Yeah, Italy are a step up on what England have faced before, and they struggled against Denmark - the only other side to actually come out and play against them - for 40 minutes before starting to get on top (and then Denmark tired...and even then they needed a dodgy penalty)
Even with home advantage, I'm not sure England have shown enough to indicate they can take the game to Italy, who've been consistently great this tournament. I'm sure that'll bite me in 11 hours' time, but Italy favourites for me.
I have Italy as marginal favourites too, but only marginal. They've lost a major creative force in Spinazzola. I think they'll be on top for large chunks of the game, but England won't be easy to score against and will be dangerous on the break and from set pieces. England also have the attackers to go for it if they have to, though it'll take an Italy lead for Southgate to consider it.
Anyway, I'll be wielding a tricolour as usual.
Im watching the final two mediocre teams. Dont know how the Republic cant compete with them. Ditto this, Rice is still a turncoat betrayer. Ireland dont need superstars just the correct formation and strategy
What england did well was as it is shown. Hard to attack because they defend with 5 and use two holding midfielders, with that they leave 3 guys to roam around in attack playing as we call in footsala ( las 3 calles) the 3 lanes. They cant score much but they are assuring they wont concede goals. Thats Southgate strategy a la cattenaccio. The 3 lions cattenaccio
First-minute goal for England is about the worst thing that could have happened this game
Yeah, miserable contest so far. I know finals tend to be dull, but this is 2010 level.
Everything was set up and organize for England to deliver the Eurocopa to them. Every detail. An unfair competición.
England needlessly invited all that pressure on themselves and paid the price for it.
That's their sole game plan it seems. Always risky, but if anyone can play against it, it's the Italians. They invented it
Just saw him near tears, so there you go!Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
How was the 19 year old allowed to take the crucial kick?
Pleased for Italy, pleased that Southgate's relentless negativity wasn't rewarded to the full.
Cruel on lads like Sancho and Saka to be taking those last penalties. Yes, they're attackers, but experience is just as valuable, and there were plenty of players with experience elsewhere on the team.
I'll take what happened over this every day.
Saw it too. His lip wobbling away.
Some Sunday evenings just get better and better.
On the 19 year old with a handful of caps matter, well the experienced players who watched him walk up to it might want to have a chat with Southgate, who said he picked the kickers. They probably won't though.
Also both players he brought on cold late on to take kicks missed.
The side who played the better football won tonight and deserved to inside the 90 in my opinion. England lost to the first decent team they met in the knockout stages, again, it just happened to be a final.
Too harsh ?
Not harsh, accurate.
There’s two type of tournament winners - the ones who win beating teams they would expect to, regardless of how close the tie might be pitched (Spain 08/12; France 00; Netherlands 88) and those who exceed expectations and Win against the odds - England weren’t either. Simple.
Italy had 66% possession over the entire game. You’d need a great counter attack game to expect to win that in normal / all playing time.
With the early goal had Southgate not been so defensive perhaps England could have got another and made it really hard for the Italians, but it was not to be.
I actually noticed that a lot of Italy's passing, in particular in the first half, resembled Ireland's passing where a player often had to check a run or go back to get the pass. Was a poor final and Italy would've been beaten by 2006 Italy or by 2016 Portugal or France
Folding my way into the big money!!!
England would have beaten Italy had Southgate not been so negative. It will be his undoing yet. The media will turn on him. Unless of course he bores the English to a world cup final
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
Southgate was out managed in pretty much every facet of the game yesterday. Over the entire game Italy had 66% possession = = Unbelievable figure at that level of football. It really showed that Southgate has no Club track record to justify him being England manager.England would have beaten Italy had Southgate not been so negative. It will be his undoing yet. The media will turn on him. Unless of course he bores the English to a world cup final
England were horribly negative throughout the tournament. It might be excusable for the likes of Ireland to take on that level of risk-averse pragmatism, but the English actually have some decent attacking options available to them.
Justice was served when the Italians won. They were the competition's best team.
True but the Spanish gave them a hell of a game and were the better team in that particular game. Southgate went Rabbit in the headlights yesterday.
Around 20 minutes Jorginho had an injury ( maybe even a tactical injury ) ~ The Italians adjusted their game and were in charge of the game for nearly all of it after that. Southgate was out of his debt at that level. He just didn’t have the know how / confidence / whatever, to counter react. Not even at half time.
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