Tonight's game

[WTF11]

WTF I read some of your expert commentators rubbishing Phillips what a disgrace. That Neville started it unreal. He wasn't the best but he was by far the worst. Instead of looking into the whole side which apart from Pickford all were bad, they single out Phillips f them.

He plays for Leeds, and as he was universally praised for his performance against Croatia the vultures had to wait. Any excuse to bad mouth Leeds (and the team haven't given them that many opportunities in the PL games!). Nothing to see here, Southgate will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at some stage.

[Acido]

Better not to qualify top, at least if there is any desire to get through some of the knock out games.

Yes its a weird one, do we want to win the group and play the runners-up of France/Germany/Portugal ?
Or do we want to finish runners-up and play the runners-up of Sweden/Spain/Slovakia ?.

[WTF11]

Yes its a weird one, do we want to win the group and play the runners-up of France/Germany/Portugal ?
Or do we want to finish runners-up and play the runners-up of Sweden/Spain/Slovakia ?.

Me? Option 1, always want to test against the best, no matter what the outcome (failure is an opportunity to learn)

England management? Option 2, so we might get through the quarters. (Bit more in the bank, more shop window opportinity)

Depends on what you think of your own capabilities I guess.

[Acido]

Like you say, even if it ends in defeat, there is something more enjoyable about us meeting a France or a Germany isn't there, and going at them and getting in their faces right from the start.

Its been said we got lucky with the draw when getting to the World cup semis in '18, and yes I do agree with that. Did Croatia even do us a favour and save us from a heavy defeat in the final against France ?.
Well nobody can know that can they, and it would have been nice to have got there and found out, and we might not get that close again for a long long time!.

[WTF11]

Like you say, even if it ends in defeat, there is something more enjoyable about us meeting a France or a Germany isn't there, and going at them and getting in their faces right from the start.

Its been said we got lucky with the draw when getting to the World cup semis in '18, and yes I do agree with that. Did Croatia even do us a favour and save us from a heavy defeat in the final against France ?.
Well nobody can know that can they, and it would have been nice to have got there and found out, and we might not get that close again for a long long time!.

Maybe there is something to be said for these competitions, no matter what the outcome or the performance of individual players (,getting way too philosophical in my old age)

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Maybe there is something to be said for these competitions, no matter what the outcome or the performance of individual players (,getting way too philosophical in my old age)

Never understood the play for second mentality - if you want to win the competition you should be looking to win every game you can.

The idea that certain games are not to be won is not a thought you want in a squad.

[ozleeds]

Never understood the play for second mentality - if you want to win the competition you should be looking to win every game you can.

The idea that certain games are not to be won is not a thought you want in a squad.

A bit dangerous all this with all the betting on sports so on. Imagine if it was proven England were not playing to win all hell would break loose or any other team for that matter. We know it happens in all sports but it is a dangerous game nowadays.

[Monaco_Totty]

Difficult to gauge opinion about England's form from over here in France but working in the bar amongst folks from all over Europe they fear what we may be able to produce for sure.
Opinion over here is that England do have a young and exciting team but maybe the likes of Trippier and Sterling where there for a reason in bringing tournament experience to help players like Mings,Phillips,Rice,Mount,Foden,Sancho,James & Grealish,all of which had no prior senior tournament experience.

Yep,there are senior players in the squad but they are players with an ego.Consensus in France is you just can’t get rid of players that reached the semi-final of the last world cup and introduce 8 players with zero experience of major tournaments in the starting line up as its not really how any successful man management works and certainly is not how football works.As we know all successful teams need that balance between youth and experience, creativity and bedevilment.

Is there anyone better to do Southgate's job particularly after the FA's huge remit spend on modernising its whole infrastructure that requires a versatile Head Coaches voice to PR the whole institution up front 24/7.His style in interviews is quite reserved and sadly as is the style of play he orchestrates - so qualifying by Euro second placing is of no real surprise and will keep the FA hierarchy happy for now.

My mum showed me the financial amounts generated by the FA and the effects they have on the English economy which show just why we need a winning national team.
team. team. https://www.thefa.com/-/media/cfa/es...n-england.ashx

[ozleeds]

The last game was a bit of cat and mouse found some new highlights.

[Monaco_Totty]

The missing link to read if England's next bore fest requires a 10 minute distraction.
https://www.walkingfootball.com/appl...nt.php?id=5753

A laugh every minute spent with these two - free transfers from Leeds & Nantes dog pounds with the added bonus of having to remember to be bi-lingual to command them.