Euro 2020/21 (more football, sorry Brian)

pblakeney

I assume this is the standard new ball for the tournament?
The free kicks have been shocking!

focuszing723

What a goal.

focuszing723

Wow! What a day of sport.

orraloon

😁😁😁

focuszing723

Not to forget, poor sod!

pblakeney

Well, well, well.

orraloon

elbowloh said:

Is it me or is Mbappe having an absolute mare this game?

What do you reckon?

Stevo_666

Bye bye France.

First.Aspect

seanoconn

elbowloh said:

Is it me or is Mbappe having an absolute mare this game?

You called it 👍😂

ddraver

wowsers...

ddraver

Well, no pressure Julian...need to get that yellow jersey back sharpish

womack

Switzerland getting through is a big plus.

joe2019

Pross said:

womack said:

Croatia / Spain...Grating voice on the female co commentator.

Spanish bloke jumps with raised elbow, funnily enough no action taken, must be cos it's Spain not Kieffer Moore.

Jeez just turned on and know what you mean about that voice!

Edit - is it Janet Street-Porter?

I mentioned her a few days ago on the 'Things that annoy' thread... she really is unbearable.

"The game will be won in either box because that's where football matches are won"

FFS

Ben6899

Pross said:

Dan Roan just did his introduction on the BBC News that he is at Wembley ahead of England's historic match against Germany. What is historic about it or is it just Dan Roan being a tw*t as usual?

I hate how we big up every match we play against Germany. The response in Germany, being drawn against England, couldn't be more indifferent if they tried.

Of course, much of England thinks we're still fighting WWII.

rick_chasey

Ben6899 said:

Pross said:

Dan Roan just did his introduction on the BBC News that he is at Wembley ahead of England's historic match against Germany. What is historic about it or is it just Dan Roan being a tw*t as usual?

I hate how we big up every match we play against Germany. The response in Germany, being drawn against England, couldn't be more indifferent if they tried.

Of course, much of England thinks we're still fighting WWII.

If you have a subbie this is really good on the German perspective of the rivalry.

https://theathletic.com/2670208/2021/06/26/england-have-not-been-good-enough-to-warrant-heartfelt-animosity-from-germany-perhaps-until-now/

Ben6899

First.Aspect said:

France would look a lot more solid if they played a second defender. One at the back looks a bit stretched at times.

Kimpembe - overrated already - covering his leftback was only going to end one way. Gavranovic took the goal amazingly well though.

Ben6899

rick_chasey said:

Whoever wrote that bit about coaching and losing most goals in transition I knew it was true but since they posted it I cannot unsee it

It's so true. The successful teams I have played in had one thing in common: emphasis on keeping shape even when properly on the front foot and attacking. Because even the most useless opposition player can lump a ball into a percentage area and even their most useless teammate can get onto it and find some of that 18m2 beyond your keeper... if you let it happen.

Ben6899

rick_chasey said:

Ben6899 said:

Pross said:

Dan Roan just did his introduction on the BBC News that he is at Wembley ahead of England's historic match against Germany. What is historic about it or is it just Dan Roan being a tw*t as usual?

I hate how we big up every match we play against Germany. The response in Germany, being drawn against England, couldn't be more indifferent if they tried.

Of course, much of England thinks we're still fighting WWII.

If you have a subbie this is really good on the German perspective of the rivalry.

https://theathletic.com/2670208/2021/06/26/england-have-not-been-good-enough-to-warrant-heartfelt-animosity-from-germany-perhaps-until-now/

I don't have a sub (thought I should perhaps - the headlines I have seen recently look really interesting), but I get - and agree with - the jist from the link!

rick_chasey

Ben6899 said:

rick_chasey said:

Ben6899 said:

Pross said:

Dan Roan just did his introduction on the BBC News that he is at Wembley ahead of England's historic match against Germany. What is historic about it or is it just Dan Roan being a tw*t as usual?

I hate how we big up every match we play against Germany. The response in Germany, being drawn against England, couldn't be more indifferent if they tried.

Of course, much of England thinks we're still fighting WWII.

If you have a subbie this is really good on the German perspective of the rivalry.

https://theathletic.com/2670208/2021/06/26/england-have-not-been-good-enough-to-warrant-heartfelt-animosity-from-germany-perhaps-until-now/

I don't have a sub (thought I should perhaps - the headlines I have seen recently look really interesting), but I get - and agree with - the jist from the link!

I think there's still a £1 per month offer for 12 months - I picked one up around christmas.

Article says it's a bit like west ham - Tottenham - one cares, the other has bigger rivalries.

Another point is that a lot of the German players have a real reverence for modern English football. Joshua Kimmich (“playing at Wembley is possibly the most beautiful thing there is”)

Overall the point is that there haven't been any meaningful matches between England and Germany recently.

