Nah most people probably don’t give a shit. 1990, 1996 and 2018 are likely higher on the list of your average England fan.
Internationals June (Euro Qualifiers + Nations League Finals)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Pretty sure the FA sent out a letter last week with Southgate telling everyone to behave themselves. Seems no Surrender chant was getting an airing so you know the types that have travelled.
Watched it again.
Initially, thought penalty but can't see it now. About 30 seconds in.
Pepe is confirmed to be out for the final 
God help us
God help us
Neymar looks fecked
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Looks pretty serious, hopefully doesn’t miss much of the Copa.
Brazil playing great here, pressing so intense. Qatar are a decent side, they are really struggling with Brazil’s movement though. They’re still pretty comfortably the best side in the world for me, regardless of not winning the World Cup.
Brazil playing great here, pressing so intense. Qatar are a decent side, they are really struggling with Brazil’s movement though. They’re still pretty comfortably the best side in the world for me, regardless of not winning the World Cup.
So Jota got on a plane from Poland in time to be on the bench for Portugal tonight.
Wow.
Wow.
Not sure if you were joking but it's not the same Jota
This one play for Wolves, the U20 Jota plays for Benfica's youth teams.
Not sure if you were joking but it's not the same Jota
This one play for Wolves, the U20 Jota plays for Benfica's youth teams.
Portugal get to face either of their favourite historical punching bags at home in the final, as they have repeatedly made both England (1986 WC, Euro 2000, Euro 2004, 2006 WC) and Holland (2002 WC qualifiers, Euro 2004, 2006 WC, Euro 2012) suffer in the past.
From England’s perspective, if they win this tournament going through Croatia, Spain, a rejuvenated Holland and Portugal with home advantage, that would be hugely impressive under any scenario.
From Holland’s point of view, their rejuvenation with a lot of exciting young talent as been great to see, and topping a group with France and Germany was an excellent achievement.
From England’s perspective, if they win this tournament going through Croatia, Spain, a rejuvenated Holland and Portugal with home advantage, that would be hugely impressive under any scenario.
From Holland’s point of view, their rejuvenation with a lot of exciting young talent as been great to see, and topping a group with France and Germany was an excellent achievement.
I think for England its already been a success, we've already beaten two elite European nations in competitive games, something which we hadn't done in many moons prior. The win over Spain away was a big one too. We reached the semi finals of the World Cup and won a shoot out. OK it was an easy run and we didn't score enough goals but our last two Euro qualifiers were won 5-0 and 5-1 against teams we historically snuck past. I think there's plenty of scope for optimism for the future no matter what happens tonight.
I think most people are favouring the Dutch but I feel the sides are kind of equal overall in terms of quality, arguably England has less drop off in quality in some positions too.
Rashford up against De Ligt and Van Dijk is just unfair, Kane at 70% is still a better option.
Somehow De Ligt said the toughest opponent he faced was Rashford. Kane is still having nightmares about VVD.
Good point, but to be fair the ref let the game play and went back to it after the next break in play, which just so happened to be less than a minute and another penalty shout. It looked as if the ref was in communication with the VAR room throughout.
That was in 2018 I believe after he'd only faced Erdivisie level players and Europa League level players.
That said VVD would be foolish to dismiss Rashford
He can be fantastic on his day.
It was posted couple of weeks back by Ajax fan account. Not sure when he said it though.
Edit: Apparently he said it in 2018.
kane is not fit enough to start but may be used from the bench. Speed will get around this Dutch defence.
Rashford played off the shoulder of TAA after Lukaku pulled Lovren away.
Every time he plays for Brazil he seems to get injured. I can't work out if he's targeted and roughed up or he's just made of glass.
Yes I realise that but the idea that Rashford is a total scrub is wide of the mark and VVD has seen first hand evidence to that effect. De Ligt also said he was the best forward he'd played against in 2018.
I think that VVD makes lots of defensive mistake anyway It's more his presence and leadership that seems to lift his teammates. That and his command of his box aerially.
True. Although de Ligt and VVD is probably one of the best CB partnerships you could have.
We will feck you up tonight.
I expect ridicule if we don't.
I expect ridicule if we don't.
Indeed but we have Sterling, Kane, Sancho and Rashford as forward options so we should feel confident in our own right.
I like that you have put your balls on the chopping block but I feel more like a fence sitter as I get older. I wouldn't like to call it.
