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

[royboy2]

Could probably award the Golden Boot now.
2024 Winner: O. GOAL

 

[99 Problems]

Still don’t really know what Englands plan is. Like if it does click what is meant to look like. A striker that needs runners getting in behind. Wide players that want to drift in and need a striker that can get in behind. They basically can’t attack down the left half of the pitch as they don’t have a left back that can hug the touchline. All that leaves them with most of the team standing next to each other shuffling the ball side to side with no movement.

Then you watch a team like Austria with far less talent but they know exactly what the plan is and what they need to do and it results in much better football.

 

[FreoRicci]

England and their fans are miserable. The hype, expectation and overrating of their players will always be the downfall.

Once again too many individuals forced into a team.

People rating Rice as world class? Ha. Open your eyes.

 

[banzai]

Read that Poms now avoid Germany, Spain, France and Portugal until final if they get that far

Look almost certain to face Netherlands though next round, probably followed by Italy.

 

[Sozabarus]

Seems a common theme with England at the major tournaments for as long as I can recall. Largely predicated on club divide, who should play instead of who etc.

 

[Frank Bunn]

Still don’t really know what Englands plan is. Like if it does click what is meant to look like. A striker that needs runners getting in behind. Wide players that want to drift in and need a striker that can get in behind. They basically can’t attack down the left half of the pitch as they don’t have a left back that can hug the touchline. All that leaves them with most of the team standing next to each other shuffling the ball side to side with no movement.

Then you watch a team like Austria with far less talent but they know exactly what the plan is and what they need to do and it results in much better football.

The England players give the impression they don't know what the game plan is. They played Kane in the Haaland position against Serbia. But they neither played it through the middle for him to chase nor got behind the defence down the line. The result was that Kane got two touches in the first half. Kane said he wasn't sure who was supposed to be pressing.

They looked a little better in the second half against Slovenia but couldn't score. If it were a knockout game it would have gone to the lottery of penalties against a team ranked 45.

My answer to the left side problem would be to play Saka as wing back. I doubt Southgate has the imagination to do that.

 

[And_ROOS]

The England players give the impression they don't know what the game plan is. They played Kane in the Haaland position against Serbia. But they neither played it through the middle for him to chase nor got behind the defence down the line. The result was that Kane got two touches in the first half. Kane said he wasn't sure who was supposed to be pressing.

They looked a little better in the second half against Slovenia but couldn't score. If it were a knockout game it would have gone to the lottery of penalties against a team ranked 45.

My answer to the left side problem would be to play Saka as wing back. I doubt Southgate has the imagination to do that.

You have one of the best RWs in the world in Saka and you want him in a position he hasn't played in around 4 years?

If Foden can't manage LW you are better off having Saka LW and Foden RW because that seems a smarter move. At least the drop off for Saka at LW instead of RW would be less than it has been for Foden.

Better off keeping Walker at RB and playing TAA as an inverted LB if anything.

But end of the day the players positions don't seem to matter because Garrys gameplan is absolute dogshit and no one seems to know what they are meant to be doing.

 

[Frank Bunn]

You have one of the best RWs in the world in Saka and you want him in a position he hasn't played in around 4 years?

If Foden can't manage LW you are better off having Saka LW and Foden RW because that seems a smarter move. At least the drop off for Saka at LW instead of RW would be less than it has been for Foden.

Better off keeping Walker at RB and playing TAA as an inverted LB if anything.

But end of the day the players positions don't seem to matter because Garrys gameplan is absolute dogshit and no one seems to know what they are meant to be doing.

Palmer was an instant improvement when he came on for Saka at RW.

As far as I know Saka hadn't played LWB before Arteta put him there. He did well, with clean sheets and assists. It's a moot point as there's no way Southgate will do this. He would rather have a right footed LB pass back to the CB or Pickford and invite pressure with a low block.

 

[chef]

Palmer was an instant improvement when he came on for Saka at RW.

As far as I know Saka hadn't played LWB before Arteta put him there. He did well, with clean sheets and assists. It's a moot point as there's no way Southgate will do this. He would rather have a right footed LB pass back to the CB or Pickford and invite pressure with a low block.

