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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
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Not true. The fact that we are England is why we are unlikely to go far in this tournament.
#Underachievers!
I'll surrender.*
Haven't seen that aprticular game but I saw Albania vs France the last 'gameweek' and was super surprised about the quality Albania showed on the pitch and wasthinking to myself: I never want to hear some PL snob criticize the quality of play in Eastern Europe/Albania again.
That being said: as much as I like this tournament so far, the m.o. is far from exciting. Best to play defensive and keep a clean sheet - attacking isn't couraged and it shows.
*Never will I ever watch a MLS game. Ever.
Albania's commitment and effort were superb. But the entertainment factor was zero. And Romania did very little.
I was sitting next to a Scotsman and a Dutchman and they both agreed with my assessment, though to be fair they both have reason to be bitter about the Euros...
At times, it almost makes you long for the days of black and white TV - no red shirt to dazzle with jogging and dragging pixels, rather different shades of grey that you had to learn how to distinguish one from the other.
But change is odd, and it is strange how rapidly you get used to it, and take it for granted.
I spent a part of the 2004 tournament in Kaliningrad - academic related stuff, conferences and lectures - and the TV coverage was bewildering. Now, I can stumble through some Russian, - and read it a bit - so that wasn't the problem. Rather, it was that at the time, Russian TV didn't show the score in a little corner at the top of the screen, and nor did they show the time, so - if you switched on the match at some stage having returned from a restaurant or pub, you hadn't a clue of what the score was or what the time was in relation to a 90 minute competition.
Agreed.
No. Not quite.
England rarely play as well as a team as the individual talent often at their disposal might suggest could be possible.
Not to mention it's the semis and not quarters and realistically a tougher competitor too.
And - by hurling a reporter's microphone into a lake with characteristic gracelessness and ill temper - instead of politely declining a request for a comment - Cristiano Ronaldo yet again shows that his finely chiselled features merely mask the behaviour of a petulant, pouting, narcissistic individual.
Same.
Not even his talents on the pitch can make up for such childish behaviour.
And yet he scored two later in the day, playing for Portugal against Hungary.
Now, this match - I didn't watch it, merely followed it via the Guardian - has turned out to have been the match of the tournament so far.
However, I will admit that I was rather conflicted.
Because I cannot abide Cristiano Ronaldo - that entitled ego, that bloated bottomless sense of self regard, entirely lacking grace or wit or humour or basic decency, - yes, he is supremely talented, that, I will reluctantly concede - I hoped that Portugal would suffer as they had the night he missed the penalty against Austria, and the earlier night when Iceland had failed - or refused, or declined - to show due deference and succumb without a spine.
But then, entirely for political rather than footballing reasons, I had hoped that Hungary would suffer, too. Actually, I hoped that both sides would lose, but, no, alas, the fates were not to grant me that wish.
Never mind: Iceland's victory over Austria (well, over anyone really) was a joy to behold, as was their genuine, stunned, ecstatic delight. A pure pleasure.
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Typical. Miss the best game of the tournament!
Looks like the highlights will be worth watching.
To be honest, I'm a little bit disappointed in USA. Nobody expected us to do anything against Argentina, who - let's be honest - are miles and miles better than the USA. But I wanted to see more from our boys, a few shots on goal, some more penetrating attacks. Fewer goals conceded. To be fair, we had three starters suspended, and that was a factor. But USA fans need to keep dreaming big. We will win the World Cup some day, and I want to see more progress in that direction.
With that being said, this was a good showing compared to our inexcusable performances in the Gold Cup. And it was no 7-0!
Currently watching Italy- Ireland...the Irish are showing great fight, still 0-0 but they are up against it. Even a win might not be enough but I'm rooting for them. Italy look a bit flat, but Italy can always lull you into thinking jute are going know where, only to produce a moment of magic.
Edit: I'll eat my words! Great win for Ireland, setting up a match with England if I'm not mistaken. No matter what happens next, they've done well.
With that being said, this was a good showing compared to our inexcusable performances in the Gold Cup. And it was no 7-0!
Currently watching Italy- Ireland...the Irish are showing great fight, still 0-0 but they are up against it. Even a win might not be enough but I'm rooting for them. Italy look a bit flat, but Italy can always lull you into thinking jute are going know where, only to produce a moment of magic.
Edit: I'll eat my words! Great win for Ireland, setting up a match with England if I'm not mistaken. No matter what happens next, they've done well.
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An astonishing win for Ireland (against Italy), by one goal to nil; the three minutes stoppage time was mysteriously extended to almost six.....and Ireland had a decent penalty chance turned down earlier.
Belgium beat Sweden, but that is less of a surprise - also 1-0 in the last 10 minutes.
Belgium beat Sweden, but that is less of a surprise - also 1-0 in the last 10 minutes.
I believe Iceland will be taking on England next (with Ireland taking on France and Italy taking on Spain).
Saw a headline - while glancing at speed at the Guardian - which read - in part - 'England fearing for Sterling' and immediately concluded - erroneously - that this was not to do with football.
You mean Leicester's Vardy of course
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36606270
As for England, we're always the masters of our own downfall. It's been the same for years, if a team defends in numbers, we always struggle to score.
As for making the 6 changes, well it was clear Stirling was struggling, but it was a must win game really, and Hodgson's obsession with Henderson & Wilshere will be his undoing. Although, Croatia making 5 changes certainly worked for them, the game against Spain was a cracker
Both of them have hardly kicked a ball, so putting both of them in the team was at best bold, or arguably, stupid. And do we not have any wingers anymore in England? Perhaps we'd be best sticking Walker on the wing, he seemed to do well going forward, and making that move didn't work out too badly for Bale...
I expect Iceland to defend in numbers, and do us on penalties
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Yes, just spotted a piece in The Guardian which said that Jamie Vardy plans to remain with Leicester. Interesting; increasingly, it looks as though they will be able to keep the core of that team together for the coming season.
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"I'm only concentrating on the Euro's. We'll discuss transfer AFTER the Euro's..." Oh, but I'll sign a new contract with Leicester...