Looking at the draw, it might actually work in our favour finishing as group runner up. This is conditional on Sweden wining or drawing v Germany though.
If they do then our route to the final would be Sweden and then likely Norway.
That is definitely more favourable than winning the group which would mean playing Germany then Spain.
As expected, finishing runner up worked out nicely for us. Sweden will be a tough game but it's definitely preferable to the other half of the draw, which has France and Spain. Draw is:
Sweden v England Norway v Italy
France v Germany Spain v Switzerland
I think pre-tournament if you were told you'd have Sweden-Norway to reach the final you'd 100% have taken that.
The French with their attacking flair have Delphine Cascarino who has been the star of the tournament so far and the San Diego wave player certainly waved goodbye to both the English and Dutch defence on numerous occasions. Ironically the Welsh with their low block frustrated the French for 45 minutes.
England after a shambles of a performance against France have found their mojo again at least against the underperforming Netherlands and the part timers of Wales. James has such a languid style but appears to be maturing and it was women against girls at St Gallen last night.
Spain are the class passing team and England were 2nd best against them in the WC. They won't peak until the knock out stage and they are rightly the favourites. Bonmati the ballon d'or féminin winner for 23 and 24 may be slightly weakened after her recent illness.
Sweden are a strong fit side and England had two draws against them in their last two competitive fixtures. England have weaknesses when hit on the break and Bronze is often caught out too far upfield in transition as was demonstrated against France when she charged back and made things worse with a comedy of errors with an assist for the French goal.
England are in the right side of the draw by coming 2nd which the men's team took advantage of a few tournaments ago under Southgate.
I was a bit disapointed at the end. Yes, they were excellent in the first half but I thought with the subs, they would have something to prove but instead they tried to get past and through Wales far less and were happy to play in front of them. Ok, full disclosure, I had a bet that England would score over six goals to nil at 7 to 1. But that isn't so important. But the subs that came on did themselves no favours even though a couple of them scored.
Also, I worry about Jess Carter. You can see her getting roasted by a decent player time and time again. Millie Bright is a massive loss to that side. I am a great fan of women's football but I think pundits are too gentle. I figured out pretty early that Wales are crap, why not say so?
So can England win it? Yes, they are one of three or four that can but they have weaknesses they didn't have last time. I would predict an England v Spain final with Spain winning comfortably. A bit like the World Cup final.
What Soapbox said about Bronze I totally agree with but we still have to pick her as she is the best we have in her position.
What are the alternatives to Carter and Bronze? We can win it still but I think we have to be much more front foot like we were in the first half. Not all the backtracking and backwards and sidewards passing we saw in the second. That is fine if it is designed to open a team up but there wasn't enough of that in the second half.
England are very fortunate to have a goalkeeper like Hampton replacing such an excellent keeper as Earps. Hampton's distribution is actually an improvement for the team.
Wales's ex manager was not pulling any punches last night after the game. She was roasting them.
Agree with above, Carter and Bronze feel like a mistake waiting to happen
Is it harsh to be disappointed with such a large victory ? We played so much better against Netherlands
Think we lose to whoever wins the Spain/France semi final
Wales have 3-4 players at top clubs but they're all well into their 30s now. Most of the rest of their squad all play for lesser clubs so it's always going to be a struggle for them to compete with the elite European nations.
wsddz**,, getting roasted by a decent player time and time again. Millie Bright is a massive loss to that side. I am a great fan of women's football but I think pundits are too gentle. I figured out pretty early that Wales are crap, why not say so?
So can England win it? Yes, they are one of three or four that can but they have weaknesses they didn't have last time. I would predi""",4he World Cup final.
What Soapbox said about Bronze I totally agree with but we still have to pick her as she is the best we have in her position.
Also, I worry about Jess Carter. You can see her getting roasted by a decent player time and time again. Millie Bright is a massive loss to that side. I am a great fan of women's football but I think pundits are too gentle. I figured out pretty early that Wales are crap, why not say so?
So can England win it? Yes, they are one of three or four that can but they have weaknesses they didn't have last time. I would predict an England v Spain final with Spain winning comfortably. A bit like the World Cup final.
What Soapbox said about Bronze I totally agree with but we still have to pick her as she is the best we have in her position.
Carter was taken to the cleaners against the French so Greenwood and Jess swopped positions with Carter as the CB with Williamson against the 'Dutch' and Wales.
