Ukraine are absolutely bang average, even they could hardly believe they got that winner against the Swedes.
Sweden going out is an unbelievable bit of luck for England, we know that they can play 4-5-1 and frustrate anyone as they did against Spain in that 0-0 draw.
Ukraine, on the other hand, have nothing going forward and Yarmulenko went off injured too so may not play against England - not that he'd be a major threat.
The only way Ukraine beat us is if we allow them to bore their way to a 0-0 draw and beat us on penalties, I don't think Southgate will do it but I'd be tempted to play a very attacking team and let them at it.
Ukraine can't hurt England from open play from what we have seen from them so why give them a chance of a sucker punch win as the Swedes did?
What a fantastic night, watched the game in the River Ale House, great beer and an excellent night's football, just in and London was bouncing all the way home.
Love big tournaments, love England and can't wait for Saturday.
Nothing to add about the performance but all I can say is, the second goal is only the second hardest I've celebrated a goal at that stadium. Absolutely phenomenal to be there.
Absolutely steaming. Great night down the Anglesey Arms in Woolwich.
For those of you who were determined to criticise England/Southgate at every move, hope you’re feeling as embarrassed as you should be.
Omg that's a blast from the past , watched the palace v man utd cup final replay in there 1990 and was fucking trashed on Hürlimann Beer also known as hooligans , do they still sell it down there ...... not sure if we watched the first drawn one down there @paulbaconsarnie and @ThreadKiller were there as well proper twilight zone down there
I’ve no idea. All I can tell you was that it was absolute carnage when both goals went in, and there were a load of Charlton in there.
Following England for 21 years I’ve endured many, many lows. My first game was a 0-1 against the jocks at Wembley (play off 2nd leg), next was losing to Germany 0-1 in the last game at old Wembley. You get the picture and many tournament exits followed. But there have been good times. Owens 2 late goals in Geneva in front of 10k of us, Rooney’s goal at Celtic Park, Kane’s last min equaliser at Hampden, beating the Welsh in their backyard. But none have ever been big wins in tournaments....until tonight.
That will live long in the memory. I was with my Dad who was there back when the jocks pulled the goals down, there against ‘the clown’ and has endured plenty of misery himself.
It was two proper mentals , up there with the best and easily the best Wembley atmosphere I’ve ever experienced with England. It proved that England can create an atmosphere in that ground despite what many of us felt.
There is a long way to go but I’m going to enjoy this rare moment. GSTQ
In all honesty I thought the atmosphere (from watching at home) wasn’t as banging as i thought it would be , when it was 0-0 felt a bit tense and there were patches of good noise and some very quiet bits obviously once we scored complete and utter bedlam and scenes and noise but I’m looking for the crowd to be mental and up for it for 90 mins which isn’t ever gonna happen in reality , there’s never enough mad for it roaring lunatics at games here
Fascinating to see how GS approaches the Ukraine game now, as others have said on here they look distinctly average and basically defend with eight players, as Yarmalenko and the other forward don't bother either pressing or chasing back if a defender gets the other side of them. This is definitely a game to be more offensive minded, and I'd love to see Mount in for Phillips, and go back to a back four again, as this lot look there for the taking, and the only way we can lose, is if they take us to penalties.
I'd go with:
Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Henderson Rice Mount
Foden Kane Sterling
Obviously look to get Grealish on as early as possible in the second half, and get Phillips on for Rice if we are going well. This game can be a real 'statement' game for England, and set us up for a much tougher semi-final against either the Czechs or the Danes.
Personally thought the team selection was far too negative, we're at home to a side who whilst they have tremendous pedigree, really aren't all that, but we changed our formation and set up to match them rather than impose our own game and left out any number of decent attacking options.
However..........i'll never criticise Southgate again, as it's clearly working. I still can't decide if he's a good manager or a lucky manager. The draw in 2018 was great, the draw this time is absolutely incredible, the miss from Muller was unbelievable.
But credit to us, despite a couple of close shaves we still haven't conceded and we scored 2 superbly well worked goals. I'll be honest in saying that pre tournament i'd have preferred Chilwell to play, but absolute full credit to Luke Shaw, he's been great and was absolutely superb last night.
