Euro 2016 Discussion

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With so many different nations it'll take so many different threads to put all the news on the site. So, here's this thread.

Kompany to miss Euro 2016

Why by 3 or 4? We've been awful for majority of second half, Russia may not have threatened much but England haven't been at the races this half and were only ahead due to soft free kick.

Went 1-0 up and then predictably bring on a defensive option to sit and see game out. Glad we drew, stops people getting carried away (I mean even now it's stupid 'richly deserved victory' suggests we dominated start to finish. Don't be daft!

GSC wrote:Seriously?

Played Russia off the park, denied by a wholly undeserved smash and grab. I'm all for tearing into England when it's meritted, it absolutely isn't today

A rubbish Russia side, however, who were long-ball merchants for the majority.

England created several chances, but were far from clinical. They should have put them out of side, they didn't, and were punished.

Yeah, bringing on defensive substitutes at 1-0, no other manager ever does that.

James Milner ffs, James Milner

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Undeserved late goal to concede.

Think Roy is guilty there. He got lucky with the freekick and then made poor subs. No man to run the ball out with Sterling off, not sure Milner touched the ball. Wilshere is defensively unaware and actually poorer deeper than Rooney. Kane ineffective to the point that keeping him on left us with no option to defend up front or the outlet to take the pressure off.

I was surprised he didn't pull Kane and give Vardy the last 10-15 minutes.

Not so sure about the criticism of the other subs. Milner is supposed to be a holding midfielder and we needed fresh attacking impetus, so Wilshere should have been a good choice.

England have often been slated for not continuing to press when they are ahead, so I don't think its fair to have a go at Roy for not being more defensive-minded...especially when defence is the weakest part of our game.

England were only guilty of not being more clinical in their final balls and finishing. For all our dominance I was rarely out of my seat or exclaiming over missed chances. Most of the time you could tell they weren't going to come off.

People need to learn as well that Roy is out of his depth at International level...he got the gig because of his experience with Switzerland etc but that was a million years ago. He's bloody useless in this day and age!

Played Russia off the park? Lol!! You can't be serious...talk about stretching the truth. We played well in first half and created few scoring opportunities (Russia threatened with a header too by the way). Came out in the 2nd half and were flat but for a 5 minute period around the 55/60 minute mark. Russia slowed play down and kept the ball better and England weren't sure what to do. We got a goal and then sat happy to see it out which of course didn't go to plan...as it won't when you sit and allow a team to come on too a team with a poor defence who don't know how to defend set pieces.

I agree with GSC, okay we lost the goal right at the end but it's a bit harsh to rip into England this time around considering we controlled that game for most of it, we werent clinical however and yes it cost us in the end.

I said before this tournament that i don't think we will win it but i'm of course hoping that we do. I won't mind if we don't as long as we try and we certainly did more than that tonight.

I don't think we sat back. We were still going forward but with not much conviction.

owen10ozzy wrote:People need to learn as well that Roy is out of his depth at International level...he got the gig because of his experience with Switzerland etc but that was a million years ago. He's bloody useless in this day and age!

Played Russia off the park? Lol!! You can't be serious...talk about stretching the truth. We played well in first half and created few scoring opportunities (Russia threatened with a header too by the way). Came out in the 2nd half and were flat but for a 5 minute period around the 55/60 minute mark. Russia slowed play down and kept ball and England weren't sure what to do. We got a goal and then sat happy to see it out which of course didn't go to plan...as it won't when you sit and allow a team to come on too a team with a poor defence who don't know how to defend set pieces.

You can't be serious either. 0/10 for trolling.

You obviously don't rate Hodgson, so who would you have got instead, from the managers who were available at the time (not that theres any guarantee they would have done any better)?

Russia were chasing shadows most of the first half...and for a lot of the second too. As has already been said, England's only failing was in not testing the keeper more...who to be fair pulled off some damn good saves, including that double save from Rooney and Sterling.

This is the best I've seen an England team play in actual competitive tournament football in a long time. Can they do better? I hope so - they need to. But they were miles better than anything I've seen in over a decade.

Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

Think we paid the price for not taking advantage of a poor first half by Russia despite all that "dominance" I don't remember us working their keeper too hard during that half. Didn't do enough to win and conceded yet another late goal in tournament.

England absolutely need to be more clinical and the intensity dropped in the second half.

But England could've smashed Germany 5-0 in their opening game and there'd still be negativity on here

First half - England much better, created several chances, didn't take any. Great intensity.

