Euro 2024

[summitclaret]

Harry Kane won the Golden Shoe for top marksman in Europe scoring 36 goals for Bayern Munich. If he has lost his instincts as a goal scorer then it has happened in the past couple of weeks.
I agree that the role that he has been playing for England doesn’t seem to suit his style of play nor that of the England team to be honest.
That said I wouldn’t completely write him off as a goal scorer in this coming season if Bayern continue to play to his strengths.

He's not fit and shouldn't be playing. Simples. Mr Health and Safety needs to sort it.

[Pearcey]

I’m a big fan of Kane but he just doesn’t look fit. If we were able to create loads of chances then he plays without any doubt. Unfortunately we’re not so I think we need someone more mobile.

[dougcollins]

Harry Kane won the Golden Shoe for top marksman in Europe scoring 36 goals for Bayern Munich. If he has lost his instincts as a goal scorer then it has happened in the past couple of weeks.
I agree that the role that he has been playing for England doesn’t seem to suit his style of play nor that of the England team to be honest.
That said I wouldn’t completely write him off as a goal scorer in this coming season if Bayern continue to play to his strengths.

There were two or three excellent crosses against Switzerland and Kane wasn't even in the box.

Perhaps we need to be playing a striker who will be in the box at the right time, instead of thinking he's a defensive midfielder?

[claretskeith]

I’m a big fan of Kane but he just doesn’t look fit. If we were able to create loads of chances then he plays without any doubt. Unfortunately we’re not so I think we need someone more mobile.

We looked better when we pressed higher, but Kane isn't great at pressing. Quite strange really. I watched Foden closely and he pressed extremely well, often having to watch 2 players at the same time.

[Big Vinny K]

It can be frustrating watching your club or national team. There were many times last season when it was a tough an unenjoyable watch at Turf Moor. Similarly, watching England has been difficult to watch in the last four games. I go to games, or watch games on the tele, hoping it will be enjoyable but, of course, I don't know whether it will be beforehand. I do have the option to do something else if I'm not enjoying it, which I occasionally opt to do.

Do you think those who believe Southgate shouldn't be playing Trippier on the left, should have made better and more proactive subs, and is too risk averse might have a point?

Possibly yep - maybe because I don’t support England I see things a bit more impartially.

Maybe he expected Shaw to be fit to play much earlier in the tournament. Trippier has not had a good season at right back so I’m not surprised he has struggled at left back. But if Shaw was fit he would have played before Trippier. And I’m not sure there are many other decent left back options so he’s gone with someone he trusts - a decision that many other managers make all the time. A decision that arguably the most successful in our history made all the time - relying on players he can trust.

I agree about the subs and being more pro-active but based on England being in the semi finals and his previous track record it looks like for whatever reason he is getting it right more than he’s got it wrong.

As I’ve posted winning a tournament is very hard and Southgate has come closer to any manager has for 60 years and he’s come close more often than any other manager has.

I know the England games have been a difficult watch but so have Portugal, France and a few others. But ask any Greek fan whether they were bothered that their team played the most turgid football you could wish to see when they won the Euros.

[equinox]

...when Portugal won it they were hardly 'Harlem Globe Trotters', may I add.

[CoolClaret]

Yeah but England haven’t won sanything since 66.

Going off the same rules as most on here saying he’s “lucky” with the draws.

There’s been several teams that have played England and gone on to win the tournament. Why aren’t they classed as “lucky”.

Because they won the tournament?

I don't think we've been 'lucky', I said fortunate and yes, as 'DaveisaClaret' said, England have created that fortune with the qualifying record/performance in the group stages.... but when up against a team of equal or better standing, more often than not, Southgate's England has come up short.

[equinox]

when up against a team of equal or better standing, more often than not, Southgate's England has come up short.

That's generally how football/sport pans out.

[bumba]

Possibly yep - maybe because I don’t support England I see things a bit more impartially.

Maybe he expected Shaw to be fit to play much earlier in the tournament. Trippier has not had a good season at right back so I’m not surprised he has struggled at left back. But if Shaw was fit he would have played before Trippier. And I’m not sure there are many other decent left back options so he’s gone with someone he trusts - a decision that many other managers make all the time. A decision that arguably the most successful in our history made all the time - relying on players he can trust.

I agree about the subs and being more pro-active but based on England being in the semi finals and his previous track record it looks like for whatever reason he is getting it right more than he’s got it wrong.

As I’ve posted winning a tournament is very hard and Southgate has come closer to any manager has for 60 years and he’s come close more often than any other manager has.

