rightly booked and the goal disallowed. Could I suggest a certain level of hypocrisy?
Sounds like Wallygate is bringing in a holding midfielder to replace Alexander Arnold tomorrow . He never learns. Cautious Colin.,
Why do we need a second holding midfielder? I would go 4-4-2 Pickford Walker, Stones, Guehi, Shaw if fit Foden or Saka, Bellingham, Rice, Gordon Kane, Watkins That line up would have more pace in it. Rice will sit and Bellingham push forward.
Proves my point that the English have cancelled it but still get tetchy about Maradona's goal. @hypocrisy
Because it wasn’t a major issue , whereas dirty Maradona’s self confessed cheating in a WC Quarter Final was world wide news. The truth is that the English don’t like the Scots in sport, and it’s reciprocated. There is nothing wrong with that. I love seeing the Scot’s do badly. Andy Murray is a text book example of this.
It’s what football fans do though. If it is against us it is diabolical, if it is for us it is just one of those things.
Even when we had the players we never turned up when it mattered, even when we've had a favourable draw. Not for 50 years anyway.
Andy Murray is a terrible example to take. He's very popular both sides of the Tweed. In fact any solo sportsman is a bad example. In team games it's true though.
