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When you need a goal they bring on Werner - says it all. Good to see Jogi Loew and his assistant are as suave as ever though.
I'm just glad he wasn't caught sniffing his fingers after a good rummage in his boxers
When you weigh it up, it’s clearly the better way round.
Until you lose your best keeper/striker/centre half to a completely unnecessary challenge. I'd rather they let the asst call it if he's confident, leave it if he's not. At least have the pretence that the guys on the field have some purpose.
That asst called a tighter one that the Mbappe number two in the first half straight away.
Frantic, error filled first half. Dull as spanish tikki-oops in the second except for one period when the Germans remembered how to play a vertical ball. Then back to sideways, sideway, sideways until the French rebuilt the Maginot line at the top of the box, but this time the Germans just bounced off it, over and over and over.
Until you lose your best keeper/striker/centre half to a completely unnecessary challenge.
Yes, there is that risk.
I thought Bale was taking the piss first time! Keep it in the corner!!
The tunnel scenes afterwards are going to be sponsored by The Kaiser Chiefs
Yes!
Feels like a semi final this does!
What's Turkish for fool me once? I wondered on the second one, surely he's not....Then he did.
Fair play to Bale for doing it not once, but twice.
He surely won’t do it again, will he....?
Brilliant!
Has anyone seen a goal scored from a corner like that before?
I've seen it tried but it didn't work out, defence switched on in time and blocked the shot.
10 straight clean sheets is pretty impressive!
Has anyone seen a goal scored from a corner like that before
at any other point in a game a defence will be switched on to that, but in the dying seconds of a game with the opposition one up they’d have just been expecting them to play it in and around the corner flag and play out to the whistle.
Molls... mate... you really do need to start regularly watching a proper game on a regular basis rather than rugby. 😉
Best corner since Alexander Arnold v Barcelona.
Ukraine v North Macedonia is a cracking game!
RM.
Caught the first 20 mins of that while I was eating my lunch. Looked a pretty lively match already.
Anyone else enjoying the general vibe of this tournament? Less VAR than the premier league, fewer stoppages, lots of good games already, and I could swear there's less diving and general shithousery. Well done the footballists.
It appears that Ronnie is the only person at the Euro's capable of taking a penalty
Anyone else enjoying the general vibe of this tournament? Less VAR than the premier league, fewer stoppages, lots of good games already, and I could swear there’s less diving and general shithousery. Well done the footballists.
I think the refs have been great. They're not buying the diving at all so players seem to have stopped doing it as they know they're not going to get them.
As for the VAR, I don't think theres been less of it, it just seems to have been done properly as opposed to the endless faffing about thats been going on in the Premier League all season. Half the time you'd barely notice they've done a VAR check. I hope they're watching this in Stockley Park
Yeah all for the less diving and time wasting but wondered if was due to not being at the pointy end yet.
I barely see any prem games but has the diving all got a bit obvious so is having much less of an impact than it was say 10 years ago?
They’re not buying the diving at all so players seem to have stopped doing it
You must be watching different matches. I've cpseen plenty of 'simulation'. Yes they are ignoring a lot of it. If they actually want it to stop though, they should probably start issuing yellow cards, as the laws require.
The penalty late on was absurd. The change to the interpretation of the handball law means that you can't jumo 'naturally' and you basically have to take a 45mph free kick to the head. The dangers of this are well-known. It is absolutely absurd of FIFA/UEFA to force players into this position. They should either refuse to make walls, resulting in stupid games, or take FIFA to court. I don't give a damn if a player blocks a kick with his arm instead of his face, if it means a few less brain damaged 50 year olds dribbling in themselves.
Molls… mate… you really do need to start regularly watching a proper game on a regular basis rather than rugby.
Why would I? Far too boring when you don't care about any of the teams, plus you have to spend quite a lot to get it on telly. I'm happy being a tourist.
As for the VAR, I don’t think theres been less of it, it just seems to have been done properly as opposed to the endless faffing about thats been going on in the Premier League all season. Half the time you’d barely notice they’ve done a VAR check. I hope they’re watching this in Stockley Park
Certainly seem to be lessons we can learn in how to have less disruption to games
Yeah I enjoyed the game this afternoon - some cracking saves from both keepers, and two penos saved too (admittedly one scored on the follow-up)
or take FIFA to court.
Same could be said of when the offside call goes up stupidly late.
Say the striker gets taken out with a poor challenge that finishes his career, when play could have been called dead half a dozen seconds before ?
Denmark are taking this to Belgium - another cracking game so far!