Second half - Mostly flat, created few chances, converted a set-piece, bright attacking players in the first half faded badly, poor choice of substitutions.

Simply not good enough, overall. Russia were dismal, and England couldn't put them away.

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

They're in good company then because our lot are just as scummy.

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

Our were pretty disgusting too - whistling and booing all through the Russian national anthem. Did you miss that?

Our drunken louts fans appear to be making a bit of a name for themselves with the local police too. All very 1980s...

FreekShow wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

They're in good company then because our lot are just as scummy.

Well we had a minority of idiots, I understand, some of whom were provoked. Russia's idiots appear to be professional hooligans who their government don't have a handle on.

dyrewolfe wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

Our were pretty disgusting too - whistling and booing all through the Russian national anthem. Did you miss that?

Our drunken louts fans appear to be making a bit of a name for themselves with the local police too. All very 1980s...  

Yes, but that is a little different to pre-planned violence.

Duty281 wrote:

dyrewolfe wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

Our were pretty disgusting too - whistling and booing all through the Russian national anthem. Did you miss that?

Our drunken louts fans appear to be making a bit of a name for themselves with the local police too. All very 1980s...  

Yes, but that is a little different to pre-planned violence.

How do you know it was pre-planned? Did they send you a memo too?

dyrewolfe wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

dyrewolfe wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

Our were pretty disgusting too - whistling and booing all through the Russian national anthem. Did you miss that?

Our drunken louts fans appear to be making a bit of a name for themselves with the local police too. All very 1980s...  

Yes, but that is a little different to pre-planned violence.

How do you know it was pre-planned? Did they send you a memo too?

These things are often pre-planned by 'Ultra' groups.

I have no problem with defensive substitutions. But he made poor ones. The ball will keep coming back when you have no outlet. Sterling was poor in the final third but was easing pressure on the defence, and when he was taken off for the invisible Milner we had no chance of keeping the ball forward.

Milner isn't any good. He's an OK winger in sides with aerial threat and a hard worker in teams full of stars. We are neither.

And if Henderson isn't fit enough to have got on today he shouldn't be there. Both those players being in that squad are why I have gone from defending Roy to looking forward to his time ending.

Duty281 wrote:Further disgusting actions from Russian 'fans' towards the end of the game - shocking to think a World Cup will be held over there in 2 years time.

Considering that there have been problems with England fans already at this tournament, perhaps we shouldn't complain about the Russians.

Just as well that we never got to hold the next World Cup.

After the last few days, I wouldn't have blamed UEFA if they had ordered the match played behind closed doors

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:why I have gone from defending Roy to looking forward to his time ending.

Might have to wait a little longer, it's probable he'll be taking England through to 2018 with the lack of viable replacements.

GSC wrote:Seriously?

Played Russia off the park, denied by a wholly undeserved smash and grab. I'm all for tearing into England when it's meritted, it absolutely isn't today

Who gives a rats ass if you play a team of the park if you don't actually win the game. It is merited, we should of finished more of our chances off! Russia were woeful. Kane was useless and was seen to be either jogging around or stood still. Rarely any movement.

I wonder what wise words Roy will russle up in his post match interview.

9 times out 10 we win that game comfortably, Russia won the lottery in the last minute. It happens, unfortunately. Teams will play worse this tournament and get 3 points for it. They already have.

dyrewolfe wrote:

owen10ozzy wrote:People need to learn as well that Roy is out of his depth at International level...he got the gig because of his experience with Switzerland etc but that was a million years ago. He's bloody useless in this day and age!

Played Russia off the park? Lol!! You can't be serious...talk about stretching the truth. We played well in first half and created few scoring opportunities (Russia threatened with a header too by the way). Came out in the 2nd half and were flat but for a 5 minute period around the 55/60 minute mark. Russia slowed play down and kept ball and England weren't sure what to do. We got a goal and then sat happy to see it out which of course didn't go to plan...as it won't when you sit and allow a team to come on too a team with a poor defence who don't know how to defend set pieces.

You can't be serious either. 0/10 for trolling.

You obviously don't rate Hodgson, so who would you have got instead, from the managers who were available at the time (not that theres any guarantee they would have done any better)?

Russia were chasing shadows most of the first half...and for a lot of the second too. As has already been said, England's only failing was in not testing the keeper more...who to be fair pulled off some damn good saves, including that double save from Rooney and Sterling.

This is the best I've seen an England team play in actual competitive tournament football in a long time. Can they do better? I hope so - they need to. But they were miles better than anything I've seen in over a decade.

