Group F: Hungary, Portugal, France, Germany

[TheBigIguana]

I tend to think the reverse - you see more open games because defenses don't have time to gel, and because teams need the 'W'. Draws aren't good enough. That leads to penalties. That coin toss is to be avoided if at all possible.

That Spanish team was so good in part because they had amazing players, and in part because they could just deny the opponent the ball because the midfield played together year round. Their defense didn't get tested all that much because they didn't let the other team have the ball. When it got tested, they had absurd quality and were up to the challenge.

England needs a new manager. They should be up in everyone's grill all game. They should be Law from Tekken. Southgate will never ever do that. As I've said, I'd built the thing around Foden and Grealish and just generally putting a horrendous amount of pressure around the opposition.

But that Spanish team wasn't playing open games. It was pretty much the exact opposite. The scores of their knockout games from 2008 to 2012: 0-0, 3-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0, 2-0, 0-0, 4-0. That was a defensive team just the defense was passing the ball in circles instead of sitting deep. Successful international football has become defensive first.

 

[ste d' indica]

Gerrin!!

 

[carolinablue232]

Think the Germans may have been a bit undervalued here. Carving them up.

 

[tsubaki]

England do it and it's hammered, France do it and it is smart. It's all perception.

Hell Portugal did it to win the last Euros and that was smart too. Even that dominant Spanish team was winning by strangling the life out of games. More often than not that's international footy.

That is true, but I think its not so much about tactics as the players belief in what they are being asked to do. England do not believe in how they play, and its really obvious.

3-1

Havertz is having the game of his life*

* probably this is something that Pepe will make certain

 

[TheBigIguana]

Germany is good.

And @Mikey_Fitzgerald is right. Low deserves consideration for our job.

 

[JMT]

THAT WAS YOUR MAN SEMEDO, GET OVER

 

[TheBigIguana]

Think the Germans may have been a bit undervalued here. Carving them up.

+270 to win when they were 1-0 down.

 

[tsubaki]

sorry for repeating myself, but since Havertz clattered Pepe this game has entirely turned around - Pepe's head has also gone

 

[carolinablue232]

England do it and it's hammered, France do it and it is smart. It's all perception.

Hell Portugal did it to win the last Euros and that was smart too. Even that dominant Spanish team was winning by strangling the life out of games. More often than not that's international footy.

France even playing terribly created chances and should’ve won. England were fortunate to draw Scotland at home. Comparing what England are to the best international side I’ve ever seen in that Spanish team is just blasphemy

 

[TheBigIguana]

France even playing terribly created chances and should’ve won. England were fortunate to draw Scotland at home. Comparing what England are to the best international side I’ve ever seen in that Spanish team is just blasphemy

Not saying they're nearly as good, just that the right idea in internationals is keeping it tight and looking to nick it and that is what England are doing.

 

[roydo]

Germany is good.

And @Mikey_Fitzgerald is right. Low deserves consideration for our job.

With respect, bollox does he. He hasnt scouted nor signed one single footballer in 15 years.

He gets given the pick of an elite footballing nation by the managers who have.

 

[carolinablue232]

+270 to win when they were 1-0 down.

Nice one. +130 before the match.

 

[BlueStevie35]

Far too easy for Germany with that 3rd goal, Portugal seem to have regressed since going ahead

 

[blueconverse]

Fits in at Liverpool that diving rat face Jota

 

[LinekersLegs]

Don't particularly like Germany but I want Portugal to lose purely because I can't stand Fernandes and to a lesser extent Pepe.

Can’t stand Pepe.