Match Day Thread Euro 2020 Final. Italy v England

Oh really and only you understand it eh
Because pundits and the papers are saying exactly the same.

 

A dick comment oh ffs it’s a joke about one of our own posters
I’m sure he’ll be heartbroken

 

It's nothing to do with respect. They don't want to wear one unless it's a winners medal. I liked it when I seen the players taking them off because I understand the sentiment behind it.



I'm also not a massive snowflake.

 

Another step forward.

Qatar awaits.

We go again...a better team.


Allam’s OUT.

 

We now have 3 young players traumatised about taking penaltys. The manager has explained his reasoning but still hard to believe it was the best option.

 

A great effort by a talented young team. Hopefully there will be more confidence soon to unleash the best attacking players we have had for years. Take it to the opposition a lot more. Would of loved to of seen us go for it from 70 mins and of given the Italians more to think about. Not to be.

And hit proper penalties….,

 

"it was like watching City v Man City in the prem"
Exactly what I was saying several times during the game.
Didn't need to be like that, as there wasn't the same gulf in class as City v Man City. England's players are every bit as good as Italy's.
I don't agree that we were '****' though. But we were 2nd best.
Just wish Southgate had gone for it a bit (ok, a lot) more.

 

Second half we tried the dangerous game of sitting back and defending a one goal lead. You don’t want to leave it to penalties against Donnarumma - he’s such a good keeper.

 

We got to the final playing pragmatic football. We had a strong defensive shape but this came at the expense of our best players. Even having 1 attack minded centre mid he still felt the need to choose Mount for that role. Foden and grelish are much more talented but mount does the tracking back. Sancho is a better winger than saka but also because he puts a defensive shift in saka is front of that queue. If we'd have won the game no one would be complaining so it's hard to criticise but I can't help feel a bit cheated with the talent we have to set up that way just never sat right with me. We went into the game with an underdog mentality against a team who's players (bar veratti and donnaruma) wouldn't get into our team. It's small time and I don't understand it. I know it's not always practical but I'd really like to see us go toe to toe with a big nation and come out on top.

As another point..... Why the **** was an obviously petrified 19 year old kid taking penalty number 5? Some of the senior members of that squad need to take a good look at themselves.

 

I'd take Chiesa too!
edit: and Mancini

 

Caution played a major role in the outcome. Defence mode was triggered that allowed the Italians to walk up the pitch and look for openings...never given that luxury by Spain who were unfortunate to not make final. Three scarred young penalty takers is just not right either...senior players need to reflect on how that was agreed to.

 

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I'd take a few of them in the squad no doubt, but if I was picking a strongest 11 from both squads not using Southgates tactics and line up those are the only two I'd have in our starting line up.
France are the only squad in world football better than us. Incidentally they won a world cup being defensively solid and relying on their front men for a bit of magic. Southgate saw this as the blueprint to winning a tournament. It nearly paid off but ultimately it was that that lead to our failure at the final hurdle. Funny old game innit?

 

Will Southgate learn from this.... who knows.... what staggers me as I said to my Dad last night is the absolute mass of talent at his disposal that he doesn't seem to know how to mould and I mean those not even making the final cut... what I do know is that the next squad will be pretty much the same, apart from Trippier perhaps...

 

Agree with comments re poor penalties, the stop, start malarkey against a big guy between the sticks is never going to work, but let’s not forget, Rashford’s spot kick was so close to being perfect, an inch to the right, just saying.

Thought Pickford played his part, gave his team every chance, must be devastated to save penalties and be on losing end.

Finally, monstrous racial abuse on social media disgusting against some of our players, young human beings. Not acceptable. It’s only a game.....

 

You don’t want to be disingenuous but has Southgate taken us as far as he can? Undoubtedly great at the man-management side of things and a really top bloke, but tactically can he move us up to the next level, which, with this group of players, is clearly where we should be.

 

When I saw Harry Maguire step up for a penalty, I was worried, but he buried it like a pro. The penalties should be taken like that, not waiting for the keeper to move first.
All credit to Italy though, they were the better team, England Will come again.
Despite all the negativity, people slating Southgate, I’d rather have an English manager & finish second!

 

Not being funny but this is the first final in a major competition we have reached in 55 years .. yes 55 years .. we have had the so called golden generation and didn't achieve what this manager and players did. He himself is young in terms of being a manager and as such will be learning.. yes we all wanted us to go for it .. and we do have talent a plenty .. but that talent has to be moulded into a team and a unit .. something which Southgate has done impressively during this tournament. He deserves his chance to go one further and with this experience behind him who's to say he won't.. far too early to be thinking of changing the manager who has achieved something only one other manager has achieved in our history !

 

Not read any of this thread but I will say only one thing.

If you're taking a penalty of that magnitude then bury the bastard, not **** about hop, skipping and jumping like some ****ing dickhead.

 

I know Southgate says he chose the penalty takers in advance but I wonder if he's just taking the blame to protect the players from unwanted criticism.