Yeah, it's not like there's any threat French police/security need to guard against is there? You'd think that with the very real threat of terrorism about, football hooligans wouldn't get the chance to draw breath - but this is France.
Spain look good when there's an end product to the pretty build up. They look favourites on this form - but can they be as effective when it matters?
They're coming good at the right time. I'd say one of the favourites. But, Italy, France look like they're coming good too. Then, there's always The Germans!.....
He is. He's going to make a clever run into space in the box or make a clever pass - except he doesn't. I'm convinced now that England should play in an English style. Get the ball forward quickly, cross it into the box and get players on the end of it. Picking players who want to play a more sophisticated style is pointless. We will never be Spain. Therefore, no place for Lallana.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/17/harry-kanes-half-time-substitution-was-brutal-but-there-is-no-ro/ "Harry Kane's half-time substitution was brutal but there is no room for mercy at Euro 2016" except for Joe Hart, who after stopping a total of two shots and letting in two, one very soft, the other an epic blunder, needs to have his hand held. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...itish-players-ranked-and-rated/jack-wilshere/ on Jack Wilshire" lack of stature and bustling running style makes fools underestimate his skill." Well, okay. But how can you underestimate the number of minutes he’s fit to play, or an attitude that can be kindly described as unprofessional? I was going to shoot some more fish in a barrel, then found something I thought was insightful from Martin Keown: "DELE ALLI: Great energy and was willing to break. With him alongside Rooney and Dier, we have a bit of everything in midfield. It was reassuring to see him running back to tackle Bale, too. 7.5" Rashford, Vardy and Sturridge do scare defenders, but Alli may be their bigger worry. How he got the ball to Sturridge through two men for the winning goal when he should have been drawing the winning pen is hard to understand. Also, from a writer who I’ve mocked fairly often: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jun/17/euro-2016-england-eric-dier-man-of-match-wales. I thought this was a funny and insightful appreciation of Dier.
As I said the other day, the media has not properly discovered Dier; by the end of this he might well be a star. We just have to keep him at Spurs, we have to.
At least the Irish and Belgian fans get it. Good luck to the Republic. Dembele is in but I still can't wish Hazard any luck.
Kane's looking like a superstar nowadays with his Beats by Dre headphone ad. He's one of our ooooown Harry Kane....he's one of our own. Get a good rest mate.
Good finish by Lukaku but terrible, terrible defending by the Irish. Nobody picked him up or even looked likely to do so.
3-0 to Belgium and a fair scoreline. The Republic were very poor at the back and with Italy to come, I think they'll be on the plane home this week.
Yeah, I stuck a tenner on it at 11/1. I expected them to be throughly outclassed in this group but fairplay to them, I thought they gave a good account of themselves against Sweden. I didn't think they were awful today either, to be fair, Belgium just played really well. Gutted for Iceland but a little relieved as I was eyeing up Sigurdsson 1-0 at 25/1, luckily I changed my mind and stuck 20 on him to score first instead. Still a long way from retirement but a good addition to the beer fund
I really thought Austria would've been good this tournament but they've been awful to watch tonight. Portugal really should've won it. Bale gets a lot more out of poorer teammates than Ronaldo does with his. £50 down the bog. Ah well, still a good day for me.
Classic comment from my 11 year old when Ronaldo missed the pen. At the top of his voice: "You flopper!"
It all kicked off with the Hungary fans too earlier. This tournament has a really unpleasant tone to it.
