Yes, they are.
England - Euro 2021 Discussion | FA chairman: Southgate to be offered new contract until Euro 2024
- Thread starter Samid
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With optimism like that, you could certainly be an England fan. #ItsComingHome
Sorry, not on board with that one. Decent midfield? Sure. "THE best", as you put it? No chance.
Nah, everything else is average
Such an odd thread. When have England ever comfortably topped a group in most people's living memory?
They've barely exerted themselves, not conceded and have multiple players they can turn to if needed.
Has it been pretty, not at all, but how often is it that the pace-setters of international tournaments end up winners?
Not saying England are favourites or anything, but this far, they've done the job comfortably.
They've barely exerted themselves, not conceded and have multiple players they can turn to if needed.
Has it been pretty, not at all, but how often is it that the pace-setters of international tournaments end up winners?
Not saying England are favourites or anything, but this far, they've done the job comfortably.
I'm surprised at how many assume we're going out in the next round regardless of the opponents. This England side reminds me of United in several ways - despite the struggle to score goals, they're difficult to beat. Plus, you feel they're capable of so much more.
We'll surprise people in the next game I fancy.
We'll surprise people in the next game I fancy.
Kante Pogba Rabiot for me. No question
I think it's because it's currently very difficult to tell whether England played at a comfortable 80%, breezed the group and are ready to step it up and grow into the tournament now they're in the knock outs, or whether England are actually just a bit lacklustre and likely to get found out by a better side.
If you say soNah, everything else is average
With all due respect to Scotland, Croatia and the Czechs. Our group was among the weakest.
We also struggled big time, and arguably could have lost against Scotland.
You can say "among the weakest", but are Croatia, Czech Republic and Scotland really any weaker than the following?
Wales, Switzerland, Turkey
Denmark, Finland, Russia
Austria, Ukraine, North Macedonia
Sweden, Slovakia, Poland
Pretty much all of the groups aren't that great, and even the one group full of quality (on paper at least), isn't even a real group of death because all three teams can get out of it.
Italy with Jorginho Verratti Locatelli/Barella looks mighty fine too. Belgium with Tielemans, Dendocker/Witsel and De Bruyne has great balance to it as well.
Germany's Kroos, Gundogan, Havertz ain't too shabby either. Spain have Rodri, Koke and Pedri/Thiago but their attack is toothless so they are struggling for wins despite dominating games with 77% and 86% possession so far.
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Agree. The media fuels most of it.
That's why I said 'among' as having 6 groups has lessened the quality a little bit. England was expected to finish top and they have. It's the absolute bare minimum they should have achieved from this tournament. Anything else after that point is a bonus.
I think this is a good point. If England have a big performance next game, it’ll definitely change the optics of things. At the moment it’s hard to gauge where England are at, they have a really talented squad but haven’t really had to step out of second gear.
I'm not even sure it's strictly arrogance, most of the time. The biggest problem with English football media is that they're largely extremely poor pundits who clearly don't watch much/any football outside of England, and don't do any research either. They basically operate on "I know about this team so they're good, and I don't know about this team so they're bad". They're ignorant, not arrogant.
I get it, but "among the weakest" when 5 of the 6 groups are pretty much equally as weak seems a bit redundant. It's not really among the weakest when the majority of the groups are of a similar quality.
As far as the rankings go Czech and Scotland are two of the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament.
Very likely. The press that cover England likely know nothing about players who ply their trade in other leagues. The PL is the be all and end all as far as they are concerned. You are better listening to the journalist who specialise in the foreign leagues. As soon as Talksport had a documentary about Euro 96 and us beating the Scots I knew we were in trouble and one about the Three Lions song. Even though the song is really about the disappointment of being and England fan, the England fans have turned it into the opposite. You only have to listen to the likes of Jamie O'Hara on Talksport (who has no idea where anywhere is outside the Greater London area) and they are asking his opinion on international football.
Tactics and formations don;t really matter.
You only win tournaments by having someone who can reliably put the ball in the net.
Kane will play every game, despite being the worst player on the pitch for england 3 games running.
At this point, he couldn't score in a brothel with 5 grand in his pocket.
That will be our downfall. We play with 10 men for 80% of a game when kane is in the line up.
You only win tournaments by having someone who can reliably put the ball in the net.
Kane will play every game, despite being the worst player on the pitch for england 3 games running.
At this point, he couldn't score in a brothel with 5 grand in his pocket.
That will be our downfall. We play with 10 men for 80% of a game when kane is in the line up.
It's probably Verratti / Jorginho / Barella.
You cant just turn form on and off like a switch.
I am not even sure I would trust Kane taking a penalty at the moment. There is something seriously wrong there.