On we go to Saturday now, where surely we'll change things up and play more attacking. Grealish has to start in my opinion, game changer.
Whether I like the football or not Southgate has a plan and is sticking to it. Four games without conceding is some achievement and we look very hard to break down.
We definitely have a great chance of making the final.
I don't see Southgate changing too much on Saturday, apart from going back to a back 4. He trust his players and will stick to what he knows - expect Mount to come back in with Rice/Phillips and Saka/Kane/Sterling to start up top (with Foden/Grealish pushing hard and great options to turn to)
To be honest I've criticised Southgate and some of his selections but he's earned the right to just get on with it - the pressure he's under is unbelievable yet he conducts himself impecably
Ever since I paid £300.00 for 2 tickets for that semi final I have waited for this moment,saw the last game at Wembley,will never forgive the officials for Lampards not given goal, in a world cup I saw Robinson balls up to give them a 2-1 in a friendly,now all forgotten .I have had a go at Sterling in the past,but no more,this kid is a diamond for his country.
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
The infamous Barry Glendenning said Germany had equally good chances, but we just took ours. The xG tells a similar story, but I don't think it's true. Sterling and Kane's chances were so well-worked, they were tap-ins into a mostly empty net. Germany did create chances but they still had the keeper to beat, and the early one was from a difficult angle. Our chances were much more clear-cut and thought we deserved it in the end.
In all honesty I thought the atmosphere (from watching at home) wasn’t as banging as i thought it would be , when it was 0-0 felt a bit tense and there were patches of good noise and some very quiet bits obviously once we scored complete and utter bedlam and scenes and noise but I’m looking for the crowd to be mental and up for it for 90 mins which isn’t ever gonna happen in reality , there’s never enough mad for it roaring lunatics at games here
It’s all relative, we’re never going to be like some of the Eastern European mobs, tops of, cheogrophied singing, etc. Too Palacey. And as a fan base we’re too fickle, most of the first half all you could hear was groans and players being slagged off, which was frustrating. But I think we’ve been so starved of genuine success, we’re so disillusioned with top flight football and players and pay so much to watch it all, that the negativity has become inherent. And we’re so scared of losing and experiencing disappointment again that it was so , so tense.
But when we played with intention and pace and took it to them, the raw support is still there and was probably all the better for being half full. Another 45k of day-trippers would have diluted it.
I’ve also never seen the whole lower tier and much of the upper tier stood all game.
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
I won't disagree. I'll add 1970 as well because I'm really old!
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
I really agree with this. I was 15 in 1966 but missed watching extra time as I had to go and do my evening paper round. Mind you, in 1970 I went to the IOW to see Hendrix but fell asleep before he came on.
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
I won't disagree. I'll add 1970 as well because I'm really old!
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
I really agree with this. I was 15 in 1966 but missed watching extra time as I had to go and do my evening paper round. Mind you, in 1970 I went to the IOW to see Hendrix but fell asleep before he came on.
Interestingly the boyfriend of my eldest thinks I am lucky as I have seen more "success" than him as he is only 25.
Grealish MUST play. Turned the game. Finds a little more space, a little more creativity and a little more ability to bring others into play. Walker was fabulous sweeping round behind an out of position Stones. I don't agree completely with Southgate's tactics and selections, but we are getting the job done. I don't think we are as good as we are making out, but confidence will help these lads go a long way.
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
I won't disagree. I'll add 1970 as well because I'm really old!
Lots of ghosts exorcised yesterday.
With you on that one,stood absolutely dumbfounded outside my house when we lost that.Wonder what Macron and Merkel are thinking about Plague Island and little Englanders this morning.
Grealish turned the game because he came on against a tiring Germany. I do not believe he'd have added any more than Saka did had he started in his place.
Southgate is getting it right so far. As boring as the football may seem.
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
I wasnt into Football to remember Italia 90... But I certainly remember the pain of Euro 96
Really thought that Kane's miss in the first half may have been our Gazza moment
I genuinely think you have to be old enough to remember Italia 90 to truly appreciate last night. You youngsters enjoy the victory but us veterans lived the pain.
