Julius

Yeah, just to chime in here (as this is the only part I can really speak to), for PSN it literally takes a few seconds. I tested it yesterday for one of my FIFA saves because I just wanted to mess around (aka spend every penny because I was bored) with it outside of its own save feature: you close the app, upload the save which takes a split second, and then downloading that save back takes 3-4 seconds. And then it's just starting the game back up.

Glad Rashford got out and said his piece, kind of love how fans covered up the defaced sections of the mural with messages of support. I said it last night and I'll say it again now: he deserved to have that ball hit the back of the net last night. Everything he's done off the pitch these last 18 months - the way he carries himself and his maturity, the way he isn't actually afraid to use his status to put pressure on politicians as and when it is the fair thing to do so - completely warranted it going in, it just wasn't meant to be unfortunately. He'll bounce back, and I hope this England team bounces back. I didn't have faith until deep into extra-time (funny how I'm optimistic a lot of other places, but football isn't one of them), but I felt the way I did last night - head buried deep in my t-shirt, heart pounding, covering my eyes - for the first time with football since Chelsea won the Champions League in the midst ridiculous of circumstances in 2012. Made me feel like a kid again, powerless yet empowered. Fingers crossed these lads will get another chance!

Just finished the first season of Vinland Saga after starting it on Friday, and holy cow, think the second season might now be my most anticipated anime series at the moment (sorry Attack on Titan). I'm just praying that it's WIT handling the second season after the phenomenal job they did with this first one, rather than shipping it out to some place like MAPPA; it's nothing against them, but they already seem to be in the thick of it with other productions at the moment as it is. I mean just look (and listen to) the OP's for the first season, that second one in particular is hype-inducing: Definitely surprised by how much of Vinland Saga felt a bit familiar to Berserk (some scenes spring to mind in particular), it's definitely on the dark side of things...but it didn't get as dark as Berserk (let's be honest, that takes some doing!). It follows Thorfinn on his quest for vengeance during the turn of the last millennium, but there's just so much depth and complexity to the writing and politics, especially at the scale of it all; it's the sort of thing you love to watch, and it's rarely ever predictable. The thing is, it has a fantastic first season, and yet it feels like it's got so much more to give -- I really do hope that turns out to be the case. It has one or two things I'd highlight as being a bit weird, such as two characters in close proximity for much of the second half of the season not ever having their relationship to Thorfinn become known to each other, which felt like an inevitable conflict, but it never came to be. Their differences in ideologies and how they would view each other's actions in relation to Thorfinn in particular is what I was hoping to see figured out, so it's a bit of a shame. Admittedly, haven't read the manga, so maybe there was something there, but I doubt it, considering how important an interaction you'd think it would be. Not that the rest of the season hadn't been special, but the moment when I knew I was in for something truly special with this came towards the end of the season, when... Seems like I jumped in at a perfect point to, what with the second season just being announced the other day: So, I guess this has now become my annual summer anime phase. Between this and Odd Taxi, I've been having a fantastic time will probably take a break the next few evenings to either crack on with other things or watch some films, because on Thursday it's time for the second season of Beastars!

Took a bit of a break until I got back to the game yesterday, it's been very stop-start the last few weeks between this game and I, but what can you do unfortunately because of that the pressures of returning to the game feel compounded I'll talk about Anor Londo more in-depth when I complete it, but the level itself I really enjoyed. Every corner of this place is huge, I've loved learning to parry and riposte against the Silver Knights, it's been a good time. But...yeah, I'm stuck on Ornstein and Smough now. Maybe my thoughts will change after I beat them, maybe I'm being biased, but of all of the bosses in the game so far, genuinely don't think this is a well designed boss fight. I get what they were going for - one big guy, one small; one slow, one speedy - and I think their armour is cool, the arena is cool, but some particulars of the boss fight itself kind of suck. To be fair, that seems to be the case for a lot of these boss fights where you're taking on more than one enemy -- the camera really sucks (in the second phase the range for locking on seems smaller, and that's got me killed a couple of times), and when you're seeing Ornstein dash in position because he's being blocked off by Smough (but can shoot lightning or hit you through him?) or look like he's walking around (but is actually dashing) it's like the game is struggling to understand what it was wants to do itself. There's also the fact that Ornstein can throw lightning and hit you through Smough. The part I'm enjoying is playing how I normally do: taking it slow, selecting my moments to strike, backing up, then going again. But because of some of the jank it reminds me (in a bad way) of my experience with the Adjudicator from Demon's Souls...but don't worry, in my case, it gets worse. You see, things were going swimmingly to be fair, I found a Crystal Halberd and had been using that, which made taking Ornstein down not too difficult after a few attempts (it just dragged out the fight), and I got a few attempts at second phase Smough...before my Crystal Halberd conked out and broke. I'd upgraded it as much as I could to +3 at that point, and as you can imagine, without it, getting to the boss fight became a pain because what took a minute or two now took me ten, I'm using more Estus and just generally feel a bit more frustrated. Guess it's on me, but yeah, it's not been fun since, because now the first phase of the boss fight (and everything else) is taking an age. I haven't used a Crystal weapon before, so I didn't realise how fragile they are or that you can't repair them outside of reinforcement...it's a pain. That weapon breaking has kind of broken my spirit a bit as I've effectively had to relearn the fight without it, and I was pretty close to packing it in. Haven't spent too long in it yet, just a couple of hours trying them and farming souls for the giant blacksmith in-between, and nowhere near as much as I tried Stray Demon (yet). But I'm not going to (though I'm done for today), I'm just not sure what I'm going to do now. I need 2 Titanite Chunks to upgrade the Crystal Halberd to +4, but I'm not even sure if that would restore it's durability, but considering that I was consistently getting to second phase Smough with it, I think that would be the way I have to go. If so, I know I can farm them potentially from the giant gold knights in the room just before Ornstein and Smough (as I managed to get one on one of my runs through to them), so maybe I'll have to give that a go tomorrow.

