Euro 2020 Thread (11th June-11th July)

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Starts in under a week. Might be a fun summer of football to lift the gloom of the previous 12 months.

Groups:

Full Schedule:

Outright Odds:

Portugal to defend their title? France to go one better? Germany return to prominence? Belgium finally get it right? England bring football home? Or will Scotland shock the world?

[Riggs]

England got so lucky, a German miskick.

[Duty281]

Astonishing miss from Muller after Rice messed up a good attacking move.

England need more legs in midfield.

[owen10ozzy]

Here we go....England getting deeper as always. Thats fine...but once we win the ball back need to try and get out a little. Otherwise be wave after wave and Germany will score.

[Duty281]

What does DCL have to do to get some minutes? Kane has been fecked since his injury, and England need an 'outball', a hold-up option right now.

[Guest]

England are in the final

Game over

Kane

[Duty281]

Think Kane will score in this second half. He looks up for it.

Have we been watching the same game? He’s been rubbish. He should be the first one off.

[alfie]

Harry Kane at last

Fancy a trip to Rome ?

[Riggs]

I am very very surprised at Germany's lack of thorough defence.

England are taking advantage. Congrats.

[Guest]

Fancy a trip to Rome ?

Not if it’s to watch Sweden set two banks of four up zzzzzzzz

[Duty281]

Germany have been utter gash. Southgate's embarrassing negativity gave them a chance. England have done just about enough in spite of Southgate.

Southgate needs to go after this tournament, whether it's a QF exit or outright champions. He doesn't have it in him to make the best of this fantastic generation of attacking talent England have.

[Guest]

Germany have been utter gash

The state of international football is appalling right now.

[Duty281]

Fancy a trip to Rome ?

Not if it’s to watch Sweden set two banks of four up zzzzzzzz

Yeah, but Isak's a big danger, so Southgate will play 5ATB, three holding midfielders etc.

[Riggs]

If England can defend thoroughly then they will go through.

Congrats England.

[alfie]

Yes ...

Well done lads

[Riggs]

A huge congrats to England.

[GSC]

YEEEEEE

[Pal Joey]

Thoroughly deserving win for England. Superb finishing for both goals. Hopefully they will keep going forward in Rome.

[alfie]

Fancy a trip to Rome ?

Not if it’s to watch Sweden set two banks of four up zzzzzzzz

Yeah, but Isak's a big danger, so Southgate will play 5ATB, three holding midfielders etc.

Have to say Southgate got it quite right tonight. Lord knows what he will do for the next match but I think I'll leave it to him ...

Sweden by the way have proved difficult opponents for England in past tournaments. But the way this one is going it will probably be Ukraine

[MrInvisible]

Curse of the group of death, Portugal, France and Germany now out. Well done England, particularly Pickford, Shaw, Grealish and Sterling. Let's just hope they don't blow it against Sweden or Ukraine in next round!

[JDizzle]

5 ATB clearly the way forward in Cup competitions in 2021!

[Duty281]

Well done England.

Solid, but not spectacular, against a dismal Germany side. Southgate's negative tactics kept Germany in the game, as England struggled to create chances, but England did just enough in the end.

Hopefully back to a back-four for the QFs against either Sweden or Ukraine. Should be a more sedate affair this evening.

Kane's tournament hopefully ignited, if he's fit enough to carry on. Sterling, Saka, Phillips all good. Pickford made a top save. Grealish decent off the bench. Shaw and Trippier did their task well. Best game I've seen from Maguire in an England shirt. Fingers crossed that Henderson can start over Rice on Saturday.

No excuses now for England not to make the final.

Germany were very, very bad, with the exception of Havertz. Worse than Croatia and the Czechs. They got hyped up because of a win over Portugal, who didn't bother to defend, whereas France and Hungary had already exposed their weaknesses.

[alfie]

Group of death has proved just that. They're all dead now.

Pickford probably my MoTM. His brilliant reflex save the moment , apart from the goals. He's having a wonderful tournament.

Grealish did his magic when he came on : dare I say he was brought on at exactly the right time ?

Sterling three goals now. Times I wish he'd actually pull the trigger when he's jinking around on the edge of the area ; but I'm pretty satisfied with his efforts so far. (except for one error that so nearly gifted Germany a goal !)

A nod to Trippier : think he defended well and created a bit of pressure too. Was certainly a busy lad. Good pick for this game , I think.

Ha... Feeling pretty good at 4.15 am here

[GSC]

Gareth more often than not proves he knows his team and how to get the most from them. For all the negativity, matching Germany largely nullified both teams, and when it matters, Grealish comes off the bench to panic Germany

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Gareth more often than not proves he knows his team and how to get the most from them. For all the negativity, matching Germany largely nullified both teams, and when it matters, Grealish comes off the bench to panic Germany

Our best tournament performance for many a moon. If you consider the Dutch game in 96 was a group game, and a game where the scoreline flattered us a little (they actually were ahead on xG), I might rate this higher.

The Germans not being tournament elites this time doesn't mean they were rubbish. Good not great. Beating good teams is a rather positive sign.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Sterling was fantastic, he kept England alive when they looked drab. 