Same could be said of when the offside call goes up stupidly late
No argument from me in that one, as above. We've seen players being lost to injury (not permanently, afaik) where it was going to flagged down anyway.
The only difference is that there is 'some' risk in the offside situation. The evidence seems to indicate there is no 'safe' level of head trauma. If I had the time, I could knock you up the risk analysis of the two.
Plus there is a vast difference in the nature of the harm. In one case the player may not play again. In the other he may never wipe his own arse again.
The evidence seems to indicate there is no ‘safe’ level of head trauma.
But it's fairly clear that Uefa/FIFA DGAS about it, they've accepted the French saying Pavard wasn't unconscious despite him saying he was and the footage showing him falling onto his face without reacting after being hit in the head by a player's knee. They've been trialling HIA replacements but not included it in this tournament but they didn't take him off the field at all.
Enjoyed Netherlands game last night. Netherlands were completely on top but they were not clincial enough with finishes. They will rue missing chances like that against better oppositon.
Same could be said of when the offside call goes up stupidly late
It's infuriating enough watching it, so I can only imagine what it's like for the players
Does anybody know what the actual logic is behind this? Because I can't see any. Like the present ludicrous handball rule it seems to have been dreamt up by somebody who's never actually played or watched football
i explained it a page or so back. It does actually make sense, for close calls at least (I agree with C-O that for clear calls just flag it, and also at the risk of injury when play was effectively stopped. Although that could be true of any VAR situation, not just offside)
because he might have got it wrong. If he flags wrongly, game stops, chance gone, there’s no way to reset back where they were and start as they were before the error.
At least this way round everyone plays on, you see what would have happened, and then stop and check.
It does seem daft, particularly when the decision is obvious but if you’ve ever run the line (and done offsides, not just ball in and out) it’s bloody hard and I’m amazed how accurate they are.
When you weigh it up, it’s clearly the better way round.
So what are people's plans for the big match later?
I'm finishing work, jumping on the MTB out for a quick blast then pizza, cider & football.
Finishing work early, making dinner for my wife and I then watching the game (hopefully with my family if they are interested). Not going to have too many beers as I need to do a training run in the morning (going out with my mates for the first time in over a year tomorrow night so I can't put off the run until Sunday as I will definitely have a hangover then – and it's Father's Day so I'll have loads of gardening chores to do too).
I should get out on the MTB now really shouldn't I?
They’ve been trialling HIA replacements but not included it in this tournament but they didn’t take him off the field at all.
Which does nothing to address the hazard. The damage is done at that point. They are mitigating the harm, it's not clear that you can.
It's bloody obvious they don't give a football about the player's safety, which is why the players have to start doing so. Or their associations various.
So what are people’s plans for the big match later?
Cowering behind the sofa by the 12th minute, same as always when england play.
should get out on the MTB now really shouldn’t I?
Yeah, so you'll be back in time to see the begining. How else are we going to show you the error of your ways?
Cowering behind the sofa by the 12th minute, same as always when england play.
You should try being a Scotland fan.
Team news is in...
So what are people’s plans for the big match later?
Gambling on MrsMC being prepared to do the gymnastics run when daughter finishes training at 8pm
Jnr is hoping the combination of a full days rain and the game will convince his fellow Scout leaders to cancel tonight's outdoor activities.
Gambling on MrsMC being prepared to do the gymnastics run when daughter finishes training at 8pm
It's easy - have a beer then claim to have forgotten about collecting your daughter.
Yeah, so you’ll be back in time to see the begining.
I didn't go out.
It’s easy – have a beer then claim to have forgotten about collecting your daughter.
Given the regularity her sporting activities result in a need for an x-ray, I don't touch a drop till she is safely home 🤦♂️
If haze's line up is true, anyone else predicting a cricket score. I mean deploying a keeper that's been lobbed once as a defensive midfielder seems a bit suicidal doesn't it?
the regularity her sporting activities result in a need for an x-ray, I don’t touch a drop till she is safely home 🤦♂️
What kind of full contact gymnastics is she doing?
You should try being a Scotland fan.
I've thought about it. Better band. Fried mars bars > prawn sarnies. The uniform is a bit draughty for me though.
What kind of full contact gymnastics is she doing?
Display, so it can be full contact. Though it's netball that does the most regular damage, 5 broken fingers in 3 years. Not good for a flute player 😕
She's a Rangers fan?
Display, so it can be full contact.
Know nothing about gymnastics, outside of when an Italian striker gets into the opponents box. Is it just shoulder barges or is slide tackling allowed?
I'm having a weirdly excited feeling about the game today. Which means England will probably put on a feeble display, and remove any positive thoughts I had after the last game.