Whilst, you might be correct. I am not sure i agree here, i was 3 years old. Last night the elation after the result i literally had tears following that result, it was such a big result in the context and also with all the history against us etc.
I watched it indoors on my own aswell so no outside factors or being caught in the moment, it genuinely was as good as us winning the play offs. Sounds bizarre as its only the last 16 but god i was buzzing and so happy to beat the Germans.
Fair fucks to Southgate, Sterling, Kane proving the haters/ anti brigade wrong. Lets hope we can kick on and go for it a bit more against the so called weaker teams starting with Ukraine
Grealish MUST play. Turned the game. Finds a little more space, a little more creativity and a little more ability to bring others into play. Walker was fabulous sweeping round behind an out of position Stones. I don't agree completely with Southgate's tactics and selections, but we are getting the job done. I don't think we are as good as we are making out, but confidence will help these lads go a long way.
Stones did nothing wrong at all. Walker was superb using his pace to cut off the clever balls through but that's what he was there for. Walker allowed Stones to step forward and block off the German players being able to run at the defence and try and intercept passes inbetween the midfield and the defence. That's risky if you don't have recovery pace around you but we did.
I really can't understand how you can disagree with the tactics when we've made it to the Quarters without even conceding a goal and just beaten one of our biggest rivals. Football fans are incredible.
Another ode to those who went through the pain of Italia 90.
And as we head off to Italy again needing to stand tall - let’s give some airtime to my personal number one soundtrack to an England tournament summer:
Barring Kane for most of the match it was hard to find fault with the players last night. Sterling excites and frustrates in equal measure but he caused Germany a lot of problems and took his goal superbly. Thought the defensive players were all very good and the wingbacks were effective this time.
Nobody to fear in this tournament and what an amazing buzz a win like that can give to the nation. Dont understand those on here that say they have zero interest in the England football team when you have moments like this.
What is Patently clear if CL match thread is anything to go by is a complete lack of understanding of different ways to win football matches and the roles of "wing backs" Luke Shaw in the second half was excellent and was instrumental in both of the England goals. Luke is ideal for a wing back even if defensively he can look vulnerable. Trippier role was different yesterday because he and Walker worked in tandem to subdue the Impressive Gosens who was MOM against Portugal and it worked as Gosens was negated. Karl Walker in 2021 is a different player to the player who bombed forward at every opportunity and would make mistakes at the back. Karl still has his pace but his awareness in defence has been impeccable and his relationship with his fellow Yorkshire lads, Maguire and Stones was spot on.
I would imagine other than Tutt Tutt I have seen more academy football than most on here and full backs are constantly told to pass back and side ways to keep retention of the ball. When the play is on the other side they bomb forward into space which may just be a decoy run or they actually receive the ball in an advanced position. Snappy one two's with midfielders also get the wing backs forward.
Luke Shaw proved yesterday by his pin point pass to Sterling for the first goal from out wide and his inception and run in a central position that resulted in Jack Grealish's lovely ball for Kane to join the party that wing backs or attacking full backs are game changers.
I said before the tournament started on CL that Shaw and Chilwell were very similar and even though I named Shaw, Chilwell can do the same. Fate has conspired against Chilwell but if Shaw gets a knock then a like for like replacement is available now.
Comments
Sweden going out is an unbelievable bit of luck for England, we know that they can play 4-5-1 and frustrate anyone as they did against Spain in that 0-0 draw.
Ukraine, on the other hand, have nothing going forward and Yarmulenko went off injured too so may not play against England - not that he'd be a major threat.
The only way Ukraine beat us is if we allow them to bore their way to a 0-0 draw and beat us on penalties, I don't think Southgate will do it but I'd be tempted to play a very attacking team and let them at it.
Ukraine can't hurt England from open play from what we have seen from them so why give them a chance of a sucker punch win as the Swedes did?
Love big tournaments, love England and can't wait for Saturday.
