Semi-Finals: Italy vs Spain | England vs Denmark

redshaw

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Good thing is we can bring on Grealish Sancho, six subs help a lot.

Denmark have shown to be quite a hard physical side, fair but tough in the challenges. Might be good to wear them out a little with Mount.
 

Fortitude

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Starting Mount and Saka seems quite odd with Saka coming off injury and Mount have done fuk all the entire tournament
As much as Grealish is my preferred choice to start, Mount is easily the best offensive midfielder at following instructions to the wire, working backwards and tracking men and putting in a fatiguing shift with his pressing. He's not there to finish the game, but to make it as tiring for the opposition as possible before the second part of the plan is executed, which is to put on a skillful runner against tired legs.

Mount also has a very symbiotic relationship with Rice, which helps on both sides of the ball as they instinctively know what the other will do and where to run to make life easier for one another.

It's not a masterful tactic by any means, but it is a functional one. It's utilisation of the squad in an unassuming way, too, as it's effectively a tandem assault on the opposition by the end of a game with Mount rotated out after he's done what he was instructed to do and run himself into the ground in the process. Denmark won't easily build from deep midfield with Mount in the side and forcing their wings to work harder than they've done to date in this game is logical, again, given what England will bring off the bench once the graft has paved a way for creativity to shine.

If viewed in isolation, Mount's a frustrating choice, perhaps, but if viewed as a whole, it makes perfect sense for Southgate to do what he does in accordance with how he sets out to play the full game, or the big picture he perceives.
 

Pearl.Jam

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Football has already come home , the nation is behind the team , we are in the semis tonight. For the rest of today we still believe. It will more than likely go tits up as it has done many times in the past but we have made the semis in 2 consecutive tournaments, that has got to be a big plus considering where we were after Iceland.

Everyone seems to know the score
They've seen it all before
They just know
They're so sure
That England's gonna throw it away
Gonna blow it away
But I know they can play
'Cause I remember
Three Lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming

We finally beat Germany.
Beating Ukraine 4 - 0 , brilliant .
In the semis tonight.
Whatever happens tonight it has been a good tournament.


So many jokes, so many sneers
But all those oh-so-nears
Wear you down
Through the years
But I still see that tackle by Moore
And when Linekar scored
Bobby belting the ball
And Nobby Dancing…

Its Coming home.
Crikey
 

Shimo

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United put a video of Rashford's goals against Denmark #1. Be great for him to do it again today if he can get on the pitch.
 

Cascarino

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I can accept supporters posting the song, but I will not sit here and stand by while posters repurpose the lyrics in a contemporary context. A certain Niemöller poem comes to mind
 

BFernandes

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Genuine question.

Is there any other footballing nation in the world that views themselves as a footballing powerhouse that have had as little success as England?

This isn't a dig, but every single tournament England seem to go in as some sort of favourites. Why? There's been 28 international tournaments since they won the world cup (not to devalue it, but was on your own turf) but the best achievement is a semi-final since then.

Like I said, it's a genuine question why there always seems to be a delusional expectation around the team?

Maybe it comes from the strength and quality of the domestic league.
 

charlenefan

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Why the feck would he play Saka again, honestly nothing against him but there's better players available
 

Zen86

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Genuine question.

Is there any other footballing nation in the world that views themselves as a footballing powerhouse that have had as little success as England?

This isn't a dig, but every single tournament England seem to go in as some sort of favourites. Why? There's been 28 international tournaments since they won the world cup (not to devalue it, but was on your own turf) but the best achievement is a semi-final since then.

Like I said, it's a genuine question why there always seems to be a delusional expectation around the team?

Maybe it comes from the strength and quality of the domestic league.
Spain had achieved very little on the international stage up until 2008. It happens.

Considering the strength of the league, players produced, and general popularity of the game here, England have dreadfully underperformed.
 

Oranges038

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Just the 7 defenders again tonight against the mighty attack of Denmark.

Should make for a great game.
 

Klopper76

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I've found that it's best not to question Southgate's approach until after the game if the result or performance is bad. I think he knows what he's doing.
 

Wilt

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Grealish Foden Sancho Rashford all on bench ….strength In depth
 

Irwin99

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Genuine question.

Is there any other footballing nation in the world that views themselves as a footballing powerhouse that have had as little success as England?

This isn't a dig, but every single tournament England seem to go in as some sort of favourites. Why? There's been 28 international tournaments since they won the world cup (not to devalue it, but was on your own turf) but the best achievement is a semi-final since then.

Like I said, it's a genuine question why there always seems to be a delusional expectation around the team?

Maybe it comes from the strength and quality of the domestic league.
The population size and the history is part of it but the domestic league is the most watched (I think) and most competitive in the world. Add to this a whole host of iconic players and what football means to the country and you can see why there's expectation. There is a massive arrogance and sense of entitlement though (especially in the media and ex professionals who clearly don't watch other leagues) and often a lack of a football identity beyond solid defending and passion etc etc.
 

El Zoido

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I've found that it's best not to question Southgate's approach until after the game if the result or performance is bad. I think he knows what he's doing.
We’ve been winning, so I guess we can’t complain. Feels more like the quality of players is seeing us through, rather than Southgate’s genius.