Football 2024/25

[pink_triangle]

26 minutes ago, Punksnotdead said:

I think the quality of football on show has been absolutely dire! I haven't watched every game but I can only remember one or two games that could be described as exciting. Spain have been the best of a bad bunch but they're a long way short of being a 'great' team. 

I thought  a lot of the 2pm games were good when it was generally smaller nations playing with freedom. The knockouts can often be hard work, I saw 2 0-0 matches live in the knockouts of euro 96. The tournament also has the disadvantage of following a mid season World Cup when players were fresh.

[charlierc]

Semis for England then. Somehow.

[pink_triangle]

2 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Semis for England then. Somehow.

Could do a Portugal and win the Euros with 5 draws!

[kaosmark2]

I mean, England should beat this Dutch side. I know they're attacked with more flair than England, but that's largely been against pretty weak teams. Turkey were better, but after that improved performance against the Swiss I don't think they'll beat England. It'll probably be a dull match as England slow the play down for both teams, but I think England are probably tournament favourites.

 

And yes, Spain have looked much much better than England all tournament, but they lack a finisher, they look vulnerable at the back, and they look very dependent on two very young wingers. Another 120 minutes against France which seems likely with how the French are setting up to be even more drab than we are, and I don't think they'll have the legs to play all game against England.

[charlierc]

16 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

Could do a Portugal and win the Euros with 5 draws!

UEFA must be so pleased that their format first generated that and then if the Dutch win the Euros, it'll be a second tournament win for a third place term in 3 tournaments, or alternatively, England doing that by deciding winning in 90 minutes is optional.

 

An England v France final will be dour if it comes to that. But I guess we'll see what happens this week.

 

Least the penalties were good. 5 pinpoint penalties indeed.

[philipsteak]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

UEFA must be so pleased that their format first generated that and then if the Dutch win the Euros, it'll be a second tournament win for a third place term in 3 tournaments, or alternatively, England doing that by deciding winning in 90 minutes is optional.

 

An England v France final will be dour if it comes to that. But I guess we'll see what happens this week.

 

Least the penalties were good. 5 pinpoint penalties indeed.

 

At no point did I feel like anyone of them would miss. 

Is it wrong I sort of miss the tension?

[pink_triangle]

2 hours ago, charlierc said:

UEFA must be so pleased that their format first generated that and then if the Dutch win the Euros, it'll be a second tournament win for a third place term in 3 tournaments, or alternatively, England doing that by deciding winning in 90 minutes is optional.

 

An England v France final will be dour if it comes to that. But I guess we'll see what happens this week.

 

Least the penalties were good. 5 pinpoint penalties indeed.

For balance clubs knowing that third can qualify means they approach the tournament differently from if only top 2 qualified. I would prefer them to just increase to 32 as I think it’s a lot neater.

[charlierc]

2 hours ago, philipsteak said:

 

At no point did I feel like anyone of them would miss. 

Is it wrong I sort of miss the tension?

That's on you tbf. I'm always convinced the penalty that's about to taken is the one that will be missed.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, pink_triangle said:

For balance clubs knowing that third can qualify means they approach the tournament differently from if only top 2 qualified. I would prefer them to just increase to 32 as I think it’s a lot neater.

I think there's talk of it going up to 32 in the not-too distant future. Maybe not for when it comes to the UK/Ireland in 4 years time though.

[kaosmark2]

3 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

For balance clubs knowing that third can qualify means they approach the tournament differently from if only top 2 qualified. I would prefer them to just increase to 32 as I think it’s a lot neater.

I think increasing from 16 teams was good, but you could have gone to 20 teams and had 4 groups of 5 with top 2 qualifying.

[charlierc]

I don't know how much has been made of this but Kane failing to see the game out after being knocked in a collision with Southgate was quite something.

 

But then it did give us Toney and his penalty - much better than one he missed against Newcastle last season - so maybe it was part of the masterplan.

[pink_triangle]

On 7/7/2024 at 7:42 PM, kaosmark2 said:

I think increasing from 16 teams was good, but you could have gone to 20 teams and had 4 groups of 5 with top 2 qualifying.

I think groups of 5 would have the same issue as the current setup. You have some clubs knowing what they need in the last group game and some who don’t.

[steviewevie]

[charlierc]

Whomever wins is going to be in for a tough final. Spain have looked good through the tournament and will be confident after dispatching Germany & France.

[steviewevie]

Southgate is obviously a tactical genius 

[steviewevie]

Keir Starmer will be at the final. It's coming home.

[charlierc]

On 7/6/2024 at 8:14 PM, pink_triangle said:

Could do a Portugal and win the Euros with 5 draws!

Weren't far off tbf.

 

Back-to-back Euros finals and a first ever not held at Wembley. What a time to be alive. Even if Spain will be a tricky opponent.

Edited yesterday at 07:17 AM by charlierc

[charlierc]

Josh Antmann on X: "This was an incredibly special and surreal moment at the @thekillers gig tonight. They put injury time, of the England game, on the big screen. Immediately after the final whistle they go into a full blown rendition of Mr Brightside. Something I'll never forget. https://t.co/S4V62JcBjO" / X

 

I'm just amused by the idea of someone who hates football going to this gig to avoid it and instead gets it right there and then.