ENG v GER

[Blox21]

Good. It’s juvenile and jingoistic. Sing to support your team and not resort to tiresome war references.



It was. I think there had been a rule change regarding free kicks just before it as well. Hamann took full advantage to beat Seaman. Keegan apparently revealed that he had no idea what to do at half time so the team essentially had to manage themselves for the second half.

On this particular song I do agree , it just goes on ….. But fans should be allowed to sing what they like ( within reason )

 

[Berliner]

I've watched all three Germany games, and this is a really poor German team. Maybe not quite as bad as their Euro 2000 team, but otherwise I don't remember seeing a worse one (including the WC three years ago - that team was a little unlucky with the draw and the results).

They lack skill and creativity going forwards - Gundogan looks knackered, Kroos/Muller are well past their best, and the likes of Gnabry, Werner and Sane are workmanlike footballers at this level. And then on top of that, they look really porous at the back - Hummels is so slow nowadays, Neuer was always eccentric but now doesn't have the reactions he used to and it often felt like Rudiger was having to fill in massive gaps everywhere.
The only positive thing I would say is that their wing backs (Gosens/Kimmich) look decent.

France beat them comfortably without ever getting out of first gear, they were lucky to get a point against a Hungary side that barely attacked them over the 90 minutes. The only reason they're still here is one 25 minute period against Portugal where they exploited their terrible fullbacks and the fact that Pepe is now 103 years old, and has no business playing in international football any longer......


There's no excuse for England on Tuesday. We have the better squad, and this is a game we should be winning. Southgate has failed if we don't.

I would be playing pace on both flanks (Saka deserves to play after his Czech showing opposite from Stirling). I think that way you force their wing backs to have to get back and help - because there's no way that Hummels & Ginter will be able to cope if they don't - and that takes away their main attacking threat. Then play Grealish or Foden at the front of the midfield three with Rice & Phillips in behind.
But I suspect Southgate will show us something more conservative than that.......

Not forgetting the manager as well, of course. Löw's high watermark was of course 2014 and we are a full seven years down the line after that. Euro 2016 they got to the semis and were comprehensively outclassed by France. A DFB completely without scruples could have booted him then, given the trajectory the team was on. But OK, give him a chance to defend his World Cup. The second those South Korea goals hit the back of the net his resignation letter should have been on the table. Instead here we are with ANOTHER swansong, with Hansi Flick waiting in the wings with his own team and methods.

Old team, old system, old everything...England will never have a better chance, just like in 2000.

 

[Wallop]

Am I right in thinking that if we win tonight, we’ll be in the same half of the draw as Sweden v Ukraine winners, Czechs and Denmark? If so, the final becomes a distinct possibility.

 

[m]

Am I right in thinking that if we win tonight, we’ll be in the same half of the draw as Sweden v Ukraine winners, Czechs and Denmark? If so, the final becomes a distinct possibility.

Yep.

There are 6 nations who can all see a nice route to the final!

 

[beyondthefourth]

Am I right in thinking that if we win tonight, we’ll be in the same half of the draw as Sweden v Ukraine winners, Czechs and Denmark? If so, the final becomes a distinct possibility.

And look at the other half, pre last night, to those who said we should aim to finish second for an easier run...

 

[chuckbert]

Just tuned into optus sport to watch the extended highlights of France’s humiliation and they had the video of the 96 shootout v Germany. I’d forgotten quite how devastated Southgate had looked.

 

[m]

Just tuned into optus sport to watch the extended highlights of France’s humiliation and they had the video of the 96 shootout v Germany. I’d forgotten quite how devastated Southgate had looked.

No doubt that Southgate "gets it".

 

[LeftSideBoy]

This would be my 11. Southgate is more negative than Kip, so you’ve got no chance of that. I expect to see a 3-5-2 setup with 7 defensive players. Its actually disgusting to see so much wasted attacking talent, at the hands of this fraud of a manager!

 

[Joey]

The way things are opening up we've got a tremendous chance in this tournament. Germany won't be easy but they've not impressed so far and I'd say man for man we've got the best squad in this side of the draw at least, no one should hold any fear for us. Get to the final and it's a one off game but Belgium could be Hazard-less and Spain need 12 chances to score 1 and don't know how to defend. Italy are solid but overall I don't think there's a huge amount of quality in it this year.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Whoever wins today is favourites to make the final. But we all know how decent looking sides of the draw can go.

 

[Paul Cannell]

Its actually disgusting to see so much wasted attacking talent, at the hands of this fraud of a manager!

Dear me. You're on it early.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

They did, however, win 1-0 at Wembley... Freak long-range goal in terrible conditions wasn't it? Then Keegan rage-quitting like a kid playing FIFA on his xbox after the game?

I was at that , the old Wembley

 

[WuTang]

Rumours coming out to the press is that Saka is starting and Mount, Foden and Grealish will all be on the bench. Make the teams up from that and I think we're going to see a Sterling, Kane, Saka attack with every other play being defensive

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Dear me. You're on it early.

7 defensive players. Seven.

You’re telling me that’s the way this England team should be playing?

Defensive, negative, boring, predictable, and shackled by a manager that couldn’t even keep Boro in the premier league. Awful.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Rumours coming out to the press is that Saka is starting and Mount, Foden and Grealish will all be on the bench. Make the teams up from that and I think we're going to see a Sterling, Kane, Saka attack with every other play being defensive

My head has been saying a team like that all week. My heart says get some pace and creativity on from the start (with plenty more available on the bench) and run them ragged. They are efficient work horses as they always are, however, they've looked poor and look knackered at times. Time to take them out to the long grass and retire them

 

[m]

You’re telling me that’s the way this England team should be playing?

I'll tell you after the Germany game.

 

[Marked Ox]

7 defensive players. Seven.

You’re telling me that’s the way this England team should be playing?

Defensive, negative, boring, predictable, and shackled by a manager that couldn’t even keep Boro in the premier league. Awful.

Players like Walker/James and Shaw etc can and often are attacking options for their teams.

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Players like Walker/James and Shaw etc can and often are attacking options for their teams.

So you would rather have Shaw, James and Walker as your attacking options, instead of Grealish, Sancho, Saka etc? No.

 

[Marked Ox]

So you would rather have Shaw, James and Walker as your attacking options, instead of Grealish, Sancho, Saka etc? No.

Depending on the formation and the tactical reasons for it then yes. I certainly wouldn't want Grealish or Sancho playing as wing backs.

And if what has been suggested above is accurate then Saka will be playing anyway.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

One thing which I found interesting in both the Spain and France games is that when teams went 3-1 down and had no choice but to attack, to throw bodies forward, the bigger nation's defence couldn't deal with it. Teams this tournament have often been cagey, defensive, dont want to commit men up the field but when they do, like Hungary did against Germany, defences can crumble. Therefore I'd love to see England really go at Germany with a lineup like:

Pickford
James Stones Maguire Chillwell
Rice
Mount Grealish
Sancho Kane Sterling​

Or whoever they do play, actually attack. My worry is that what will happen is we'll sit back and lose a close game by a single goal...*

*But if we win like that, I'll take it!