There is a long way to go but I’m going to enjoy this rare moment. GSTQ
obviously once we scored complete and utter bedlam and scenes and noise but I’m looking for the crowd to be mental and up for it for 90 mins which isn’t ever gonna happen in reality , there’s never enough mad for it roaring lunatics at games here
I'd go with:
Pickford
Walker
Stones
Maguire
Shaw
Henderson
Rice
Mount
Foden
Kane
Sterling
Obviously look to get Grealish on as early as possible in the second half, and get Phillips on for Rice if we are going well. This game can be a real 'statement' game for England, and set us up for a much tougher semi-final against either the Czechs or the Danes.
Personally thought the team selection was far too negative, we're at home to a side who whilst they have tremendous pedigree, really aren't all that, but we changed our formation and set up to match them rather than impose our own game and left out any number of decent attacking options.
However..........i'll never criticise Southgate again, as it's clearly working. I still can't decide if he's a good manager or a lucky manager. The draw in 2018 was great, the draw this time is absolutely incredible, the miss from Muller was unbelievable.
But credit to us, despite a couple of close shaves we still haven't conceded and we scored 2 superbly well worked goals. I'll be honest in saying that pre tournament i'd have preferred Chilwell to play, but absolute full credit to Luke Shaw, he's been great and was absolutely superb last night.
On we go to Saturday now, where surely we'll change things up and play more attacking. Grealish has to start in my opinion, game changer.
We definitely have a great chance of making the final.
To be honest I've criticised Southgate and some of his selections but he's earned the right to just get on with it - the pressure he's under is unbelievable yet he conducts himself impecably
Still buzzing today.
But when we played with intention and pace and took it to them, the raw support is still there and was probably all the better for being half full. Another 45k of day-trippers would have diluted it.
I’ve also never seen the whole lower tier and much of the upper tier stood all game.
Walker was fabulous sweeping round behind an out of position Stones.
I don't agree completely with Southgate's tactics and selections, but we are getting the job done.
I don't think we are as good as we are making out, but confidence will help these lads go a long way.
Southgate is getting it right so far. As boring as the football may seem.
Really thought that Kane's miss in the first half may have been our Gazza moment
I watched it indoors on my own aswell so no outside factors or being caught in the moment, it genuinely was as good as us winning the play offs. Sounds bizarre as its only the last 16 but god i was buzzing and so happy to beat the Germans.
Fair fucks to Southgate, Sterling, Kane proving the haters/ anti brigade wrong. Lets hope we can kick on and go for it a bit more against the so called weaker teams starting with Ukraine
And as we head off to Italy again needing to stand tall - let’s give some airtime to my personal number one soundtrack to an England tournament summer:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Re4aDJL3heA
Nobody to fear in this tournament and what an amazing buzz a win like that can give to the nation. Dont understand those on here that say they have zero interest in the England football team when you have moments like this.
Luke Shaw in the second half was excellent and was instrumental in both of the England goals. Luke is ideal for a wing back even if defensively he can look vulnerable. Trippier role was different yesterday because he and Walker worked in tandem to subdue the Impressive Gosens who was MOM against Portugal and it worked as Gosens was negated.
Karl Walker in 2021 is a different player to the player who bombed forward at every opportunity and would make mistakes at the back. Karl still has his pace but his awareness in defence has been impeccable and his relationship with his fellow Yorkshire lads, Maguire and Stones was spot on.
I would imagine other than Tutt Tutt I have seen more academy football than most on here and full backs are constantly told to pass back and side ways to keep retention of the ball. When the play is on the other side they bomb forward into space which may just be a decoy run or they actually receive the ball in an advanced position.
Snappy one two's with midfielders also get the wing backs forward.
Luke Shaw proved yesterday by his pin point pass to Sterling for the first goal from out wide and his inception and run in a central position that resulted in Jack Grealish's lovely ball for Kane to join the party that wing backs or attacking full backs are game changers.
I said before the tournament started on CL that Shaw and Chilwell were very similar and even though I named Shaw, Chilwell can do the same. Fate has conspired against Chilwell but if Shaw gets a knock then a like for like replacement is available now.