UEFA Euro 2020

De Bruyne played but Belgium still lost.

Italy are playing a far more attacking game than they traditionally do which is good to see. But some things never change. Immobile living up to his name...

Of course he was faking injury.

Rooster wrote:

I think England and Italy, who have made the best impression since the start of the tournament, seem to be in the best position to advance to the final.

I agree but I really hope Denmark knocks England out so it doesn't come down to that final. If England win the tournament we'll still be hearing them carry on about it in 2052.

CL-Ed wrote:

Italy are playing a far more attacking game than they traditionally do which is good to see. But some things never change. Immobile living up to his name...

Yep.. I've been thinking the same about them...nothing against to see them winning it this time.

Nice Immobille remark there Ed, the guy hasn't been exactly great even without mentioning the situation from the Rooster video.

CL-Ed wrote:

Of course he was faking injury.

I agree but I really hope Denmark knocks England out so it doesn't come down to that final. If England win the tournament we'll still be hearing them carry on about it in 2052.

Just a few days back I've remembered England has never won the cup before...so having the easiest path to the final and the home advantage...it seems like now or never opportunity for them.

Still think though Denmark are playing quite attractive football so I hope they could upset the favs.

By the way.. (I don't know if you can call this a tendency or not)... but is anyone else have noticed that like the last 8 games from the elimination phase have been won by the teams wearing the white kits!?

You could call it a coincidence but the streak getting longer with every next game...and I'm definitely going to check who's wearing white in the semis😉

sharpe wrote:

By the way.. (I don't know if you can call this a tendency or not)... but is anyone else have noticed that like the last 8 games from the elimination phase have been won by the teams wearing the white kits!?

I had not noticed but Italy in blue beat Spain in white so I hope you didn't base your betting on that trend! 😂

Go Denmark!

What kind of mad crazy reaction will the English populace have if their team wins this? Will everyone be drunk for 3 days or something similar?

Well seeing as though people who were never even born at the time still go on about them winning the world cup in 1966 (not to mention world wars) its safe to say they will most likely still be boasting abut it midway through this century.

They got a very favourable decision in their semi with Sterling winning a penalty with a blatant dive. Kane tried it on several times during the match too. Their media are always on about "diving foreigners" and the like but they have well and truly lost all right to whatever moral high ground they usually assume they are entitled to. Again VAR did not do the job it is there to do. I think this pic sums it up nicely:

CL-Ed wrote:

I had not noticed but Italy in blue beat Spain in white so I hope you didn't base your betting on that trend! 😂

Go Denmark!

Nope...but I was kind of tempted to be honest😉 to put it mildly... I'm really lacking ideas!

A bit surprised the Spanish didn't won it after pens though, but every streak has to end.

barbadosslim93 wrote:

What kind of mad crazy reaction will the English populace have if their team wins this? Will everyone be drunk for 3 days or something similar?

Let's hope they wouldn't have to bother themselves with that, although it might be the case even if they loose it...?!🤔

CL-Ed wrote:

They got a very favourable decision in their semi with Sterling winning a penalty with a blatant dive. Kane tried it on several times during the match too. Their media are always on about "diving foreigners" and the like but they have well and truly lost all right to whatever moral high ground they usually assume they are entitled to. Again VAR did not do the job it is there to do. I think this pic sums it up nicely:

Yep...wasn't sure it's a dive in real time but convinced it is after seeing the replays,

I was shocked the tv commentator here said it's a clear pen and the ref has never been called to the monitor to check it out...really confused by the VAR decision making...not any consistency at all...or the fact it was situation for the home side favs...made the decision easier...?!?

And it was about Sterling...who has a long story of doing that if you ask me...

England were lucky to win it before the pens cause Schmeichel has been looking great in Denmark's goal.

I hope they will pay for it (I mean being lucky)...in the final, will definitely support Italy in it.

sharpe wrote:

I hope they will pay for it (I mean being lucky)...in the final, will definitely support Italy in it.

Your wish is granted...

I'm happy with that result too. Italy were by far the better team and were deserving winners.

