Right, I must've been living in a cave for God knows how long (I only really pay attention to The Saints these days), but can someone please explain how Georgia are through if they finished third in the group? Wasn't it always the top two from each group before... I really hope it was otherwise this is very embarrassing
What **** team is on the other side of the draw? They will probably make it through knocking out everyone with worldy performances and play England in the final and revert to being **** again
4 from 6 of the best 3rd place teams go through. It's basically harder to go out than to go through. Scotland: Hold my beer.
There are 6 groups of 4, and you’re right, the top two from each group still go throgh to the last 16. But that is only 12 teams, so the best four 3rd placed teams also go through. So we have had all 24 teams playing 3 games, just to eliminate 8 of them.
Ive been critical of Southgate recently, but how you can argue he isn't our 2nd best manager ever is absurd. He achieved our joint 2nd best world cup and best ever euros. People always criticise and say the world cup semi was because of our easy draws... in italia 90 our route to the semi was just as easy! Both games we scraped through in extra time against crap belgian side and cameroon. Yet everyone remembers that as an incredible achievement.
And in Euro 96 there wasn't even a 2nd round. It went straight from the Group Stage to the Quarter Finals.
Exactly. People look back through rose tinted glasses yet view the current squad with a magnifying glass, looking for flaws where they dont exist. Southgate did what great club managers failed to do; he united players from rival clubs and got them playing as a team. Ultimately I think he lacks the tactical nuance to take us to the next step but that doesnt diminish his achievements.
Different times though. Our squad compared with other leading nations was probably weaker back then. Now we have one of the best squads whilst other nations are considerably weaker. (Although I agree Southgate has done a great job overall when you look at things objectively. Just not this tournament so far)
I was just a nipper during Italia '90, so maybe older folk will correct me if I'm wrong, but we had an incredible squad in that tournament. The likes of Gazza, Waddle, Robson, Lineker, Des Walker, Pearce, Barnes, Platt.
it was a Māori fella from nu ziland apparently who taught them about their own history and why it actually matters.
The bit I watched before turning over to the Georgia game, which was great, De Brunei looked ok, that’s it though Have any of the ‘big’ teams games been any good? I’ve not seen any
Probably true, but we’ve been so boring so far in this tournament (with so much attacking talent) No one runs with the ball before the subs come on