Bronze will keep her place as she is a power house player who is good going forward despite her erratic defending.
Wales being drawn with the WC winners and the last two winner's of the Euros was cruel and they were outclassed in all 3 matches as expected.
Sweden are a good counter attacking team and score more headers than most women's teams and England will underestimate them at their peril.
What are the alternatives to Carter and Bronze? We can win it still but I think we have to be much more front foot like we were in the first half. Not all the backtracking and backwards and sidewards passing we saw in the second. That is fine if it is designed to open a team up but there wasn't enough of that in the second half.
England are very fortunate to have a goalkeeper like Hampton replacing such an excellent keeper as Earps. Hampton's distribution is actually an improvement for the team.
From what I have seen, Hamptons distribution is something else (3rd goal against the netherlands? a good example). Easily the best passing I have seen from a goalkeeper at this Euros.
I'm still not convinced Norway is much easier than Spain, the front 3 of Reiten, Hegeberg and Graham Hansen is probably the strongest in women's football, and they rested all 3 and still scored 4 Vs Iceland.
We'll have to be right at it to get passed them should we both make the semi's.
I'm still not convinced Norway is much easier than Spain, the front 3 of Reiten, Hegeberg and Graham Hansen is probably the strongest in women's football, and they rested all 3 and still scored 4 Vs Iceland.
We'll have to be right at it to get passed them should we both make the semi's.
Yes, they are top players but Spain are the team to beat. If a team does beat them, they are likely to win it.
Actually an interesting game, although there was a sky shot by Norway about 10 minutes ago that may go into orbit around the ball Bailly sent up in that play off.
Actually an interesting game, although there was a sky shot by Norway about 10 minutes ago that may go into orbit around the ball Bailly sent up in that play off.
That was Hegerberg, who also missed the penalty and equalised
Comments
Germany then Spain is at least playing another team that have lost once already this tournament.
Sweden v England
Norway v Italy
France v Germany
Spain v Switzerland
I think pre-tournament if you were told you'd have Sweden-Norway to reach the final you'd 100% have taken that.
But Sweden-Norway is definitely better than Germany-Spain.
England after a shambles of a performance against France have found their mojo again at least against the underperforming Netherlands and the part timers of Wales. James has such a languid style but appears to be maturing and it was women against girls at St Gallen last night.
Spain are the class passing team and England were 2nd best against them in the WC. They won't peak until the knock out stage and they are rightly the favourites.
Bonmati the ballon d'or féminin winner for 23 and 24 may be slightly weakened after her recent illness.
Sweden are a strong fit side and England had two draws against them in their last two competitive fixtures. England have weaknesses when hit on the break and Bronze is often caught out too far upfield in transition as was demonstrated against France when she charged back and made things worse with a comedy of errors with an assist for the French goal.
England are in the right side of the draw by coming 2nd which the men's team took advantage of a few tournaments ago under Southgate.
Also, I worry about Jess Carter. You can see her getting roasted by a decent player time and time again. Millie Bright is a massive loss to that side. I am a great fan of women's football but I think pundits are too gentle. I figured out pretty early that Wales are crap, why not say so?
So can England win it? Yes, they are one of three or four that can but they have weaknesses they didn't have last time. I would predict an England v Spain final with Spain winning comfortably. A bit like the World Cup final.
What Soapbox said about Bronze I totally agree with but we still have to pick her as she is the best we have in her position.
She was roasting them.
Agree with above, Carter and Bronze feel like a mistake waiting to happen
Is it harsh to be disappointed with such a large victory ?
We played so much better against Netherlands
Think we lose to whoever wins the Spain/France semi final
England are very fortunate to have a goalkeeper like Hampton replacing such an excellent keeper as Earps. Hampton's distribution is actually an improvement for the team.
Carter was taken to the cleaners against the French so Greenwood and Jess swopped positions with Carter as the CB with Williamson against the 'Dutch' and Wales.
Bronze will keep her place as she is a power house player who is good going forward despite her erratic defending.
Wales being drawn with the WC winners and the last two winner's of the Euros was cruel and they were outclassed in all 3 matches as expected.
Sweden are a good counter attacking team and score more headers than most women's teams and England will underestimate them at their peril.
We'll have to be right at it to get passed them should we both make the semi's.