Euro 2020 — Day 12

First in the group gets England, France, or Germany, or possibly even Portugal, come second and it'll probably be Spain.

Should be an open game. Holes in the Czech midfield

Robert

There are 4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire but they still won the league a few years back.

I'm not surprised to see Saka in but I think it's peculiar Foden isn't even on the bench. I assume Gareth is rotating the 23 for the bench but psychologically that might be a blow to young Foden. Not convinced we need the two defensive mids either. But is he going for the win? or going through the motions to retain the status quo?

"going through the motions to retain the status quo?"

Kieran, you describing a football match or 100 million marriages?

Hahaha

Sorry, Foden isn't in the squad? Is he carrying a knock or don't we need game changers on the bench, especially with Mason out. Strange.

Anyway, its in the stars England play Germany

David 7

Gareth Southgate has just explained Foden being left out, he said Phil is already on a yellow card and with Mason Mount probably missing our next game he couldn't risk Foden picking up another card which would also rule him out of the next game.

What a knob Southgate is. Starting with Kane and Sterling who've been absolutely shite in his tournament. Like all English managers over the last 2 decades he has his undroppables.

The Czechs have Holes in their lineup.

Thanks Brian.
First sub on will probably be Rashford again, he has his favourites.

I see Vlassic starts for Croatia

Arse - Holes, Mike?

And another thing (l'm waving my walking stick above me head).

Why are England players hanging out with a player from another team, not in their own squads bubble. Why was this allowed by Southgate? They deserve what they've got just for being stupid.

David

Good point but why is it he's only infectious around England players and not his Scottish mates?

It's a good gag, Mike, but I beat you to it.

Mike, please read the other comments!

You were too clever, Robert. I missed it.

Kieran- the BBC carried a pic of Manager Clarke cuddling little Gary Gilmour!

Kieran,

I know it makes no sense but the rules say they could only spend so much time with a player from another bubble. I think they said they went over the time limit by 1 minute 27 seconds.

Robertson's face walking out is hilarious! I bet he practices that mean look

Filled in a bit Stones

Lovely goal. Made by Grealish

Grealish comes good!

still seems to struggle to head the ball though

England have scored 2 goals in this competition so far and Sterling the player who apparently is shite has both of them.

Mike, wasn't there a Gary Gilmour who spent time on death row some years back?

aye, Barry - he's deceptive!

Ray, that was Gary Gilmore

Systems can make good players look bad and bad players good. At the moment Kane is playing very deep. England actually look quite good and jack and Saka slotted in well.

I actually cheered that England goal. The first time I've done that since 1986.

Gilmore donated his eyes to be used after his death. Subsequently The Adverts had a big hit with "Gary Gilmore's Eyes"

Not Gary Glitter

No David - that's rhyming slang

Of course Dennis :)

I had to google Gary Gilmore. Before my time.

The kopites favourite villain maybe Blightys hero. Go Ed picks

Saka looks some player, pacey, inventive. Grealish and Saka would do nicely Marcel.

Shaw be nice if Luke's crosses beat the first man occasionally

Oh, there's a Live Forum. Its my party, l will cry if l want to

What a player Saka is. Both he and Grealish have immediate control of the ball and therefore time to make the pass or beat their man. But the best passer on the pitch is Pickford. Shame he's not taking our (crap) set pieces.

I say it all the time. 4-2-3-1 is the most complete formation when you have the right players. Like any formation I suppose.

Put the right 3 in front of the defensive 2 and it is a very effective formation

People talking up Grealish, who is playing well, but the most impactful England player for me today is Saka. It was his run down the right that first turned the Czech defence before Grealish put in the cross down the left for Sterling's goal. It's not Saka's only telling play either.

Lee Dixon really has a thing about Jordan, doesn't he?

Great save from the Czech's best shot on goal. Immediate reaction from Dixon? 'Pickford looked slow in making that save.'

Ball makes its way back to Jordan from an England corner. Dixon criticizes him for not getting the ball moving more quickly with an out ball to Saka. We don't see the whole picture of players getting back into position from the corner. Jordan did. Plays a peach of a pass to Grealish to set up a promising England attack. Big thumbs up from Grealish to Jordan in recognition.

JP has looked solid all tournament, in his defence and excellent distrubution.

Fluidity of the attacking 4 is the difference.
The inter changing of position has been good.
The young lad Saka will imo develop into a top class player.

Totally concur Jay, said it on here the other day, Pickford deserves massive credit for turning his game around this season. He is looking like a proper keeper and his distribution excellent! I'd like to see more Evertonians acknowledging this turnaround.

DCL must be wishing he'd had a niggle and not been available for the Euro's because he's not gonna get more than a minute or two unless Kane breaks his fucking neck!
And he looks pissed off in the stand.

DCL would have been worth 20 mins in place of very lethargic Kane.

Goodness, what a turgid affair. Another bore fest.

They certainly don't have the look of winners about them. It's likely to be France, Germany or Portugal they face in the last16. They'll struggle to get past any of them based on performances to date.

Some decent players in the squad but Southgate doesn't have a clue how to get the best out of them.

It's all very sterile, pragmatic and just about efficient, but absolutely no great pleasure watching them, or excitement for the next round, you just know it will end in a narrow loss to a more adventurous team.

Happy to acknowledge it, Steve @ 41. I was very critical of Jordan Pickford and thought we should move him on. Totally wrong. He has done what top sportsmen do. Worked and got better. Of course he will make errors but he clearly learns from them I have really enjoyed watching him.

Brian 42 & Robert 43 ] Kane hasn't looked himself in any of the 3 games. Whether he's injured, knackered or distracted by his hopes of a transfer to Man City isn't clear, but at present he isn't making much impact and isn't worth his place. But he's one of Southgate's favourites so will continue to get picked.
Sako was easily MOM for me, however I guess the LFC-dominated pundits will claim
It was “Hendo” coming on that made the difference.

You might be right Jeff, and I certainly agree that watching Southgate's England isn't very exciting, but history suggests that 'efficient' play in the group stages is no bad thing. I can't decide whether he's clueless or totally in control. I just wish we'd create a bit more.

I wondered who might pick up om my (not Mike's ) Gary Gilmour mention...well dome Ray and Dennis,!
Gary and his eyes have parted company!

Pickford with 3 clean sheets. Some great saves.
However, I think England may come undone in the next game.

Grealish showed Southgate what a big mistake he made in not starting him in previous games even before this tournament. What a difference he makes.

Eddie, didn't respond but I always appreciate some obscure music references. When I see the Adverts I always think of some of the early tunes by Glaxo Babies and Monochrome Set before they got super polished.

I watched the Scotland game and Vlasic was very impressive, besides the goal he was popping up everywhere playing 1-2s and picking out passes, and as for Modric, what a goal, a fantastic footballer who never seems to give the ball away, Vlasic also had a go at Robertson who was doing his usual hard man routine

Just for the record, Gary Gilmour was an Australian Test cricketer who had longish hair and a beer gut. As there was some talk about it he had a hair cut, lost the gut and with it went his ability to swing the ball and his Test spot. A bit of a character who didn't mind a beer.

Congratulations to Billy Gilmour for providing Scotland with their only positive of Euro 2022... (nicked from bacefook)