[Archived] European Championship France 2016

[Lancaster Rover]

I will be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less about the England team. I'm a Rovers fan, never been able to sit and cheer on players who I jeer week in week out, I've also never bought into the 'national team' concept as I've always felt its so far removed from me and the community I live in. I have very little connection to 'England', I'm from Lancashire, its towns, people, etc speak to me and I feel a connection to it.

[K-Hod]

We played badly last night, very badly, but are we going to ignore the group games where we battered all 3 sides we played?

The players let the manager down last night, end of story for me. It wasn't team selection, it wasn't tactics, it was terrible performances all over the pitch, we couldnt pass a ball 5yrds, that's not the managers fault!

I'm sorry Gav, but I'm going to have to strongly disagree with the bit in bold. Wilshere, who's played 4 times in a year on at half-time for Dier? The squad selection is the reason we're out imo.

Re the players, they did let the whole country down, but Hodgson simply has to take his share of the blame. We need to be made of sterner stuff and that comes from the top. Why the players keep freezing at tournaments is clearly in their heads but it needs to stop if we are ever to do anything at international level.

[oldjamfan1]

I must admit I had a little nagging worry right from the word go when I realised how many Spurs players were in the starting line up (from the first group game). I have no doubt that they are talented players - I think some of them proved that in a couple of the group games as well. However, where I was concerned was the way that Spurs' season imploded at the end, their indiscipline against Chelsea, that home defeat against Southampton, and most tellingly, getting smashed by a relegated side on the final day of the season.

Do those talented players have the heart required to win when it really mattered, when the going gets tough, was my concern.

I realise you can't blame it all on the Spurs lads - and Dier was arguably the one England player to consistently come out of this tournament with credit - but being talented isn't always enough.

We still should have been good enough to beat Iceland though.

[Husky]

I'm sorry Gav, but I'm going to have to strongly disagree with the bit in bold. Wilshere, who's played 4 times in a year on at half-time for Dier? The squad selection is the reason we're out imo.

Also Rashford given 5 minutes, WTF??? He went past more players in a few minutes than most of the rest of the team did all game.

And it was blatantly obvious to all and sundry that nothing was going to change with the staleness on the field.

Also the most unforgivable thing was not even knowing the best team and tactics and chopping and changing the team. They played like they didn't have a clue what they were supposed to be doing. WTF has he been doing for the past year or so? Woy seems to have been a selfish @#/? - playing more for his own stats rather than for the future good of the team.

[Roverthechimp]

Watching the game felt like Iceland were playing and England were on a pre_season warmup exercise...

Bad, very bad!

[BlueMonday]

Weeell, these things happen.

[Lancaster Rover]

We played badly last night, very badly, but are we going to ignore the group games where we battered all 3 sides we played?

The players let the manager down last night, end of story for me. It wasn't team selection, it wasn't tactics, it was terrible performances all over the pitch, we couldnt pass a ball 5yrds, that's not the managers fault!

Battered them? Come on, they drew with 2 very poor sides and marginally beat a team (albeit with great team spirit) made up lower ranking premier league and championship players. In each and every game the opposition were largely happy to let England play in front of them taking potshots from 25 yards out.

[USABlue]

Team USA, the Nationals, Nats, got hammered 4-0.

And that would concern my English self how? Simply live here.

Once I saw the starting line ip I thought Riy had lost it, Sterling and Kane after recent performances? Dropping a.creator.like.Llalana? Well we now have to wait for our next disappointment.

[Amo]

Individually, the players England put out should've rolled over Iceland but once again collectively they were weaker than the sum of their parts. Same old, same old.

[Lancaster Rover]

And that would concern my English self how? Simply live here.

Once I saw the starting line ip I thought Riy had lost it, Sterling and Kane after recent performances? Dropping a.creator.like.Llalana? Well we now have to wait for our next disappointment.

Llalana is absolute toilet, he creates very little. Has absolutely no pace and tends to slow the game down due to his inability to go passed his man. Shouldn't be anywhere near a 'supposed' top 10 international team.

[Audax]

I heard a person from Netherlands this morning say, we tried to warn you on Iceland; Iceland largely keeping the Netherlands out of this tournament.

Good article:

"Iceland are playing like Leicester City played in the Premier League. They play as a unit," he said.

"Individuals can't beat a unit. Germany play as a unit, Italy play as a unit, Spain once played as a unit."

http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2016/June/28/iceland-loss-one-of-englands-darkest-days---hill/n807717/

[47er]

Woy to prove he knows far more than we do by dropping Vardy/Sturridge and playing Kane and Sterling?

Nearly got that right!

Rovers--disaster. Fulham----decent job. Liverpool------disaster.

Now how on earth does that qualify someone to manage England?

[Lancaster Rover]

That night at Ewood when we beat Liverpool should've been enough to stop him getting another job in football.

[Pedro]

We played badly last night, very badly, but are we going to ignore the group games where we battered all 3 sides we played?

Facts are we won once.

[Gav]

Facts are we won once.

Another fact - 59% win percentage as England manager

Doesn't tell the whole story does it.

[Lancaster Rover]

I think that tells a perfectly good story, a poor win return for a supposed top 10 international team that largely plays against 'inferior' teams.

[Pedro]

Another fact - 59% win percentage as England manager

Doesn't tell the whole story does it.

