Euro 2016

[DeLorean]

I also saw most of the Italy/Spanish game. What a performance by Italy who made Spain almost look as bad as England, especially in the first half. They are not afraid to throw men forward when required. Spain need to rebuild. Two excellent games.

Italy were fantastic alright. They had everything that Spain lacked. Sad to see but Spain actually looked like a team that weren't too fussed about going home, no urgency or passion. That's the impression I got anyway. Italy v Germany is mouth watering now. Germany are due a competitive win against them but they'll get nothing easy. Thiago Motta's late booking was stupid in the extreme. They could be left short in there as De Rossi had come off earlier.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Work with a few Italian lads. All in bits yesterday, tears were flowing. Overcoming Spain, after 2012, meant a lot.

[CraftyToePoke]

I just don't think there's much a leap from you dismissing Iceland

Well there is, a quantum one, to me. And I never dismissed them at all. I am in awe of their structures and progress over the last years and follow it with admiration. I just look at them and feel we would edge them presently, is all.

Anyway, one of my favourite non Ireland footy moments, easily. And that synchronised hand clap chant is beyond cool.

[DeLorean]

I'd only give us a 50/50 chance at best really. I think they would have done more to merit a favourites tag. Fairly crude recent statistics would suggest they score slightly more goals than us and maybe even defend a bit better too. Not much in it either way but we'd probably have a hard time breaking them down. What an opportunity it would have been though.

The RTÉ lads last night mentioned that England have only won six knock-out games in major competitions since winning the World Cup in 1966.

Paraguay (WC86 Last 16) 3-0
Belgium (WC90 Last 16) 1-0
Cameroon (WC90 Q/Final) 3-2
Spain (Euro 96 Q/Final) 0-0 (Pens 4-2)
Denmark (WC02 Last 16) 3-0
Ecuador (WC06 Last 16) 1-0

[Stuttgart88]

https://vine.co/v/iMPja9Hv52A

See you next time Dele.

I loved his dive in the first half. "England are too honest to dive".

[pineapple stu]

The RTÉ lads last night mentioned that England have only won six knock-out games in major competitions since winning the World Cup in 1966.

Worth noting 1966 was the first time England won a knock-out tie.

[DeLorean]

Worth noting 1966 was the first time England won a knock-out tie.

Didn't know that, definitely worth noting!

[geysir]

I'd only give us a 50/50 chance at best really. I think they would have done more to merit a favourites tag. Fairly crude recent statistics would suggest they score slightly more goals than us and maybe even defend a bit better too. Not much in it either way but we'd probably have a hard time breaking them down. What an opportunity it would have been though.

Unfortunately only Iceland succeeded in playing their part for that fantasy scenario
The 'hard to break down' tag is just a part of their game, just one of the features, personally I wouldn't (and you're not) over-egg it more than what it is, i.e. something they do just as well as other parts of their game. But they are harder to break down than Ireland.

Other differing factors from this tournament.
Fitness levels are better, the same starting 11 in each game and appear to be getting fitter.
Consistency of performance.
Absolute familiarity between the Iceland players themselves and with the management.
Confidence with the system, they have been settled in and perfecting the flexibility within their game for years, whether it's 4411 or 442 and make it look simple.
The default fault with Portugal, Austria and England was, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that Iceland had to up their game in order to hold their ground in their exalted company and ultimately they would not be able to sustain it.

[DeLorean]

The 'hard to break down' tag is just a part of their game, just one of the features, personally I wouldn't (and you're not) over-egg it more than what it is, i.e. something they do just as well as other parts of their game.

Yeah, I was combining it with the fact that we're not very good at breaking teams down anyway. We don't score more than one goal against semi decent opposition very often. In the whole of this campaign we only managed to score two or more against Georgia (once) and Gibraltar. It makes it pretty difficult to win matches as were over-reliant on keeping clean sheets. Iceland, I see, managed more than one goal six times in qualification and twice more so far in this tournament, including multiple goals in matches against Czech Rep, Netherlands, Turkey, Austria and England.

[OwlsFan]

Confidence with the system, they have been settled in and perfecting the flexibility within their game for years, whether it's 4411 or 442 and make it look simple

So is there something to be said for the much maligned 4-4-2 ?

[BonnieShels]

So is there something to be said for the much maligned 4-4-2 ?

There's everything to be said for it. When teams are set up not to counter it then it's a wall.

It's been proven a lot over the last 2-3 years.

Proper old school counter-attacking football is back baby!

[DeLorean]

The Italians had the wing back system off to a tee the other day. De Sciglio was very impressive left wing back. I've been kind of keeping an eye on him since that game in Craven Cottage when he looked brilliant. He seems to be in and out of the Milan side but looks really good any time I see him for Italy.

[Stuttgart88]

Interesting story of the Icelandic "clap" routine

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakin...nt-742271.html

[Stuttgart88]

There's everything to be said for it. When teams are set up not to counter it then it's a wall.

It's been proven a lot over the last 2-3 years.

Proper old school counter-attacking football is back baby!

Jonathan Wilson was on Twitter saying that the enlarged format has reduced the standard of football, citing among other things, goals per game being down. But maybe it's the ebb and flow of football tactics, anti-possession now trumping possession?

[BonnieShels]

Jonathan Wilson was on Twitter saying that the enlarged format has reduced the standard of football, citing among other things, goals per game being down. But maybe it's the ebb and flow of football tactics, anti-possession now trumping possession?

Could well be. To see how stifled Spain have been while Germany stutter seems to indicate a certain change to a different brand of football.

[TheBoss]

Harry Kane v Iceland

https://twitter.com/LinoTreize/statu...90389898321920

[Closed Account 2]

I think that link might be broken, but it's such a good video it's worth digging another link out for it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_2BF7l4fKM

[Stuttgart88]

Great compilation, though in fairness he did have a good first half volley saved.

I love how England respond to years of not being able to keep the ball by changing to dominating possession and doing nothing with it.

I also love how the FA now think that the solution to dominating possession but struggling to break down teams who put bodies behind the ball is Arsene Wenger.

Me? I think Andy Carroll would have made a difference. Seriously.

[Stuttgart88]

Could well be. To see how stifled Spain have been while Germany stutter seems to indicate a certain change to a different brand of football.

Stuttering to a facile 3-0 win over Slovakia having missed a penalty

[BonnieShels]

Stuttering to a facile 3-0 win over Slovakia having missed a penalty

It was pretty stuttery if you include ALL games.