Other - Rest of the World England vs Greece

[Stranger]

That Euro 202 tourney was crazy. Obviously you'd expect the Romans to win, although the Germanic tribes have it a good go. Gaul were utter rubbish though and Carthage never lived up to expectations. Surprised Britannica did as well as we did though

 

[tonyw]

How often are successful international teams actually enjoyable to watch? I think you have to go back to the Brazil team of 2002 as the last time a winner of the Euros or WC could be described as exciting.

Teams that win tournaments these days are mostly just efficient. France in 2020 were arguably a good watch but a lot of that centred on Mbappe's breakthrough. IIRC they weren't convincing at all in the early stages, either.

The most important qualities of tournament winning teams seems to be a solid defensive and winning mentality.

Under Southgate England were definitely solid on the whole, but lacked the ruthlessness and winning mentality (still can't quite work out how we didn't go on to beat Italy in the Euro 202 final). I was quite positive about Carsley to begin with, but after the last week I'm not sure he's going to be able to instil a winning mentality.

That said, no one immediately springs to mind who would be able to do so.

Honestly, even 2002 Brazil weren't all that exciting. They were really, really good - but they were pretty functional too. Three CBs and then Gilberto Silva and Kleberson (who were noone's ideas of flair players) holding in midfield. They allowed their brilliant front three and their insanely good wingbacks freedom to do enough damage. But they didn't score more than two goals in any of their knockout matches.

There's a fine line you have to walk in international football between defensive solidity and organization and having enough attacking flair on the pitch and given them enough freedom. Scolari walked it perfectly in 2002, as did de la Fuente this summer.

Southgate was always, always leaning too far to the defensive side of the line. But the evidence of this week suggests that Carsley isn't the guy to fix it - you can't just lurch over to the other side of the line, throw all your best attacking midfielders on the pitch and hope that they work it out amongst themselves! Likewise, I've no idea who they might find who is the right person but there's surely got to be someone out there!

As it is, it was pretty embarrassing to get relegated from the Nations League top table. Now we have to win - and probably handily at that - in Athens to avoid the even greater embarrassment of having to play in the Nations League promotion playoffs in March!

 

[SteMerritt]

Now we have to win - and probably handily at that

I believe the table is sorted on head to head record before goal difference, so 2-0 or a high scoring one goal victory would do it.

 

[tonto]

Well it wasn’t awful but it wasn’t that great either. Players seem to be obsessed by keeping the ball as opposed to trying riskier passes through the lines to open up the defence. Even Cole palmer was guilty a few times of not feeding the overlapping walker and just passing it backwards like everyone else.

 

[SSO]

We appear to have lost to two goals from Vangelis.

Somehow he's beat us at home.