Euro 2016 Discussion

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Thats an awful pass from Kane

Portugal haven't won a game in 90 mins in this tournament and are in the semis

Awful game again

Whole tournament has seen defensive units, outdo the pretty poor offensive displays. Wales will probably do Belgium, at this rate.

Few of us fancied Portugal as dark-horses, just seems to crawl their way through tournaments all the time. Bale vs Ronaldo semi final is still on.

A composed Belgium really feel like the only team left that could give whoever wins the other half of the draw a good game.

Italy/ Germany vs France might as well be the final

Next England manager wrapped up.....BONO.

Given the incidents with Klopp and Conte, how could anyone playing for England pass up the opportunity to score a goal then rush to the manager to "celebrate" knowing there's a chance of landing a sneaky punch on the smug c*nt!

To be honest, I'd try "celebrating" a throw-in

Agree with some of the sentiments in the last few posts.

Tournament as a whole hasn't exactly sparkled with great football. Only 2-3 games I've seen where I didn't feel like dozing off at some point (Hungary - Portugal the best so far IMO).

Will be rooting for Wales. Belgium are dangerous going forward, but somewhat suspect defensively, so hopefully they can exploit that.

Back to England, I've come to the realisation that I don't really care who the next manager is, as I doubt even God Himself could get our collective of muppets playing properly.

On further reflection, it strikes me that top-flight footballers have their lives so organised by their clubs, to the point they rarely have to think for themselves about anything, be it training, travel or media interviews.

They're trained to play instinctively, to react a certain way in a given situation, without really thinking about it.

So is it really any wonder, when they're taken out of their club bubbles, that they struggle to do anything, other than what they're trained to do on a weekly basis?

The average modern footballer also strikes me as being a lot less sociable, given how they seem to have headphones permanently glued to their heads, whenever they're not on a pitch. Do they ever actually talk to one another face to face, in or outside of the dressing room? Or is that too old-fashioned and frowned on? Can they only communicate via Facebook or Snapchat?


So, in summary, all this learning by rote and apparently poor communication skills means we've had a generation of footballers trained to be obedient sheep that follow directions unquestioningly. Mentally fragile and unable to cope or think for themselves when things go wrong.

Is it any wonder we no longer have any leaders on the pitch and look utterly clueless?

Sure, you can give a player the captain's armband, but that doesn't make them a leader of men. Someone who can motivate, inspire and instruct. Someone the rest will look up to and follow.

The best we've had lately are the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Beckham...none of them exactly great communicators. The best they could manage was trying to lead by example, charging round the pitch and working their socks off. As we've seen though, quite often that just isn't enough.

Remember when we used to have players like Stuart Pearce, Tony Adams, Bryan Robson and Paul Ince? You can't imagine them being short of a few things to say to the manager or their team mates, if things weren't going right. You also imagine they would be listened to and taken notice of.

Until we start producing players with the ability to think independently, coupled with mental toughness, no manager will be able to improve our results.

We will continue to be a footballing nation of feeble-minded bottlers.

Really hoping that Wales out in a semi attacking formation tonight. They showed against England that they can't defend for 90minutes. There best hope is to play openly and hope to create more chances than Belgium. Or at least convert more!

I think it's going to be a dog of a game

Vermaelen & Vertonghan missing too, Belgium's defence has been significantly weakened.

No love lost between the English and the Welsh, I hope Hazard and De Bruyne take them apart, smug gits.

Nico the gman wrote:No love lost between the English and the Welsh, I hope Hazard and De Bruyne take them apart, smug gits.

They are the definition of little brother syndrome at times. In the quarter finals of the Euros and more preoccupied with us.

GSC wrote:

Nico the gman wrote:No love lost between the English and the Welsh, I hope Hazard and De Bruyne take them apart, smug gits.

They are the definition of little brother syndrome at times. In the quarter finals of the Euros and more preoccupied with us.

Cheered both Irish sides on, but it would be false of me to do that with the Welsh.

Denayer and Jordan Lukaku in the Belgium team tonight.

Wales already on the deck here

Adam D wrote:Really hoping that Wales out in a semi attacking formation tonight. They showed against England that they can't defend for 90minutes. There best hope is to play openly and hope to create more chances than Belgium. Or at least convert more!

I think it's going to be a dog of a game

Slag

Only reason i wouldnt want wales to win is Bale & Savage, more so Savage banging on about it.

Petty reason probably, but there you go.
Having said that good luck to them.

Since we lost to France dont care who wins, but come on Italy

Just so can say we were the only team to beat the champs, despite them resting a few.

Brilliant strike from Naingollan.

This could be tricky for Wales. Needs an Iceland-esque response.

Pretty much game over. Wales have never been behind & the plan completely out the window

Fairly ordinary from Hennessey mind. Thats the difference between a De Gea type and an average keeper.

Great goal, but terrible marking. He ahd 10 seconds to hit that

If wales dont wake up and start to attck, this could be a mess

Not careful they will be down to 10 men.

Belgiums stars have turned up so far, Wales had to hope a few would go missing.

All a bit silly from Wales 3 of their back 5 now in the book for stupid challenges

Allen pretty lucky not to join them.

Lovely save from Courtois, suspect Allen got away with another foul mind.

Probably going to have to think up another way of stopping the Belgium counter than fouling them some time soon.

And Bale is going to have to find away to get some space with the other Lukake. When Robson-Kanu us having some joy, you suspect he isn't very good.

Jordan Lukaku looms awful

That's a great set piece, like an American Football move.

Belgium intent on not marking anyone from set pieces

Not sure why Belgium just decided to sit off after 20 mins or so - had Wales on the ropes and let them off

Good first half. Nainggolan scored a beauty. I knew Belgium would concede from a set piece with no Vertonghen and Kompany in the team.

The other side of the draw won't be worried with what their seeing from this side of the draw. This is the real Belgium we're seeing. Disappointing.

Its amazing Joe Allen hasn't been booked yet

Oh my god

Scenes!!!

Brilliant goal from Robson Kanu!

Hal Robson Kanu.

Amazing stuff. Hope they hold on.

Imagine bringing on Fellaini at 1-1 so you end up moving your best CM to AM and best AM to RW to accommodate him - imagine actually making that sub. Wilmots is a clown

Ramsay out of the semi if they get through.

Wales hanging back again

Hero wrote:Ramsay out of the semi if they get through.

2 yellows in 5 games really is a ludicrous rule - should reset after the group stages

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Hero wrote:Ramsay out of the semi if they get through.

2 yellows in 5 games really is a ludicrous rule - should reset after the group stages

Should only be valid for the next two games no matter when it's received and cleared after that.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Hero wrote:Ramsay out of the semi if they get through.

2 yellows in 5 games really is a ludicrous rule - should reset after the group stages

Should just make it so you only carry it one game.

Longest ten minutes in the history of Welsh football now.

If this was the other way round with the ref we'd be screaming blue murder at him.

Fairytale!

Fellaini and the two Lukakus look like the Three Stooges have blundered into a football match.

Wow. Fantastic header !

Beyond shocking Belgium. Wilmots sacked

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Imagine bringing on Fellaini at 1-1 so you end up moving your best CM to AM and best AM to RW to accommodate him - imagine actually making that sub. Wilmots is a clown

Much like England with Hodgson - Belgium should've binned Wilmots two years ago. Blown the biggest opportunity they'll ever get with some incredibly awful second half substitutions

Bale vs Ronaldo semi