Yeah, Palmer deserves at start after this mornings cameo.

 

[chef]

 

[Occidental]

Yep, congrats to Denmark. Now you get to play Germany!

 

[RossFC]

 

[jod23]

You have one of the best RWs in the world in Saka and you want him in a position he hasn't played in around 4 years?

If Foden can't manage LW you are better off having Saka LW and Foden RW because that seems a smarter move. At least the drop off for Saka at LW instead of RW would be less than it has been for Foden.

Better off keeping Walker at RB and playing TAA as an inverted LB if anything.

But end of the day the players positions don't seem to matter because Garrys gameplan is absolute dogshit and no one seems to know what they are meant to be doing.

Shaw is in the squad and is a natural left back? Why not play him at LB and actually have a LB at LB.

Then drop Walker and play TAA at RB. Ask TAA not to come into midfield and rather play more wide and bomb on like he used to under Klopp. Then that at least gives England, width, overlap and in TAA's case excellent delivery from out wide.

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Look almost certain to face Netherlands though next round, probably followed by Italy.

As manager, Gareth Southgate has apparently won 4 out of 24 games against teams ranked in the FIFA top ten. Both the Netherlands and Italy are in the top ten right now.

I'm liking his chances.

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Shaw is in the squad and is a natural left back? Why not play him at LB and actually have a LB at LB.

Then drop Walker and play TAA at RB. Ask TAA not to come into midfield and rather play more wide and bomb on like he used to under Klopp. Then that at least gives England, width, overlap and in TAA's case excellent delivery from out wide.

Shaw's been listed as injured for a while now, and hasn't played since mid-February. I doubt he's match fit yet.

 

[jod23]

He's in the squad though, so he must be fit.

Maybe Gomez at LB, he did really well there for us during the season. Dont know if it fixes any real problems though as again you're putting a right footed player at LB.

 

[99 Problems]

He's in the squad though, so he must be fit.

Maybe Gomez at LB, he did really well there for us during the season. Dont know if it fixes any real problems though as again you're putting a right footed player at LB.

He’s not fit. He’s the clear first choice if/when he does get back. Southgate didn’t rate any other actual left backs so gambled on Trippier being able to do a job until Shaw was fit.

3 games in and it’s been a massive problem for them and Shaw will be playing his first game in months if he is passed fit.

 

[jod23]

He’s not fit. He’s the clear first choice if/when he does get back. Southgate didn’t rate any other actual left backs so gambled on Trippier being able to do a job until Shaw was fit.

3 games in and it’s been a massive problem for them and Shaw will be playing his first game in months if he is passed fit.

That's another black mark on Southgate then taking a player who isnt fit and he doesnt seem like he intends to play at all. What was the point?

 

[darth_timon]

As it stands, Group E will be settled on goal difference.

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

That's another black mark on Southgate then taking a player who isnt fit and he doesnt seem like he intends to play at all. What was the point?

I think they viewed it as an easy group to get through, and they anticipate that he'll be fit by the time of the knockout rounds.
He is back in training as of two days ago, so they might've actually gotten this right.

 

[And_ROOS]

The Belgium kits look pretty good, and the brown shorts are handy for when Lukaku inevitably shits himself in front of goal.

 

[omgfridge]

Slovakia and Romania been a cracker as expected. Been great to watch all tournament.

 

[Frank Bunn]

That's another black mark on Southgate then taking a player who isnt fit and he doesnt seem like he intends to play at all. What was the point?

Shaw is no longer injured and he's back in full training. The idea was that he might be fit for the later stages of the tournament. It's looking unrealistic at this stage, both because of his lack of match fitness and that England might not get very far anyway. He probably took up a squad place for a player who wouldn't play anyway such as Branthwaite.

 

[Frank Bunn]

If Ukraine get a goal does that mean Belgium go out of the tournament?

 

[omgfridge]

If Ukraine get a goal does that mean Belgium go out of the tournament?

Yes if Slovakia/Romania also remains a draw.