At the moment, while the Poles are probably better individual players, I actually think they are working both harder and smarter than NI. It will be interesting to see what O'Neill intends to do.
At the moment, while the Poles are probably better individual players, I actually think they are working both harder and smarter than NI. It will be interesting to see what O'Neill intends to do.
At the moment, while the Poles are probably better individual players, I actually think they are working both harder and smarter than NI. It will be interesting to see what O'Neill intends to do.
At the moment, while the Poles are probably better individual players, I actually think they are working both harder and smarter than NI. It will be interesting to see what O'Neill intends to do.
Boring yes but they know their limitations and are playing to their strengths, which is organised and stingy. Good on them.
Absolutely. Room for teams of all philosophies in the church of Football. Watching different tactical approaches trying to get the better of each other is a big part of the game. Games usually only get dull when teams cancel each other out.
So far, England aside typically, the results have gone in favour of the team that has tried hardest to win the game rather than be happy with a point.
Admirable effort there from Norn Iron but their flaws and limitations were clear to see there. They didn't really do enough to deserve anything, probably the weakest performance, along with Russia, so far. Poland are decent side though, so Germany will be far too strong, but they have hope still. Can see them possibly sneaking a win vs Ukraine, but being one of the of the two worst third place teams that goes home.
Boring yes but they know their limitations and are playing to their strengths, which is organised and stingy. Good on them.
Which is a result of expanding to 24 teams. Some of the lesser teams who rarely qualify, don't have the tools to play expansive football, so will have a plan based on their limitations. The more teams you add, the more games like these will occur, where teams defend in numbers and try to nick a goal.
They topped their qualifying group so the expanding wouldn't have played apart in them being there, at least the Romanians gave it a go against the French.
Not much love lost between Ukraines Yarmalenko and Stepanenko who both fell out with each other during a recent Shaktar Donetsk v Dynamo Kiev. Stepanenko got a slap from one of his own national team mates after kissing the badge at visiting supporters where a mass brawl ensued involving team mates in the Ukraine squad. At the reverse fixture the 2 players swap shirts and Yarmalenko chucks Stepanenkos shirt to the ground as he walks off.
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
Germany take the lead from a freekick that should not have been given and since then Neuer and a goal line Boateng clearance have kept them in the game
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
Going forward we do, but we're so shakey defensively. Smalling is nowhere near good enough and Danny Rose can't cross a ball to save his life, which is a shame, because he gets forward well.
Of the lesser favoured nations I thought Poland were good to watch today but difficult to judge against Northern Ireland.
Let's not forget we haven't seen Spain or Italy yet - who I will think will win it.
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
Going forward we do, but we're so shakey defensively. Smalling is nowhere near good enough and Danny Rose can't cross a ball to save his life, which is a shame, because he gets forward well.
Of the lesser favoured nations I thought Poland were good to watch today but difficult to judge against Northern Ireland.
Let's not forget we haven't seen Spain or Italy yet - who I will think will win it.
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
rose coloured and glasses ? .. Stand out teams take their chances and don't let the opposition score in the last minute
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
rose coloured and glasses ? .. Stand out teams take their chances and don't let the opposition score in the last minute
Shit happens. My feeling is England are better than Germany. But Spain will probably be better than both. Italy play too negatively, but will wait and see as far as they're concerned.
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
rose coloured and glasses ? .. Stand out teams take their chances and don't let the opposition score in the last minute
We contained Russia though who only had two shots on target, one being a looping header which fortunately went in.
Romania on the other hand their Striker should have had a hat trick prior to his penalty, due to all the chances that France gave them whilst Boateng tonight barely kept the ball out of the net... their wins (If Germany hold on) came off the back of shear luck whilst we were extremely unlucky.
I agree Poland looked good yet very difficult to judge against Northern Ireland.
This has definitely been a competition for the Goalkeepers so far though, Lloris / Akinfeev / Neuer / this Ukraine 'keeper have been outstanding
Seriously... England are the one team who have stood out above all the others so far!!
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
rose coloured and glasses ? .. Stand out teams take their chances and don't let the opposition score in the last minute
Shit happens. My feeling is England are better than Germany. But Spain will probably be better than both. Italy play too negatively, but will wait and see as far as they're concerned.
Id say that England / France / Germany are on a par at the moment... Have doubts about Spain, they've a pretty managable Group yet see them as an ageing side now
Comments
Pah.
Shame that that last free kick didn't come off.
So far, England aside typically, the results have gone in favour of the team that has tried hardest to win the game rather than be happy with a point.
No doubt now he will fail to beat the first man for the rest of the game...
France and Germany both always look(ed) like drawing their opening fixtures and although England did draw it was a shock to everyone watching whereas these two shouldnt have been surprised with one
Of the lesser favoured nations I thought Poland were good to watch today but difficult to judge against Northern Ireland.
Let's not forget we haven't seen Spain or Italy yet - who I will think will win it.
I think they look uninspiring.
Spain more likely.
My feeling is England are better than Germany. But Spain will probably be better than both. Italy play too negatively, but will wait and see as far as they're concerned.
Romania on the other hand their Striker should have had a hat trick prior to his penalty, due to all the chances that France gave them whilst Boateng tonight barely kept the ball out of the net... their wins (If Germany hold on) came off the back of shear luck whilst we were extremely unlucky.
I agree Poland looked good yet very difficult to judge against Northern Ireland.
This has definitely been a competition for the Goalkeepers so far though, Lloris / Akinfeev / Neuer / this Ukraine 'keeper have been outstanding