Euro 2020/21 (more football, sorry Brian)

pblakeney

pinno said:

Germany at Wembley.
Oh well.

At least when they get beaten, we can concentrate on the Tour.

I expect 4-2 to be getting a lot of mentions.

tailwindhome

It's only been 3 years since we were last discussing England being in the easier side of the draw in the knockout stages of a tournament

Feels a lot longer

verylonglegs

I don't get all the negativity towards the draw. It's a knockout game against Germany at Wembley in a major tournament. They don't come along very often, you really have to be looking forward to it imo.

rick_chasey

Germany were very average against Hungary.

surrey_commuter

rick_chasey said:

Germany were very average against Hungary.

And in their other two games.

blazing_saddles

rick_chasey said:

Germany were very average against Hungary.

TBF that would usually be an improvement for England.

skyblueamateur

England 1 - 0 Germany.

England fans do my head in 'It's Coming Home' to 'Southgate Out' depending on the 90 minutes. Moan constantly about not winning anything and then when winning moan constantly about the style of football. Get behind the team you melts.

rick_chasey

skyblueamateur said:

England 1 - 0 Germany.

England fans do my head in 'It's Coming Home' to 'Southgate Out' depending on the 90 minutes. Moan constantly about not winning anything and then when winning moan constantly about the style of football. Get behind the team you melts.

Better than the f*cking England band.

Pross

skyblueamateur said:

England 1 - 0 Germany.

England fans do my head in 'It's Coming Home' to 'Southgate Out' depending on the 90 minutes. Moan constantly about not winning anything and then when winning moan constantly about the style of football. Get behind the team you melts.

You forgot the stage where they have one half decent performance and everyone is saying they're going to win the tournament.

womack

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

seanoconn

England need to change their bl@ody anthem to get a bit of a pump on. Doesn’t even need lyrics, maybe a bit of drum and bass instead of the usual deflating dirge.

rick_chasey

Yikes we're all a negative bunch aren't we?

I think there's a decent chance for England. I hope the players can rise to the occasion.

pblakeney

rick_chasey said:

Yikes we're all a negative bunch aren't we?

I think there's a decent chance for England. I hope the players can rise to the occasion.

Let’s hope not.

https://ms.sbrfeeds.com/redirect-proxy/redirect/?url=http://bigbear.mysbrforum.com/photos/l/rupsgySU.jpg

Ben6899

DeVlaeminck said:

Was on an FA coaching webinar this evening - one of the FA tutors reckoned Southgate's tactics were heavily influenced by the fact a high percentage of goals are conceded from negative transitions - basically from your team losing the ball and your being in an offensive shape unsuited to defending.

So England remain in a fairly defensive shape even when attacking so they can't be caught on the break. You have to say it's borne out by the stats so far - at both ends of the pitch as we don't look a threat but we never look that vulnerable.

I still think you need to commit more to attack and then manage the transition - like Man City do with little professional fouls high up the pitch - but it's a point of view. It also points to why Southgate loves Sterling and Rashford so much as they have do run in behind and can play on the break when we win the ball.

You won’t be surprised to find out that I fully endorse Southgate’s tactics!

Thanks for sharing.

MattFalle

Tbh, I just don't know with the German team - they'll either be brilliant and MARMALISE you or you'll take them apart....

sensible head: 2-1 either way.

kingstongraham

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

verylonglegs

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

I'm sure that well known hot bed of european football called Baku getting to host games was the result of an entirely legitimate bidding process. It was a disgrace Wales and Switzerland were dragged out there and if Wales progress they have to return for a quarter final.

First.Aspect

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

rick_chasey

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

The carnival atmosphere of a host nation is part of the fun, and I would imagine, at least in smaller countries that aren't Russia or Brazil, that it's better for travelling fans too as they don't need to trek across continents to follow their team.

kingstongraham

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

If only there were countries that already had a few big stadia.

You might as well just have it as a European super league of nations and have home and away matches.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

The carnival atmosphere of a host nation is part of the fun, and I would imagine, at least in smaller countries that aren't Russia or Brazil, that it's better for travelling fans too as they don't need to trek across continents to follow their team.

You've just made the case for Qatar.

First.Aspect

kingstongraham said:

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

If only there were countries that already had a few big stadia.

You might as well just have it as a European super league of nations and have home and away matches.

Not sure that is far off is it?

There are many smaller nations with one or two big stadia. Hungary, for example. Wales has one good one. Other countries have a disproportionate amount but that doesn't preclude having multiple hosts elsewhere.

