General
12 Jun 21
@divegeester saidSerious possibility of Germany going out in a group hosted in their own country if Portugal were to win.
Excellent result for Hungary over the world champions. I do have slightly more perspective in the England v Scotland result, given that anything can happen when the underdogs turn up well in this competition.
Portugal v Germany game is a whiz!
Edit: However, Portugal on self destruct by giving Gosens the freedom of the left side of the pitch. Third goal was carbon copy of second nobody picking him up at all.
19 Jun 21
@relentless-red saidGreat game. Germany surprised me.
Serious possibility of Germany going out in a group hosted in their own country if Portugal were to win.
Edit: However, Portugal on self destruct by giving Gosens the freedom of the left side of the pitch. Third goal was carbon copy of second nobody picking him up at all.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI take it they were considered underdogs going in?
Great game. Germany surprised me.
-VR
19 Jun 21
@very-rusty saidGermany are never to be underestimated, but the good money was on Portugal.
I take it they were considered underdogs going in?
-VR
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI see so Portugal were suppose to win it?
Germany are never to be underestimated, but the good money was on Portugal.
-VR
19 Jun 21
@ghost-of-a-duke saidGermany at home after a defeat, the good money was kept in everyone’s pockets.
Germany are never to be underestimated, but the good money was on Portugal.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI thought the Toronto Maple Leaf's would beat Montreal in the first round and would have almost bet on it when they went up 3-1 in games. On paper they were the better team but you have to win the game on the ice, surprised to see Montreal come back and win the next 3 in a row then 4 straight from Winnipeg Jets.
I thought they would. 😀
I assume the same in soccer the games have to be won on the field. You can throw the stats out the door.
-VR
19 Jun 21
@divegeester saidOf the top teams it looks like if Spain beat Poland that only Portugal have got a bit of work to do to qualify, will be tough against France, possible a narrow loss will be enough for third and place in the last 16 but it depends on other results.
Whilst the expected are delivering, more or less, there is a feel that “anything can happen” about this competition.
And Poland just scored.
@relentless-red saidYep.
Thought all getting behind England and not doing club v country thing was how we overcame England's biggest problem, but if you must do 'Liverpool's team is very much built around overseas players' here's the home country players who started last year.
Jordan Henderson, England International, in squad but recovering from injury
Joe Gomez, England International, inj ...[text shortened]... s two players from the city on the pitch at the same time and has done for decades. Quality academy.
Give you the top 4
We all know Liverpool's recent success is built around a v non English base of players (allow Henderson and Trent, though don't think Trent fits into Gareth's fit for a full back)
Leaves 3 forwards, at least 2 in midfield, 1 central defender and a goalie that you bought in, plus Robertson, who is hardly English.
I was just pointing out that our starting eleven in the first 2 games had no Liverpool players in it.
Still think you were harsh on Stones.
@divegeester saidPlay to win, but only need to draw (guarantees second which is arguably better than first for future opponents).
England v Czech Republic
Changes to starting 11?
Changes to tactics?
Objective number one must be to get Kane into more offensive positions with a good supply.
Definitely needs to rotate and rest players. Will get accused by media of dropping players and having doubts about them whenever he rotates cos that is just what they do so needs to just stare that out and do it. Have a look at Sancho, Ward-Prowse, Grealish, Calvert-Lewin. If going well and they are ready give final 20 mins run out to Maguire and Henderson.
Kane is unsettled by leaving Spurs and looks tired. Stick him on the bench for a game and he won't like it. He'd come out hungry and wanting to prove a point in the next match (c.f. the difference made by Klopp benching Mané for the visit to Old Trafford in our run in. His dip in form disappeared from that point.)
@blood-on-the-tracks saidCurrent criticism of Liverpool is for letting the 'overseas' Wijnaldum go rather than meeting his wage demands, due to excessive belief in Curtis Jones from the youth system and without lining up an overseas replacement, keep up. 😁
Yep.
Give you the top 4
We all know Liverpool's recent success is built around a v non English base of players (allow Henderson and Trent, though don't think Trent fits into Gareth's fit for a full back)
Leaves 3 forwards, at least 2 in midfield, 1 central defender and a goalie that you bought in, plus Robertson, who is hardly English.
I was just point ...[text shortened]... eleven in the first 2 games had no Liverpool players in it.
Still think you were harsh on Stones.
(BTW Gomez was selected ahead of Mings before injured out all season, league and European Cup medals were probably helping his case. We had more regular UK starters than most PL clubs despite injuries listed; often half the team. Whole back 4 plus Hendo, Curtis and Ox from the bench. Sorry Brazilians don't want to go to Forest, but what can you do? 🤷♂️)
Edit: If you are including Andy Robertson in 'overseas' then our past success was in fact based around similar numbers of 'overseas' players and similar numbers of England Internationals. Cast your mind back to all our famous Scottish and Irish players of the 70s and 80s with the odd exceptional Welsh and Scandinavian players. We are not located in the home counties.
20 Jun 21
@relentless-red saidOr maybe bench him for the 1st half or 60mins, see how CL does.
Kane is unsettled by leaving Spurs and looks tired. Stick him on the bench for a game and he won't like it. He'd come out hungry and wanting to prove a point in the next match