Julius

Whatever, I'll take it Alright, now it's time to sit back for the next 60

No way on earth that was a pen

Absolutely. I was left going "come on Saka, release...wait, where's Trippier?" This is Southgate He's saving that change for after the 75th minute

Just saying this to mate It's better for us to be chasing than to be leading most of the time, because we're absolutely useless at holding onto an advantage

Easy Goal of the Tournament contender. Serves us right for going with a high press for a change that's our 5 minutes done for today, time to sit back and wait until the last 10. In all seriousness, this is what happens when your tactics fluctuate so much throughout a match. You can't just save something like a high-press until the last 10/15 of each match and expect everyone to know what they're doing when a high-press crumbles the one time you're trying to use it from the start against quality opponents. No-one knew what they were doing.

Well, here we go. Do or die. Time to turn up or go home.

Comunicado oficial: For Premium this month, we're getting Job Simulator as our VR2 titles, and for Classics? Summoner (originally PS2) Ratchet and Clank Size Matters (originally PSP) Jeanne d'Arc (originally PSP)

Damn This new Splatoon DLC looks W I L D

...but which games are your stroopwafel, surströmming and soufflé @Dcubed? Full transparency: I landed on stroopwafel and surströmming first because their definitions just seem to fit so naturally into this...and then I just wanted a third 'S' for some alliteration I do love a good soufflé, though, and it's true I've yet to have a bad one! But yeah I'm a fraud and if I could think of a different dish which started with 'S' and fit the definition I might've gone with that instead As for Pastel de Nata, obviously it's not quite the same but it is our closest analogue in the UK I guess – when I was younger the egginess of an egg custard tart just wasn't appealing to me at all, and I haven't actually got back around to trying it again, I'd probably love it these days with how much I love other custard-based treats. Hmm... Think I'm in the same boat – outside of DLC and a couple of remasters, I don't think I've finished a whole new game released in 2024. Welp. Think I've got some catching up to do! Lovely picks @Jonnas, especially a fan of your surströmming (while we've had a bunch of trailers for Sparking Zero I hadn't really been processing much of it, the potential that it has to disappoint based on what you've said definitely makes it a worthy candidate) and stroopwafel – I'm going to need to add Twinsen's Quest to the list and keep an eye on it, because it had completely passed me by too and looks super charming! No word of a lie, this was one of the games I was thinking about as also having as my surströmming, so - unfortunately - I totally get it some of those previews were absolutely scathing! And while I generally go into Star Wars projects trying to not expect/hope for more than a 7/10, I'm honestly at this point praying this can scrape by as a 6/10 for me personally. So long as it isn't completely broken, the story is somewhat interesting and the music/sound quality is there, all won't be lost. It's a weird one too in that it has a clearly defined premise, I've watched all the trailers, and...I'm struggling to recall what the moment-to-moment gameplay even looks like. The brief shots that come to mind when thinking of this game are scaling a random cliff in an Uncharted style like you mention but without those Naughty Dog production values; a brief shot of space combat; her running out of a cantina with her axolotl dog guy in tow. Excellent pick for a surströmming I think. Totally pre-ordered the Gold Edition and booked that week off, mind you Definitely fits in my eyes. I've been thinking about where I'd like to jump in with more classic western RPGs once the dust has fully settled on my time with Baldur's Gate III and during my research the Path of Exile games (which I totally never confuse with Pillars of Eternity because of the shared acronym) have kept coming up, but it's crazy the number of times I've seen a trailer or seen someone react to the trailer in a showcase and thought it was already released or was just more DLC for Path of Exile until the title hit. I do think you're right and it's being lost in the shuffle a bit – I wonder if it's simply down to how it's turning up at a bunch of events which don't feel super connected, or if the game hasn't done enough to differ itself from the original at a glance for people like me who haven't played it? ARGH I HATE THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT As I was scrolling down to read your post I saw this bit in my periphery and it just clicked. The online is probably not going to be great and yeah, I don't think the conversation around it is going to last terribly long.