I know the England games have been a difficult watch but so have Portugal, France and a few others. But ask any Greek fan whether they were bothered that their team played the most turgid football you could wish to see when they won the Euros.

You could ask a greek fan if they are bothered about turgid football when they won it.
You can only ask an England fan if they like turgid football.

[equinox]

You can only ask an England fan if they like turgid football.

Generally, the people complaining about the 'turgid' football have, from an early stage openly admitted that they aren't England 'fans'.

I am an England 'fan' and I couldn't give a sh!t how we win it, if we were too.

[CoolClaret]

That's generally how football/sport pans out.

The point I'm trying to make, is that if you want to win something, (eventually) you have to beat teams that are of an equal standing/better than you.

Could go round the houses on this all night, alas...

It's hard to properly quantify what I'm trying to suggest here, but I'll try.

Nations league aside, Southgate has managed 11 games of football in the knockout stages, winning 8 of them, losing 3 of them.. pretty decent record on it's own.

When you go through the wins, there are two wins to a team of a similar standing, both in 2021, when England was ranked 4th in the World, with Germany and Denmark ranked 12th and 10th respectfully.

Furthermore, Southgate's overall record against teams ranked in the FIFA top 10 is approximately 27% - though this includes friendlies and draws. This win rate isn't particularly impressive against teams of equal standing, especially considering that to win a major tournament, you typically need to defeat at least two such high-caliber opponents consecutively (in the semi-finals and finals).

That's why I'm not confident of winning silverware - it'd be different if I thought the team were setup and playing well but for me, all the issues that were on display during the warmup games have persisted in every game of the tournament so far.

Shaw should make a difference down the left, but I think it will be another easy game for the Dutch backline if Southgate persists with a similar front line.

[equinox]

The point I'm trying to make, is that if you want to win something, (eventually) you have to beat teams that are of an equal standing/better than you.

Could go round the houses on this all night, alas...

It's hard to properly quantify what I'm trying to suggest here, but I'll try.

Nations league aside, Southgate has managed 11 games of football in the knockout stages, winning 8 of them, losing 3 of them.. pretty decent record on it's own.

When you go through the wins, there are two wins to a team of a similar standing, both in 2021, when England was ranked 4th in the World, with Germany and Denmark ranked 12th and 10th respectfully.

Furthermore, Southgate's overall record against teams ranked in the FIFA top 10 is approximately 27% - though this includes friendlies and draws. This win rate isn't particularly impressive against teams of equal standing, especially considering that to win a major tournament, you typically need to defeat at least two such high-caliber opponents consecutively (in the semi-finals and finals).

That's why I'm not confident of winning silverware - it'd be different if I thought the team were setup and playing well but for me, all the issues that were on display during the warmup games have persisted in every game of the tournament so far.

Shaw should make a difference down the left, but I think it will be another easy game for the Dutch backline if Southgate persists with a similar front line.

Good post, fair points well made.

[bumba]

Generally, the people complaining about the 'turgid' football have, from an early stage openly admitted that they aren't England 'fans'.

I am an England 'fan' and I couldn't give a sh!t how we win it, if we were too.

I wouldn't care IF we ever won it, the point is we have never won it and only won the world cup once so we can only be asked if we enjoy turgid football.
That can all change with a trophy IF it ever happens.
If Greece lost in the knock out stages of their win they'd have said it was a garbage tournament

[equinox]

I do care though.

[Cornwallclaret]

Fancy moaning and whinging about getting to the semifinals of a major tournament.. some of you are unbelievable. There’s probably only 3 nations who you could say are way better than us over the last 20-30 years, some of the rest have had their moments too, there is literally no one we ‘should’ be beating anymore, especially in tournaments. Sometimes you’ve got to grind out results and despite not playing overly well as a team our exceptional players have stepped up to get us this far. We’d all love to win playing easy on the eye dynamic football but the truth is no one does anymore. Georgia and turkey have been good to watch but they were never going to win the tournament. We’re in the semifinals ( again) if you don’t enjoy this then just don’t watch… simples

[bumba]

Fancy moaning and whinging about getting to the semifinals of a major tournament.. some of you are unbelievable. There’s probably only 3 nations who you could say are way better than us over the last 20-30 years, some of the rest have had their moments too, there is literally no one we ‘should’ be beating anymore, especially in tournaments. Sometimes you’ve got to grind out results and despite not playing overly well as a team our exceptional players have stepped up to get us this far. We’d all love to win playing easy on the eye dynamic football but the truth is no one does anymore. Georgia and turkey have been good to watch but they were never going to win the tournament. We’re in the semifinals ( again) if you don’t enjoy this then just don’t watch… simples

Has your country ever played at a major tournament??

