I wish people would get this notion we have an easy route to the final out of their head. I'm sure the French thought similar. The Swiss deserved to win. Hungary gave all three big name teams a game. Games have been tight, easy to come out the wrong side of results. Its basically wide open. Plus a semi final may well be against Denmark and they have something difficult to quantify behind them. I expect to lose to the Germans but it depends which Germany turns up. You can see they are going through a transition and they don't have that consistency as a team. The likes of them and Spain are more set up for the next big tournament. Some really good young players, but not quite there yet.
I'm 100% with you on this. The idea that players (like the Swiss) who play for teams like Moenchengladbach, Wolfsburg, etc. are markedly worse than players from Paris, City, Barca is incredibly ignorant. Football is full of fine lines. The commentators ****ing off just because they know who De Bruyne and Lukaku are, but have no idea who Stephen Zuber is just add to the English stupidity which is where I think karma (or Southgate, to you and me) come along and knock us out of competitions. The thing that undoes teams is arrogance. It hampered the French for years, they strut around as if turning up is enough for the win. Dutch have always been the same. The German arrogance is different - they turn up knowing they'll do what it takes to try and win, often doing so. That's what always worries me about playing them, they find a way. Not every time, and this Germany isn't as fearsome as previous years, but they have quality throughout the XI. More than I think many pundits thought they did, which is odd given their first XI has Neuer, Rudiger, Gosens, Gnabry, Kimmich, Kroos and Gundogan. Could it be our UK pundits haven't got a ****ing clue? Heaven forbid...
I really enjoyed the Czech Republic game against Holland. The Dutch started off trying to boss it and then, as Czech's got going the Dutch just ran out of ideas. I suspect even if they hadn't had a 1 man advantage the Czech's would still have won. They were just mentally so superior. Wonderful stuff. I suspect we will have lost the game before we start tonight. Listening to all the crap about the history of the fixture and how its our chance to rewrite history. Somebody should be just telling our lot to forget about all that crap, that a tentative, defence first attitude will play right into their hands and go out and press them high up the pitch with a high tempo game. Unsettle them by running at them early on and get them on the back foot.
You and I both know a Southgate team is never going to go after the Germans. Lad on ssn nailed it this morning. Its like watching a mid to bottom table prem team trying not to get beat. Like watching us if you like.
Actually Jak I think that's what we WILL do....for the first 10 mins, tops!! We've tried it in all our games. Our issue is that when we don't score, there's little by way of a plan b. And when we do score, we try to protect it. As someone said elsewhere football among the so-called bigger teams is ****ing dire at the moment. Possession-obsession, bore the opponent to death. It's the footballing equivalent of Floyd Mayweather. No-one doubts the success, but everybody in the World would still rather watch Mike Tyson. Thankfully this tournament has shown that rapid attack will disrupt this pathetic "keep ball" we see at the likes of Belgium, France, Holland. Get it forward dynamically and score, because these ball=playing CB's the world has obsessed over can't defend crosses! Spain are now reinventing themselves to do that and will probably win this tournament as well as dominating the next World Cup. I'd much rather England did play dynamically, even on the counter at times. I'd get rid of Kane to do it as well, stick Rashford in there. It just feels like we're there for the taking again. Mentally a bit weak, bit aimless, too flat/defensive, not quick enough in possession. Even if we score early, the Germans have a goal in them. I'm hopeless at predictions, but I'd go 1-1 to pens, or 2-1 Germany. I just don't see us having enough for what is an under-appreciated German team.
No Grealish or Foden in starting 11 Or Sandro/ Bellingham who play half the German team week in week out Southgate you ****ing tart
I’d give you lads a real chance if Southgate wasn’t the manager, I can see Germany sneaking it in extra time…..best of luck though!
