[Archived] European Championship France 2016

[G Somerset Rover]

No teams in this tournament have been outstanding, England may have a chance

Not a hope in hell with Italy, Spain, France and Germany in our half of the draw. We may somehow produce a stormer in one of those to edge through, but not a chance we can consistently do it against the big boys.

[joey_big_nose]

Not a hope in hell with Italy, Spain, France and Germany in our half of the draw. We may somehow produce a stormer in one of those to edge through, but not a chance we can consistently do it against the big boys.

Have we ever played France in the knockout round of a tournament? I cant think of a time? We seemingly always get Germany, Portugal and Italy. Spain we had once in Euro 96.

[roverandout]

Not a hope in hell with Italy, Spain, France and Germany in our half of the draw. We may somehow produce a stormer in one of those to edge through, but not a chance we can consistently do it against the big boys.

Don't agree, why are you putting Italy on a pedestal, yes they have been good so far but we have a better squad than them, Spain have just lost, Germany haven't set the world alight, France as home nation have needed late goals to win games and drew with a team we beat home and away in qualifying, we can beat any of those teams if we start putting our chances away, shame we have a crap manager

[K-Hod]

Don't agree, why are you putting Italy on a pedestal, yes they have been good so far but we have a better squad than them, Spain have just lost, Germany haven't set the world alight, France as home nation have needed late goals to win games and drew with a team we beat home and away in qualifying, we can beat any of those teams if we start putting our chances away, shame we have a crap manager

Italy always turn up in tournaments. We need to start being ruthless in front of goal to compete. Italy have that ruthlessness and have shown it already, against Belgium especially.

[G Somerset Rover]

Italy always turn up in tournaments. We need to start being ruthless in front of goal to compete. Italy have that ruthlessness and have shown it already, against Belgium especially.

K Hod answered for me. Italy are one of the masters of tournament football. They have huge cojones when it comes to the knockout stages specifically.

[roverandout]

Can't disagree with that, they have a winning mentality, we don't!

[Gav]

Have we ever played France in the knockout round of a tournament? I cant think of a time? We seemingly always get Germany, Portugal and Italy. Spain we had once in Euro 96.

Spain 82 springs to mind, won 3-1, Brian Robson scored fastest ever goal in a world cup, we topped our group and went out in the second round, France finished 4th and had a great side.

Don't agree, why are you putting Italy on a pedestal, yes they have been good so far but we have a better squad than them, Spain have just lost, Germany haven't set the world alight, France as home nation have needed late goals to win games and drew with a team we beat home and away in qualifying, we can beat any of those teams if we start putting our chances away, shame we have a crap manager

Agree with all of that but the manager nonsense.

You don't manage Inter Milan, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Switzerland and England if you're cr@p.

[oldjamfan1]

All these big countries in our half of the draw. Some of them will knock each other out along the way will they not? We can't play all of them. The only really negative situation that could arise from not winning our group is if we have to play Portugal in the last 16. That aside the quarters, semis and the final would be tough whichever half of the draw you're in. Think I'd rather play Germany than Croatia, for example.

[Gav]

All these big countries in our half of the draw. Some of them will knock each other out along the way will they not? We can't play all of them. The only really negative situation that could arise from not winning our group is if we have to play Portugal in the last 16. That aside the quarters, semis and the final would be tough whichever half of the draw you're in. Think I'd rather play Germany than Croatia, for example.

I'm beginning to think most of the site don't understand tournament football.

[alexanders]

Happy for Corry

[spudungeyee]

I am really not worried about Portugal has anyone actually seen them so far? They look terrible, true we are going to have to play a tough quarter and Semi, but thats the point of a big tourney they are all going to be tough at that stage. We may actually find it easier playing teams that will actually attack us rather than just defend.

[G Somerset Rover]

I'm beginning to think most of the site don't understand tournament football.

Yes we wouldn't have to play them all, of course, but it will very likely be France and then one of Germany, Spain or Italy. That's also ignoring the fact that we have to navigate the second round (which could be Ronaldo's Portugal). Not impossible, but can anyone truly see us beating two big boys on the trot?

[J*B]

The reality is that the run in could have been a hell of a lot easier had it not been for Roy's changes.

[speeeeeeedie]

I'm not bothered that England are in the "tougher half". As has already been said no team looks a cut above the rest. Germany drew with Poland, and although they battered Northern Ireland only won 1-0. Italy needed a late winner against Sweden. Spain got beat yesterday, and France scored goals very late in 2 games to win.