They're terrified of the Italians who regularly knock them out in big spots. Even the Dutch rivalry is waning as plenty of Dutch play in Germany so they don't care as much and again they haven't had any big matches recently. It's really something only the older fans care about as they remember the finals and semi-finals in the '70s and '80s

Ben6899

rick_chasey said:

Ben6899 said:

rick_chasey said:

Ben6899 said:

Pross said:

Dan Roan just did his introduction on the BBC News that he is at Wembley ahead of England's historic match against Germany. What is historic about it or is it just Dan Roan being a tw*t as usual?

I hate how we big up every match we play against Germany. The response in Germany, being drawn against England, couldn't be more indifferent if they tried.

Of course, much of England thinks we're still fighting WWII.

If you have a subbie this is really good on the German perspective of the rivalry.

https://theathletic.com/2670208/2021/06/26/england-have-not-been-good-enough-to-warrant-heartfelt-animosity-from-germany-perhaps-until-now/

I don't have a sub (thought I should perhaps - the headlines I have seen recently look really interesting), but I get - and agree with - the jist from the link!

I think there's still a £1 per month offer for 12 months - I picked one up around christmas.

Article says it's a bit like west ham - Tottenham - one cares, the other has bigger rivalries.

Another point is that a lot of the German players have a real reverence for modern English football. Joshua Kimmich (“playing at Wembley is possibly the most beautiful thing there is”)

Overall the point is that there haven't been any meaningful matches between England and Germany recently.

They're terrified of the Italians who regularly knock them out in big spots. Even the Dutch rivalry is waning as plenty of Dutch play in Germany so they don't care as much and again they haven't had any big matches recently. It's really something only the older fans care about as they remember the finals and semi-finals in the '70s and '80s

We (me, Miss6899 and her family) all put 5Euros in for international tournaments and predict scores, outcomes, semi-finalists, finalists etc... and Italy are the clear favourites among the tipping, to win the whole thing (this is nothing new). There is one tip for Germany stealing the show... and that's mine!

Miss6899's dad actually prefers Italy to win and actively doesn't support Germany... I think the Moller, Sammer, Effenberg generation (and then latterly Ballack et al) spoilt it for him by clearly not being very nice people off the pitch.

The Dutch thing is waning, true. I tried to make a few rivalry based jokes the other day when your lads nose-dived out and it didn't get the traction that it would have a couple of tournaments ago.

Pross

rick_chasey said:

Ben6899 said:

rick_chasey said:

Ben6899 said:

Pross said:

Dan Roan just did his introduction on the BBC News that he is at Wembley ahead of England's historic match against Germany. What is historic about it or is it just Dan Roan being a tw*t as usual?

I hate how we big up every match we play against Germany. The response in Germany, being drawn against England, couldn't be more indifferent if they tried.

Of course, much of England thinks we're still fighting WWII.

If you have a subbie this is really good on the German perspective of the rivalry.

https://theathletic.com/2670208/2021/06/26/england-have-not-been-good-enough-to-warrant-heartfelt-animosity-from-germany-perhaps-until-now/

I don't have a sub (thought I should perhaps - the headlines I have seen recently look really interesting), but I get - and agree with - the jist from the link!

I think there's still a £1 per month offer for 12 months - I picked one up around christmas.

Article says it's a bit like west ham - Tottenham - one cares, the other has bigger rivalries.

Another point is that a lot of the German players have a real reverence for modern English football. Joshua Kimmich (“playing at Wembley is possibly the most beautiful thing there is”)

Overall the point is that there haven't been any meaningful matches between England and Germany recently.

They're terrified of the Italians who regularly knock them out in big spots. Even the Dutch rivalry is waning as plenty of Dutch play in Germany so they don't care as much and again they haven't had any big matches recently. It's really something only the older fans care about as they remember the finals and semi-finals in the '70s and '80s

That's much the same with Scotland v England though isn't it (and, to be fair, probably Wales v England). It always matters more to the side that tends to lose the encounters.

rick_chasey

England haven't played Germany very often in a proper tournament.

TheBigBean

rick_chasey said:

Article says it's a bit like west ham - Tottenham - one cares, the other has bigger rivalries.

West Ham's biggest rivalry is Millwall. It doesn't matter that Millwall are currently in a lower league. It was messy when the two played a while ago.

rick_chasey

I didn't write the article, lads.

seanoconn

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight in the streets and fields, we shall never surrender!

DeVlaeminck

Supposedly England going with a back 5 with the addition of Trippier. Foden in for Grealish, Sterling and Kane both start.

Of course could all be BS.

seanoconn

Foden or Saka?

DeVlaeminck

Saka and Grealish out seems to be the rumour

rick_chasey

DeVlaeminck said:

Supposedly England going with a back 5 with the addition of Trippier. Foden in for Grealish, Sterling and Kane both start.

Of course could all be BS.

MUST. NOT. CONCEDE.