I've no idea who's going to win honestly, but reading comments online it seems that we suddenly have a world beating squad again now. I don't really see it. Sure, we have a great central defensive duo and Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek and Wijnaldum sounds great on paper, but we have almost no creativity in midfield and while Memphis has been great for us lately, the two wingers usually include Ryan fecking Babel.
Sadly Koeman doesn't share my vision that Steven Berghuis would be a perfect fit for this team with his silky left foot. Bergwijn, Memphis, Berghuis is what I would love to see, but it's not going to happen.
Ronaldo still showing the rest how to score. Three excellent goals. His striking of the ball is still as clean as ever.Well done to Portugal.
Nothing more to say about Ronnie. Just incredible that lad.
Made in Manchester too
Just a fabulous footballer. The very best of the very best.
Honestly I was septical on this tournament at first, but as a french guy who have to wait for an incoming struggle qualifier against Turkey after a pointless friendly against Bolivia. I'm a bit jealous of a final four tournament with team like Portugal, England and Netherlands (and Switzerland, credit where it's due).
Reminds me of the time when Vincent Kompany said that John Hartson was the toughest opponent he faced
Different circumstances, that was when Kompany was jut 17.Reminds me of the time when Vincent Kompany said that John Hartson was the toughest opponent he faced
In any case, how is Rashford vs Netherlands unfair when the CB who is playing there named him as the tough attacker he faced. On the other hand, Kane vs VVD was unfair. It was bit harsh to watch a professional player bullied like a rag doll.
I can understand why you might be trying to block it from your memory but you did actually watch the CL final, right?
As was Le Ligt at the time when he faced Rashford , a lot has happened in 2 years mainly De Ligt has got a whole lot better and Rashford has got a whole lot worse, I don't think that can be argued.
I watched it, I also watched many other football matches and I can conclude that Marcus Rashford doesn't have anywhere the ability or mentality to match up to either of those defenders, Kane hasn't been fit but I'd still take a near enough half fit Kane over Rashford, he's proven that you don't need a million and one chances to put the ball in the back of the net unlike Rashford.
It can be. Rashford is better than he was in 2016-17. Just saying it can't be argued doesn't make it a fact.
So 2 young players facing each other is same as young player (who was still developing physically) facing an experienced professional?
feck. Nations League has already started? Why didn't anybody tell me?
Yeah, I think both sides have obvious strengths and obvious weaknesses. Happy for the majority to favour Holland though, will give Southgate something to motivate his side with.
Widely? No. England very much has an insular, island mentality where everything new and different is seen as threatening and shit. You only have to look through the reaction to the birth of various competitions over the last 100 years to see that. Most who have watched the Nations League agree that it has been a big positive. There's still plenty who would write it off based on its perceived complexity in the vein of anti-intellectualism and those who have dismissed it without watching it, partly as it has been on pay-TV.
A win would be the biggest achievement since '66 though, whether it would be treated like that is another matter. Topping a group playing home and away against Croatia and Spain is a greater test than reaching a WC quarter or maybe even a semi.
No it isn't, it's not even close.
The World Cup is the ultimate tournament in world football. Kids around the world dream of playing in it, the pressure and occasion is 100x greater than a Nations League game and any kind of progression in that tournament is worth far more than progression in the Nations League.
I quite like the Nations League, it's better than friendlies and it would be cool to win, but it's nothing remotely comparable to the World Cup. It's just a quite nice alternative to friendlies.
Should be interesting who starts for England today... I imagine he'll have Walker over TAA, which is madness... but hey-ho.
A front free of Sancho, Sterling and Rashford should be very interesting... midfield behind them might a bit less impressive though.
A front free of Sancho, Sterling and Rashford should be very interesting... midfield behind them might a bit less impressive though.
Not sure it would be right now tbh. I'd rest all the CL Finalists.
You just reminded me of a guy, what's his name, who said Brazil got their revenge on Germany for 7-1 at the WC, after they won them in Olympic Games final.
De Ligt said that Rashford is the most difficult opponent he's played against in his career. So you're correct.
Well I think you’re talking out your arse. Or have an appalling memory. Possibly both. CL final aside, there’s been loads of examples this season of Kane being an outright liability when coming back from injury. And - unless the Spurs physio team are incompetent - he’ll have been fully fit for those games. Just lacking “match practice”. So the mind boggles about just how inept a half fit Harry Kane would be.