Posted June 30, 2021 Just caught up with Sweden-Ukraine. The red card is one of those that you don't want to see again. Sure, the intent might not have been there but it didn't look good at all. 8 hours ago, Fierce_LiNk said: England have had a massive leg-up with this competition in terms of their venue for matches, their little need to travel, and having their home fans so easily able to attend games. I do think other nations have a right to feel aggrieved. Belgium had their games at St Petersburg, Copenhagen, back to St Petersburg, Seville, and the next game is in Munich! In comparison, England have had four games at Wembley. Not sure how this can be justified... Yeah that aspect's been rather brushed aside, hasn't it? Not needing to jaunt back and forth across Europe is a bonus. Give them one home game for a wee boost, why not, but maybe teams should be on rotation otherwise. I only watched the England-Scotland match so there was likely no bother for fans to travel down and balance things out in Wembley for that one. Those numbers @Julius posted for yesterday's match really took me by surprise. I'm not saying it hasn't been the same for other home nations, just that without knowing numbers, support hasn't seemed so heavily skewed. Okay, perhaps at Hampden but I put that down to no one being brave enough to venture near the highlands (even in June!) and Scotland would get a good turnout anywhere, especially since they hadn't qualified in so long. The other day I read that England had to bow to UEFAs demands to let 2,500 of their VIPs into the country quarantine-free, or they'd throw a strop and take the final somewhere else. Makes you wonder what other hoops they've had to jump through to keep themselves based at Wembley until now. Well, anyway that's that for a few days. Anyone for tennis? Tour de France? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 30, 2021 COVID has certainly affected this tournament. I'm pretty sure the intention with holding a European wide tournament wasn't taking in the idea that there might be serious travel restrictions for fans to be able to attend certain matches and it's definitely had an impact. Not least with England getting that extra Wembley game because the previous venue for it was no longer safe. Then again, a European wide Euros was a flawed idea in practise. A romantic one that practically leads to some unfair advantages as we have seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 (edited) Kroos is retiring from international football: I was initially surprised considering there's a World Cup next year, but he's been pretty vocal about his thoughts on Qatar holding the competition, so I guess it makes sense. Anyways, I know it's only a retirement from international football, but he's undoubtedly one of the best central midfielders of the last decade, and I've always admired how calm he remains in the most tense of situations. One of the few players I watched with the intent of basing my football on back when I was still playing, it's definitely going to be strange seeing so many of my football idols from back when I was still in high school retiring in the next few years! Edited July 2, 2021 by Julius 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Even if they are a goal down, I do think that the Swiss have been the better of the two teams. They started off slow but seem to have played with more confidence as the game went on. Spain seem okay with hanging back and then possibly getting another on the counter. Going to be interesting to see if the Swiss can break them down in the second half. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 2 hours ago, Julius said: I was initially surprised considering there's a World Cup next year, but he's been pretty vocal about his thoughts on Qatar holding the competition, so I guess it makes sense. Good for him for sticking to his guns. 2 hours ago, Julius said: it's definitely going to be strange seeing so many of my football idols from back when I was still in high school retiring in the next few years! Just wait until your perspective adapts and you're looking "down" at the next generation of players as boys rather than looking "up" to them as mythical heroes with special footballing powers. As for Switzerland, needless to say but they need a breakthrough. We've seen that Spain can be got at. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 1 minute ago, darksnowman said: Enter Shaqiri! Klopp really should have been using him more last season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 1 minute ago, Hero-of-Time said: Klopp really should have been using him more last season. Surprised he didn't get a turn at centre half at least. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Looks like Spain might get out of jail though, that seemed like a very harsh red card on Switzerland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 It was one of those challenges where to be honest I could see it going either way with a red or a yellow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Didn't think the Swiss would hold on but Spain were incredibly wasteful in front of goal. With the respective teams recent penalty records this should be a forgone conclusion but you never know - the Swiss might end up missing all of them Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Swiss keeper should be well warmed up for these kicks from the mark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Awful pens by the Swiss. It was there for the taking and they bottled it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Sommer did just fine but it was the Swiss penalty takers who went in cold. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Gutted for the Swiss, absolutely gutted for them. They should be exceptionally proud of their showing. Spain on the other hand - well fuck I’d rather play them than the Ukrainians. I can’t remember a Spain team with so little quality. They are - with the exception of that magic 18 year old - total fucking shit. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Italian defenders couldn't manage to keep themselves onside there. Just focus on keeping it tight at the back, lads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Barella didn't half smash that one in! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Then Insigne. Pick that one out. What have Fifa's number 1 team got to do to turn this around? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Awful defending for the second. They just stood there and gave him space. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Yeah, Belgium stood right off. Some finish though! A penalty will do to keep this alive. It's going to be game on in the second half. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Belgium are annoying me with how often they give the ball away. Tielemans and Witsel in the middle have been quite disappointing, imo. Just giving the Italians so much space and aren't really doing anything to either defend or attack. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Belgium have to be kicking themselves here. They’ve had a couple of good chances to level the game but squandered them. They have to take them at this level. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 Italy good. Urgh, I fear playing them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 1 minute ago, LazyBoy said: Italy good. Urgh, I fear playing them. Seeing as we won’t make the final, luckily we don’t have to worry about facing them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 2, 2021 I'm seeing a lot of posts online about people assuming England will just somehow breeze into the final to play against Italy. This is the same England that were underwhelming against Scotland. I don't think anything should get taken for granted. Focus on the next game first. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
