Fantastic stuff from Wales to finish above England.
EURO 2016
Time will tell which goes the furthest.
Bit difficult to compare with Alf Ramsey's era because they didn't have substitutions in those days so you couldn't leave anything on the bench to try and change the game later. Ramsey also changed his formation and tactics after the first game (notably dropping a winger and then doing without wingers), and Geoff Hurst wasn't in the team until the quarter final either.
Subs came into international football in 1968, well before Ramsey finished up as England manager, and in that '66 tournament he barely changed the lineup: tried to play a winger, without success, and replaced an injured Greaves with Hurst.That's it. My general point still holds: he didn't chop and change willy nilly like Hodgson does.The hardest part of International football is creating a team out of players you use/have access to, so fleetingly.Therefore, it's imperative to make minimal changes and develop teamwork. Roy makes countless substitutions/new lineups in games, but to what effect? It frequently seems like change for change sake:Instead of making a couple of changes and retaining "the spine" of the team, he makes upwards of 6+ changes, shoehorns people into the team, frequently not in their best position, and alters the formation. No wonder England's play frequently looks disjointed, in competitive and friendly fixtures...
The was stuff in the press about England players being burnout, (as there is before and after any major tournament), and I think it was a pretty good idea to rest players such as Rooney, (age/recent injuries) Kane,(buggered).
I really don't see how changing over half the team was a good idea though. You need to gain some momentum in a tournament and such a massive change can't help that.
Thought Clyne had a good match and might have been given a penalty on another day,.
Skrtel - unreal has been ludicrously bad for Liverpool and turns in a great performance for country. Has he been signed by anyone else or is he just pulling out the stops to land a new club?
Germany seem to be the team to beat in their half of the draw unless they trip up over Italy, that is.
Over France?
I think they have wood over France this time around.
France plays "straight" in this tournament and they tend to crack under pressure (except in WC 2008) while Italy is as usual unpredictable.
Germany look a bit toothless to me - I think the lack of an actual forward is hurting them, they've really not looked very threatening going forward so far.
Gomez is their Klose style of play replacement. They won't play high balls into the box strategy for the North Ireland game, according to Loew, because that is their defending strong point.
Loew agrees with the lack of chances in the games so far. He is pretty relaxed and said it not a general problem and players are good enough and he trust eg. Mueller and Goetze to show more, everyone has to be faster around the box.
For me the most interesting part of the interview was (also in context with Hudson interviews), that he got in depth, without being asked, about the lack of players who can beat a defender in one on one situation to create space. They know the issue and already implementing training in ALL U age groups to fix that in the future. Loew said the focus in the past was the fast passing game and they are good in that but they lack those kind of players who willing to go one on one.
Yep, Gomez is the obvious Klose replacement on paper, but is a bit more agricultural and technically deficient, so not quite the same fit with their team. Yet not having an option there means that finding pockets of open space in the attacking third has been lot more difficult for Muller and Goetze, especially against more defensive minded teams. The struggle up front isn't new for Germany at these Euros - they weren't super proficient in the qualifying either (which the goalless losses to Poland and Ireland clearly demonstrate).
I saw him playing for Lazio 2 seasons ago and even then he was absolutely electric over 5 metres.
Time will tell which goes the furthest.
England have now really messed themselves up, they're on the wrong side of the draw. Wouldn't be surprising if they both exited at the QF stage.
all that goal scoring potential and it misfires...
Looking like Wales v GAWA in Round of 16.....and Croatia equalize on half-time (win $8.50)..hopefully no 2nd half goals..great save Croatia keeper..my bet is still alive...c'mon draw
Nice! Spain lost against Croatia, looks like they play against Italy in first knockout game. Love it!
Wow, with that loss, Germany, England, France and Spain all on the same side of the draw, and potentially Italy and Portugal as well! Whoever makes it to the final from that side of the draw will have run the gauntlet!
Wow, with that loss, Germany, England, France and Spain all on the same side of the draw, and potentially Italy and Portugal as well! Whoever makes it to the final from that side of the draw will have run the gauntlet!
Italy is definitely that side of the draw, they'll be playing Spain in the Round of 16. Portugal could end up there if they finish second.
Massive result for us, not just for beating Spain (with their best line-up, and 5 back-up players starting on our side to boot), but this has put us on the other side of the draw now too.
Absolute madness the way it's turned out!
Germany seem to be the team to beat in their half of the draw unless they trip up over Italy, that is.
Over France?
I think they have wood over France this time around.
France plays "straight" in this tournament and they tend to crack under pressure (except in WC 2008) while Italy is as usual unpredictable.
Germany look a bit toothless to me - I think the lack of an actual forward is hurting them, they've really not looked very threatening going forward so far.
Gomez is their Klose style of play replacement. They won't play high balls into the box strategy for the North Ireland game, according to Loew, because that is their defending strong point.
Loew agrees with the lack of chances in the games so far. He is pretty relaxed and said it not a general problem and players are good enough and he trust eg. Mueller and Goetze to show more, everyone has to be faster around the box.
For me the most interesting part of the interview was (also in context with Hudson interviews), that he got in depth, without being asked, about the lack of players who can beat a defender in one on one situation to create space. They know the issue and already implementing training in ALL U age groups to fix that in the future. Loew said the focus in the past was the fast passing game and they are good in that but they lack those kind of players who willing to go one on one.
