Personally I rather liked the England performance.
So Scotland almost certainly just need to beat the Croats ( who will need a win themselves ) to progress to the KOs, simples. We might end up 2nd in the group
Scotland magnificent last night! I had loyalties splintered all over the place as have done much time for McGinn & excited for Scotland being brave enough to pick wee Billy Gilmore, what a future he has. England have it all there in the bank to destroy sides but cant see Southgate being brave enough to get his cash on the table and play the game further forward, Scotland would have had to be so much more careful in the tackle and undoubtedly ODonnell if really tested in and around his own box would have conceded fouls and had to take care to stay on the pitch.
Would love to see England with only one defensive midfielder, Mount playing 8, with Foden playing 10, Grealish (left) & Sterling (right) of front 3 with Sako at left back.
Mings has his faults but lack of pace is not one of them so well equipped to play a high line in both a 4 and a 3 with Walker. England as a side just need to play more in the opponents half of the pitch. So many different ways of doing this. Leaves me yearning for the guile of Terry Venables
Terrific tactical 0-0 draw from England who are deliberately targeting 2nd place in the group. Group winners play the runners up in the Group of Death containing France, Germany and Portugal. Runners up should get a much easier L16 match.
A draw against the Czech Republic will seal that 2nd place spot.
Terrific tactical 0-0 draw from England who are deliberately targeting 2nd place in the group. Group winners play the runners up in the Group of Death containing France, Germany and Portugal. Runners up should get a much easier L16 match.
A draw against the Czech Republic will seal that 2nd place spot.
Yep, always the plan. Off to Copenhagen to play Sweden, nice typical British style match which we will cope well with in less heat perhaps. Like the way Gareth works.
Terrific tactical 0-0 draw from England who are deliberately targeting 2nd place in the group. Group winners play the runners up in the Group of Death containing France, Germany and Portugal. Runners up should get a much easier L16 match.
A draw against the Czech Republic will seal that 2nd place spot.
Yep, always the plan. Off to Copenhagen to play Sweden, nice typical British style match which we will cope well with in less heat perhaps. Like the way Gareth works.
Ha, lullled England into thinking a great tactical olan was to finish 2nd. But thanks anyway. We'll take on anyone in the L16. Yes anyone, aww c'mon, please, pretty please, anyone.
Seriously, quite a large amount of water yet to flow under the bridge. But while the group winners could face a very tricky L16 tie it may overall end uo looking the better half to be in. The other half is already quite likely to have Italy and Belgium ( would meet each other in the QF opponents if they win their groups and L16 ties ) and will have the Group F winners. Plus maybe Spain rather your Sweden for our group runners up.
But then again if just reaching the QF is your ambition ...
Super atmosphere in Budapest. I previously very much questioned their then supposed plans for full stadiums when Hungary's weekly covid figures were so high. But credit to the country for getting their numbers right down and hope that continues to go well for them.
Anyway to help Gareth S and England in who they want to avoid, the potential draw, looking at the group leaders and 2nd place teams wirh one round of matches left.
1st Grp B (currently BELGIUM) vs a 3rd place team 1st Grp A (currently ITALY) vs 2nd Grp C (currently UKRAINE) 1st Grp F (currently FRANCE) vs a 3rd place team 2nd Grp D (currently ENGLAND) vs 2nd Group E (currently SLOVAKIA)
1st Grp E (currently SWEDEN) vs a 3rd place team Ist Grp D (currently CZECH REP) vs 2nd Grp F (currently GERMANY) 1st Grp C (will be NETHERLANDS) vs a 3rd place team 2nd Grp A (currently WALES) vs 2nd Grp B (currently RUSSIA)
Will no doubt still be much to change with such as Spain and Portugal currently in 3rd place in Groups E and F respectively but could still finish 1st or 2nd in their groups ( or indeed last ). And the Group E and F finishing order ( unknown until after Group D concludes ) will be pivotal to who the Group D winners and RU play in the L16.
Sorry, that may have not been much help, Gareth! Though I think there is more of a chance of that top half being relatively loaded and it might be better actually to win Group D and take the chance vs the Group F RU at Wembley.
-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 19th of June 2021 09:45:38 PM
If anyone wants a long read about what goes into preparing the pitches for top-class football, the predominance of British expertise, the real technical specificities, the difference it makes etc etc:
And if the 3rd places stay as they are now we would get Belgium v Portugal , France V Finland , Sweden v Austria and Netherlands v Spain.
In the battle for best 3rds you'ed have to be very unlucky not to go through on 4 points. So that's no doubt set up for Scotland, We've explored most ways of elimination before like first team ever out of a World Cup Finals without losing a match
First off, Switzerland's 3-1 win over Turkey leaves them as Group A 3rd on 4 points GF 3 GA 4 ( and they weren't even in Jon's initial best 4 ). So Scotland 1 point, GF 0 GA 1 really need a 2 goal win vs Croatia to beat that ( like we're not about to win 3-2 or maybe needs 4-3! )
I had a wee look at the Group C Ukraine ( 3 points, GF 4 GA 4 ) vs Austria ( 3 points GF 3 GA 3 ). bet365 are not daft, their draw odds are 10/11 on! ). 0-0 is no doubt a good shout.