England, Scotland and Wales.

[Anonymous]

I criticised Southgate for being too cautious. To be fair, this was just after the Scotland game and our nations league games were poor. However, he has proven me wrong so far.

I am glad, because he’s the most likeable coach we have had in years. The team spirit and support for the team is great. People debated the merits of knee taking in the face of some booing. However, I think by refusing to give in he showed strength and the players will respect that. He is the perfect talisman for this England side which I find easy to love. Players from assorted clubs, not picking based on perceived merit, but his own experiences. Willing to stand up for his squad and humility. A belief we can do it. The Germans were praising us for efficiency and playing like them after defeating them. This is the best England team we have had in years and I think the coaching has some role in that.

They represent the best of England and we have a manager who is humble, likeable and seems to have a genuine rapport with all his players. The togetherness is something I haven’t seen in England for years. No-one is a favourite, everyone has a role to play. They have a unity being created from above. Refreshing in these times when leaders prefer to divide and go into culture wars to inflame the nation.

I don’t care what anyone says, reaching two semi finals in major tournaments consecutively cannot be just good fortune. France and Belgium with their superstars couldn’t manage it.

Thank goodness we got rid of Big Sam. This wouldn’t have happened under him, in my opinion.

[cassidystash]

Deereyme66 wrote:

Some people still wouldn’t be happy if he won the Euro’s and the World Cup. They’ve made up their minds about him along time ago and that’s that.

Something of the kind goes on much closer to home, there’s still a chance to change a few minds though.

[bartonscorpion]

Two things that amazed and pleased me watching last nights match, were how brilliant the officials performed, in my opinion they got every thing right, the other thing was, wasn’t it great to see all players and subs playing their games without all of that stupid diving and swisting to gain free kicks, that wa apart from Stirling who reminds me of that bloody Young that used to do it throughout the games. Very good win, and a change to see us attack more than usual, just a pity Grealish did not get time om the pitch, he will maybe start on Wednesday, but looking forward to that game, but it will be a lot more difficult than last night.

[Awaywego]

The officials didn’t play any added time in the second half, so hardly got everything right, Ukraine were about to put 3 subs on, 1 only 18yrs old that maybe his only chance to play in Euro qtr final, it’s not up to the refs to change the rules, even though it would probably have helped scunny more than not down the years.

[Anonymous]

It’s not just Sterling. Kane and Grealish like a dive.

1 user thanked author for this post.

bartonscorpion

[Deereyme66]

Yeah, Grealish never dives does he? 😂

[Deereyme66]

Some people will never like Sterling either. Can’t think why?

2 users thanked author for this post.

Iron-awe, Heath

[Awaywego]

Well he was shite in the last world cup,and that’s enough for some.

[Heath]

BS must have missed Kane’s dive for the free kick. Wonder why?

[Iron-awe]

Cracking game tonight between Italy and Spain, great passing and movement plus total commitment, excellent from both teams. Hope England can win it in 90 minutes tomorrow, those Italians are going to be tough cookies in the final but I think out of us and Denmark only we can beat them. COME ON ENGLAND.

[Iron Age]

And the barest minimum of time added on, great game, and well played ref. (Thought he’d get the final.)

1 user thanked author for this post.

bartonscorpion

[Iron-awe]

Once again Southgate has been proved right, never mind the subbing of Grealish, never mind was it a pen or not, never mind Pickford should do better with the free kick and never mind the goal from the pen save rebound, England won and managed extra time brilliantly,thoroughly deserved win and all the players did great. Sterling player of the tournament for me so far, tonight he was outstanding. 👏👏👏

1 user thanked author for this post.

BobbyGmeister

[Heath]

Pleasure to watch and every single player including subs contributed. I’ve watched England fail from 1970 onwards, usually fading away in the second half. This team has great fitness and energy and got stronger as the game went on. Apologies to Rice, I now see his value to the team.

2 users thanked author for this post.

BobbyGmeister, Iron-awe

[Northumbiron]

Sometimes you have to win ugly.

Sometimes you need a massive slice of luck.

In previous tournaments it was always the other National teams that got it.

Tonight it was England.

Dream final!

[cassidystash]

Kyle Walker MOM for me, well done lads.
With the possible exception of Chris Iwelumo, isn’t the fella Brathwaite the worst international No 9 you’ve ever seen?

[Northumbiron]

Dave Nugent?

[Anonymous]

Good article on the England squad and why it is so connecting to me and others:

Gareth Southgate’s England are showing this country at its best

It is a team of unity in a time when leaders seek to divide.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Iron-awe, Northumbiron, Deereyme66

[Heath]

“The England manager and his players champion an inclusive form of patriotism as opposed to the xenophobic nationalism of the reactionary right”.

The team are a great example of the best of English and have my full patriotic support, NO questions asked!!

Yet our supposed right wing so called patriots challenge their actions, are not giving 100% support, picking fault with some of the born in England black players and some even wanting them to lose!!

3 users thanked author for this post.

Iron-awe, Deereyme66,

[Deereyme66]

Bloody Marxists! 😂

[Anonymous]

And some prats like Big Joke will say that we are the ones which “hate this country.”

Southgate and co really burst their bubble about how liberalism is driven by a dislike of the country and that patriotism can only by them. They show a patriotism which is inclusive to all and is more unifying. A lot of liberal politicians could learn something from this England, because they have treated patriotism as if it’s a dirty word. This England shows it needn’t be.

Anyway, less of the politics. This England team is for all, and I include people of all political shades in that!

[Deereyme66]

Has anyone mentioned the very soft penalty decision? Probably not a pen IMO but I’ve seen enough of those go against Scunny and England I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, particularly as the better side won.

[DarrynStampGoalMachine]

No not a pen for me but fairly sure we would’ve broken through in the 2nd half of extra time. Especially with them being down to 10 cos the big number 3 went off injured.

Denmark tried to play out a match our way and once again it didn’t work.

[BobbyGmeister]

Iron Age wrote:

England don’t seem to be a very cohesive unit.

Really?

[Deereyme66]

Denmark made too many substitutions. Looked like it disrupted any understanding their team had. Three in one go is too many.

[Deereyme66]

Italy can be beaten, if England are set up right and don’t drop deep. Hopefully that lesson was learned in the first half last night.

[BobbyGmeister]

RoamingBull wrote:

England will get nowhere too frightened to attack unlike Denmark.

Gareth thought otherwise!

[BobbyGmeister]

Heath wrote:

It was a very turgid performance and no we don’t need both Rice and Phillips.

Southgate is very cautious and is playing them in preparation for when we have to play, defend and probably lose to one of the top teams. Like Eric Dier, not sure at all about Rice.

Kane yet again looks unfit at a major tournament.

Wow, so many things you got wrong!

[BobbyGmeister]

Iron-awe wrote:

Kane should not be playing because he clearly is not fit, play the Everton lad up top instead.

Wrong.

[BobbyGmeister]

Northumbiron wrote:

RoamingBull wrote:

Tactics are stereotypical English play

With this young talent we keep hearing about we should do better.

!!!

[BobbyGmeister]

Deereyme66 wrote:

Has anyone mentioned the very soft penalty decision? Probably not a pen IMO but I’ve seen enough of those go against Scunny and England I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, particularly as the better side won.

It was a soft penalty but their goal wasn’t a free kick. Swings and roundabouts.

[Author]

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