Shocked there weren't any more goals, but it just never quite fell the right way for France. Mbappé still doesn't have a goal from open play across two Euros now, compared to the 12 goals he has in two World Cups. Barmy, but pretty much the same happened to Müller. Well deserved from Spain, been my favourite team to watch from the start of the tournament – they set the mark early on, and no-one else has really come close. Curious to see if Deschamps sticks around now. One last dance at the World Cup? Because we all know Zidane is seemingly up next. Yeah, unfortunately even with the subs France made at the right time to keep the pace up, taking Kanté off - even 60+ minutes in - basically resets you to 11 men, even with him at an advanced stage of his career. Spain didn't seem interested in a third and more in game management, and it's hard to blame them with the result they ended up with – Williams must be livid, though, thinking he had a few chances to run at tired French fullbacks before late on. I think on paper Spain make short work of either England or the Netherlands in the final, but it's never quite that simple. Both teams have had to ride their luck at points to get this far, whereas Spain haven't really had to, but that's the sort of intangible which can win you tournaments. On the other hand, Spain get their first choice CB and first choice RB back after the suspensions served in this match with Le Normand and Carvajal. Think that nose injury early on clearly had a massive impact on his tournament. It's no excuse, but I think it's certainly a factor, and also highlights to me that Ancelotti is going to have an interesting job of trying to find the right place for him in the Madrid attack this coming season, because he's both France's best LW and ST which means he hasn't really been able to settle into one position, whereas in past tournaments where he's had success he's been playing off Giroud. Either way, you can guarantee he lights up the next World Cup.

Triple change for France right on cue They're going for it!

This forced sub for Navas and how Spain manage Mbappé now potentially decides the match. Wild.

Don't think it was that funny the first time, but really wish they'd stop now with the "it's past his bedtime" nonsense when it comes to Yamal.

Great first half, probably the most exciting of the tournament so far. Have my doubts that it'll be outdone in the remaining minutes of the tournament, and have to hope subs are made around the 60' to 70' mark so that this game doesn't become a tired scramble. Yeah, think I said it earlier in the tournament that defences on the international stage simply aren't what they were a few years ago. While France did great up until tonight they also haven't really faced truly great sides who were testing them up until now. Think this has more goals in it. Still think Mbappé is going to have something to say.

We all agree that every goal scored today is one less scored tomorrow, right?

3-3? 4-4? France could easily be in the lead yet Spain are still good for it. These defences look leaky and Mbappé is yet to really get going.

NO WAYYYYYYYYYY THE GAME JUST GOT BEAUTIFUL AGAIN

HE SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT TO BREAK THE RECORD NOW?! LIKE THAT?! FROM NOTHING?! take a bow Lamal wtf

Mbappé is tearing Navas apart and confusing the middle of the Spanish defence as soon as he cuts in, drawing all of them towards him In his heyday I think there's a chance he could keep him on a leash, but at 39? Huge ask. Carva might've struggled but probably would've fared better. Surprised Spain don't really seem to have a plan to contain Mbappé beyond their typical set-up, at least from what we've seen so far.

Mbappé emulating his childhood idol Ronaldo and completely wasting a free-kick don't @ me

Typical French, just couldn't do with being unhappy for a few more days

Nah, if it goes to pens (which I wouldn't be against, let's see those French and Spanish people swear) let's hope for some goals at 2-2 then we'll go through ET and pens Want to see the same happen too, though. EDIT: well, 2-2 here we go

Mask off for Mbappé, dude means business. Should be an interesting one. If France can actually convert their chances from open play then they could win this comfortably, but Spain look far too dangerous on the flanks to not be taken seriously. Going to regret saying this, but I'll be shocked if this goes to a 0-0.

Lovely covers - surprised to see Trico and Wander over Nate, though, especially considering all the other cover characters shown here are going to be PSN avatars alongside Nate, whereas the Ueda pair got left hanging. What's with the lack of love for my boy Ico?! Think the GT Driver is my favourite, he looks like a pouty kid probably pissed about the microtransactions in GT7 Though I'm getting the physical copy, I think I'll be picking up the Digital Deluxe Upgrade around launch, too. Got to support this game as much as I can and also, while I doubt I'll be getting rid of my Dragoon avatar anytime soon, I think only Astro could displace him at this point