Why is that trolling? Because I have said played them off the park is stretching it....well I am sorry but it is. I haven't said we were complete crap..I said we played well in the 1st half...we did...but the 2nd half showed that Russia being so poor highlighted our good play (how much of it was because we were good and them so poor will differ in everyones opinion). I didn't think Kane brought much to the team yet he was still standing at the end...that in itself was a poor decision from Roy. Dolph is right regards Sterling..his end product was nothing but he gave the Russian full back and wide midfielder something to think about. Soon as Milner came on you can see Russia start to push on more without much thought about protecting the left side of the pitch.

If we go back to the very basics of football...the aim is to score more than your opponent...in that we failed. It doesn't matter that we created more chances, we didn't take them and Russia took there only major chance. Would be like saying Cavs didn't deserve to beat Warriors in an NBA final because the latter took 200 shots whilst the former took only 80.

I see your point about the optimism in comparison to the last decade, and I agree completely that it was better than what we have seen in an age but given how dissapointing we have been in the past and the fact that we played better yet still only came away with a draw against a very mediocre Russian side doesn't fill me with as much confidence or reason to be joyous as it does others. Which is fine, its there perogative to feel how they want.

I've been saying for years I want to see an entertaining England side rather than one that grinds out results on it's way to a quarter final exit, usually on penalties. Would be hypocritical for me to go back on that.

GSC wrote:England absolutely need to be more clinical and the intensity dropped in the second half.

But England could've smashed Germany 5-0 in their opening game and there'd still be negativity on here

Owen would moan that it wasn't 6-0 tbh

Rooney, Dier, Alli, Rose and Walker were good. No one else was. Sterling was only good at running, but we needed a pacey runner so least he did his job.

The violence? Disgraceful and sad that we are not getting proper coverage. However, this is due to people assuming fault on the part of many, many innocent people who are being attacked. First Ultras in Marseille, twice now the Russians have organised attacks. This is dreadful and much worse than any drunken fighting from England fans, who have been already vilified by media personnel who have not looked beyond a scene and an old view.

Frankly, the only way I see this ending is with a death. One man who suffered cardiac arrest after being attacked has luckily pulled through, but with women and children attacked in the stadium I fear what is next.

Sadly, the option now would look like some old England returning and them bonding together to fight. It's depressing that I am grateful we have the numbers to do this as the police and the footballing authorities deem English fans as second class citizens. Lewd and crude they can be, but they are not gangs out to cause violence.

If you bring James Milner on you don't deserve to win the game, shocking substitutions, the game was screaming out for any one of Vardy, Sturridge or Rashford, anyone with pace centrally.

I feel sorry for the England fans that wanted to go over and have a good time. Majority do. The minority have let them and the whole nation down to.

England v Russia was always going to be messy.
Some Russian fans are a disgrace to.

The video of those Russian thugs storming at England fans post game with no police in sight is proper scary stuff

The Russians are the real disgraces.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:The video of those Russian thugs storming at England fans post game with no police in sight is proper scary stuff

Even scarier when you consider where the World Cup is going to be held in two years time.

Wow Poopie getting real! Russian fans are out of control!

England Russia probably shouldn't have been Saturday evening game.

The equivalent club game wouldn't have been allowed that slot over here.

GSC wrote:England Russia probably shouldn't have been  Saturday evening game.

The equivalent club game wouldn't have been allowed that slot over here.

I agree and the last city in France where you need that to take place is Marseille...plenty of local youngsters were just there to provoke English Fans.

You can bang on about Rooney, but he had so much time on the ball, against top opposition or even a team that actually tactically goes out to make him, unlike Russia, then he will be exposed. Alli has been anonymous now for two games, I wonder why. Offensively, always had worries about where the goals were coming from with this side, bailed out by a freekick tonight, is essentially the truth. No point playing Vardy really vs Wales, as they will sit deep, like Portugal did & would expose Vardy's limitations. I'd like to see Sturridge, as the only way to unlock Wales, will be creativity & movement around the box. Just generally worried about us now, never thought we'd go seriously far in the tournament, but even getting out the group is now becoming questionable, given our lack of goals. Sterling is definitely dropped, beyond embarrassing his play & selection. I won't even bother with Roy, borrowed time is an understatement.

Out of curiosity, is anyone missing Adrian Chiles?

This has been keeping me awake at night.

England played the best football of the tournament so far. Am sure it will click, goals will come and England will dispatch everyone on its way to the final. It's still a young team which lacks a little bit of experience but good things will come.

