England Euro 2020

[foxes_rule1978]

4 minutes ago, TK95 said:

Germany making light work of Latvia. Had this been England, we'd see a shaky 1-0 

Glad we didn’t get beat by north Macedonia though … 

[Duquesne Whistle]

11 hours ago, Leicesterpool said:

Actually pick someone whose fit and available.

 

Always been my modus operandi. Not sure what went wrong tbh. My Mrs was available though and one out of two ain't bad....

 

8 hours ago, Leicesterpool said:

I think it should drawn at random to make it interesting. The same with the qualifiers.

This would obviously never happen, but it would be fantastic wouldn't it? Some titanic first round knock out match between say, Italy and France. Smaller nations encouraged to have a right go and make a name for themselves over 90 minutes too. Without groups though, much less games and much less money.

The tournaments will just keep expanding unfortunately. Given the amount of newer countries there are due to independence votes (and wars), a century from now, there'll probably be 400 countries rather than 200 odd. World cups will end up being about 3 months long. 

[spacemunky]

1 hour ago, TK95 said:

Germany making light work of Latvia. Had this been England, we'd see a shaky 1-0 

Latvia = Brazil

[HybridFox]

I remember the last Euros there was such a buzz. On the back of the title win. Great summer. Will Griggs on Fire. Most of the home nations qualifying.

 

Went absolutely mad when Vardy equalised against Wales. Probably more than even the Sturridge winner haha. 

 

Genuinely really got behind the lads but there's not a lot to get excited about this time round. Quite flat tbh

[spacemunky]

Pubs here announced patios are open this Friday. My interest in these Euros has just gone up!

[Guest Col city fan]

So hope I’m wrong but again, I can’t make out why England are joint favourites for the tournament? Looking at the Italians with the likes of Immobile up front, the Germans with Werner, Muller, Gnabry, the Belgians with Tielemans, Lukaku et al. France with Mbappe... the list goes on...

Our central midfield to me looks piss weak imo. Apart from Grealish, there’s such little flair.

And we know there’s always an error in Stones and Pickford 

It’s gonna be interesting, no doubt.

 

[Nick]

13 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

So hope I’m wrong but again, I can’t make out why England are joint favourites for the tournament? Looking at the Italians with the likes of Immobile up front, the Germans with Werner, Muller, Gnabry, the Belgians with Tielemans, Lukaku et al. France with Mbappe... the list goes on...

Our central midfield to me looks piss weak imo. Apart from Grealish, there’s such little flair.

And we know there’s always an error in Stones and Pickford 

It’s gonna be interesting, no doubt.

 

Immobile is a great name for a forward!

[KrefelderFox666]

29 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

So hope I’m wrong but again, I can’t make out why England are joint favourites for the tournament? Looking at the Italians with the likes of Immobile up front, the Germans with Werner, Muller, Gnabry, the Belgians with Tielemans, Lukaku et al. France with Mbappe... the list goes on...

Our central midfield to me looks piss weak imo. Apart from Grealish, there’s such little flair.

And we know there’s always an error in Stones and Pickford 

It’s gonna be interesting, no doubt.

 

Other than France, I don't see many teams that are much more likely to win than England. Having said that, it is quite a level playing field. Italy are still a young team whose best time is yet to come. Belgium to me seem to have out of form/tired players. Portugal could be good. Spain are Spain, capable but not as strong as they have been. Netherlands seem to be up to nothing.

 

For me (other than France not much between the others):

 

France

England

Portugal

Italy

Belgium

Germany

Spain

Netherlands

 

As I said in another thread, this is a really exciting tournament that is wide open and there are probably 14 or so teams that could realistically win it.

[walkerleeds]

36 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

So hope I’m wrong but again, I can’t make out why England are joint favourites for the tournament? Looking at the Italians with the likes of Immobile up front, the Germans with Werner, Muller, Gnabry, the Belgians with Tielemans, Lukaku et al. France with Mbappe... the list goes on...

Our central midfield to me looks piss weak imo. Apart from Grealish, there’s such little flair.

And we know there’s always an error in Stones and Pickford 

It’s gonna be interesting, no doubt.

 

 

It's the bookies covering their backs as so many English fans will blindly back them all day long.

[RowlattsFox]

You wouldn't back England to beat any of the better sides. They are capable, but it would need our attacking players to turn it on big time and would have to be in spite of Southgate rather than because of him. 

[Nalis]

Its funny to see English fans' negative  views of the current English squad vs other europeans' views.

 

From the europeans I chat with, their general consensus is that France have the best squad following by England and then the other big nations are much of a muchness. They dont rate Belgium that highly oddly enough. 

 

Complete opposite from when I was younger when England fans overrated a squad that failed to deliver.

 

 

 

[KrefelderFox666]

6 minutes ago, Nalis said:

Its funny to see English fans' negative  views of the current English squad vs other europeans' views.

 

From the europeans I chat with, their general consensus is that France have the best squad following by England and then the other big nations are much of a muchness. They dont rate Belgium that highly oddly enough. 

 

Complete opposite from when I was younger when England fans overrated a squad that failed to deliver.

 

 

 

Pretty much nailed it. I have a mixed view in that I am German but I have been in the UK for most of my life. So I get to see the view from the outside and the inside. This England side is the best since the last few "golden" generations. However, there are two things to consider:

 

1. Take care of this generation and don't overhype them or burn them down when they "fail".

2. They need to be given time because there is a good 10 year phase for this young team and they don't have to win everything.