Rice started off it, too geed up, but grew into it and was brilliant second half when others looked tired. Shaw too deserves credit, excellent for both goals. The defence was good in general, one breach aside. Walker and Pickford the other two who get it in the neck but were vital.

[GSC]

Saka was also instrumental in sparking England up after early German pressure.

[Guest]

Ukraine 1-0 Sweden - they lead thanks to Zinchenko

Nothing to worry for England

[Duty281]

Better than the win over the Dutch at Euro 96?!

That win was a fantastic display of technical excellence and lethal finishing v an immensely strong Dutch side. One of the greatest displays by England, ever.

Today's was a fortuitous, narrow win* over a poor German outfit. Can think of a number of better England displays over the past 25 years than today, even if the result didn't go England's way in all of those.

*England won the xG battle by 0.03.

[Duty281]

Ukraine 1-0 Sweden - they lead thanks to Zinchenko

Nothing to worry for England

Will need Grealish and Foden to start to pick the lock on either of these teams.

1-1. I expected this to be dull and sedate.

[Guest]

Ukraine 1-1 Sweden - Forsberg

[Guest]

1-1. I expected this to be dull and sedate.

Really good end to end spectacle. Shackles are off really, both know this is their opportunity against a side of similar quality. I’d expect against England, both to close up shop, especially Sweden, and revert to type of being dogged, with two banks of four.

Both look tired now, drifting to extra time

[GSC]

Sweden down to 10 men after a pretty shocking challenge

[Guest]

Both sides looks knackered. This has pens written all over it. Zero quality in this now.

[BamBam]

IT’S COMING HOME

[Duty281]

Sweden should have done it in the second half. Now they're hoping for pens.

A little extra boost for England that these two are dragging themselves out to a 120 minute game.

[GSC]

Ukraine need to go for this reason. Sweden are just about done

[GSC]

Dislocated shoulder?

[Guest]

It’s Ukraine v England

[GSC]

Ukraine do win it at the death

[GSC]

Hard for Sweden, playing for penalties since the red

[Guest]

Think the Ukrainians probably suit England better, being a slightly more adventurous side, who will be easier to unlock defensively, than a typical Swedish back line

Either way, England heavy favourites. Ukraine are pretty poor, having been turned over by Austria, and coming third in that pretty poor Dutch group.

[Duty281]

Shouldn't be a tough assignment for England in the QF. Ukraine the weakest side left in the competition. Yarmolenko and Zinchenko the only threats. Defensively very poor. Technical ability lacking.

Hopefully Southgate lets go of the handbrake. Back four, Grealish, Foden, Sterling lining up behind Kane. Given up any hope of DCL getting minutes, or Sancho getting to play a meaningful role.

Other QFs look interesting. Favouring Italy to edge out Belgium; wouldn't be surprised to see the Swiss upset the Spanish; Danes should be comfortable over the Czechs, provided their improvement continues.

[Guest]

Other QFs look interesting. Favouring Italy to edge out Belgium; wouldn't be surprised to see the Swiss upset the Spanish; Danes should be comfortable over the Czechs, provided their improvement continues.

Can’t really get excited about the fixtures, but it is what it is. Think the Italians looked poor in their last game, and this a massive step up for them against the Belgians. Think Xhaka is a big miss for Switzerland and Spain have just been getting more confidence through each game, so I’d expect the Spanish to prevail. Denmark should have enough to beat an average Czech side.

Expected SF
Belgium v Spain
England v Denmark

Probably end up
Italy v Switzerland
Ukraine v Czech Republic

[Oakdene]

Judging by the media this morning you lot have gone & won the whole blimmin thing!!

[GSC]

It's the most significant England result for at least 1 generation. That said we only have to look around the rest of the ties to see that there are no guaranteed wins left. England will still have to play well to beat Ukraine.

I'd expect a return to the system from the group stages for that game, Ukraine are more likely to sit deeper.

[GSC]

And this may not be a great German side, but as I saw this morning, 7 of their starters have won the CL in the last 2 seasons, to go with proven winners like Hummels and Kroos. there was still plenty of talent and tournament experience in that lineup, and they showed against Portugal what can happen if you don't deal with the wing backs.

[Soul Requiem]

Judging by the media this morning you lot have gone & won the whole blimmin thing!!

It's been a god awful 15 months, people just want something to get behind. I don't see any issue with a bit of blind optimism.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I think the fact that it was Germany, and finally ending that hoodoo, made it much more than just a last-16 win, not that those are to be sniffed at. It wasn't just joy, it was relief. One of the tasks for Southgate will be to bring the squad back down to earth.

[Duty281]

Judging by the media this morning you lot have gone & won the whole blimmin thing!!

Mammoth overreaction, but as expected because it's 'Germany' and the name is bigger than the present reality.

[Duty281]

I think the fact that it was Germany, and finally ending that hoodoo, made it much more than just a last-16 win, not that those are to be sniffed at. It wasn't just joy, it was relief. One of the tasks for Southgate will be to bring the squad back down to earth.

Yes, that will be the biggest task - getting the squad to reset, and then motivate them for a game in just a few days against less-heralded opposition on neutral territory.

Southgate is poor in terms of tactics, but as a man-manager he's good so I'm confident that England will have no problems in this aspect.

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