Isn't that same sentient toupee the one that refused to condemn fans booing our lads that took the knee? What a joke.

Alright, I feel like this tells you pretty much everything you need to know

Wait until they realise we only got to the final because of Sterling. Oh wait, selectively turning the blinders on and having double standards is a classic trait of a racist (and virtually other group you'd want to avoid). It's one of the two things I will forever struggle with when supporting England (the other being just how toxic and tunnel visioned our own media can become when it comes to success, which obviously pales in comparison). I think this country has a long, long, long way to go when it comes to tackling racism, and unfortunately it seems to get ignited by our performances in sports (whether that be success or failure). I will always pride myself on - and be proud of others for - being raised to be empathetic towards others, but I'll never be able to empathise with unreasonable idiots. Very hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes when they're always wearing them on the wrong feet.

Yeah, we did look better in the second half of extra-time...but maybe that's just it. Henderson came on and was completely walked over, had no real impact on the game. Subs were left way too late, if we're being walked over in the 65th minute then you need to make changes. Again, like I said before: we should've just gone for it. If we lose 3-1 with Sancho, Foden, Grealish and Rashford on with Sterling and Kane still there? At least we'd know we'd done everything in our power and it just wasn't meant to be. Foden. Grealish. Sancho. So much talent on that bench and none of it used until really late on. When everyone else looks leggy, you need to make those changes. Think that's the next step Southgate needs to take, he needs to work on subs ahead of the World Cup. And, for a change, expectations will rightly be high -- we were poor early in this tournament, but we really grew into it. We beat what was in front of us, yes we got lucky at times, but this could be a great learning experience. Put it this way: I don't think it'll be another 55+ years until we're next in a final with these lads. Put a smile on my face and got me believing in this England team for the first time in my 22+ years of life, thanks for the memories lads. As for Italy, Donnarumma was fantastic, deserved Player of the Tournament (maybe alongside Chiesa? Heck, could've been Spinazzola too if he didn't get injured), shame his manager is a right idiot and the jewel of Milan is off to France (but fair play to Maldini for not putting up with their crap). This Italy team looks fantastic. Can't wait to see them at the World Cup next year, feels so good to finally see an Italy team worthy of that blue shirt take to the pitch again. Great job Mancini!

He's 19, it's just too much of an ask. Has he even taken a professional penalty at this point? I don't follow Arsenal too closely, maybe he has, but it's just so bizarre. Like you said before, Rashford and Sancho did not look comfortable. Imagine everyone else sweating and tired, in tune with the game, and then coming on to a fully amped atmosphere with no sweat to show for it. Sport is about talent, and determination, but it's also about being in tune with the game and the atmosphere. Sancho and Saka especially were so telegraphed, Rashford sent Donnarumma the wrong way and did everything right except hit the net. Gutting. Absolutely gutting. Especially after Pickford's magnificent save against Jorginho, you thought we would have had the psychological edge...but then we bring in the most psychologically susceptible player in Saka. Nothing against him, it's just this could have a huge impact on his career. It feels wrong. And not to take anything away from Italy, full respect to them. Controlled the game, dug in deep, Chiellini came up with game-saving challenge after game-saving challenge. If there was a team capable and worthy of taking away the English dream this summer, it was them, and I can't wait to hopefully see us and them (hopefully not against each other!) at the World Cup next year.

