And joint top scorer at the current tournament.
Not bad for player who should apparently be dropped.
You'd expect a main striker reaching the semi finals to be up there with the top scorers though, as he's played more games than most of his rivals
3 goals including 1 penalty in 6 games is hardly undroppable form in this tournament when England have so many varied and fresher attacking options. Ones which could give opposition defenders more problems in the system England play with 2 No 10s.
I've criticised Southgate's lack of attacking intent and have credited him on getting us this far with "his" tactics, but last night just compounds the thinking that his way isn't the only way.
That was the best we've played not just in this tournament but for a little while now and it took us going a goal down to see that change in play and really took the game to Holland, there is no reason why we cant play like that from the off other than its not what Southgate wants, being cautious has its merits sure but last night was the first good test against a fairly gung ho nation and did they batter us for daring to go on the attack?
No, no they didnt.
Take that attitude and game to Spain on Sunday and we really will have a chance.
Great match, great winner, was it a pen? harsh, but then, Lampard scored in 2010 so, meh.
I think the mistake made by the Dutch was they went a goal up, and then decided to continue playing like they've done the rest of the Tournament and thought they could make it 2-0 / 3-0.
What they ended up doing, was giving our forward players the space we've been crying out for this Tournament, we've also shown that we're pretty good (even before last night) that we're good at keeping the ball now, hence why it wasn't a surprise when we dominated the midfield battle
Its why they realised their f**k up at HT so went tighter, meaning the game reverted in the second half to what we've seen for the majority of our games.
Spain won't make the same mistake, they've taken the lead against Germany and France, and have sat back. It initially failed against the Germans, and were lucky in some ways to get the win, proving we can hurt them in turn.
Agree the Dutch gave us the space to be more expansive, but as a side with the quality we have we could force the issue more ourselves rather than slowing games down to match a 10 man defensive wall.
On the Spanish, the pundrity have us down as boring, slow, talent wasters - come at them from the off like we played last night and give me something to rub the in laws faces in PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Atleast a performance that merits our national team. Fully deserved victory! Not a pen for me but we did enough to deserve the win anyway. Well done all !
I appreciate that he can’t be dropped but I really don’t think Kane is fit he looks so slow compared to everyone else.
Spain have won 6 out of 6 so this is a step up again. I want England to win the final for Harry Kane but for that to happen I really can't see how Kane plays more than 45 minutes as he is struggling to close down or do the runs into the box. Had a decent 1st half and took the pen well. England may only have the ball for 35% so we need legs and the ability to share the fouls against the two young Spanish talents.
Foden has to do so much running as Harry appeared to be struggling to do that. Mainroo was my MOM as Foden who had a good 1st half got frustrated 2nd half as the Dutch put the extra player in midfield and looked a threat 2nd half as Southgate scratched his head but eventually realized that combos win you games and though I wanted him to do the double sub of Palmer and Watkins 15 minutes earlier at least after the criticism he didn't wait until the 89th or 91st minute this time. The only reason he took Foden off rather than Jude is because he can produce magic and is in our top 5 pen takers. After the hand of God and the Red cards of Rooney and Beckham I always felt that Bellingham might get 2 cards but fortunately the ref didn't use the history between them and only gave him one deserved Yellow. Saka is being consistent and was unlucky not to score as Walker went a tad too early.
Having Toney, Palmer, Gordon, Saka, Bowen, Kane and Watkins as attacking options as well as Jude and Foden is so much better than in past tournaments when we relied on Kane to score and Sterling to win free kicks. TBF we got to a final with the help of the way the rounds unfolded and how we avoided certain teams.
The Greek and the Danes proved the best teams don't always win the Euros and England may be able to emulate that on Sunday.
With this feel good factor now would be a good time for Sunak to call a general election.
Yet another own goal by Sunak by not hanging on a couple more months; he has scored more OG than Euro 24.
Harold Wilson was PM and flew back from Washington in July 1966 and was quoted as saying England would win 2-1. This indeed was the score until the late equaliser by the West Germans.
Wilson who enjoyed pipe smoking, Huddersfield FC, sleeping with his Secretary and giving honours to his nearest and dearest told Alf Ramsey to go onto the balcony at the reception and take the acclaim because it was a once in a lifetime result.
58 years later and so far it has been a once in a lifetime achievement.
Where that would normally be a foul somewhere else on the picth would be somebody clearing the ball say from defence and the boot where it is with studs showing could be deemed reckless.
Morning after the night before. I’m on my hands and knees sponging the rug before repainting the walls. I’m a traditionalist when England score I’ve always thrown my beer in the air. Hopefully, the stain will come out of the rug and I should finish the painting before my dinner time tonight.
People are fucking mental you think he’s gonna drop Kane. He’s not even dropped Trippier 🤣
Nip that in the bud straight away.
The critical decision is when to take Harry off in the final as he will definitely start the match.