Yep, Gomez is the obvious Klose replacement on paper, but is a bit more agricultural and technically deficient, so not quite the same fit with their team. Yet not having an option there means that finding pockets of open space in the attacking third has been lot more difficult for Muller and Goetze, especially against more defensive minded teams. The struggle up front isn't new for Germany at these Euros - they weren't super proficient in the qualifying either (which the goalless losses to Poland and Ireland clearly demonstrate).
I saw him playing for Lazio 2 seasons ago and even then he was absolutely electric over 5 metres.
Also Klose's movement is fantastic, Gomez not so much.
Wow, with that loss, Germany, England, France and Spain all on the same side of the draw, and potentially Italy and Portugal as well! Whoever makes it to the final from that side of the draw will have run the gauntlet!
Italy is definitely that side of the draw, they'll be playing Spain in the Round of 16. Portugal could end up there if they finish second.
Massive result for us, not just for beating Spain (with their best line-up, and 5 back-up players starting on our side to boot), but this has put us on the other side of the draw now too.
Not set in stone yet mate. If ROI beat Italy tomorrow and Belgium beat Sweden then both Italy and Belgium will be on six points. Goal difference and all that. That could see Belgium v Spain.
Any possibility of slightly less than maximum effort from the Italians to try and get on the other side of the draw? Belgium cannot do that because if they lost they would end up third (or last is Italy lost) and the all the dramas that would bring to the table.
Just a theory
Tie breaker is done by head to head. Not GD. Italy beat Belgium so they are first regardless.
Tie breaker is done by head to head. Not GD. Italy beat Belgium so they are first regardless.
You learn something every day. Sorry didn't know that. Apologies to all Italians
Wouldn't beat yourself up about that Walsall Boy, the muppet commentators on the stream I was watching this morning had no idea of that.
I didn't realise until I check this morning. Personally I like it better.
It's a UEFA-run competition, and they've had head to head as the first tiebreaker for a long time (including Champions League, etc). It can be confusing as FIFA-run competitions (including the World Cup and the qualifying) use the goal difference as the first tie-breaker.
11 World Cups and 9 Euros on one side of the draw. None on the other. Madness.
Hopefully Wales will play Northern Ireland...would be an awesome atmosphere in Paris...
Hopefully Wales will play Northern Ireland...would be an awesome atmosphere in Paris...
Much more likely to be playing Turkey - the only way they could play Northern Ireland is if third placed teams from both E and F make it (think that's unlikely).
Northern Ireland will probably end up playing France.
Tie breaker is done by head to head. Not GD. Italy beat Belgium so they are first regardless.
Between that and 4/6 third placed teams progressing, things are nice and confusing.
I miss the days of being able to look at a group table and instantly know who is going through and who isn't.
Some game this one.
Cool from Iceland.
Really enjoyed that.Best finish to a group.
Portugal game was a thriller. Happy to not have to play them in the next round again.
Hopefully Wales will play Northern Ireland...would be an awesome atmosphere in Paris...
Much more likely to be playing Turkey - the only way they could play Northern Ireland is if third placed teams from both E and F make it (think that's unlikely).
Northern Ireland will probably end up playing France.
And of course, I couldn't keep my mouth shut, which means that the unlikely actually happened.
So Wales v Northern Ireland at Stade de France. The Irish up against France.
You've got to hand it to the Irish players and their fans.Fantastic scenes for sure.This is what football is all about these moments.
Shame they play France.Less tickets for their fans.
Hopefully Wales will play Northern Ireland...would be an awesome atmosphere in Paris...
Much more likely to be playing Turkey - the only way they could play Northern Ireland is if third placed teams from both E and F make it (think that's unlikely).
Northern Ireland will probably end up playing France.
France v Republic of Ireland , 1 a.m. 27/06/16
Irish eyes are smiling....
The interesting thing is after all the drama of the group stages and the 'loading' of one side of the draw, the biggest winners appear to be Belgium, for whom that opening loss to Italy may yet prove to have been a blessing in disguise.
They've got Hungary in the Round of 16, and if they do the job there, the winner of Wales v Northern Ireland in the quarters. Compare that to anyone else's potential road to the semis, and Belgium's starts looking like a walk in the park.
It's a UEFA-run competition, and they've had head to head as the first tiebreaker for a long time (including Champions League, etc). It can be confusing as FIFA-run competitions (including the World Cup and the qualifying) use the goal difference as the first tie-breaker.
Since '96 IIRC Czech eliminated Italy.
When did the kick off rule change? In my day we had to pass it forward!
When did the kick off rule change? In my day we had to pass it forward!
It was bought in for this tournament.
When did the kick off rule change? In my day we had to pass it forward!
Since 1 June.
Hopefully Wales will play Northern Ireland...would be an awesome atmosphere in Paris...
Much more likely to be playing Turkey - the only way they could play Northern Ireland is if third placed teams from both E and F make it (think that's unlikely).
Northern Ireland will probably end up playing France.
France v Republic of Ireland , 1 a.m. 27/06/16
Irish eyes are smiling....
Both games are live on Prime TV for those without Sky.
Sunday 4 am and Monday 1 am
Both my neighbours in my apartment building have been loving the free live broadcasts on Prime (they only have Freeview)
They had the Spain v Croatia game live at 7am yesterday and the Sweden v Belgium game this morning on Prime.
The Irish will be out for revenge against the French. Henry handball and all that.
And then, potentially - Iceland. Or England. Probably the vikings.
Iceland v Ireland quarter-final would be something to see.
When did the kick off rule change? In my day we had to pass it forward!
Since 1 June.
Cheers bro
Check out Iceland commentary of Austria game (last play)
As good as the Norwegian giving it too That her in '81 I reckon