Euro 2016 Discussion

First topic message reminder :

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

GSC wrote:Owen you wouldn't get excited if Santa personally delivered you a unicorn.

He definitely would, he loves anything that comes out of Sky.

Duty281 wrote:

nadeem2099 wrote:England's first ever comeback win in a major tournament ever Lineker is saying.

Eh? Sweden 2012 and Cameroon 1990 spring to mind.

First time we've won having conceded the first goal i'm pretty sure he meant.

Nobody is saying they're world beaters. They showed a lot of strength at the death though and guys it out. Good enough to get the job done has won loads of these tournies over the years

No actually thought Wales missed a trick, England were nervous, they should have kept pressing the secind half!

As for Wales, would imagine they'll have enough to get past a pretty poor Russia side. But if they want to do some damage in the knockout rounds they have play with a bit more aggressiveness. Hoping Bale pulls something out of his ass every game and dropping the rest of the team won't be good enough.

Suspect there was a little message in that team celebration for Bale. They chatted a little bit too much.

I loved watching Leicester last year, thoroughly enjoyed watching Arsenal in their hey day. Also enjoyed watching Spurs and Middlesbrough despite the constant up and down performances. I also remember Euro 96 very well. Plenty of football I enjoy; seems like you lot just get your knickers in a twist because I don't come on and wax lyrical any time we beat a nation who for the better part of the last ten years have never been close to being a Top 30 team in the world! When we do something against a big team in a major tournament or when we actually clinically put away a drab team whose vast majority is made up of lower league players then I may consider joining the happy train. Till then I'm happy staying realistic and will enjoy the win but not much more.

I'm actually glad of the performance in the 2nd half and enjoyed it, we went for it and looked little more dangerous. I'm just not getting too excited because it was all forced..from the subs to the way we played..we didn't do it because it's what Woy wanted...we did it because we were losing in our 2nd group game and had dropped 2 points against Russia. More than anything that's why I'm negative..because as I said it papers over the cracks when it comes to Roy and his guidance of this team which is full of exciting individuals who could really do something in the years to come.

Good enough to get the job done has won loads of these tournies over the year? Apart from Greece, who falls into that bracket?

There's a slight difference between not waxing lyrical and stating "that was ****" after every game.

owen10ozzy wrote:Good enough to get the job done has won loads of these tournies over the year? Apart from Greece, who falls into that bracket?

Spain have won multiple tournaments with almost exclusively 1-0 wins.

I don't think England can win this tournament, but I'd love to see them have a real go at a good side in the knockout rounds rather than the usual meek performance.

Shearer believes Rooney is the only player to have been tremendous in both games..deserves man of the match for both? Possibly Russia...but saw very very little today to suggest he wins the midfield battles against the better players in the tournament.

Sturridge added some much needed pace into the game 2nd half and was happy to get on the ball and actually beat players. What can you say about Vardy..one touch more or less..one goal. He has to start next game..id play him and then sturridge to the left is Roy is set on keeping this formation.

Where did I say we were Poopie? I didn't. I basically said we were underwhelming and whilst good in the 2nd half we were given every opportunity to be. Same as the subs were impactful but you could argue they shouldn't have been needed because they are players who should have started given how poor Kane and Sterling were in 1st game.

And really, how many sides have been that much better than England so far?

Spain
Germany
Croatia
Italy

Wouldn't say France have been that much better against mediocre competition.

I'm over the moon putting it over the Welsh it would be on a par with beating the Krauts.

I wonder if the Welsh are singing "England's going home outside the ground" we may be but not before you lot.

Rooney's been England's 2nd best player so far for me behind Walker. Controlling games from deep superbly
And everyone knows how critical I was about including him.

GSC wrote:I don't think England can win this tournament, but I'd love to see them have a real go at a good side in the knockout rounds rather than the usual meek performance.

Don't see why England can't. They're nothing special, and have been bang average so far, but the same can be said of any team in this Euros.

Now, Northern Ireland should be game for some improvement.

Yeah Walker tore Russia apart and had another very good game today.

That's the Spain team that won euro 2008 beating Russia 4-1, Sweden 2-1, Greece 2-1, Russia 3-1 in semis and a good Germany team in the final?

Or the one that won 2010 World Cup with 1-0 victories but over Germany, Netherlands, Portugal...id take 1-0 over them and let's be frank it's not like they sat back in those games. They dominated posession and actually tried to win by more than 1.

I think Spain or Germany will play keep away and our defense will crack after a while tbh.

Spain are my pick after the first round

Owen is picking on Rooney because it's a fashionable thing to do, he's been good in both games, yes he gives the ball away but he's clearly been told to switch the play to the wings at any opportunity hence the Hollywood passes. The best passers in the world have high percentages not because they don't give the ball away but because they play simple pass after simple pass and have someone next to them to play the expansive ball.

owen10ozzy wrote:Or the one that won 2010 World Cup with 1-0 victories but over Germany, Netherlands, Portugal...id take 1-0 over them and let's be frank it's not like they sat back in those games. They dominated posession and actually tried to win by more than 1.

You said a team that won by 'doing enough'.