Last night in retrospect it would've been better if Shaw played the 1st half (if not fit to play both) as we attacked down both flanked and of course other than one time the hard working Trippier always has to cut back and then instead of running on to the ball the players in and around the box have to look back over their shoulders and it's easier to defend against.
I think I've finally cracked Southgates thinking for this tournament. It's all about coasting and conserving energy and an absolute rock solid belief that if it goes to penalties we will succeed. The last penalty shootout kind of confirmed it for me. We now have some real penalty taking technicians. Fearless with huge belief. Southgate has played a huge part in that So as long as we are still in the game, and by that I mean winning or, believe it or not...drawing Southgate will drop down a gear or two until that circumstance changes. Go a goal down and as we've all seen, a gear shift follows to again get us back in the game. If another goal follows after the opposition crumbles ( see Slovakia) then all well and good, but up to now Southgate hasn't forced it. It's risky ,no doubt but it has worked so far. I can't help but think we really haven't seen the very best of this group yet. Whether Southgate will loosen the chain a bit for the final game remains to be seen. But then again..why should he?
Kane won't be dropped. He shouldn't be either, he's always a goal threat when he's on the pitch and a huge part of England's strategy this tournament has been utilising impact players from the bench where they're often most effective. Palmer has been terrifying off the bench, Watkins came on to run ragged a Dutch defence that wasn't prepared for the change, Toney has provided more hold up play. Our strategy has largely been control and containment followed by allowing our most creative and unpredictable players free reign against tired defences. It's risky and there's a chance Spain could put a couple past us before we get to 70 minutes but we've seen the benefits of bringing these players on late, I don't think we'd enjoy Watkins from the start and bringing Kane on for him if it's not working wouldn't really offer us the pace against a tiring defence that makes Watkins so effective.
I think I've finally cracked Southgates thinking for this tournament. It's all about coasting and conserving energy and an absolute rock solid belief that if it goes to penalties we will succeed. The last penalty shootout kind of confirmed it for me. We now have some real penalty taking technicians. Fearless with huge belief. Southgate has played a huge part in that So as long as we are still in the game, and by that I mean winning or, believe it or not...drawing Southgate will drop down a gear or two until that circumstance changes. Go a goal down and as we've all seen, a gear shift follows to again get us back in the game. If another goal follows after the opposition crumbles ( see Slovakia) then all well and good, but up to now Southgate hasn't forced it. It's risky ,no doubt but it has worked so far. I can't help but think we really haven't seen the very best of this group yet. Whether Southgate will loosen the chain a bit for the final game remains to be seen. But then again..why should he?
I don't think you are a million miles away there and its formed part of my thinking too. The games where we have looked bad against lesser opposition I think its a case of seeing it like a championship 12 round fight or a long cycling race. Stay with the pack, in touching distance and in the championship rounds make your quality count which when its mattered we have.
With the glorious benefit of hindsight in those turgid group games he didn't make wholesale changes not because he didn't want to win, it was because he didn't have to, the objective was to qualify, not lose, not concede daft goals and stay compact
Last night I thought bringing Watkins and Palmer on when he did was perfect timing, the Dutch were looking ragged, the game was getting stretched and Watkins gives a very different problem to defenders than Toney and Kane
The longer the game on Sunday goes on with us in grabbing distance of Spain the better it will suit us psychologically as we know we have the fitness to stay there, the depth and the willingness to keep going whereas Spain tend to win things by licking the ball around and convincingly beating sides especially when their opponents start chasing the game
I hope anyone who goes to the 02 is prepared to be fleeced .Heard reports £9.00 pint at concerts now.
Yep it’s something like that. Pretty sure the beer is Budweiser too.
What conundrum for all the pint throwing weapons that have invaded football gatherings. Do they throw £9.00 in the air or accept Bud tastes like gnats piss and chuck it anyway.
Where that would normally be a foul somewhere else on the picth would be somebody clearing the ball say from defence and the boot where it is with studs showing could be deemed reckless.
That's what Wrighty basically said, and up until then I had thought the penalty harsh, looked at that way, it was the correct decision.
Haven’t read the whole thread so perhaps someone agrees with me but I feel like I’m the only one who blames our stifled midfield in the second half on Southgate’s switch to a flat back four. Whilst playing 3 at the back we effectively had 6 in the middle stretched from flank to flank. We stifled ourselves rather than Holland doing so. Another negative move which could’ve backfired
I remember one being given against us in front of the Jimmy Seed a few years back in a similar situation and we were largely thinking, they happen all the time and are not given. Blocks are not considered late challenges generally.
As long as the ball is still in play and the contact is made, it is technically a late challenge. On top of that, if the studs are showing and putting the striker in danger, it's reckless. It was 100% a penalty. I don't think it would ever be given without VAR as it looked a lot like all the other post-shot blocks we see but even still, I am really surprised at the claims that it's not a pen. The argument that Kane kicked the other player doesn't really work either - it's no different to when a defender clears the ball and a striker goes to block it and the defender kicks his foot - we all know that's a standard yellow. This was exactly the same!
she even writes the same way she speaks. I'm more convinced than ever that ITV have got themselves a free trial version of some glitchy AI software to discuss refereeing decisions
Comments
3 goals including 1 penalty in 6 games is hardly undroppable form in this tournament when England have so many varied and fresher attacking options. Ones which could give opposition defenders more problems in the system England play with 2 No 10s.
