I sort of can explain why I as a Norteamericano root for England in football. I have a thing for likable losers that play in white with blue trim, dating from my early experiences rooting for the Chicago Cubs. I'm concerned that Shaw or Trippier will get fricasseed on the left. I would have picked Walker Stones Guehi Trippier Mainoo Rice Saka Bellingham Kane Toney on the theory Spain won't want to see two big strikers,and Bellingham will have lots of space. with the idea of switching into a 4-3-3 either around half time or when Spain has used up most of its subs. I figure by that point, Yamal may have slowed down a bit. (Al McGuire on player recruitment. "There are two kinds of guys: big guys and fast guys. I preferred big guys, because as the game goes on, the fast guys get tired and slow down, but the big guys don't shrink.") Walker Stones Guehi Shaw Mainoo RIce Palmer Foden Eze Watkins
Minutes away from kick off. Been a long long time since I was this nervous for a game of football that didn’t involve Spurs. It just feels different to the 2021 final. COME ON ENGLAND
Tch, Wills took the boring son with him to the final Prince Louis would've been much better for the photos
Kane’s been a passenger again. I’ve been very vocal in support of him all tournament but he doesn’t look right again tonight.
Kane's never looked good in Portuball systems We've got, like, five years of passmaps (and some particularly dreary 'Nam flashbacks) as evidence of this
Spain have set the correct shape to deal with England. They know the back four + MF are not technically competent enough to bring the ball out/thru under pressure. So as with Spurs, the play spirals into Portu-ball.
The game has panned out as expected tbh. Spain have been very, very good in possession and in controlling space, as they have been all tournament. England have kept things very tight, they are superbly organised and very focused. Keep it level long enough and our optimism should grow. We have more game changers on our bench than they do theirs.
I think we have won one header which Bellingham flicked onto himself! Our back 4 have played well, but no one in front of them has turned up so far, will need our subs to have an impact again for sure.
I'm not sure it's a matter of turning up. Spain are simply superb at controlling and then pressing the central channels, helped to a large extent by the fact that Rodri is comfortably the best in the business at this. We won't get much joy down the middle. The flanks are where we can get at them. Neither Williams nor Lamal much fancy tracking back. Our substitutes can provide this threat. Just need to keep it level until Spain start to tire.
We knew we had to play a technically superior opponent, who are great at controlling possession. The game will open up in the second half and then we have a chance to hit them on the counter attack, which should be our chance to threaten them.
