EURO 2020 - Group D

El Gunner wrote:

Jay29 wrote:England and Czech Republic have now qualified without having to play the final game. Which means tomorrow's game is going to be an "after you" special to avoid France/Portugal/Germany in the last 16.

i don't see how though, because as you said "France/Portugal/Germany" - the final standings are still undecided
it's gunna be more of a free-hit game, with bench players getting game time, which may free up the players and make for an awesome once-off England game

The only way for England to play a team from the group of death is to win the group.

oh i forgot this tournament has the most god-awful weirdest non-sensical bracket ever known to man

Jay29 wrote:

In this game, the fullbacks were the key. They were the free men. They should have been making far more runs without the ball, which opens up spaces for Foden/Grealish or Sterling to play in.

This just reminded me of Southgate's bizarre fear of offensive full-backs.

The moment Alexander-Arnold's form slipped he was dropped from the squad, and it felt like Southgate's arm had be to twisted to include him in the Euros squad. TAA's defending was apparently his top concern, nevermind him being one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe. He was so concerned about this he switched back to a 3-4-3 in qualifying.

It'd be one thing to start Walker at right back and have a more offensive left back, but even that's too adventurous for him. He'd rather play Trippier at left back instead.

Then when he does start Shaw and James, we barely see them get forward and do what they do best. Meanwhile, Wan-Bissaka, a player who seems right up Southgate's alley, is sitting at home.

This, of course, is the same guy who thought Grealish would be in direct competition with Sterling and Rashford as an attacker and didn't select him on that basis.

Good summary. I am totally confused also.

I still think he thinks Grealish is in different competition with Sterling and Rashford. This is the only way to explain the Foden sub. In his mind, Sterling/Rash have to be out there for "runs behind" and therefore to bring Grealish on, it means Mount or Foden off.

Fullbacks have been confusing forever. "Good problem to have" never sounded more untrue. Its not a good problem to have when the guy in charge doesnt have clear ideas of what he wants it seems.

The team tonight:

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Grealish, Sterling; Kane

Chillwell and Mount are isolating, Foden not in the squad for tonight, Sancho is... somewhere. Probably chilling with Bellingham.

Which match to watch tonight?

Scotland vs Croatia if you want actual stakes.

Yep. Higher stakes in Scotland game and also England is boring af, no offense to fellow brexiteers.

England 1-0. Sterling with a header. Saka and Grealish with all the work.

The game is wide open. Czechs are getting stronger.

The referee is annoying as f***. He is always central in the way of the players.

Scotland equalise. Hampden goes wild.

Need Scotland, Wales and England in the knockouts.

Good choice. Scotland-Croatia has been great

England look better than they did vs Scotland. It's still slow in places and the defending has been meh, but Sterling, Grealish and Saka have taken turns dropping deep to pick up the ball which has helped ball progression. Saka especially has been impressive carrying the ball up the pitch and already has a good understanding with Grealish. Kane has shown some life, too.

This might be England's best set-up actually. Rice and Phillips operating as a double pivot with a fluid three in front of them, instead of Rice being a six and Phillips the 8.

Grealish is quite a talent.

Jay29 wrote:England look better than they did vs Scotland. It's still slow in places and the defending has been meh, but Sterling, Grealish and Saka have taken turns dropping deep to pick up the ball which has helped ball progression. Saka especially has been impressive carrying the ball up the pitch and already has a good understanding with Grealish. Kane has shown some life, too.

This might be England's best set-up actually. Rice and Phillips operating as a double pivot with a fluid three in front of them, instead of Rice being a six and Phillips the 8.

It's so refreshing to see proper movement in the side for once. Can't remember seeing this level of urgency and quick transitions in the last 2 games. Sterling, Grealish and Saka can comfortably play across the pitch so it's not surprised we are not stuck playing in just one zone. I actually think DCL would be better than Kane in this set up.

I would bring on Bellingham for Rice later on and DCL for Kane but i can't imagine Southgate doing either.

Henderson coming on for Rice.

Modric gonna Modric.

Not long after a massive chance for Scotland, too.

Our man Ivan Perisic @Hapless_Hans

3-1 Croatia. Game over for Scotland, sadly.

Scotland gave them trouble but Croatia's greater class in midfield told. Scotland just got deeper and deeper without being able to get up the pitch.

Right, so who do we want then?

I guess Portugal would be the "easiest" of the three but I still can't see us beating them, especially with Ronaldo around. There's greater know-how in that team.

France have too much quality.

Germany will keep the ball against us and wear us down with pressure. I don't trust this England team to see out a one goal lead.

I will say though, if we get past this round I'm bringing out the It's Coming Home video.

I think we have enough quality to go head to head against both Portugal and Germany. It just depends on how Southgate sets up the team and who he picks. Portugal's midfield is shite and they are prone to being countered easily. We have some of the best counter attacking players too. However if Ronaldo doesn't want to lose then there is nothing we can do about that.

France will probably eat us alive.

Germany will be a 0-0 and then pens and we lose.

Just wandering, since I watch the local streams commentators mostly, they often talk about the betting side of things and conspiracies, espeically in these big tournaments They keep saying England let Scotland get a point so they would both progress, or increase the chance of Scotland anyway. They firmly believe Southgate admitted to this during interview or something Any thoughts on this?

im sure Southgate was shitting himself the whole match watching Saka and Grealish ball majestically... you just know he's gunna go back to Foden and Mount the next game

Saka was soo good. defensively and offensively just all round performance. grealish and i thought maguire surprisingly did good too he came all the way from the back and setup very good opportunities

Disappointed for Scotland, wanted them to find a way to qualify. I didnt watch the game, but the first 2 games they really didnt seem like one of the worst teams in the tournament. I think they miss a dangerous forward, someone who can really make the difference.

As for England, I only saw the last 5-10 of the 1st and then the 2nd half. It did seem better in the attack. Players were able to get the ball and turn, which I didnt see in any other games.

Pickford played some very good balls from the back, picking out midfielders in between the lines.

I also think Grealish and Saka did well. Good to see Grealish coming over to the left where he is better and Sterling to the middle at moments, because he has that ability also.

Saka in the defensive phase was also very alert. Because I didnt watch any pre game build up and jumped into the game at half time, it almost seemed like he was the right wingback, but I think he was just very committed to the defensive duties.

Interesting defensive dynamics with Grealish joining Kane in the 1st line and Sterling and Saka on the sides of the 2nd line.

It seemed like Czech really should have scored with some of the chances they made, so despite my positivity about the defensive set up there was some vulnerabilities.

Next game should be interesting. Which 11 is he going with now?

Kane looked better than before, but still not convincing at all to me at this level. Simply has to score to be impactful for England.

Germany will likely create tactical dilemma's for this team and have alot of quality. It would be very difficult to imagine England outplaying them, so it would have to be a tight game decided by set peices and England not having the possession.

France, less tactical problems to figure out but the individual quality just seems too high.

Portugal might be beatable, but we should not be too fooled by the Germany game. They were given a tactical problem they couldnt solve, most teams will not present this tactical issue and I dont think England are one of them. Though they could be tempted to return to 5 at the back if they did play Portugal due to Germany's success, who knows?

Robespierre wrote:Our man Ivan Perisic @Hapless_Hans

Croatian legend He always delivers when it mattered, he has incredible winning mentality