You only need to lose once in a tournament to separate yourself from being a Spain, Italy, Germany etc who actually win things...or a Cameroon, South Korea, Croatia or England.

Stats on possesion, missed chances, giving right good goes or 59% win percentages are absolutely nothing to be proud of or crow about. Trophies in cabinets, medals for the players and memories for the fans is what this game is about. We are and have been for way too long, absolutely gutless on the pitch and clueless in the dugout.

[Gav]

You only need to lose once in a tournament to separate yourself from being a Spain, Italy, Germany etc who actually win things...or a Cameroon, South Korea, Croatia or England.

Stats on possesion, missed chances, giving right good goes or 59% win percentages are absolutely nothing to be proud of or crow about. Trophies in cabinets, medals for the players and memories for the fans is what this game is about. We are and have been for way too long, absolutely gutless on the pitch and clueless in the dugout.

Last Euros I went to Germany didn't win a game, but obviously I take your point.

Italy 90 and Euro 96 was our best chance, just fell short against really good sides.

Anyway the search now begins for a new manager and the early talk is Gareth Southgate, god help us! nobody is telling me he's better than Roy.

[jim mk2]

We played badly last night, very badly, but are we going to ignore the group games where we battered all 3 sides we played?

The players let the manager down last night, end of story for me. It wasn't team selection, it wasn't tactics, it was terrible performances all over the pitch, we couldnt pass a ball 5yrds, that's not the managers fault!

Blimey gav , I thought you knew something about football. Managers carry the can - they always have done. Hodgson failed to get us out of the group at the last World Cup and has come up short again. His team selection last night was baffling and the substituions and their timing made no sense. either.. He only got the job bevcause he was English and the best of a very average bunch.

Last night's defeat capped a bloody awful week which is seeing this country fall apart as a result of Brexit .

[Mike E]

Nearly got that right!

Rovers--disaster. Fulham----decent job. Liverpool------disaster.

Now how on earth does that qualify someone to manage England?

Took Switzerland to 3rd best team in the world for a time.

[oldjamfan1]

Last Euros I went to Germany didn't win a game, but obviously I take your point.

Italy 90 and Euro 96 was our best chance, just fell short against really good sides.

Anyway the search now begins for a new manager and the early talk is Gareth Southgate, god help us! nobody is telling me he's better than Roy.

I would add Mexico 86 to that list Gav.

[Audax]

England win the qualifiers, often the friendlies. Their record is good.

Amazingly, Iceland from October until June before the tournament, played a number of friendlies and lost most all of them.

Lost to Turkey, Slovakia, Poland, UAE, USA, Denmark and Norway.

Drew Latvia.

Won over Finland, Greece and Lichtenstein.

http://uk.soccerway.com/teams/iceland/iceland/1143/

France has had heavy work in their wins. Should they get by Iceland, defeating Italy or Germany will be a major task. Those two look very good. If Belgium can play to their potential, they should adequately challenge anyone.

Took Switzerland to 3rd best team in the world for a time.

And did well with Finland.

Now, Portugal drawing Iceland does not look so bad. What if Iceland has yet, another win in the cards?

[onlyonejackwalker]

We played badly last night, very badly, but are we going to ignore the group games where we battered all 3 sides we played?

The players let the manager down last night, end of story for me. It wasn't team selection, it wasn't tactics, it was terrible performances all over the pitch, we couldnt pass a ball 5yrds, that's not the managers fault!

You've really painted yourself into a corner Gav with your rigorous defence of Hodgson. You are the only one thinking he has done a cracking job. Even his bosses wanted him gone sharpish.

How can you justify Wiltshire even being on the plane amazes me, let alone our saviour at half-time. In form midfielders left at home. Five changes, six changes, strikers out-wide, strikers in midfield, no width apart from full backs, the undroppable Hart, reliance on one season wonders with the likes of Defoe not even considered after an amazing season in a struggling side. Rashford gets four minutes to change the game so why even bother taking him? Stones can't get in ahead of those carthorses, Barkley unused when we desperately needed to beat a man and like others have said, an overlapping right back with an inside ball is hardly rocket science. England's all time leading scorer in midfield? Wales, Slovakia, Russia and Iceland? One win with 9 seconds to go? Conceeding against all and sundry? Doesn't know his best team, formation or style after four years as manager? What exactly are you defending? Possession stats against part-timers? Winning stats pre-tournament against Timbucktoo?

Fact of the matter in the abscence of planning, structure and true belief, is any pseudo confidence generated pre-tournament dissipates immediately the pressure is on and the opposition don't simply roll over for their bellies tickling. It beggars belief. I could have picked a team to beat four world minnows. But I wouldn't have taken half of Hodgson squad. Sterling and Sturrudge have struggled to get a game for their clubs let alone England. I could go on but what's the point. No leaders and no leadership. That's why they couldn't pass it five yards. Wanky bottlers.

[Audax]

Roy was at West Brom when he took the England position. Actually, it's too bad he didn't retire last year or at some time because otherwise, he'd be remembered as steadying the England team after Capello left.

Some of the decisions were so strange and bizarre, one almost wonders if his assistants might have swayed the decisions.

[onlyonejackwalker]

Roy was at West Brom when he took the England position. Actually, it's too bad he didn't retire last year or at some time because otherwise, he'd be remembered as steadying the England team after Capello left.

Steadying what? Capello's win percentage is better than Hodgsons.