EURO 2016 France - Group B

I don't think anyone thought they'd win or even come close. Beating Russia on the other hand...

England we're pretty good overall, but it's just so bad to drop the points after being so comfy for all of the match.

The obvious problem for England seems to be the lack of creativity that will be badly exposed against any half-decent side. When Kyle Walker looks like one of your more industrious players you know you've got problems.

How did we lack creativity when we made several chances? If we lacked anything it was sharpness in front of goal.

Walker had a good game, as did Alli, Lallana and Rooney. Rose put in some very good crosses. Only Sterling and Kane didn't turn up and I guess it's Hodgson's fault for not taking them off sooner and bringing on Sturridge and Vardy.

The problem is and has been for a while the defence - how we defend in general and how we see out games. We'll make chances even against good teams, but we'll also concede. Tonight we lacked control in the final moments of the game, panicked on too many occasions and conceded a very poor goal where Rose and Alli somehow ended up challenging their big centre back and Hart's positioning was woeful.

If we don't score more than one goal we're going to struggle.

S wrote:Yep.
This is too mediocre a group  for even England to botch this.

Didn't they say something like this about Netherland's qualification group?

People either didn't watch the game or are getting the result confused with the performance.

It was quite a good performance. I wouldn't say fantastic, I might say really good if not for that 20 minute pos period after half time. The result obviously is not that great. England's biggest problem was that Sterling and Kane were playing up top (Sterling not "up top" per se, but he's always going to be pushing forward more than Lallana on the other side), and both of them were shite/lacking end product. When that happens and you have a Rooney that's playing further back and Lallana on the other side, of course you're going to struggle to finish opportunities, and that's exactly what happened. England was pretty good in the other departments.

I wouldn't be worried if I were England, because I don't expect Sterling and Kane to play as badly as they did today for the other games, nor do I expect them to concede a last minute equalizer

Rooney was good but I still wouldn't mind Wilshere in ahead of him.

Though Jay is right in saying the defense is a worry.

Wales and Slovakia aren't going to be easier than Russia...  problem is that England relies on players who aren't from elite teams and/or trophy winning teams.  So they haven't developed that knack for getting results in closer games.  You can have the manager provide that...  but England's manager is not that type either. I personally think Vardy is more of a killer than Kane and should have started... no idea why he wasn't.

Need to get results regardless of how you play.  Next game is critical.

sportsczy wrote:Wales and Slovakia aren't going to be easier than Russia...  problem is that England relies on players who aren't from elite teams and/or trophy winning teams.  So they haven't developed that knack for getting results in closer games.  You can have the manager provide that...  but England's manager is not that type either.  I personally think Vardy is more of a killer than Kane and should have started...  no idea why he wasn't.

Need to get results regardless of how you play.  Next game is critical.

This wasn't a close or tough game though. They shouldnt have needed to "grind out" a performance. They easily dominated and created many chances. A combination of poor finishing and a brief lapse late on lost them the 3 points, that's all.

They'll comfortably beat Slovakia and Wales and win the group, no doubt about that. Especially if that fraud Sterling is dropped.

Right i couldn't be arsed to come on last night so i'll give my thoughts now.

I thought in general we played well, but the final ball was disgustingly bad. Sterling looks like someone with absolutely zero confidence right now, takes far too many touches and 2nd guesses himself. Drop him for Vardy or Sturridge could really care less which one, i'd also be inclined to get Wilshere in the team somehow as he's clearly our best passer, dribbler and probably the best technically probably for Rooney as at least he's a *bleep* midfielder.

The Russia goal was completely predictable, because of how many idiotic lapses there were near the end. To the point they were always going to get in positions before the game ended and it was just a matter if could they take one.

Also i have said this before, i don't like Danny Rose. He can't defend unless he's being covered 24/7 and as the goal showed his lack of height is an issue at this level. Although i'm not too fussed about the defence as no matter what 4 we pick it's likely to be bad so it's whatever, but i do think the makeup of the midfield and attack can be improved.

Do i trust Hodgson to make the right calls though? not a chance.

Maybe put Wilshere on the right wing and switch Lallana over to the left. Only way to get him in the team without a) dropping Rooney or Alli and b) switching to the diamond, which would be a bad move against Wales' wingbacks.

Vardy in for someone is a certainty, though.

Cruijf wrote:I don't think anyone thought they'd win or even come close. Beating Russia on the other hand...

I think they can win this. Why the hell not.

UEFA have threatened England and Russia with expulsion if there's more violence.

As if that's going to stop people

A step too far from UEFA to threaten disqualification, imo. Hooligans care about violence first and football second. They're not going to stop before they are made to stop, in other words, it's up to the police and security personnel to apprehend these idiots and punish them according to the law. Disqualifying the whole nation is not a just punishment.

Russia have been handed a "suspended disqualification" until the end of the tournament.



So any more trouble and they're gone.

Well, considering that this high ranking Russian politician Igor Lebedew (who is also a board member of the Russian football association!) added fuel to the fire by goading the brainless criminals to continue via Twitter, this is for once a sensible measure.

Yep. Member of the Russian FA board lauding and encouraging the hooligans, happens also to be a right wing extremist, and apparently another notorious quasi-Nazi fan movement organiser is traveling as part of the Russian FA accreditation.

Kick them out, give the WC to someone else.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/13/far-right-activist-euro-2016-russian-fa-alexander-shprygin-nazi-salute

One thing i'll never understand  is why there are a lot  of neo nazis in eastern Europe when Hitler clearly believed  that Slavic people are untermensch.

A few scuffles breaking out in Lille already. Men with black scarves covering their mouths attacking England and Wales fans in bars.

Nowhere near as big as in Marseille but clear there are still some looking to cause trouble.

English and Welsh are actually united on this, which is nice to see, I guess.

Again, have to question why Russia/Slovakia is in Lille a day before Engnad/Wales in Lens. Just asking for trouble.

farfan wrote:One thing i'll never understand  is why there are a lot  of neo nazis in eastern Europe when Hitler clearly believed  that Slavic people are untermensch.

It doesn't make sense in general, it's not going to make sense in the details

farfan wrote:One thing i'll never understand  is why there are a lot  of neo nazis in eastern Europe when Hitler clearly believed  that Slavic people are untermensch.

Racist people in general dont make any sense anyways. Probably a century or 2 back, i guarantee you their lovely grandmom had to make love to somebody different from her race.

Russia v Slovakia today. Probably every neutral is hoping for Slovakia to win. Although for England and Wales a draw would probably be the best result. All eyes on the Russian fans, are they going to get their team kicked out of the tournament, lulz.

Bit of a snooze fest between Russia and Slovakia so far.

Art Morte wrote:Russia v Slovakia today. Probably every neutral is hoping for Slovakia to win. Although for England and Wales a draw would probably be the best result. All eyes on the Russian fans, are they going to get their team kicked out of the tournament, lulz.

They're going out anyway, if I was a fan I'd want to atleast be the first team in history to be kicked out

Lovely goal from Vladimir Weiss - great pass from Hamsik to set it up.

Hamsik scores an even better goal.

By far the best player on the pitch.

Hamsik is a baller.

Russia with a goal back. Game has completely turned now.

If Russia score in the last min again