I think his injuries might just be catching up with him. I agree, think he looks a broken man.
Could be the strain of wanting to leave Spurs and the realisation he handcuffed himself to the club.
That too
Italy & France for me. You do have a good midfield though.
I agree with that, but a lot can depend on who you’re facing, the situation within the game and the tactics being employed.
In England’s three games so far they’ve been fairly cagey static affairs. With England’s possible opponents coming up, I think there will be more of an onus to break with speed, as I don’t think they’ll be games that England will keep the ball in the opponents half, and the game plan employed so far will have to be altered. I think one of the biggest differences will be that the midfield duo base will make more sense than it did in the last two games, and this could allow the England attack more freedom in running at the opponent and finding space.
Don’t get me wrong you’d wanna blow the opponents away in the group and get confidence flowing (especially with regards to someone like Kane who has yet to score). Wales against the Swiss and the Turks were two very different ball games, and while part of it was tweaks that Page made, a lot of it was due to the differing defensive set up that the Turkish employed. And I think the next game will tell us a lot more about this English side than the groups did.
I see what you mean there, but I think the rankings are a bit misleading at times (Belgium being ranked 1st for ages a prime example). The draw was made in 2019, and the seedings decided on qualification performance, so it's all out of date. I think really they should re-drawn and looked at something a bit more recent performance-wise to determine seedings, even if it mean defaulting to fifa rankings.
I don't believe goals and points will even tell you half the truth after only 3 games. Watching them play will however. England haven't been anything special but they are far from the worst team. I have watched every game so far, like I'm sure many other have as well and England does not play the worst football, period. Are they the biggest underachievers? Maybe. Did we expect more? Yes. He claimed England was the worst team which simply isn't true. As an example, there is no way way you can have watched Sweden play and then make that statement.
I wouldn't say it's drastically lower in quality compared to most groups in the tournament.
Croatia and CZech Republic have both beaten England in recent years, and Scotland v England is always going to be a different affair.
I think most would happily have taken England being at this point a few weeks ago. What I think is lacking in this tournament - and what most are missing - is the sense of occasion/momentum which is arguably as much down to the format/Covid impact than anything.
Rashford is probably 4/5 choice on the wings now.
I think he’s 3rd choice behind Sterling & Foden. He just isn’t fit. No way does Southgate prefer Sancho, Grealish & Saka over him. He clearly doesn’t fancy Grealish & Sancho
During one of the earlier group games (might have even been England/Croatia), whoever was main commentator asked Jermaine Jenas to talk about what it's like as a young player stepping out for the first game in your first major tournament. Jermaine Jenas that played in zero major tournaments. Jermaine Jenas with only 21 caps (actually more than I thought he'd have) and one international goal. He of course, went on to answer as if he had a wealth of experience.
I don't think England are playing badly, they're not playing brilliantly either and have been pretty dull to watch to be honest. But they're difficult to beat which will see them compete against anyone and they have some real match winners.
They could easily lose to France, Germany or Portugal but I can see them win as well, those games will be on a knife edge. Won in extra time or 1-0 imo.
Big games take care of themselves, England don't have to suddenly raise their game out of nowhere. Just look at Portugal in the last Euro's as a great example. They have to stay in games when under pressure and take an oppurtunity or two.
I still feel France are the obvious favourites, outside of them, England are right in the mix along with Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany to go far...
It also doesn't help that Kane, one of the most prolific strikers in world football, is been appalling so far. The majority of our problems come from a lack of goals which could be soon remedied if Kane suddenly finds his form. But that isn't likely to happen.
I wouldn't be opposed to dropping him for one of DCL, Rashford or even Bamford. Anyone is an upgrade on Kane right now.
I think he's second choice behind Sterling on the left, Second choice behind Kane through the middle and possibly 4/5th choice on the right (Foden, Move Sterling to the right, Saka, Sancho).
I think that's how Southgate see's it and I think Grealish is competing with Mount at 10 and an impact sub with Rashford.
They seem to insist on what they think are young trendy pundits. I prefer listening to Stuart Pearce and Talksport. At least he has been there and nearly did it.
I'll have a couple of what you are on mate!
I was amazed that DCL didn't come on last night. 1-0 up at half-time, guaranteed to get through even if we fecked it, at least give him a go in the second half.
I don't mind Jenas as a presenter and think he's actually quite good in that role, but he isn't at all suited to a position that requires any insight, because he's simply incapable of providing any. He's basically Jamie Redknapp MK II as a pundit.
I don't understand why they don't get more foreign pundits in. They're near enough always pretty good, and certainly a stark improvement on having Jamie O'Hara pretending he knows what it's like to play in the late stages of a Euros or World Cup.