1-0, 1-0, 1-0 is the definition of doing enough.

If you want to talk about dominating possession you should look up the stats for the Russia and Wales games.

Walker has been very good, Rooney has been ok on the whole but I do worry how cheaply he has given the ball away against poorer teams than we will come up against. I'm also of the thinking he is having a direct impact on Deli's ability to effect the game..but perhaps Alli just isn't performing.

Stronger tests to come, but until the quarters at least we won't face much to write home about...so who knows. I do hope we can go all the way. Just won't hold my hopes and at least hope Roy has the bullocks to make the big calls now.

We could with the Harry Kane who plays for Tottenham turning up at some point tbf

Rooney has been good, Walker and Lallana despite my criticism of both good as well. Dier best player so far for me tho

Personally thought in 1st half lacked creativeness and Kane dropping off didn't help.
2nd half with Sturridge & Vardy stretching them the gaps in the 5 man defense showed and gave us time outwide.

#EurosInTehBag

owen10ozzy wrote:That's the Spain team that won euro 2008 beating Russia 4-1, Sweden 2-1, Greece 2-1, Russia 3-1 in semis and a good Germany team in the final?

Or the one that won 2010 World Cup with 1-0 victories but over Germany, Netherlands, Portugal...id take 1-0 over them and let's be frank it's not like they sat back in those games. They dominated posession and actually tried to win by more than 1.

Dominating possession means nothing and from memory they did the bare minimum to win those games, hardly attacked against Portugal and Netherlands in two dreadful games to watch but because it's Spain it must have been amazing.

The teams they beat in 2008 would be three teams you stated as being average earlier and no better than Wales.

Walker for me I've not liked, every time he gets the ball he's either stationary, or then once with the ball becomes stationary, often the reason the England attack fizzled to nothing was because he'd slowed the play down to allow the opposition to regroup.

Allis played very well for me so far. Constantly asking questions of defenses against defenses that sit very deep cramping him for space.

Hero wrote:Walker for me I've not liked, every time he gets the ball he's either stationary, or then once with the ball becomes stationary, often the reason the England attack fizzled to nothing was because he'd slowed the play down to allow the opposition to regroup.

I honestly don't know what you're watching. That's literally the opposite of how he's been playing.

Russian team better than one we faced and they saw them off both times with ease. Also argue the Sweden team man for man were better than Wales so 2-1 wasn't a bad result.

As for the Netherlands result...we both know that they never turned up wanting to win...just fight basically.

Anyhow...back onto these Euro's...Northern Ireland next...how's this one going? One things a must, there going to have to be more expansive than last time out....they made Greece 2004 team look offensive.

My irritance is when he cuts back rather than crossing unblocked too often

oops

Walkers been excellent, but do wish he'd whip the crosses in quicker rather than trying to beat his man a couple  of times.

To be honest I think Rooney looks comfortable with the ball, hasn't done a lot wrong for me.

owen10ozzy wrote:Russian team better than one we faced and they saw them off both times with ease. Also argue the Sweden team man for man were better than Wales so 2-1 wasn't a bad result.

As for the Netherlands result...we both know that they never turned up wanting to win...just fight basically.

Anyhow...back onto these Euro's...Northern Ireland next...how's this one going? One things a must, there going to have to be more expansive than last time out....they made Greece 2004 team look offensive.

Euro 2008 was a poor tournament in general, neither Russia or Sweden were anything to write home about but beaten by the mighty Spain (not England) so you'll inflate their ability to suit your already rubbished opinion.

Spain dived around for the whole of the 2010 world cup so Netherlands gave them a reason to dive about, nothing wrong with in my opinion.

Misinterpreted I think

Most teams that win one of these go through games where it's close but have the strength of character to get it done and live to fight another day where they improve.

Nobody inferred it had to be every game

GSC wrote:Think Northern Ireland might get a shellacking today. Opening it up will expose their limitations badly.

This Ukraine side are rubbish, though.

So rubbish that I think Owen would actually back England to beat them!

Well hammer...even if you want to go by that token...urine poor or exciting they have won two major tournaments in last 8 years...England have played shockingly Poopie for the better part of 20 years and have won sod all doing so. So what's rubbish about that opinion?

This is probably NI only chance of taking something so shellacking or not they need to go for it I think

Wouldn't go that far Duty

Was the Jamie Vardy goal one of the most difficult, best and correct offside decisions you've ever seen??

If anything, Alli has been a disappointment, the game have passed him by, especially if we're judging him on his Spurs form. Walker has been sensational, why?, because he's had absolutely no defending to do in 180 minutes. I'd expect Weiss will test him & expose his defensive weaknesses. Rooney has been pretty good in all honesty, but again, like most things, it's not difficult to look good against Russia's B midfield & a duo of Joe Ledley & Joe Allen. I feel for Kane, basically had very little service & Sterling & Lallana did not create anything for him.

Great result today, but again the performance is nothing special. I wasn't even that convinced on the second half performance, it was still a tactic of throw all our strikers on, across the whole front & hope it works out.

I'd say we've got two games max left in the tournament, we might sneak a QF, which worryingly Roy will probably state is a success.