I even think that it will be easier to play those sides as England players are more familiar with a lot of their players.

England haven't played badly at all. All 3 teams played 2 deep banks of 4 and we've found it hard to break down. Though it's not been helped by consistently woeful final balls. Maybe teams will play the same in the knockout stages knowing that we can't score penalties. Yet I can't see France or Germany doing that. The 2nd round opponent, whoever that is, would be more likely to do it.

Lallana, Sturridge, Barkley, and Sterling are players who can create space out of nothing if teams to pack it in. Lallana and Sturridge have done well. Barkley hasn't had a kick yet, and Sterling has been awful. Kane and Alli need movement and space to find chances. It's not been there.

[onlyonejackwalker]

I'm not bothered that England are in the "tougher half". As has already been said no team looks a cut above the rest. Germany drew with Poland, and although they battered Northern Ireland only won 1-0. Italy needed a late winner against Sweden. Spain got beat yesterday, and France scored goals very late in 2 games to win.

I even think that it will be easier to play those sides as England players are more familiar with a lot of their players.

England haven't played badly at all. All 3 teams played 2 deep banks of 4 and we've found it hard to break down. Though it's not been helped by consistently woeful final balls. Maybe teams will play the same in the knockout stages knowing that we can't score penalties. Yet I can't see France or Germany doing that. The 2nd round opponent, whoever that is, would be more likely to do it.

Lallana, Sturridge, Barkley, and Sterling are players who can create space out of nothing if teams to pack it in. Lallana and Sturridge have done well. Barkley hasn't had a kick yet, and Sterling has been awful. Kane and Alli need movement and space to find chances. It's not been there.

I am not bothered either about being in a supposed 'tougher half'. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best and I would rather approach games aggressively and positively.

My worry is we look capable of conceding against all we play and our goals for column is a tad depressing with only Sturridge from our attacking players managing to notch. The likes of Sterling, Lallana, Rooney etc have all got to chip in as well as out centre halves / full backs if need be if we are to scrape through closer games.

I think we have already seen that the hype surrounding Kane and Vardy is a tad premature at this level, as were all those claiming Rooney was way past it. In one of the pre-tournament friendlies, Vardy for example had 9 touches in 60+ minutes of action. I am not convinced he is a starter upfront and would have preferred to see Vardy out wide and Sturridge up front in the last game.

On Hodgson, taking Sturridge off in the last match and leaving Vardy on surprised me somewhat. As did resting Rooney and the full-backs. He is already talking about making 5 changes for the next game so I presume both full backs, Rooney and Kane will return with maybe Sterling? coming back in out-wide.

Don't dislike Vardy but the team is not set up for him without wingers and we need some strength up front.

Roy better be careful. The FA are not happy at the changes made and many including me thought it a big gamble in the last fixture. Pity it didn't come off as I like us being a tad braver than normal and watching Spain get beat with a unchanged side proves there are no hard and fast rules anyway.

K-Hod and others have been championing Carroll and after watching Kane huff and puff, Vardy struggle and Sturridge only involved in patches I can understand why. Rashford has done brilliantly to get to the tournament and the experience will be helpful, but we need players genuinely pressing for a place and it would be hard to risk someone so young in key matches.

Did you know Crouch has 20+ goals in 40+games for England?

[roverandout]

Happy for Corry

Don't watch it anymore or eastenders

I am not bothered either about being in a supposed 'tougher half'. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best and I would rather approach games aggressively and positively.

My worry is we look capable of conceding against all we play and our goals for column is a tad depressing with only Sturridge from our attacking players managing to notch. The likes of Sterling, Lallana, Rooney etc have all got to chip in as well as out centre halves / full backs if need be if we are to scrape through closer games.

I think we have already seen that the hype surrounding Kane and Vardy is a tad premature at this level, as were all those claiming Rooney was way past it. In one of the pre-tournament friendlies, Vardy for example had 9 touches in 60+ minutes of action. I am not convinced he is a starter upfront and would have preferred to see Vardy out wide and Sturridge up front in the last game.

On Hodgson, taking Sturridge off in the last match and leaving Vardy on surprised me somewhat. As did resting Rooney and the full-backs. He is already talking about making 5 changes for the next game so I presume both full backs, Rooney and Kane will return with maybe Sterling? coming back in out-wide.

Don't dislike Vardy but the team is not set up for him without wingers and we need some strength up front.

