Euro 2016 Discussion

First topic message reminder :

Duty281 wrote:Sterling and Rooney have been woeful thus far and need to be dropped (but 1 of them certainly won't be), but I would favour giving Kane one final chance. He's had an excellent couple of seasons, and England shouldn't jettison him at the first sign of difficulty.

Rooney woeful? I'm not his biggest fan but he's been pretty good so far, working well alongside Dier allowing Alli to push on further

One of the best managers in the PL commentating tonight. Hopefully he's doing some mouthwatering deals while he's over there

Crimey wrote:Feel for Czech Republic, they'd have got out a few of the other groups, but might struggle to get the points required.

Idiot fans throwing flares on the pitch - what's the point?

The security seems to be constantly lax.

To be fair, its Croatian fans fighting among themselves.

As for flares, I guess its hard to tightly search thousands for something as small as a flare.

LiamB wrote:One of the best managers in the PL commentating tonight. Hopefully he's doing some mouthwatering deals while he's over there

Bet he has his eye on that Russian striker

Nolito should score there

Lovely header from Morata, 1-0 Spain.

This could be 3 or 4.

2-0 Nolito . Cricket score coming up

2-0 very nice finish from Nolito

HT, we could be heading for the first real hammering of this tournament.

3-0 Morata

Almost 4 Morata heads wide

If there was any debate as to whom is Spain's greatest ever player Iniesta ending any such discussions. Simply incredible

Turkey got smashed tonight. Biggest difference between Spain and Germany is Spain always look for that killer ball when they get it front of the defense, Germany just go sideways.

Spain do have an outlet in morata and have starved the opposition of possession more than Germany so far.

They'll be hard to beat if they keep up the possession.

The same Morata who was absolutely slated after the Czech game?

GSC wrote:To be fair, its Croatian fans fighting among themselves.

As for flares, I guess its hard to tightly search thousands for something as small as a flare.

So long as they get those bottle tops off tho....

Seems pretty much the Croatian fans despise the FA (which is run by crooks) and are doing everything they can to spite them (ie. fines, ultimately I reckon get them chucked out of tournaments)

Spain and Italy the best teams so far - not much has changed in four years it seems.

I still wouldn't go that far on Italy tbh. Still suspect Germany will work it out.

Germany have and will always look at group stages as a qualifying exercise. You don't win a tournament in the group stages

Sounds like it'll be Sturridge up top.

Sterling to be dropped for either Vardy or Wilshere.

I'd be tempted to play Vardy and swap Alli for Wilshere. Think Alli looked a bit leggy by the end, could use a rest.

Spain, Italy and Germany look the best shouts to win the competition.

Although Germany haven't been at their best i can see them kicking into gear for sure.

Sturridge deserved to start after his second half performance. Harsh on Vardy if he doesn't but can understand why he might not for the balance of the side. If Wilshere plays instead of Sterling, I assume Alli goes wide left? That also seems a bit odd.

Play the diamond and put Alli in behind.

Interesting playing Sturridge for Kane though. I like him and think he's England's best forward when fit, but Vardy did all the work down the middle and was instrumental in the win. I'd just play the team from the second half starting, with no Kane or Sterling.

Still unsure as to why Kane would play no more minutes. I'd put him on up top over Rashford if we needed a goal.

Someone please douse the diamond formation in petrol and light a match.

Play to your strengths not some sort of ideal.

England's is pacy forwards, start vardy and Sturridge and figure the rest out afterwards.

I can see Roys thinking though on Vardy. He had like 2 touches against Wales, and granted both led to goals, but it's unreasonable to expect that every game. For me he's an impact sub when England need a goal, Sturridge offers goal threat and contributes more to the team.

GSC wrote:Someone please douse the diamond formation in petrol and light a match.

En-ger-land don't have the wingers for a 4-3-3 that Roy currently persists with. Throwing a bunch of attacking players into a mess of a shape with no cohesion won't work every time.

The diamond is best. Sturridge and Kane up top. Alli behind the front 2. Dier holding. Lallana and Wilshere in the centre.

Won't happen, but there we are.

Big game today.

Have to win this.
Brady first goalscorer.

Out on the tear in a bit.

Looking forward to the match.
Also would like to see Iceland win.

Not forgetting Ireland hoping to clinch a test victory down in South Africa.

Good day of sport.

 

Tough one to call, Westy. Have a good one

I wonder if Austria got the memo not to defend against the cry baby and Portugal?

Brady further forward and Fellaini dropped for Dembele are the most notable bits of team news

westisbest wrote:Big game today.

Have to win this.
Brady first goalscorer.

Out on the tear in a bit.

Looking forward to the match.
Also would like to see Iceland win.

Not forgetting Ireland hoping to clinch a test victory down in South Africa.

Good day of sport.

 

Is this a poem?

Looks a more balanced side with Dembele coming in for Fellaini, bit more forward drive in midfield.

Good goal from Belgium. 

Ireland have played better this tournament than they did four years ago, but have been drawn in a really tough group.

Bad keeping & McCarthy going to sleep

Awful from mc carthy, Witsel just walked into the box and he didn't follow him.

2-0 Belgium.

Ireland in deep trouble now.

When did Hazard become the worst player in the Belgian midfield?

Their easier game was sadly blown. But they needed 4 points and probably won't get there. Italy might relax a bit, and that's the slim hope to hold onto

McCarthy at fault for both goals - needlessly diving in on De Bruyne and losing Witsel

Also - why wasn't it a penalty before the Belgium first goal when alderweireld punted long in the head? At least play stopped?

Really really simple errors here from Ireland.

Diving into tackles, not tracking men.

Pathetic.

Ireland getting outclassed here.

Clark is a horrific defender

Ireland out

Ireland might be about to get a whipping

Still got a shot of going through if they beat Italy and Belgium beat Sweden. It'd be left:

Belgium
Italy
Ireland
Sweden

With Ireland on 4 points, which will probably be enough to get through.

kingraf wrote:When did Hazard become the worst player in the Belgian midfield?

About 12 months ago

If they beat Italy they'll finish 3rd place. Could get 2nd with a big win and help from Sweden

Can't see Ireland beating Italy regardless of the team they play, don't have the attacking players.

At the end of the day Ireland wouldn't have qualified for this tournament but for the expansion and lost to the likes of Scotland in qualifying.

Really basic errors have gifted Belgium fairly straight forward goals, can't compete in matches doing things like that.

Ireland won't beat Italy, just not good enough. The Italian's will make changes, but they will want to impress Conte, going into the latter stages of the tournament. As for Belgium, they're pretty much flat-track bullies, look sensational against Ireland, but when they need to dig in & show fight, they go missing. Just shows you how when they face weak opposition, suddenly Lukuku shows up.

Ireland made mistakes, wouldn't say Belgium were sensational.