You can't suddenly become natural goal scorers. Roy picked two wide men up front, with known limitations in front of goal, you just have to look at their goal records. It want surprising to see us fluff chance after chance, it won't be the first time or the last time we have to endure these agonising displays in front of goal, if we persevere with their selection.

We played good football, but I don't buy all this 'amazing' display stuff. You have to factor in the woefullness of the opposition, which effectively enhances your the other teams supposed display. You can bang on about positives all you want, positives don't guarantee you are still playing in the tournament in two weeks time, goals do.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

GSC wrote:England absolutely need to be more clinical and the intensity dropped in the second half.

But England could've smashed Germany 5-0 in their opening game and there'd still be negativity on here

Owen would moan that it wasn't 6-0 tbh

Olly...how dare you! Of course I wouldn't moan...well...unless we had 7 clear cut chances of course, in which case it would be diabolical that we only put 6 of them away

England were ordinary, but its a tournament full of ordinary teams. The standard of international football is way behind cub level, and has been for ages.

That Russian team wouldnt last a season in any of the big leagues.

catchweight wrote:

That Russian team wouldnt last a season in any of the big leagues.

That team wouldn't last in smaller leagues let alone big leagues, like you say intl football is below par compared to club level and that's probably how they didn't get shut out.

Russia was terrible, worst performance in top level intl I can remember, not sure why England dropped back and went defensive when Russia couldn't even keep the ball but what do I know, that's why they're the pros I guess.

Hart: 6 Generally solid, didn't have much to do, but can't help but feel he could've done a lot more with the goal.
Walker: 8 Pretty faultless performance. Constant menace in the first half going forwards, flawless in defense. Fully justified his place over Clyne.
Cahill: 6 Fairly solid, did what he had to well aside from the goal
Smalling: 6 Again fairly solid, had a bit more trouble with a pretty limited forward than you'd like though.
Rose: 7 Good going forward when Russia doubled up on Sterling in the first half. Mostly solid at the back.
Dier: 9 England's most important player, tasked with covering for about 5 players. Outstanding capped with a good free kick.
Rooney: 7 Controlled the Tempo well. Possibly one too many Gerrard style Hollywood passes to the FBs though. Needs to learn that defending is a bonus for a striker, is compulsory for a deeper midfielder.
Alli: 8 looks a real talent. Freeing him from the shackles he has vs Portugal was a masterstroke. Constantly finding space in front of the defense against 2 holding midfielders.
Sterling: 6 An immensely frustrating player. Beat the RB 3 times in the first 15 mins, then stopped trying. Looks short of real confidence. England need to persist though, nobody has his pace in this squad.
Lallana: 6 should've scored in the first half, predictably faded in the 2nd as he always does. Barkley should've been on in the 2nd. Pressed well.
Kane: 6 Some nice flick ons and hold up play, but England didn't play to his strengths. Sturridge should start vs Wales.

Rooney was for me MOTM for England, Beckhamesque passes from him at times.
The two players that I was most disappointed with was Kane and Sterling. Sterling started off okay but as the game went on he reverted to his usual headless chicken approach as a winger, people on here slated the introduction of Milner mustn't have seen the couple of promising counter attacks he completely fluffed just beforehand. Kane was just having an off day but he needs to get off the set piece duty, can't recall one good corner or free kick he took.

Once Joe Allen or a quality midfield starts snapping at Rooney's heels, he won't look impressive, really not sure why people are creaming themselves over Rooney. Played well, but that's because he had no marker & had the entire freedom of Marseille to do what he wanted. The full backs rated highly because the game was generally a training session of attack vs defence, that's how bad Russia were. Not sure how Alli gets an 8, I barely saw him second half. He did find good space in the first half, but no real penetration from him or final ball. Sterling isn't short of confidence, he's short of actual technical ability. I wouldn't hold your breathe on him turning into a quality player, he never will. Lallana catches the eye, does the flashy turns, but at end of the day, we all know he couldn't even score in a brothel. As for Roy, I'd give him 0 out of 10. We saw Deschamps & Coleman change the game, whereas Roy dithered like a clown that he is & then when he saw 10 mins left, just shut up shop & invited unnecessary pressure. Horrifying stuff.

We got three strikers on the bench, it's time we unleashed them, otherwise, our boys will be on holiday by next Tuesday.

Did you actually watch the Wales game? Their midfield was camped deep in their own half for most of the game.

To be honest it was a very good performance from the players overall, badly let down by inept management.