RoboFox

The Athletic - Shock, fear, euphoria and heartbreak: The story of England's Euro 2024 Summary: - Defeat had been coming, England had stumbled their way through the tournament - Kane and Southgate went for a walk together just before final friendly match before tournament, Kane expressed his concern that Maguire had been left out after already leaving out Henderson, Rashford and Grealish. Maguire was set to be fit for the 3rd group game, but Southgate decided to leave him out anyway as he felt he couldn’t risk it, Maguire was shocked. Kane wanted to understand reasoning and discuss with Southgate, to help relay it to the team. - Grealish was ‘stunned’ that he was left out as he’d made positive impact off the bench against Bosnia, some players visited Grealish in his bedroom to express their shock at his exclusion; they felt he had the big game experience needed. He wished the team good luck but was not in the mood to exchange pleasantries with Southgate. This made for an unhappy camp on squad call up evening. - Frequent suggestions that Kane was experiencing a back injury, Kane insisted he was fit. There was concerns about his ability to press. - Players felt they were under attack from former England players, particularly Gary Lineker. Inside the camp, it was thought that maybe Southgate had faltered by not bringing Henderson, Maguire etc for their experience and personality as it may have helped calm the group. - One player told Southgate’s staff that he’d never seen criticism like the criticism England got after the Denmark draw. - Unrest due to player marriages; drama surrounding Walker’s former mistress attending a game and another players marriage under speculation - Southgate showed players footage of them after Denmark game where he questioned their body language: “They (Denmark) are on two points, we’re on four. They’re celebrating with their fans, we’re on our knees.” Felt it showed unusual environment. - Southgate took Trent (cast aside after two games in midfield) and Gallagher (really disappointed to have been subbed at half time against Slovenia) aside to reassure them and insist on their importance. They reacted well. - Player most aware of criticism against them: Jude Bellingham. According to those close to team environment, he was ‘aware of every word said or written about him in the media’ - Bellingham’s demeanour was subject of conversation too. Some in camp didn’t like his ‘Hey Jude’ advert, where he was painted at England’s saviour, felt it didn’t align with Southgate’s ethos, which is about the importance of the whole group and collective. Other than Trent, Bellingham doesn’t have close connections with many of the squad, unlike most other players - Bellingham promoted to leadership group just before tournament alongside Kane, Walker and Rice. But he did not attend daily outside media duties; sometimes this left other young inexperienced players on the fringes of the squad such as Palmer, Gordon etc to answer difficult questions. - Wayne Rooney noticed this; he wrote in his newspaper column about Bellingham that he felt he needed to step up and take responsibility to speak out. - Felt like a weight lifted after Bellingham’s bicycle kick against Slovakia, knew they got away with poor performance but it lifted spirits, allowed for better team bonding - Southgate and Holland livid at the media for leaking change to three man central defence; journalists had conference call with the FA who expressed anger on Southgate’s behalf - Game changing moments against Switzerland and Netherlands, but ultimately, England were riding their luck for most of the tournament and it was unsurprising when they met a much more coherent team in Spain, that they couldn’t prevail.

Being English is generally really quite shit TBF.

En route to the pub. Not going mad, mind. Few shandies to start the afternoon.

Feels like a historical moment. The implications from this will be massive and far reaching.

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America is an episode of South Park except it stopped being funny ages ago.

Down in the English Riviera this weekend visiting family, we've booked a big-screen showing in Torquay and I've got Monday off

At least with a couple of years left on a bonkers contract we might be able to make some money on a sale rather than him walking away for nothing. Absolutely under no circumstances should he be allowed anywhere near the side next season, though.

If Rodgers’ instructions were to repeatedly give the ball to the opposition via woefully inept passes interspersed by long bouts of complete disinterest, then I suppose it could.

Absolutely this. People have short memories. Some of his performances that season were disgraceful. He looked like he’d forgotten how to play football entirely - and that was him playing in his “natural” position. I’m not against him staying, but some people acting like we’ve re-signed prime 2017-2020 destroyer Wilf when we’ve seen nothing of the sort for years.

Not having that. Bloke had to turn away he was grinning so much. He secretly loves England.

Ambling around like a retiree playing walking football for the Dog and Duck.

Kane is a burden on this team. Couldn’t believe my eyes when Mainoo was begging for a runner on the defender’s shoulder and Kane came to the ball despite already being about 4 yards away.

An entertaining England game. Who would’ve thunk it?

Two absolutely humming offsides on the left. Sort it out you clowns.

Say what you want about others, but Leerdammer is grade-A chee.

How TF does anyone get anything done on the phone surrounded like that? Total social anxiety nightmare. Today had to lock myself alone in a meeting room to call up for an appointment with my dentist.

English photographer getting in with an early crunching tackle on Morata.

Block it and hoof it. Some of our fans will be absolutely delighted with this.

There's data emerging to suggest that younger generations - notably Millenials and GenZ - seem to be bucking the trend of voting more conservatively as they age. Within 50 years Conservatism as we know it could literally die out.

LCFC admin published the video too early.

France will shithouse this.

Maxim Tsigalko and Freddy Adu.

Easy, this. Rudkin's been playing the slots at bc.game and just cashed out a fvck load of Dogecoin.