It's your opinion that they didn't merely just do enough to win when they quite clearly did but do carry on showing yourself up Owen, it's highly amusing.

owen10ozzy wrote:just like I wouldn't enjoy a rarw fillet steak over a medium rare just because someone gave it to me for free

Hey I wouldn't mind that !

Feel England is starting to click. Will go an extra gear next and spank Slovakia after which nothing will stop them. Best England team since the 1990's. They have nothing to fear.

NI have shown more energy in the opening 2 minutes of this one, than in the entire game v Poland.

Yeah. If they're going to go out then at least go out getting into the spirit of the competition and giving it a go.

You never know what might happen when you have the mentality to play rather than resist another side doing all the football.

Rooney was great today. Easy man of the match, and arguably was in the first game. Dad and I watched it separately and both thought it.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's your opinion that they didn't merely just do enough to win when they quite clearly did but do carry on showing yourself up Owen, it's highly amusing.

Think you missed my point...your saying they did just enough..fair enough, even if you use that logic your essentially saying they played ok/poor but they won two major tournaments. So why the heck would I get excited about an England team that has played poor and not come close in the last near twenty years? I wouldn't..nor would I be delirious or even excited over a 2-1 win against a limited Wales side and a draw against a dreary Russia team..why? Because I've seen it before and know that soon as we hit the big stage of the tournament we will be knocked out and shown to be bang average.. The real shame this year is that I feel there is more potential yet it's being stunted by a urine poor manager.

Northern Ireland's lack of technical ability is a bit depressing.

----Lallana ---Vardy---Sturridge----
---Alli----------Dier--------Rooney

Vs Slovakia

rover and under wrote:Was the Jamie Vardy goal one of the most difficult, best and correct offside decisions you've ever seen??

Yep! Spot on...we slate the poor decisions only fair we praise the good and on that account both linesman and red deserve huge props for getting that call correct. In fact the ref had a very good game overall, didn't slow down play too much, got the no penalty decision correct and the big goal call too.

owen10ozzy wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's your opinion that they didn't merely just do enough to win when they quite clearly did but do carry on showing yourself up Owen, it's highly amusing.

Think you missed my point...your saying they did just enough..fair enough, even if you use that logic your essentially saying they played ok/poor but they won two major tournaments. So why the heck would I get excited about an England team that has played poor and not come close in the last near twenty years? I wouldn't..nor would I be delirious or even excited over a 2-1 win against a limited Wales side and a draw against a dreary Russia team..why? Because I've seen it before and know that soon as we hit the big stage of the tournament we will be knocked out and shown to be bang average.. The real shame this year is that I feel there is more potential yet it's being stunted by a urine poor manager.

Spain have won 3 major tournaments in the last 8 years...

Beat everyone there was to beat, a few thrashings, a few 1-0s, a few penalty shoot outs.

Don't think you can compare arguably the greatest international side of all time to England getting a draw against Russia and beating Wales....

I think the refereeing in this tournament as a whole has been very good. Been much better at giving advantage, not abusing the yellow card and letting games flow. It's been really refreshing.

Ent wrote:

owen10ozzy wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's your opinion that they didn't merely just do enough to win when they quite clearly did but do carry on showing yourself up Owen, it's highly amusing.

Think you missed my point...your saying they did just enough..fair enough, even if you use that logic your essentially saying they played ok/poor but they won two major tournaments. So why the heck would I get excited about an England team that has played poor and not come close in the last near twenty years? I wouldn't..nor would I be delirious or even excited over a 2-1 win against a limited Wales side and a draw against a dreary Russia team..why? Because I've seen it before and know that soon as we hit the big stage of the tournament we will be knocked out and shown to be bang average.. The real shame this year is that I feel there is more potential yet it's being stunted by a urine poor manager.

Spain have won 3 major tournaments in the last 8 years...

Beat everyone there was to beat, a few thrashings, a few 1-0s, a few penalty shoot outs.

Don't think you can compare arguably the greatest international side of all time to England getting a draw against Russia and beating Wales....

Yes Spain one of the greatest sides of all time, only the Brazil side of 1970 would compare,very patriotic I am but a realist too, and England are arguably the biggest under achievers in World football.

owen10ozzy wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's your opinion that they didn't merely just do enough to win when they quite clearly did but do carry on showing yourself up Owen, it's highly amusing.

Think you missed my point...your saying they did just enough..fair enough, even if you use that logic your essentially saying they played ok/poor but they won two major tournaments. So why the heck would I get excited about an England team that has played poor and not come close in the last near twenty years? I wouldn't..nor would I be delirious or even excited over a 2-1 win against a limited Wales side and a draw against a dreary Russia team..why? Because I've seen it before and know that soon as we hit the big stage of the tournament we will be knocked out and shown to be bang average.. The real shame this year is that I feel there is more potential yet it's being stunted by a urine poor manager.

You're changing the goalposts into a discussion about something completely different, you stated nobody aside from Greece had won tournaments with 1-0 victories and were proven wrong.

Northern Ireland profit from their beloved set-piece! 1-0.