 

I am convinced that England can finally win something again in the next 10 or so years, they are well overdue. And when I speak to people back home or watch German TV, a lot of people actually want England to go on and win something because they seem to fall short so many times. Afterall, for the creators of football, there should be more trophies and success to their name.

 

The biggest failings I think over here is the media. They put pressure on the players/managers and when they lose they pounce. To me this is way over the top. Along with the other UK/Irish nations, the fans are some of the best around, always noisy, always out in force. Can't say that about many of the other countries. We will forget the fact they are 99% p1ssed up and a fair chunk behave like idiots, but from a nations backing, cannot be faulted.

 

I remember the excitement and ecstasy that was in the country only 3 years ago at the World Cup. I am sure that will come back once this tournament starts and with at least 5 of the 7 games at home, why shouldn't that help as well (although full capacity would have really helped). Good luck and most of all, enjoy the ride. I am hoping to avoid playing England if we do get out of the groups!

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Col city fan said:

So hope I’m wrong but again, I can’t make out why England are joint favourites for the tournament? Looking at the Italians with the likes of Immobile up front, the Germans with Werner, Muller, Gnabry, the Belgians with Tielemans, Lukaku et al. France with Mbappe... the list goes on...

Our central midfield to me looks piss weak imo. Apart from Grealish, there’s such little flair.

And we know there’s always an error in Stones and Pickford 

It’s gonna be interesting, no doubt.

 

Bellingham, Mount, Foden, Grealish and Rice have had exceptional seasons?

 

Our problem is defence and goalkeeper and that we have a helmet in charge who won't be able to get the best out of a superb midfield and attack.

[Bert]

 

Won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but a bit of light hearted fun. 

[StanSP]

8 minutes ago, Bert said:

 

Won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but a bit of light hearted fun. 

I thought it was brilliant. People will take it too seriously though! 

[Bert]

8 minutes ago, StanSP said:

I thought it was brilliant. People will take it too seriously though! 

Yes me too. These two are good together I think. 

[Guest Col city fan]

2 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

You wouldn't back England to beat any of the better sides. They are capable, but it would need our attacking players to turn it on big time and would have to be in spite of Southgate rather than because of him. 

The last part of your sentence sums it up for me mate. I said exactly the same to our kid last night 

[Guest Col city fan]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Bellingham, Mount, Foden, Grealish and Rice have had exceptional seasons?

 

Our problem is defence and goalkeeper and that we have a helmet in charge who won't be able to get the best out of a superb midfield and attack.

I’m not talking about attacking mids Ric. Grealish, Foden, Mount all come in from wider positions and are very good at it. I mean a midfield playmaker. A Tielemans type player who will sit, control and orchestrate. I like Rice but he’s unproven at this level as is Bellingham. My feeling is we could get swamped in the middle of the park 

[Bert]

4 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

I’m not talking about attacking mids Ric. Grealish, Foden, Mount all come in from wider positions and are very good at it. I mean a midfield playmaker. A Tielemans type player who will sit, control and orchestrate. I like Rice but he’s unproven at this level as is Bellingham. My feeling is we could get swamped in the middle of the park 

I tend to feel we have the players able to break the play up but not pick the right forward pass, whereas the likes of KDB, Tielemans pick the right pass with that bit of risk in it. Our players would rather pas sideways. So in some effect I think you’re right. 

[Fox in the North]

 

[Guest Col city fan]

1 hour ago, Bert said:

I tend to feel we have the players able to break the play up but not pick the right forward pass, whereas the likes of KDB, Tielemans pick the right pass with that bit of risk in it. Our players would rather pas sideways. So in some effect I think you’re right. 

Nice one mate, that’s how I feel. Could be wrong though (often am)

👍

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Col city fan said:

I’m not talking about attacking mids Ric. Grealish, Foden, Mount all come in from wider positions and are very good at it. I mean a midfield playmaker. A Tielemans type player who will sit, control and orchestrate. I like Rice but he’s unproven at this level as is Bellingham. My feeling is we could get swamped in the middle of the park 

It has to be Rice and Bellingham as a pairing and I think that will be more than good enough but we have very little in reserve as Henderson looks fcuked and Phillips is decent but nothing special. 

 

Bellingham is going to be a world beater, he can play any role you want to and Mount can act as a fulcrum slightly deeper than the traditional ACM which he's done before. I think as a 3 with Grealish and Foden or Sancho out wide behind Kane is very strong. 

 

What tests all of this is the defence and keeper though, very dubious.

[filbertway]

Give me that front 4 of

 --------Kane

Grealish Mount Foden

 

Rashford, Sterling and Sancho as options off the bench against tiring defenders. Beautiful

[Guest Col city fan]

34 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

It has to be Rice and Bellingham as a pairing and I think that will be more than good enough but we have very little in reserve as Henderson looks fcuked and Phillips is decent but nothing special. 

 

Bellingham is going to be a world beater, he can play any role you want to and Mount can act as a fulcrum slightly deeper than the traditional ACM which he's done before. I think as a 3 with Grealish and Foden or Sancho out wide behind Kane is very strong. 

 

What tests all of this is the defence and keeper though, very dubious.

Bellingham is very very good but that’s placing a big responsibility on the shoulders of a 17 old lad. And I agree about lack of strength in depth 

[filbertway]

6 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

Bellingham is very very good but that’s placing a big responsibility on the shoulders of a 17 old lad. And I agree about lack of strength in depth 

I'm sure he can handle it, he's been playing senior football for 2 seasons now. He's scored in a champions league quarter final. He's playing in a team managed by Gareth Southgate, so I don't think there's any pressure anyway.