Agree the Dutch gave us the space to be more expansive, but as a side with the quality we have we could force the issue more ourselves rather than slowing games down to match a 10 man defensive wall.
On the Spanish, the pundrity have us down as boring, slow, talent wasters - come at them from the off like we played last night and give me something to rub the in laws faces in PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I want England to win the final for Harry Kane but for that to happen I really can't see how Kane plays more than 45 minutes as he is struggling to close down or do the runs into the box. Had a decent 1st half and took the pen well.
England may only have the ball for 35% so we need legs and the ability to share the fouls against the two young Spanish talents.
Foden has to do so much running as Harry appeared to be struggling to do that.
Mainroo was my MOM as Foden who had a good 1st half got frustrated 2nd half as the Dutch put the extra player in midfield and looked a threat 2nd half as Southgate scratched his head but eventually realized that combos win you games and though I wanted him to do the double sub of Palmer and Watkins 15 minutes earlier at least after the criticism he didn't wait until the 89th or 91st minute this time. The only reason he took Foden off rather than Jude is because he can produce magic and is in our top 5 pen takers. After the hand of God and the Red cards of Rooney and Beckham I always felt that Bellingham might get 2 cards but fortunately the ref didn't use the history between them and only gave him one deserved Yellow.
Saka is being consistent and was unlucky not to score as Walker went a tad too early.
Having Toney, Palmer, Gordon, Saka, Bowen, Kane and Watkins as attacking options as well as Jude and Foden is so much better than in past tournaments when we relied on Kane to score and Sterling to win free kicks. TBF we got to a final with the help of the way the rounds unfolded and how we avoided certain teams.
The Greek and the Danes proved the best teams don't always win the Euros and England may be able to emulate that on Sunday.
Nip that in the bud straight away.
Martinez should have benched Ronaldo.
Yet another own goal by Sunak by not hanging on a couple more months; he has scored more OG than Euro 24.
Harold Wilson was PM and flew back from Washington in July 1966 and was quoted as saying England would win 2-1. This indeed was the score until the late equaliser by the West Germans.
Wilson who enjoyed pipe smoking, Huddersfield FC, sleeping with his Secretary and giving honours to his nearest and dearest told Alf Ramsey to go onto the balcony at the reception and take the acclaim because it was a once in a lifetime result.
58 years later and so far it has been a once in a lifetime achievement.
The critical decision is when to take Harry off in the final as he will definitely start the match.
Last night in retrospect it would've been better if Shaw played the 1st half (if not fit to play both) as we attacked down both flanked and of course other than one time the hard working Trippier always has to cut back and then instead of running on to the ball the players in and around the box have to look back over their shoulders and it's easier to defend against.
It's all about coasting and conserving energy and an absolute rock solid belief that if it goes to penalties we will succeed. The last penalty shootout kind of confirmed it for me. We now have some real penalty taking technicians. Fearless with huge belief. Southgate has played a huge part in that
So as long as we are still in the game, and by that I mean winning or, believe it or not...drawing Southgate will drop down a gear or two until that circumstance changes. Go a goal down and as we've all seen, a gear shift follows to again get us back in the game. If another goal follows after the opposition crumbles ( see Slovakia) then all well and good, but up to now Southgate hasn't forced it.
It's risky ,no doubt but it has worked so far.
I can't help but think we really haven't seen the very best of this group yet. Whether Southgate will loosen the chain a bit for the final game remains to be seen.
But then again..why should he?
With the glorious benefit of hindsight in those turgid group games he didn't make wholesale changes not because he didn't want to win, it was because he didn't have to, the objective was to qualify, not lose, not concede daft goals and stay compact
Last night I thought bringing Watkins and Palmer on when he did was perfect timing, the Dutch were looking ragged, the game was getting stretched and Watkins gives a very different problem to defenders than Toney and Kane
The longer the game on Sunday goes on with us in grabbing distance of Spain the better it will suit us psychologically as we know we have the fitness to stay there, the depth and the willingness to keep going whereas Spain tend to win things by licking the ball around and convincingly beating sides especially when their opponents start chasing the game
https://x.com/christinaunkel/status/1811326886045217201?s=46&t=MojDVxh_AjG5taAWPQn6Tw
As long as the ball is still in play and the contact is made, it is technically a late challenge. On top of that, if the studs are showing and putting the striker in danger, it's reckless. It was 100% a penalty. I don't think it would ever be given without VAR as it looked a lot like all the other post-shot blocks we see but even still, I am really surprised at the claims that it's not a pen. The argument that Kane kicked the other player doesn't really work either - it's no different to when a defender clears the ball and a striker goes to block it and the defender kicks his foot - we all know that's a standard yellow. This was exactly the same!