Gilmour starts, a nation awaits.
Scotland almost have numbers 1 - 11 on the pitch
Predictions? I'm going for an England 1-0 bore fest
MrsMC is doing the gymnastics pickup, I'm about to deploy the Jaipur and Doritos.....
excellent game for the neutral although, as my aerial fell off this afternoon, i'm hoping the 'net stays solid.
I’m having a weirdly excited feeling about the game today. Which means England will probably put on a feeble display, and remove any positive thoughts I had after the last game.
I second both halves of that statement. McAvoy! 🙂
Predictions? I’m going for an England 1-0 bore fest
Pickford pulls a Seaman first half, Gilmour scores. One of Kane's glass ankles goes. England have a shedload of possession but have about as much attacking thrust as a cabbage, fail to break down Scotland. Southgate strips down to his vest. Brings on Hendo, who barks himself into a Cerebral Haemorrhage. Sterling stumbles one into the back of the net with a minute to play while looking in the wrong direction to save England's blushes.
C'mon the Remainers.
O Flower of Scotland etc.
Pickford pulls a Seaman first half, Gilmour scores. One of Kane’s glass ankles goes. England have a shedload of possession but have about as much attacking thrust as a cabbage, fail to break down Scotland. Southgate strips down to his vest. Brings on Hendo, who barks himself into a Cerebral Haemorrhage. Sterling stumbles one into the back of the net with a minute to play while looking in the wrong direction to save England’s blushes.
Lol, I hope this is the outcome now!
TBH, I am less concerned about the outcome than the ref ruining the spectacle. I want too watch the football, not you. Cram your whistle up your margarita and let the game flow.
Did they all take a knee?
Sorry, was outside chatting to the neighbours...
Entertaining first half, seemed to pass quite quickly
football
I thought the idea of the game was to try to score goals. Not to see how many ineffectual, non-threatening passes you can string together...
Im really confused. We (scotland) look good. Attacking. Passing. Controlling play. Is this a dream??
England look like they used the one idea they had for pushing forward and settled on aimlessly passing backwards. I'm guessing the lack of urgency can't be blamed on the heat for this one.
Did they all take a knee?
All the ones I saw. So the important stuff is done - all the rest is just football. 🙂
Pretty even. Massive gap between England’s midfield and Sterling and Kane. Grealish on by 60mins at this rate.
Did they all take a knee?
Yep.
I thought the idea of the game was to try to score goals. Not to see how many ineffectual, non-threatening passes you can string together…
What a quaint, old fashioned view you have. I suppose you think the underlapping fullback is a violation of tenets. I sentence you to 300 hours of watching Spain.
It’s like watching a Maureen side. Sideways, sideways backwards. Completely toothless.
I reckon my fiver on Scotland nicking it at 10/1 is safely looking like it’s still on
I’ve also got McTominay to score at 27/1
Im really confused. We (scotland) look good. Attacking. Passing. Controlling play. Is this a dream?
Nope, smart manager. 5 at the back, fullbacks wide. England's midfield too narrow to cope. Balls over the top are actually getting held up.
Kane's not right. Dunno what's up there.
Kane’s not right. Dunno what’s up there.
Zero pace and he's not clever enough to read the game well enough to make up for it.
England are playing for a set piece goal - the ambition doesn't seem to go much further than that.
At times there's been a chance to play with intent, do something different (bit like the start of the second half, tbf) and ask Scotland a different question and we haven't really done it apart from the skiddy Kane offside header.
At time Kane looks like he's won a charity competition to captain England
Kane self-isolating again. Grealish needs a run, Calvert-Lewin for some height from set-piece too.
just there - Philips with 10 yards to run into and engage one of the back four.....
and stopped, turned back and played to James 10 yards behind.
Zero pace and he’s not clever enough to read the game well enough to make up for it.
His record and the opinions of a lot of managers would say different.
I think he's carrying a knock or something.
The passing isn't the problem, it's the pace and tempo if it that's the problem.
His record and the opinions of a lot of managers would say different.
Past record. You're only as good as your last game.
I agree, he either looks injured or the cumulative effect of injury after injury through the past few years.
I thought Foden did more than Mount
strange sub
That's a bizarre switch. Kane is struggling. Sterling is playing with all the confidence and self belief as Bambi on ice. Foren has been the best by far. So you bring him off?
Even the commentators are trying to talk this bilge up. 'Intriguing'?
**** off!
possibly because he has done more - tournament football, if you want to do well you have to play a lot of games. Maybe he was tasked with a lot of the chasing but told that his shift was 60 mins only