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

Doesn't matter what he meant to do, matters what actually happened.

If you kick someone in the head whilst they are trying to head the ball can you really complain if you get booked?

The overhead kick is dead then.

If it's reckless sure.

If he did it on purpose he'd be sent off, I don't really see the issue here.

These Swiss shirts aren't very robust are they?

Meanwhile, in the game that no one is watching, Albania have scored their first goal in a major tournament to take the lead and hop into third place.

France look disjointed. Griezmann hasn't gotten into the game. Pogbas been their only real threat.

The group is there for the Swiss if they want it.

2 good shots but other than that I think pogba has been pretty poor. He's not the only one mind.

He's been the only one who looks like doing something bar Coman.

Would make sense to me that if 2 games are played simultaneously, one would be broadcast on both channels.

So awful Albania are going through atm? possible England opponent

Most likely opponent if their tally of 3 points and -2 GD holds up.

Though their coefficient is likely garbage.

That pitch is really in a poor state. Almost as bad as the Marseille one.

You'd never guess Djourou used to play for Arsenal

France look like a group of individuals rather than a team

Beeb seem keen on Murphy as a comm, don't see it, he's a discount Lawro.

Good rush by Newcastle powerhouse

Great burst from Sissoko and Payet hits the bar

Well, he is champions league standard, is Moussa

Matuidi on for Griezmann. This is a strange team

Get out the way Matuidi you idiot! You dont stand in the wall to be part of it, hes aimed at you cos youre meant to make the gap.

Moussa... Get out of the fracking wall!!

Switzerland threatening the FIFA trick of putting a guy on the line for a FK, lovely stuff

Albania should have wraaped this up.

It was Pogba btw

France bailed out at the death

Well could have been a penalty for Switzerland. Another draw... Not sure if that was better than Germany-Poland.

France, meh
Switzerland, took the point they came for

Both happy with a draw, France rested some players.

Semi-finals at least for the latter. Switzerland are a bit bland when Shaqiri doesnt play well, and he certainly isnt right now

I could easily see a well organised side punching this France side in the mouth

Albania win.
Could go through.

Romania out.

Who says these lesser nations shouldnt be there.

GSC wrote:It was Pogba btw

It wasnt

Do France really not have a better RB

Always nice to hear some Blur though

The BBC expect there to be a multitude of changes for England tomorrow.

Captain Rooney is expected to be rested, along with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose. Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand are likely to start.

I would prefer less changes to the starting line up. Maximum four (two of which should be vardy and sturridge for Kane and sterling). Otherwise I think we could see a disjointed performance lacking intensity. We need to win tonight to ensure we finish top of the group.

You only need to look at the France game, to showcase the negative effect of making wholesale changes.

So
----------------Hart
Clyne-Cahill-Smalling- Bertrand
----------------Dier
------Henderson-Wilshere
Lallana--------------------Sturridge
----------------Vardy

In fairness, France probably weren't any worse for making those changes.

Well if Roy is going to make that many changes, there is a chance he is underestimating Slovakia. And if England lose, they will likely finish 3rd and probably have to square up to Germany/Spain in the last 16.

The only positive you could say with the changes is that with Clyne, Henderson, Lallana and Sturridge, their understanding at a club level may prevent a performance that is too disjointed.

I do agree however that Hodgson is being a little silly making so many changes, had England been very comfortable, played exceptionally well I'd say fair enough but as it is, the best eleven is still totally unknown, England have looked uninspiring both games and still really need the win to get a good draw in the last 16.

if England is aiming high (SF is the bare minimum I'd say) then they need to rotate a bit now.
Also do they have any player that is in danger or receiving a 2nd yellow card?

Probably necessary for the 3rd game in 8 days. Taking a bit of a risk, but with Albania 3rd in Group A with 3 points, England have some cushion.

If England win today, they can rest some players for the last-16 match (against either the Czechs or Albania, most likely), and still have a great chance of making the Semi-Finals.

If England draw, they may well be playing Portugal in the last-16, which is no simple matter.

If England lose today, they're going out in the last 16 to Germany or Spain.

That's why it's foolish to make wholesale changes.

Frankly, we're going to have to play them at some point anyway. Might as well be well rested for the pleasure.

Should still have enough to get past Slovakia anyway. They really aren't anything special.

And resting players in a knockout tie is on another level of bravery. Albania or Czech have shown as much as Slovakia so far.

Why do we have to rest players at all? Is there a rule in place?

Tinker with a couple but changing half the team is unnecessary.

Far better off winning the group and there is a good rest period after this game.

Foolish to change half the team.

Although, this is probably the best England side in terms of depth for a while. In the past, England have had a strong first eleven but then nothing in reserve. Think the team that is going to be playing against Slovakia is arguably just as good.

Kane and Sterling were going to be dropped regardless.
Alli looked leggy by the end of the Wales game so I would've rested him anyway.
FBs have gotten through a heavy work load I guess.
Don't know about Rooney

The best team should play, that isn't necessarily what stated he previous game.

Play to your strengths, Sturridge and vardy and get amongst the defense.

Ultimately I think you have to manage burnout a bit at these tournaments. Most players have played a full season and there's not that much rest between games.