Group F: Hungary, Portugal, France, Germany

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I personally think Germany care way more about playing Italy and Holland than they do playing us

Genuinely I'd say one of England's bigger rivals these days is Croatia, especially after they cry arsed over the whole Three Lions thing in 2018 because they thought it was legit and not just people having some fun

 

[Billy Dean]

I personally think Germany care way more about playing Italy and Holland than they do playing us

Genuinely I'd say one of England's bigger rivals these days is Croatia, especially after they cry arsed over the whole Three Lions thing in 2018 because they thought it was legit and not just people having some fun

Germany really hate playing Italy. They see them as a bogey team. 2016 I think was the first time they beat them in a tournament.

 

[Kurt.]

I personally think Germany care way more about playing Italy and Holland than they do playing us

Genuinely I'd say one of England's bigger rivals these days is Croatia, especially after they cry arsed over the whole Three Lions thing in 2018 because they thought it was legit and not just people having some fun

England are an irrelevance in international football at the top table. Won one trophy over 50 years ago and lived off that ever since.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Germany really hate playing Italy. They see them as a bogey team. 2016 I think was the first time they beat them in a tournament.

They usually have good matches too

1970 in particular is wild

I enjoy 1982 as well, just for that Tardelli screamer if nothing else

I have a great deal of respect for both German and Italian football. Italy scraping their way to the Final in 94 despite a poor start and most of their team being injured was an incredible display of intestinal fortitude

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

England are an irrelevance in international football at the top table. Won one trophy over 50 years ago and lived off that ever since.

I doubt any of the top teams give a shiny you-know-what about England

Probably a good thing actually

 

[carolinablue232]

It's certainly on the cards. That said, a draw suits Portugal far more than it does Germany. Portugal would have a +3 goal difference and a game to play against an already qualified France (should they, as expected, beat Hungary). Germany would then, in all likelihood, need to beat Hungary - not a certainty for a team that lost to Mexico and South Korea at the last World Cup - and still only get third, unless they could win by 4 or 5.

I don't think the Germans can risk the draw.

Yes, all true. But I would suspect Germany feel confident they can beat Hungary. And if they can’t, then they shouldn’t move on anyways. A loss to Portugal is more damaging than a win would be beneficial IMO. 4 points and you’re almost assured to go through. 3 points and its a squeaky bum time.

 

[Billy Dean]

They usually have good matches too

1970 in particular is wild

I enjoy 1982 as well, just for that Tardelli screamer if nothing else

I have a great deal of respect for both German and Italian football. Italy scraping their way to the Final in 94 despite a poor start and most of their team being injured was an incredible display of intestinal fortitude

Yes they're clearly the 2 biggest European heavyweights.

I doubt any of the top teams give a shiny you-know-what about England

Probably a good thing actually

I think you could compare England's rivalry with Germany in a similar way to our rivalry with the RS. I mean that in the sense that the RS see us as a rival but don't have any reason to be scared of playing us.

 

[emir]

Rivalries don't have to be symmetric, though. Look at Leeds United and Manchester United.

I think, politically, France would be more our classic national rival. Certainly historically, with the exception of the World Wars. But as far as football goes, we don't have a lot of meaty history there.


Yeah, the war thing won't go away amongst the berks, sadly. I think that's born out of England beating them in the '66 World Cup Final, when memories of the blitz and the like were still pretty raw. That kind of locked it in as part of the narrative.

But for me, World Cup '90 and Euro '96 are what define Germany as England's bogey team. The crushers of dreams.

How about Zidane 2 late goals against England during Euro 2004?

 

[allen]

How about Zidane 2 late goals against England during Euro 2004?

Yeah - but it was just a group game, wasn't it? England got out of the group, too.

I'd argue Portugal are bigger football rivals of England's than France.

 

[LinekersLegs]

How was he allowed back on to play?

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[TheBigIguana]

How good were France. Beating Germany without ever really getting out of 1st gear.

Not that good. That's the gear they pretty much always play in.

 

[Billy Dean]

Not that good. That's the gear they pretty much always play in.

We shall see

 

[TheBigIguana]

We shall see

I'm not even saying France can't play better or win the thing but if we're talking about who looks the best at this tournament and just based on these games France is way down the list. Like if Germany play well and beat Portgual and France only beat Hungary like 2-0 I'll be saying Germany looks better. And yet I look around twitter and here and it's like "France showed why they're the best" and just don't see that. It's strange to me.

 

[Billy Dean]

I'm not even saying France can't play better or win the thing but if we're talking about who looks the best at this tournament and just based on these games France is way down the list. Like if Germany play well and beat Portgual and France only beat Hungary like 2-0 I'll be saying Germany looks better. And yet I look around twitter and here and it's like "France showed why they're the best" and just don't see that. It's strange to me.

Yeah I think that's their thing a little bit. In 2018 and 2016 they also never really looked that impressive either. 2018 only in flashes.