Group D - Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Scotland

[GIMH]

**** it, 4 more 1-0s and we are champs and haters can suck it

Not happy about the 5pm KO next Tues though. Going to cause me some pain

 

[BoyBrumby]

We've won our group without conceding a goal (which I think is unprecedented for Euros and world cups) but I feel oddly flat.

We've kinda lost our identity as a team. It's great we have so many players who're comfortable on the ball now, but we've almost devolved into an Aldi Espana.

It's as if we're afraid to play long balls now. The lack of urgency grates with me, most of the second half seemed to be the back four passing amongst themselves with no real idea of where it was leading.

Thank god for Saka and, to a much lesser extent, Grealish who were at least prepared to take their man on.

 

[GIMH]

We've won our group without conceding a goal (which I think is unprecedented for Euros and world cups)

Well except for 1966 like

The only other clean sheet group stage was the second group stage in 82 but unfortunately we didn't score either

 

[Uppercut]

The lack of urgency grates with me, most of the second half seemed to be the back four passing amongst themselves with no real idea of where it was leading.

In fairness it was one of the least urgent situations in the history of tournament football.

 

[Spark]

We've kinda lost our identity as a team. It's great we have so many players who're comfortable on the ball now, but we've almost devolved into an Aldi Espana.

Okay but that identity was... bad, no? In terms of tournament success.

 

[GIMH]

Okay but that identity was... bad, no? In terms of tournament success.

Pretty sure he only means compared with recent years.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

We potentially have a last 16 draw where we could play close to our best and still lose, and the tournament would be declared an acute failure.

 

[duffer]

Seems Buk had a good game?

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Seems Buk had a good game?

Yeah MotM for sure. Lit up the game in the first half. (And nothing whatsoever happened in the 2nd half.)

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, he was awesome. Ran at his man with pace and awareness. His little feint to go past Soucek in the move that ultimately lead to the goal was a minor classic.

It's sad that, because we've been so very mediocre, it's probably slightly obscured how very good he really is. A lot of his best work has ended up ballooning behind for a goal kick off Pepe's shin.

 

[sledger]

What a hero he is

Easily my favourite player of the post Wenger years

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Had a good game. Doubtful whether we'll see him again though.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

You've got to love our tabloids.

 

[andruid]

Gareth Southgate is secretly trying to win a bet that he can win a major tournament while scoring 6 goals, or less

 

[flibbertyjibber]

No the bookies. A lot of them had you joint favourites with France.

England are always shorter with the bookies as the mug punters back them every time whatever the odds so the bookies are covering their arses by shortening the price. In reality we should have been 12-1/14-1 before the tournament started basically because we always looked like winning the group and we could easily be battered in the last 16 meeting a side from that group. Never thought we would win it mymyself and seen nothing to change my mind in the 3 games so far.

What I will say is this, Saka and his pace meant we looked more of a threat but he will probably be dropped for Foden next week anyway.

 

[Uppercut]

England are always shorter with the bookies as the mug punters back them every time whatever the odds so the bookies are covering their arses by shortening the price. In reality we should have been 12-1/14-1 before the tournament started basically because we always looked like winning the group and we could easily be battered in the last 16 meeting a side from that group. Never thought we would win it mymyself and seen nothing to change my mind in the 3 games so far.

What I will say is this, Saka and his pace meant we looked more of a threat but he will probably be dropped for Foden next week anyway.

People keep repeating the "mug English punter" theory, but the prices in internationally operating bookies aren't much different. I don't think it adds up in the age of the internet and instant arbitrage opportunities. In 2016 I actually thought they were a bit overpriced given their early performances and easy route to the final.

The big factor in their favour was playing the semi-final and final at home. Playing at Wembley didn't stop them being mediocre in their first two games, but a full crowd might make a difference. So to an extent being poor in the group stages was priced in, but only to an extent - they're a bit shorter odds now than they were when the tournament began.

 

[sledger]

That Modric goal is NSFW.

Haha just seen it from the angle when the camera is behind him. Like a goal you see scored on Fifa or whatever. Obscene.

 

[wpdavid]

Yeah, he was awesome. Ran at his man with pace and awareness. His little feint to go past Soucek in the move that ultimately lead to the goal was a minor classic.

It's sad that, because we've been so very mediocre, it's probably slightly obscured how very good he really is. A lot of his best work has ended up ballooning behind for a goal kick off Pepe's shin.

It looks like you've read the piece in today's Guardian about him.

 

[Furball]

Haha just seen it from the angle when the camera is behind him. Like a goal you see scored on Fifa or whatever. Obscene.

It's a great finish but I can't help thinking that having a midfielder occasionally in the same postcode as Modric might have been a good idea.

 

[Furball]

By scoring against Croatia and taking a point from England, Scotland have vastly overachieved based on my pre-tournament expectations. Clarke absolutely has to go, but he won't. We've been dreadful under Clarke for a year.