Euro games reports

[Back of the net]

What’s more important winning or playing well?

I think the manager doesn’t get the credit his results warrant.
Notice I said results.

[Back of the net]

Not sure fans are wanting us to go all out attack as many, probably like yourself, see that as naive vs the best sides in Europe.
What’s been very, very disappointing prior to the Switzerland game was the misplaced passes, pedestrian sideways passing and almost zero intelligent movement off the ball. This from players who we all know have those skills in their locker.
So the frustration amongst many fans has been the lack of basics

It was better last night and you’re right it’s all about winning from now on.
Here,s to more improvement next Wednesday in preparation for Sunday

I understand that and I agree about the movement and slow build up play. Well put flour.
We’re getting better as the tournament progresses that’s what teams who win tournaments generally do.

[the_idiotb_stardson]

Best teams I have ever seen are Dutch 74 ( Okay I am biased) and Brazil 82. Neither won the tournament.

From my own point of view it is all about attacking and entertaining.

Each to their own but I won't pay to watch accountant football

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Best teams I have ever seen are Dutch 74 ( Okay I am biased) and Brazil 82. Neither won the tournament.

From my own point of view it is all about attacking and entertaining.

Each to their own but I won't pay to watch accountant football

There's a program on Sky Documentaries available at the moment called Brazil 2002 The True Story

Definitely worth watching, a real look at the dedication and mindset needed to win a top tournament

No bollix flying home players for births, no days off for " tiredness" no charter trips for wags.

Dedication pure and simple

[flourbasher]

There's a program on Sky Documentaries available at the moment called Brazil 2002 The True Story

Definitely worth watching, a real look at the dedication and mindset needed to win a top tournament

No bollix flying home players for births, no days off for " tiredness" no charter trips for wags.

Dedication pure and simple

That seems very similar to the approach made by the England cricket team in the two years leading up to the Ashes win in 2005 under M Vaughan. The coach at the time was the Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher

Anyone who didn’t sign up to the win at all costs and make sacrifices in your life was given the opportunity to leave or was told to leave

[Brin]

Down to the last four so here we go with the first Semi Final game.

Poor old Didier Deschamps stated people who are bored with his France team's style of play can watch something else instead of Tuesday's Euro 2024 semi-final with Spain.....MWAH MWAH.....

France have been rightly criticised by the football fraternity for a lack of entertainment in their matches, with BBC pundit and former Premier League striker Chris Sutton last week saying he would "close the curtains" if they were playing in his back garden.....

The French three goals at the Euros have been two own goals and a penalty scored by Kylian Mbappe in the 1-1 draw with Poland in the group stage, you might say that's nothing to be proud of there but, just like England, they're in the Semis.

In Monday's pre-match news conference, Deschamps was asked about playing "boring football" by one journalist, to which he responded: "If you are bored, watch another game - you don't have to watch us, it's fine''

Meanwhile in camp positive.....

By contrast Spain have been in excellent form at Euro 2024, winning all five games and scoring the most goals with 11.
They also have two of the most exciting youngsters at the tournament in Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

Chelsea defender Cucurella has been particularly impressive for Spain at this European Championship, and he will be key to ensuring France's forward line are frustrated once again.
"We are a group of players that give everything for our team-mates and that's one of the secrets," Cucurella said.
"I think we have created a great group. We have a mix of veterans and very young players and that makes it all very enjoyable. The key is to be like a family.
"We may not have superstars, but as a team we are good, we are doing well and I hope we keep it that way."

That's the spirit lad you tell em!

Match stats:

This is the sixth meeting between Spain and France at a major tournament. France won three of the first four (2-0 in Euro 1984 final, 2-1 in Euro 2000 quarter-final, 3-1 in 2006 World Cup last 16), while Spain won the most recent game 2-0 win in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. The other game was a 1-1 draw during the Euro 1996 group stage.

Meeting in the Euro 2024 semi-final, and having already met in the group stage (1996), last 16 (2006), quarter-finals (2000 and 2012) and final (1984) of major tournaments, Spain v France will be just the third fixture to be played at each stage of World Cup and Euros, along with Italy v Spain and England v Germany.
Spain are the only team who have won all five matches at Euro 2024. No team in European Championship history has won six matches in a single tournament and no team has ever won six Euros games in a row.

France are looking to reach their fourth Euros final (1984, 2000 and 2016) but only the second not played on French soil (Euro 2000 in the Netherlands). Spain, meanwhile, are looking to reach their fifth final, with only Germany playing in more (six). The Spaniards have progressed from four of five semi-finals, but lost on penalties to eventual winners Italy at this stage at Euro 2020.

There have only been four goals scored in France’s five Euro 2024 matches (three for, one against), with those either penalties (two) or own goals (two). All 128 non-penalty shots have failed to be scored (86 for France, 42 for opponents), while France are the only team on record since 1980 to have more than 50 non-penalty shots at a Euros and fail to find the net with any of them.


I can only see this going one way and that's a Spain win......scoreline?????? 2-0

[Brin]

Anyone watching this one?

[Redshank]

Yes Brin, really looking forward to it.

I'm hoping for a Spain win because...

a) It will be a much more entertaining final, regardless of who wins our semi. I love watching Spain, particularly the two young wingers.

b) Southgate will, without doubt, over think France (assuming we beat the Dutch). Their forward line will freak him out. It will be Slovenia x10 and the biggest bore-fest the Euros has ever seen. Good for insomnia, but not good for football.

c) I actually think we'll have a better chance of beating Spain. We'll be forced into a more open game and have the flair players to edge it. We built momentum in the quarters and the stunning penalty shoot out sets us up nicely for the Semi. More momentum built, see off Spain and..... "Sir Gareth Southgate has entered the building"

COME ON SPAIN

[ilikecarling]

Not going to Micky take your comments brin, but if Rotherham got to a semi final of a major domestic tournament playing like England/france would you still be taking the pee?

If two teams get to the semis and haven’t set the tournament on fire, but have got the results who cares.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

For me the key lies with Cucurella

If the French can stop him coming forward the Spanish might struggle to play their normal attacking game.

Let him come forward and the French defence will come under pressure, M’Bappe won’t get enough of the ball and they will be looking to progress by sneaking a 1-0 win