Southgate's idea of tactics was to park 10 men behind the ball in the 3rd minute of the game and hope to win 1-0. They spent most of the 2nd half and extra time watching Italy pass the ball around. It was like watching the old Italy play, only England were Italian. Sterling tried another of his speciality, diving at the slightest touch, but because everyone saw what he did in the semi the referee wasn't going to fall for it. I wish they would bring out the yellow card more often for that sort of thing.

Southgate refused to use enough of his subs and waited until the 120th minute to bring on Rashford and Sancho to take penalties. Its no surprise they missed because imagine the crazy pressure he put on them by doing that. Also letting a young relative rookie take the decisive kick was pretty foolish too.

Congratulations Italy. 🇮🇹🏆

Those penalty kicks at the end were cool to watch. I'm not a big soccer fan (it's good, but I can't watch it consistently), but that was exciting to experience.

And now it's up to the Queen what happens next.
Both options are on the table. Their chopped off heads nailed to the tower, or sending them all to Australia .

Don't send them here for goodness sake! 😂

CL-Ed wrote:

I'm happy with that result too. Italy were by far the better team and were deserving winners.

Southgate's idea of tactics was to park 10 men behind the ball in the 3rd minute of the game and hope to win 1-0. They spent most of the 2nd half and extra time watching Italy pass the ball around. It was like watching the old Italy play, only England were Italian. Sterling tried another of his speciality, diving at the slightest touch, but because everyone saw what he did in the semi the referee wasn't going to fall for it. I wish they would bring out the yellow card more often for that sort of thing.

Southgate refused to use enough of his subs and waited until the 120th minute to bring on Rashford and Sancho to take penalties. Its no surprise they missed because imagine the crazy pressure he put on them by doing that. Also letting a young relative rookie take the decisive kick was pretty foolish too.

Congratulations Italy. 🇮🇹🏆

It doesn't happen that often...(if ever)..but I'm absolutely 100% agree with everything you've said above Ed😉

Like the words have been coming from my mouth...but in a lot better English of course😎

Like you said, the Southgate tactics of just parking the bus was a coward act in a hope of holding that 1-0 lead...when you have some of the highest paid players in the world (supposedly that should mean - the best) in your team...that was..to say the least is a questionable coaching.

I was completely stunned by the changes he had made in the end.. have been watching United for too long to be almost sure (t)Rashford would going to miss his kick...my exact words before his penalty were "he'll score if he hits the goal but I doubt"..

And beside all the tension is on the players who have been put in play just for the penalties.. especially when they didn't had any playing time...just a speculative shot here but I think Henderson would of score his..?!

In the end I think we could safely say Italy were a deserve winners being the most consistent and even kind of fun to watch team at the EURO.

I guess it's also safe to say...most people are happy that Italy won...or that England doesn't😉..or at least the 90% of the people I know anyway.

So,... to the now or never question about England...I guess the safe bet would be never!!😉

sharpe wrote:

And beside all the tension is on the players who have been put in play just for the penalties.. especially when they didn't had any playing time...just a speculative shot here but I think Henderson would of score his..?!

I can't remember ever seeing Henderson take a penalty for Liverpool but I was surprised that Southgate took him off as he came on as a sub earlier. Southgate did that to Grealish in the semi final too. I guess he had his list of penalty takers and wanted them all on but the way he did it just placed an enormous amount of extra pressure on their shoulders.

Why not bring on an attacker or two for at least 15 minutes or so to try to win it before then? The way they were playing camped in their own half, they really could have benefited from a couple of fast and fresh attackers even if they just tried to hit it long and turn Italy around. They had nothing else. Ok maybe he wanted Kane to take a penalty but if it was all planned as claimed then he knew Sterling wasn't going to take one so why not sub him off for Sancho or Rashford for example? It seems to me that Southgate was so frightened of losing he was too scared to try to win.

Yeah, definitely agree with all you're saying there Ed, it makes complete sense to me.

Maybe Southgate hasn't sub Sterling not because he would of been a penalty taker but because he was hoping the guy could be a penalty maker😉

Oooooh... I see what you did there! Nice one! 😉😎😂👍

Wasn't that hard to think of it knowing the guy tricks long time ago Ed, the surprise part for me was that many people have discovered his talent just now...what a shame😉