Whoever let Saka go last can go screw themselves. He's 19. If it was too much for Mbappé, it was as too much for him. Grealish? Sterling? No, the 19 year old. Flipping heck. And after Pickford's magnificent save too.

It's England. Of course it's going to be penalties. It's been going to penalties since June 11th. Here we go. Come on lads.

These subs should've been made 10 minutes ago. Penalties in mind at least. Sweating over here.

My head is buried deep in my shirt right now. Come on lads. Push in 2's and 3's, Bonucci and Chiellini lack pace and I'm sure their eyesight is going. Please win it in this 15. I can't do penalties.

Grealish changing into a shirt? Good stuff. Also that Mrs Grealish 69 shirt, typically classy Chiellini is dragging Italy out of trouble time and time again here. That slide against Sterling was wonderful. You do feel for Verratti as he's had a great game, but how he's gone off the pitch without a booking is beyond me. Such a smart player.

That was balanced on a knife edge there, you just felt we could have had one more chance more and then Chiellini drags Saka down. A yellow all day long, but an insidious and game-saving one at that. Brilliant changes from Mancini, Italy weren't great at the start of that half but once the changes were made, they controlled it up until the last few minutes of stoppage time. It felt like we were hanging ok by a thread there. Bring Grealish on, he should've come on earlier. The difference is that we were chasing the ball a lot there, we're knackered, having a player who can win foul after foul in our favour would break up Italy's flow nicely. Just go for it. We don't want penalties, and it'll be tough to hold it against Southgate for going for it. I say Grealish on for Mount and, if we reach the second half of extra time, maybe even Philips off for Foden or Sancho. We have the talent on the bench that changes games, let's use it. Come on lads!

Chiesa shredding us to pieces there. But now he looks done. Verratti has had enough tactical fouls now, think he sees a yellow with the next one. He's had enough leeway now, any more and you feel he'd be able to get away with murder.

Switching to four at the back might stop our defensive spine from being so deep and inviting pressure, but there's so, so much space all of a sudden in our fullback positions.

Shame, pretty dreadful defending for a corner, way too much space in the middle. It's bouncing around when it should be hitting legs. It's been coming. I'm not even sure who at this point, been some great displays all over. Maybe Mount for Sancho, Foden, or Grealish? This will be where Southgate is tested. Not making changes might be what cost us three years ago, and I think he'll know that now.

Rough seeing Barella come off, he's hand a tremendous tournament but he went missing for much of the second half against Spain, and hasn't had a whiff of the ball tonight. The right move, think they're trying to outmuscle us - specifically Rice - in the middle. Immobile has scored this tournament, but he hasn't lit it up as you might have thought going into it. Sucks to see him hooked off, reckon we'll see a lot of Chiesa, Berardi and Insigne swapping places in the rest of the match. Pace and unpredictability of that might just stretch us at the back a bit.

Great first half from us. Shaw and Trippier have been immense, the decision by Gareth to go with three at the back has paid off enormously so far, Rice has controlled the middle of the park really well too. Things just haven't quite clicked going forward since that first move, but hopefully we can pounce on another opportunity. I'm a bit wary of this ref, he's let a lot go, and the England lads just need to keep their composure. Mount looks like he's getting a bit frustrated, surprisingly so considering how he typically is so calm, just need to call themselves a bit. Very strange to go with Kuipers after he didn't referee one of the semi-final matches, and especially after Felix Brych did a fantastic job in the Italy v Spain match. Some tackles could have easily been carded so far, hope it doesn't become a scrappy affair. The Italians grew into the match as we neared half-time. I was concerned early on that an early goal might mean we got overwhelmed, but we've kept out structure well and made sure we haven't been pushed around. Chiesa looks dangerous as ever though, I think if they're going to get something, it's coming through him, so they need to be sure to snuff him out. Come on lads. Another 45.

Really shaky start from Maguire, my head was down immediately after that poor pass, but once he hoofed it out and you saw how open that right side of the pitch was once the ball came to Harry Kane, you felt like it was on. Fantastic cross from Trippier, even better finish from Shaw. Hopefully that'll calm the nerves!

LETS GO

Wow, is this the quietest we've heard Il Canto this tournament? It certainly feels like it (and by some margin). Boys better come out belting it, give me some chills!

Sam Matterface on Wednesday trying to reason with viewers like "uhhhhh, football fans are suspicious. We won when you watched it with us, come watch with us again", completely forgetting that he's sitting next to the commentating joke that is Lee Dixon which all but ensures no-one will want to watch it there. Remember when Adrian Chiles was somehow given the reins by ITV for hosting the Champions League, back when they had it? They make some really weird choices over there, that's for sure