Euros 2024

BenE wrote:We're not under-achieving. We are in the QF.

Underachieving as in performance and entertainment quality. As the great Harry Kane said, judge them at the end of the tournament.

Beau Nash wrote:
Worst of all are the panels of pundits AND ITV having such long lead up to kick offs so they can show 30 minutes of adverts.  

ITV pundits should come with a health warning (and most of their commentators and summarisers). But the highlight over on the BBC was when Fabregas was asked by someone if he's ever played with a player as good as the obscene gesture making St Jude - Fabregas thought it was a wind up at first but then replied straight faced "you have to remember that I grew up playing with Lionel Messi"

comrade powell wrote:

BenE wrote:We're not under-achieving. We are in the QF.

Underachieving as in performance and entertainment quality. As the great Harry Kane said, judge them at the end of the tournament.

I think the main problem with England (and this applies to a number of teams) is that there is a general reluctance for players to take someone on on the outside, apart from with an overlapping run. Time after time space is available but players pass 25 yards backwards instead. This can only be instructed by the manager surely and presumably because data analysis says that frequently players get isolated when they do this.
But if you don't try it you have very little chance of breaking the opposition down to create goalscoring opportunities. You have to take that risk.

I hope that Jon and Beau watched Turkey v Austria tonight. Terrific match - the best so far!

Agreed. What a save at the end.

comrade powell wrote:I hope that Jon and Beau watched Turkey v Austria tonight. Terrific match - the best so far!

I have seen the goals and the save which reminded me of the Gordon Banks one against Pele, still one of the best (alongside that cup final one Sunderland v Man Utd?).

There must be a few from Bath City?

Sunderland v Leeds Utd it was.

table after last 16 matches (total/name/last 16 points...

16 bletso 7
16 mid chris 7
16 wsp 6
15 ashley 5
14 2weirdo 6
14 mrs white 6
14 powell 7
13 beau nash 5
13 ben e 5
6 ctwr 6

Time to predict for the quarter finals - copy and paste as before - deadline 5pm Friday...

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

I realised my entry was late but in time for two matches.

SPAIN v Germany
Portugal v FRANCE
ENGLAND v Switzerland
NETHERLANDS v Turkey

You're still in time for all 4 matches

comrade powell wrote:Time to predict for the quarter finals - copy and paste as before - deadline 5pm Friday...

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

SPAIN v Germany
PORTUGAL v France
ENGLAND v Switzerland
NETHERLANDS v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

I shouldn't have listened to my wife last round. Georgia???
Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

Spain v Germany
Portugal v France
England v Switzerland
Netherlands v Turkey

table after quarter finals...

total/name/points in this round/ tie breaker prediction of who goes furthest*

20 bletso 4 france
19 wsp 3 england
18 mid chris 2 england
17 2weirdo 3 england
17 beau nash 4 england
17 mrs white 3 france
16 ben e 3 neth
16 powell 2 france
15 ashley 0 spain
9 ctwr 3 no entry

*As it's going to be close there will be an extra tie breaker for the final just in case (you know what it's going to be!)

predict the semi final winners (deadline 8 pm Tuesday)

Spain v France
Netherlands v England

Spain v France
Netherlands v England

Spain have been the most entertaining team but I wouldn't be surprised if we get a grind of a final
Spain v France
Netherlands v England
I presume I can predict this even though my tie break team is the netherlands

I was watching the shape of the team tonight and when England attack the only player in the box is Kane and he makes zero movement. Hence we just pass from side to side. Hopefully he's done his ankle in that fall and we can play with a forward who runs about and pulls the defence around.
If I had my way I'd drop Walker too. He slows every potential attack down. He's had every ounce of enterprise coached out of him.
But I expect we'll grind our way to the final.