zacharias on 11/6/2016 at 03:04
The point is the context of the tournament: all the players at the euros are talented enough to be internationals; 'massively talented' implies they are exceptional even at this level. With what you've just conceded (that only a handful would make the german or spanish teams) (and it wouldn't even be this many, 1 or 2 would make it at best), 'massively talented' is clearly the wrong term.
re. the manager, plenty of people would be a little bit better I think, but who could the FA realistically get who would be dramatically better..(?) Given that club management at a big club is a far better gig.
Also, Sven and Capello were deemed very good managers before they took over the England job, and had little success (admittedly, England were probably never more than a quarter final team during those years).
Edit: Not saying the manager is unimportant. But if England were 'massively talented' (I've already stated my position on that) they should still be able to put a few things together on the pitch. e.g. France WC 2006 is an example of a run to the final with a clown of a manager. (Of course, they had Zidane.)
SD on 11/6/2016 at 03:32
Your point rests on splitting hairs over the meaning of "massively talented", so you'll forgive me if I don't partake. Nevertheless, I don't see how it can be argued that England don't have at least half a dozen young players who are exceptional in their age group.
Given that England's Alli and Kane were selected in the Premier League PFA team of the year over the likes of Germany's Ozil, Can and Schweinsteiger and Spain's Fabregas, Silva and Pedro, I'd suggest the gulf in quality between the individual players themselves probably isn't that great.
zacharias on 11/6/2016 at 03:55
It's not splitting hairs, massively talented is a strong claim. You were clearly exaggerating but won't admit that.
Kane and Alli are both excellent players, but unproven as yet at a really big club or international level. Of course the PFA team will favour english players as a natural bias (do I honestly need to state this?). Schweinsteiger is washed up, Fabregas has had a terrible season, Pedro was never a great player and isn't suited to english football anyway. None of the english based foreign players you mentioned are key players for their national teams at this point in time. Ozil and Silva are still quality though, if not Iniesta level.
England need more technical players.
nickie on 11/6/2016 at 06:11
Quote Posted by Tomi
I would have thought that someone had already started a thread like this . . .
I was waiting for you.
Quote Posted by faetal
Netherlands failed to qualify? Fuck.
Quite.
I will support England as long as the fans stop being embarrassing (assuming they are English rather than 'others' wearing England shirts). I'll support Wales and Republic of Ireland as well. Netherlands is very disappointing, being a long-time favourite of mine. Other than that, I'll wait and see.
Medlar on 11/6/2016 at 09:20
As Cornwall didn't quite make the finals ;) I'm going to have to go with England. It's going to be an interesting tournament.
zil on 11/6/2016 at 12:57
Next game beginning. Looking forward to goals and perhaps Switzerland winning it!
Tony_Tarantula on 11/6/2016 at 13:32
Might as well root for Germany since I'll be living there this summer.
SD on 11/6/2016 at 13:35
Switzerland 1-0 up on Albania already thanks to more terrible goalkeeping.
Switzerland's entire midfield, all 5 of them, are ethnic Albanians. Indeed, star midfielder Granit Xhaka is facing his brother today in the Albania side. Seems to be adding an extra frisson to proceedings.
EDIT: sure nuff we've had a red card in the first half
Purgator on 11/6/2016 at 19:40
England V Russia underway!
Why is Kane taking corners?
Half Time Edit: England dominated that first half, Rooney decent enough.
Thoughts?
SD on 11/6/2016 at 19:58
Lallana has been the best player on the pitch, too bad he finishes like a Liverpool player.
Sterling has gone full Wright-Phillips. You never go full Wright-Phillips. We fleeced City for £49m there.
The formation is ridiculous, with Rooney shoehorned into a midfield role he's never played before and our main aerial threat taking corners. So far, so Hodgson.
