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Italy had great tactics? Nope. Italy tried to defend a 1 nil lead for an entire half, played negatively, threw themselves on the ground at every possible occasion and waste time. They deserved to loose.
we are a bit weak at the back and that's why we always seem to concede and have to chase the game.
Yeah we are a bit. I said it on the previous page but i do think the current system leaves us light at the back, even more so with Carter as she's not the fastest and you need pace to play this way.
Also Ian Wright was right last night when he said we always start games too slow - we looked pretty threatening for most of the 2nd half, but in the first half Italy were just first to every ball, we didn't have much intensity.
And we seemed to have this idea of releasing Hemp down the left with a longish ball, for her to launch crosses into the box - fine in principle - but then she hares off after it, sends a cross in, and hardly anyone has reached the box yet. So many of our crosses went into a box featuring 6 Italian defenders, 1 England attacker, and posed no real threat. We need a bit more hold up play if that's going to be the plan IMO, develop the possession a bit.
Although I must concede that I have never successfully managed a national team to consecutive major tournament finals. So, you know.
Although I must concede that I have never successfully managed a national team to consecutive major tournament finals. So, you know.
Aye, a bit of self awareness from all us armchair experts puts things into context.
I did get Shrewsbury Town into Europe in Championship Manager 97/98 though, if that counts as anything?
I did get Shrewsbury Town into Europe in Championship Manager 97/98 though, if that counts as anything?
Expect a call from St George's Park any minute....
The games have been quite physical, not sure there's been so much nastiness behind it
And yet the game against the Swedes had more physical clatterings than many PL matches.
Bit of a theory on this, and I'll try not to sound misogynistic about it, certainly not intended. It is a fact that the men's game is faster and the men are bigger and stronger, but I don't think pound for pound, power for power the women's game is any less physical.
But the men's game is 'nastier' in that if a (bad) foul is committed then retribution is expected, there's far more squaring up, running in to join the pushing, and if the player is felt to get away with it, there's more likelihood that somewhere down the line payback must be dealt. For that reason, referees have to go for cards more quickly because otherwise the miscreant gets away with it, and they mustn't be allowed to get away with it.
After I finished playing I reffed for several seasons and the old hands would all talk about getting a card in early. Not too early, that you get labelled as an officious **** but as a means of exerting control before it's too late, and sometimes on the park that means that 3 fouls go unpunished (bar the freekick) and then the fourth gets a yellow card and a fine because enough's enough. The players knew the score and would protest but sometimes they just happened to be in the wrong place when patience ran out.
Doesn't seem to happen in the women's game so much and it's way better for it.
It’s been refreshing to see “proper” physical football at this tournament. TBF I think the refs let a bit more go in the PL last year, but the mens game still has an element of basketball to it (apologies to NBA fans) where fouls are almost of a technical nature rather than reducers.
As for the final...I think the margin of victory or defeat will be much bigger (mind you, you can’t get much slimmer than the last two games). We’ll either click early and stick a couple away, but if we have to chase, the quality of the opposition could mean we lose by 2 or 3.
I think as the women's game has become much more professional, with full time training and large coaching staff, then the "gamesmanship" has also become more professional. So, 10 years ago (Canada WC 2015) I remember pundits saying what a breath of fresh air it was that players didn't fall over all the time at the slightest challenges etc. That's definitely changed, so I'm not sure it's any less technical in that area than the men's, I would imagine they'll be coached regularly on when and where to give and get fouls just as much as the men.
Germany v Spain has been an interesting encounter. I'm posting now to see if it prompts a stoppage time winner to avoid extra time.
Fair play the Germany, but Spain just look STRONG, a single goal in it notwithstanding. Sunday will be tough.
So sorry for James, they took a punt but she just weren't fit. Now we'll see...
Spain are just looking a class above, we've done well to keep up.
England recovered though, very much in it!
The Spanish women are now up to the same kind of shithousery as the Spanish men tend to indulge in
Squeaky bum time
Well done England. Hung in there, battled away and the keeper did really well in the shoot out.
Nail biting stuff. England as a new team have done well, they kept fighting to the end in pretty much every match. Wasn’t the most convincing cup wins but it was a win.
Winning the Euro’s, then retaining your title? Any team is going to take that.
If you rode your luck a bit to get there… who cares?
Back to back, 'It's staying home, it's staying home!'
Faaaaaaaackinellll
Yeah James really shouldn't have started, but we played so much better than i expected. I predicted a comfortable Spain win but we really battled for it pretty much the whole match (instead of just the last 20 mins lol)
Amazing game, so chuffed
Also, interesting to see how well Jess Carter fared when she wasn't really having to compete on pace against lightning quick counter attackers. She had an excellent game.
Sarina Wiegman's record as manager is insane - 5 major tournament finals reached, 3 Euro's won in a row.
Surely an argument for the greatest international manager ever to grace the game?
Great team performance. Some players who had a shaky start came good and some good steady players throughout.
Great team performance. Some players who had a shaky start came good and some good steady players throughout.
Agreed - I was not a fan of Carter in the early games, but she came back strong in the second half last night.