They really have been idiotic this time (it is UEFA after all) and put venues spread as far as Glasgow and Baku, but regional tournaments within Europe would be easy enough.

kingstongraham

So the two halves of the draw...

France, Switzerland; Croatia, Spain: Belgium, Portugal; Italy, Austria

Netherlands, Czech Republic; Wales, Denmark: Sweden, Ukraine; England, Germany

Whoever comes through to the final from the top half really has earned it. Rather be in England's place than Croatia's.

surrey_commuter

kingstongraham said:

So the two halves of the draw...

France, Switzerland; Croatia, Spain: Belgium, Portugal; Italy, Austria

Netherlands, Czech Republic; Wales, Denmark: Sweden, Ukraine; England, Germany

Whoever comes through to the final from the top half really has earned it. Rather be in England's place than Croatia's.

On paper there is no reason why we can't reach the final.

I wish I could remember the reasoning behind people wanting England to be runners up

surrey_commuter

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

The carnival atmosphere of a host nation is part of the fun, and I would imagine, at least in smaller countries that aren't Russia or Brazil, that it's better for travelling fans too as they don't need to trek across continents to follow their team.

I think carnival atmosphere is on a city level and only if the city is not too big

ddraver

MattFalle said:

Tbh, I just don't know with the German team - they'll either be brilliant and MARMALISE you or you'll take them apart....

sensible head: 2-1 either way.

Neither team seem to be very on form. It has all the makings of a really poor quality game. Though I suppose the ratcheting tension will add a modicum of spice...

surrey_commuter

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

Just play it in London, as fans don't need to travel they can allocate stadium when they know who is playing. If Belgium are playing Morth Macedonia then a nearly full Craven Cottage will be a better venue than a half empty Stamford Bridge

elbowloh

surrey_commuter said:

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

kingstongraham said:

womack said:

The whole thing is a joke, one team get to play all their games at home whilst some of us have to travel half way round the world and back.

A situation obviously made worse with the current covid travel restrictions.

I hope we never see this format again.

To be fair, in most tournaments one team get to play all their matches at home.

Difference this time is it's more than one. It's crazy.

Why is it crazy? Seems more equitable than a single host nation. Less need to pointlessly upgrade or build stadia.

Multi-country world cups and multi country olympics would avoid these going to nations interested only in sports-washing, at great cost to the locals who are being washed.

The carnival atmosphere of a host nation is part of the fun, and I would imagine, at least in smaller countries that aren't Russia or Brazil, that it's better for travelling fans too as they don't need to trek across continents to follow their team.

I think carnival atmosphere is on a city level and only if the city is not too big

I've been to one Euros (Portugal, based in Porto) and one WC (Germany based in Hannover) abroad and both were brilliant experiences, with carnival atmospheres. With the WC in Germany, we travelled round a bit with games in Hamburg and Kaiserlauten as well as Hannover and also did a trip to Berlin, watching a game on a huge screen at the Brandenburg Gate.

The atmosphere was great everywhere we went.

womack

Just to clarify, my initial post was not an anti English rant, it was an anti UEFA rant. I really wouldn't have minded the whole tournament being based in England. In normal times the fans from all over Europe only have to come to one country and base themselves there.

This is what we did in Euro 2016, just traveling around France for each game.

Even without Covid, and I make no apology for using Wales as an example, but the cost to fans would have been rediculous. Baku, Rome, Amsterdam possibly back to Baku etc.

Cardiff did bid for games initially, got knocked back, Brussels pulled out, got knocked back again, Dublin pulled out, Cardiff got knocked back again. So, it would appear to me, the highest bidding palm greaser gets the games

And to cap it all our government, whilst denying the average British citizen basic freedoms is going to let in 2500 unchecked, non isolating UEFA luvvies for a Covid Fest Final just to ensure it is at Wembley.

The whole thing stinks to me.

kingstongraham

surrey_commuter said:

kingstongraham said:

So the two halves of the draw...

France, Switzerland; Croatia, Spain: Belgium, Portugal; Italy, Austria

Netherlands, Czech Republic; Wales, Denmark: Sweden, Ukraine; England, Germany

Whoever comes through to the final from the top half really has earned it. Rather be in England's place than Croatia's.

On paper there is no reason why we can't reach the final.

I wish I could remember the reasoning behind people wanting England to be runners up

Spain and Sweden were expected to be the other way around, which would even it up a bit and make the route to the semi a bit easier. But top half would still look tougher, and this way England gets to play at home.