[bumba]

I do care though.

Sorry read my post back and it didn't come across how I meant it, I do care obviously.
I meant IF England were to win it then I wouldn't care about how they did it afterwards.
Point being though that it's turgid and isn't a winning formula for us so far under Southgate

[CaptainKirk]

I am sure we would all like to win the thing and win each game 3 or 4 nil, but when did anyone ever do that?
Even if we did win it there would be people on here saying we won it in spite of Southgate and not in any way because of him.
He was given an easy draw - no he wasn't, he earned it by winning his group.
He has only played easy teams - go and check the history books and see who previous generations used to get.
Semi finals are not good enough - I remember lots of tournaments (World and Euros) we didn't even qualify for, never mind do well at!
Some people are never happy and others just have an axe to grind.

[Elizabeth]

I am sure we would all like to win the thing and win each game 3 or 4 nil, but when did anyone ever do that?
Even if we did win it there would be people on here saying we won it in spite of Southgate and not in any way because of him.
He was given an easy draw - no he wasn't, he earned it by winning his group.
He has only played easy teams - go and check the history books and see who previous generations used to get.
Semi finals are not good enough - I remember lots of tournaments (World and Euros) we didn't even qualify for, never mind do well at!
Some people are never happy and others just have an axe to grind.

We've been resilient and produced 2 moments of individual brilliance, that's the only way we are in the semis. Do you really think we would all like to win each game 3 or 4 nil. I sense you are missing why there is so much disillusionment about the way we are playing

[kentonclaret]

I am sure we would all like to win the thing and win each game 3 or 4 nil, but when did anyone ever do that?
Even if we did win it there would be people on here saying we won it in spite of Southgate and not in any way because of him.
He was given an easy draw - no he wasn't, he earned it by winning his group.
He has only played easy teams - go and check the history books and see who previous generations used to get.
Semi finals are not good enough - I remember lots of tournaments (World and Euros) we didn't even qualify for, never mind do well at!
Some people are never happy and others just have an axe to grind.

It was a very lopsided draw that undoubtedly has favoured England. Germany and Spain both won their groups impressively (winning more games than England) yet ended up playing against each other at the Quarter Final stage.

[corporal jones]

what bugs most of all is that we are capable of winning games comfortably but dont even look like we are going to as the play os so tedious and slow with our attacking players looking backwards all the time. Our goals have come when we were behind and up against it and we had to start playing!

[Buxtonclaret]

Who do we want winning tonight then?

[Claretnick]

Spain

[Buxtonclaret]

Why are they booing Cucurella?
I've missed something!

[expoultryboy]

I was wondering that Buxton . Good goal

[Buxtonclaret]

It was a good 'un.

[HahaYeah]

Brilliant cross from Mbappe. 1-0 France.

[AGENT_CLARET]

If we reach the final either one of these two teams of France or Spain will walk all over us

[AGENT_CLARET]

Why are they booing Cucurella?
I've missed something!

German fans because of the handball

[expoultryboy]

Spain look/are fantastic going forward , but their defence is dodgy .

[Buxtonclaret]

German fans because of the handball

That one that was drilled at him ?
If its the one I'm thinking of, that was NEVER a pen!

[expoultryboy]

What a xxxxxxx goal

[ElectroClaret]

Wow.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Ridiculous goal never mind from a 16 year old kid

[taio]

If we reach the final either one of these two teams of France or Spain will walk all over us

If we get our team selection and tactics right we can win tomorrow night and on Sunday I reckon.

[expoultryboy]

Benson taught him that

[ElectroClaret]

Goal of the tournament so far for me.

[Claretnick]

16 years old...wow what a goal 1-1

[CrosspoolClarets]

Are you Manuel in disguise?

[Buxtonclaret]

Scarey this kid is 16.

[BurnleyFC]

He’s an unbelievable talent.

Could very well end up one of the game’s greatest of all time.

[Vegas Claret]

unreal

[Casper2]

Wow

[taio]

What a start to the game

[ElectroClaret]

2-1 Spain

[jos]

Ha ha ha, get in

[Vegas Claret]

what a game

[AGENT_CLARET]

Never an OG

[Stayingup]

Terrific. Spain are so good. Fortunately for us we avoided this side of the competition. So far we we haven't shown we can compete with this standard.

[Buxtonclaret]

Going wide that.
Must be an OG ?