Roy better be careful. The FA are not happy at the changes made and many including me thought it a big gamble in the last fixture. Pity it didn't come off as I like us being a tad braver than normal and watching Spain get beat with a unchanged side proves there are no hard and fast rules anyway.

K-Hod and others have been championing Carroll and after watching Kane huff and puff, Vardy struggle and Sturridge only involved in patches I can understand why. Rashford has done brilliantly to get to the tournament and the experience will be helpful, but we need players genuinely pressing for a place and it would be hard to risk someone so young in key matches.

Did you know Crouch has 20+ goals in 40+games for England?

Didn't vardy score?

[Audax]

Croatia took the bull by the horns; they should be an example of what a team can do against adversity and that what their dumb fellow countrymen have been doing added to that adversity.

Now people look at Spain as possibly being beatable but only after the Croatians won. And sure, even if Spain had won, Italy may well be able to defeat them.

[LewisF]

Don't watch it anymore or eastenders

Didn't vardy score?

yep. I agree with most of OOJW's post tbh, the point on Crouch is a good one

[onlyonejackwalker]

Don't watch it anymore or eastenders

Didn't vardy score?

Do you not watch the games?

Yes he scored in the 2nd game, coming off the bench, which highlights my point perfectly. Did jack in the 3rd game, failed to contribute apart from miss when one on one.

5 strikers, one playing centre midfield and one an untested youngster. One goal between them.

[Audax]

http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/euro-2016-has-a-bracket-of-death-and-it-s-going-to-be-incredible-062116

Maybe something like this. This is where the rubber hits the road now; France, Italy, Germany and Spain are all favourites to win the whole thing. Whom else is in the mix? Maybe if Belgium keep up how they played in the last match, winning 3-0; Croatia, Wales, Poland and other teams must be in the other end of the bracket. Not necessarily pushovers as well.

[speeeeeeedie]

I am not bothered either about being in a supposed 'tougher half'. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best and I would rather approach games aggressively and positively.

My worry is we look capable of conceding against all we play and our goals for column is a tad depressing with only Sturridge from our attacking players managing to notch. The likes of Sterling, Lallana, Rooney etc have all got to chip in as well as out centre halves / full backs if need be if we are to scrape through closer games.

I think we have already seen that the hype surrounding Kane and Vardy is a tad premature at this level, as were all those claiming Rooney was way past it. In one of the pre-tournament friendlies, Vardy for example had 9 touches in 60+ minutes of action. I am not convinced he is a starter upfront and would have preferred to see Vardy out wide and Sturridge up front in the last game.

On Hodgson, taking Sturridge off in the last match and leaving Vardy on surprised me somewhat. As did resting Rooney and the full-backs. He is already talking about making 5 changes for the next game so I presume both full backs, Rooney and Kane will return with maybe Sterling? coming back in out-wide.

Don't dislike Vardy but the team is not set up for him without wingers and we need some strength up front.

Roy better be careful. The FA are not happy at the changes made and many including me thought it a big gamble in the last fixture. Pity it didn't come off as I like us being a tad braver than normal and watching Spain get beat with a unchanged side proves there are no hard and fast rules anyway.

K-Hod and others have been championing Carroll and after watching Kane huff and puff, Vardy struggle and Sturridge only involved in patches I can understand why. Rashford has done brilliantly to get to the tournament and the experience will be helpful, but we need players genuinely pressing for a place and it would be hard to risk someone so young in key matches.

Did you know Crouch has 20+ goals in 40+games for England?

I'm in full agreement with you.

I've said all along that Carroll should be in the squad. The game was crying out for him on Monday. At this point in time why did Woy take Barkley? He's not played a minute.

Vardy is also an impact sub. He needs space in between and behind defenders to thrive. He had 1 chance on Monday and fluffed it.

For the next game I'd play the 10 from the Russia game with Sturridge replacing Kane. Sterling hasn't been good but he adds pace, balance to the team as he is a genuine wide player, and can be brilliant.

The FA do need to keep quiet though. Woy picks the team. Dyke and his crew should leave the coaching to him.

[Audax]

Maybe another day of upsets starting up? Hungary 1-0 Portugal.

[LewisF]

Fantastic strike!

Portugal have been an embarrassment so far at the Euros

[perthblue02]

Maybe another day of upsets starting up? Hungary 1-0 Portugal.

Iceland also 1-0 up

Portugal level

[LewisF]

Keeper shouldn't be beaten at his near post from there