UEFA EURO 2024 (Round of 16) - On Optus Sport

[Frank Bunn]

Diabolical concession from Kristiansen to concede the first goal.

Not sure why the pitch is so awful. As far as I can see, Frankfurt has only hosted one game so far (Belgium vs Slovakia three days ago), so there's no excuse.

Massive amount of rain apparently. That's why the roof is closed.

 

[hawkman]

So many star players and a manager who has no idea how to use them

 

[darth_timon]

Southgate has given England some good moments, but his time is up. There’s no imagination, no urgency, and too much timid football.

 

[RPCB]

 

[TY24]

England passing it around the back at 1-1 when the full time whistle goes sums up Southgate’s tenure pretty well.

 

[jod23]

Southgate is just a horrendous manager, how he ever go the job in the first place is beyond me. There is about 400 managers out there who would be better choices.

 

[moomba]

Southgate is just a horrendous manager, how he ever go the job in the first place is beyond me. There is about 400 managers out there who would be better choices.

He's a company man. He says the right things, never controversial, never offensive.

Just what the FA qant. Ability is a secondary objective.

 

[Frank Bunn]

So many star players and a manager who has no idea how to use them

He manages to turn good players into duds. Only Walker and Guéhi can hold their heads up. Pickford taking free kicks on the half way line made me lose the will to live.

 

[hawkman]

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Eriksen and Hojbjerg dominant pretty much sums up how bad England were

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Leicester signing Steve Cooper, combined with England's performances degrading even further, has me reasonably convinced that Potter will be England's manager within the next two months.

 

[FreoRicci]

Think having a forward in front of a forward is never going to work.
Kane and Bellingham just don’t have that chemistry

 

[Frank Bunn]

Spain v Italy. Bring it on!!!

 

[DBAH0]

Oh boy.

 

[darth_timon]

The tackles are starting to get ferocious in the Spain/Italy game.

 

[chef]

Palmer unused again after the scoring and assisting season he just had. Yikes.

 

[darth_timon]

Palmer unused again after the scoring and assisting season he just had. Yikes.

I cannot understand why he wasn't at least brought on from the bench.

 

[jod23]

Palmer unused again after the scoring and assisting season he just had. Yikes.

I dont understand why he isnt starting? He's had a terrific season.

 

[RPCB]

I cannot understand why he wasn't at least brought on from the bench.

 

[jod23]

Southgate's tactics remind of FM.

You know in Football Manager when you have a world class RB but he can also play Right Wing, CDM, like they are green, but at RB it's BRIGHT GREEN.

So then you have an injury to your CDM and you've got a decent back up RB so you move your world class RB into CDM and play your back up RB at RB. And in 5 games, you get poor results and your world class RB plays steady 6's in the No.6 role.

Then your CDM comes back form injury and you push your world class RB back into RB and he has two assists and plays an 8.8.

That's what Southgate is doing with TAA and Foden. Foden playing steady 6's on the left wing. TAA playing a steady 6 in the double pivot.

Play them in their correct positions... they will play 8's and 9's.

 

[darth_timon]

This is how I'd line up. I see possibilities for Bellingham, Foden and Palmer to switch positions as required, and Trent can come on - as a right-back - for his crossing ability if required. Bowen, Gordon, Eze, Watkins... all available to slot into this formation from the bench, if needed.

Is it too attacking? Maybe, especially if Walker and Trippier are getting forward as well, but on the other hand, Bellingham has proven he can drop back to help out defensively, or perhaps Gallagher or Trent can come on if England need more resilience in midfield. The main thing is, this would show a willingness to have a go, to try and attack and create. Alas, Southgate will not be so daring.

 

[Frank Bunn]

Spain on top but Italy looking dangerous at times.

Forwards like Kane, Mbappe and Musiala get the headlines but if I could pick one player to be first on my teamsheet it would be Rodri.

 

[RPCB]

So what were you doing at 16? Lamine Yamal is such a fantastic footballer.

 

[darth_timon]

So what were you doing at 16? Lamine Yamal is such a fantastic footballer.

I was playing with something but it wasn't a football.

 

[Frank Bunn]

When did Ayoze Pérez become good?

 

[chef]

Nice to see Cucurella carrying on his 2nd half of the season form.