France vs Switzerland - Monday 28th June - 8pm (BST)

[trabuch]

ITV's font can get in the bin.

[Super_horns]

Well just shows even the best the footballers in the world can miss a penalty in pressure situations. 

 

Congratulations to the Swiss - great comeback.

[foxile5]

Just now, Super_horns said:

Well just shows even the best the footballers in the world can miss a penalty in pressure situations. 

 

Congratulations to the Swiss - great comeback.

Excellent game

 

[Blue ROI]

France could have done with little Wes to seal the deal.

[StriderHiryu]

Football was the real winner today! That was easily the best day of International football I can remember. Both games fabulous, amazing grit from both Croatia and Switzerland and congrats to the Swiss for their first ever knockout stage win, against the world champions of all teams!

 

I wasn't really interested in the tournament when it began as there had been so much football that it didn't feel as special. But today has really rekindled the romance. Days like this are why so many of us love football!

 

[Gazi Giray]

2 minutes ago, Chester Dontlie said:

Actually Baggio was brilliant peno taker. He's unjustly remembered for that 1994 final miss but his convertion ratio was up there with the best of his era. Also, he dragged Italy through the whole tourament back then and scored a few quality goals. Mbappe just rolled around a lot and missed the goal every attempt. That penalty sums up his tournament 

Chester I know Baggio. Just event is similar. A missing penalty do not make him or anyoneelse a bad player . It was very good to watch Italian Team with Baggio those days.. He was miserable to  miss it.. This can happen big players. 

[turtmcfly]

16 minutes ago, foxes_rule1978 said:

What is this guys reaction now!

 

[bovril]

17 minutes ago, The Syrup said:

23 goals in 2 games tonight

[Gazi Giray]

11 minutes ago, Flamey said:

I certainly do, had an Italian girlfriend at the time! ☺👍

Flamey I was try to make joking .. sorry.. It was so good .. thank you   

[Chester Dontlie]

What an evening, each of todays games was worthy of a final. I'm sort of worried it's only downhill from now on

 

 

[Fox in the North]

The videos for the before and after of that Swiss dude..

 

 

[Samilktray]

Pogba has been lovely to watch and arguably the best player of the tournament so far, so it’s a shame to see them go out this early 

[Dan]

5 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Football was the real winner today! That was easily the best day of International football I can remember. Both games fabulous, amazing grit from both Croatia and Switzerland and congrats to the Swiss for their first ever knockout stage win, against the world champions of all teams!

 

I wasn't really interested in the tournament when it began as there had been so much football that it didn't feel as special. But today has really rekindled the romance. Days like this are why so many of us love football!

 

Agree whole heartedly. People should cherish those games. It's a minor miracle in a tournament that had a lot of potential to be really dull given the obvious fatigue the players will be suffering.

 

I think the surprisingly open nature combined with the buzz of crowds being back has turned this into a really good tournament. Definitely up there with the best Euros I can remember.

[st albans fox]

France have such depth at CB and yet the two they conceded two headers from crosses last night (and hardly looked comfortable throughout when Switzerland pushed forwards).  can we assume that a new manager would bin kimpembe and varane ? 

[David Hankey]

Glad to see a very much over-rated youngster have a such a vital penalty saved. It'll do him good to have some disappointment, after all, we've all known it.

 

Although a good strike it was a superb one handed save.

[StriderHiryu]

L'Equipe Player Ratings, known for being savage to all players in any game:

 

 

 

[Finnegan]

5 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

L'Equipe Player Ratings, known for being savage to all players in any game:

 

 

 

 

Fair. The touch from Benzema for his first was majestic. Deserved a 10 for that alone. 

 

Thought the French back three were hilariously bad. 2 for Lenglet is kind. 

 

Edited 29 June 2021 by Finnegan

[foxes_rule1978]

I’m surprised Mbappe got a 4 should be 2, I thought Xhaka was an 8 and Pogba a 7… took a point off for the silly dance  

[foxes_rule1978]

6 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

Fair. The touch from Benzema for his first was majestic. Deserved a 10 for that alone. 

 

Thought the French back three were hilariously bad. 2 for Lenglet is kind. 

 

The French defence was a total let down giving the amount of talent they have there… but I suppose you can’t play them all 

[Finnegan]

1 minute ago, foxes_rule1978 said:

The French defence was a total let down giving the amount of talent they have there… but I suppose you can’t play them all 

 

When you consider how insane even their u21s are, the fact Clement Lenglet still gets a kick is beyond me. 

[foxes_rule1978]

5 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

When you consider how insane even their u21s are, the fact Clement Lenglet still gets a kick is beyond me. 

Deschamps certainly reminded me of pretty much every England manager we have had no doubt, with tactics and selection this tournament. The French need a new manager with fresh ideas and is willing to bring through more of the excellent young talent they have 

Edited 29 June 2021 by foxes_rule1978

[Finnegan]

1 minute ago, foxes_rule1978 said:

Deschamps certainly reminded me of pretty much every England manager we have had no doubt, with tactics and selection this tournament. The French need a new manager with fresh ideas and is willing to bring through more of the excellent young talent they have 

 

It's the state of international football generally to be honest. Every nation is either in decline or has been straight up shit for years. 

 

The Germans are one of the few who have a philosophy of giving the job to promising young coaches who seem to want the job, although JL definitely has stayed too long. 

 

Belgium, England, France, Portugal, outside Europe Argentina might actually be worse than all of them for it. 

 

Teams packed full of talent managed by idiots that wouldn't get a job in the Ryman League because all the top managers are at clubs earning five times as much. 

[shen]

17 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

It's the state of international football generally to be honest. Every nation is either in decline or has been straight up shit for years. 

 

The Germans are one of the few who have a philosophy of giving the job to promising young coaches who seem to want the job, although JL definitely has stayed too long. 

 

Belgium, England, France, Portugal, outside Europe Argentina might actually be worse than all of them for it. 

 

Teams packed full of talent managed by idiots that wouldn't get a job in the Ryman League because all the top managers are at clubs earning five times as much. 

Mancini has been doing well with Italy. Luis Enrique has the youngest side in the tournament with his side suddenly scoring boat loads, De Boer is the youngest Dutch manager in a while for the Netherlands I believe. Belgium have tried something different with Martinez having underperformed for decades before then and actually found a way to play as a team.
Not sure you can generalise this way, but saying that, the way football is getting more and more professional and well-paid across countries, could we conceivably see a return to amateur national sides and coaches?

[Finnegan]

1 hour ago, shen said:

De Boer is the youngest Dutch manager in a while for the Netherlands I believe. Belgium have tried something different with Martinez having underperformed for decades before then and actually found a way to play as a team.

 

Belgium never, ever, ever had the quality of squad they do now and the Netherlands are another example of a team that should be pretty talented on paper that are being wasted by an utterly inept coach that failed almost everywhere at club level. A coach who the players and fans alike don't want and who insists on playing 352 against all common sense. 

[shen]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

 

Belgium never, ever, ever had the quality of squad they do now and the Netherlands are another example of a team that should be pretty talented on paper that are being wasted by an utterly inept coach that failed almost everywhere at club level. A coach who the players and fans alike don't want and who insists on playing 352 against all common sense. 

They had a great squad in 1982-1990, but probably not as good as the current side, no. But sometimes even the most talented squads cannot gel for one reason or another. A national team like Belgium has struggled historically under many managers to actually play as a team. I think hiring a non-Belgian is the right thing. You can question the calibre, but he's not a bad coach.

 

De Boer is one of the most successful coaches domestically and was assistant when they last made a major final. I don't know the insider stories, but from the outside and on paper, he's not a bad appointment.