Pickford helps England to first final since 1966

Those pundits who've slagged him off all season now forget his role in removing the world's greatest ever defender from the Netherlands ranks and thus mortally wounding their campaign! Once again I say, "Well done, Agent Pickford"!

Likewise, Italy in the final. They've played good entertaining football. No dirty tricks and cynical stuff like some teams of old. I am glad Spain lost as they only won one game out of six within the 90 minutes. Italy deserve to be in the final, and whoever else makes it will be there on merit too. Unusual to have a tournament without villains e.g. Hand of God, or the Argentina team of thugs from 1990. But enjoyable to watch.

Anyway. Down to the last 3. From the onset, Italy, my second favourites, Denmark, my dark horse and England who I always thought had a chance, more so when the path fell as kindly as it did for them. I've not done too bad!!!

I'll relax and watch the football tonight.

Fondness of living there and my sweepstake interests have me leaning Azzuri for Saturday!

It's all relative. Every time England lose the ball in the final third they dive. But they only have about six attacks per game whereas Italy have 30 so exponentially go down more just as everyone does nowadays. The only egregiously dirty team I've seen were as usual Portugal with Ronaldo and Pepe taking histrionics, dirty fouls, provocation and ref harrasment to another level. Luckily, the refs were strong enough to ignore them although I'd like to see them properly enforce the rules and start dishing out cards for such behavior.

I had a good mate who was Italian at Uni. Stocky little Gary Neville looking fellow. He taught me everything I know about shirt pulling, elbows, sly hacks, feigning innocence etc. He ended up leaving our Uni team for a much better one. But we beat his team in the local cup as he'd taught us the dark arts too well.

Having watched all of the games thus far, it pisses me off when I hear them talking about clean sheets, but never mention that it is Jordan Pickford between the sticks, let alone that his Home Club is Everton, biased or what? Yet if it is that Neanderthal piece of Mammoth Dung Hendo, the Liverpool connection gets more than a mention, as does most of the other players' parent Clubs.

Hope it is more of a Romantic Play than a TragiComedy, with Hamlet (Cigar) playing a leading role. Alas poor Southgate I knew him once, a Fellow of Infinite Jest (Not), He hath borne us on his back a thousand times! :-)

We only lost 1 of our first 15 games versus Denmark, since when we have lost 3 of 6.

We've failed to win in our last five UEFA tournament clashes with Denmark

We have beaten Denmark twice at Wembley when their goalie has been a Schmeichel

Jordan has had a fine tournament.

Maybe they were bored of watching Spain's exhibition of sideways passing with no end result that's been going on for a month. Or maybe they heard Luiz Enrique's Bobby Robsonesque faux pas of announcing "we don't practice penalties." Or perhaps they were tired having actually played a good team in the prior round while Spain limply struggled by the displaced Albanians.

I'm going in again. London pub to watch England time. Dreading it.

Not only the dreadful "coming home" song but now grown men singing Atomic Kitten.

Looking forward to the match though.

I'm English but I'm afraid I struggle to get excited these days with the team (Bar DCL and JP of course). Hoping England make it to the final but think it's a bit pissy that the Danes have not been allowed into the country for covid reasons (officially - but Brexit sniping between the lines) so they are struggling to take up their 5,000 allocation I understand.

They should offer them to the Scots and provide each Jock with a Danish flag/banner and song sheet.

That should help with the atmosphere.

Their goals per match is 2.2, the same as Denmark. But Spain effectively played an extra game as they had three lots of extra times so a further 90 minutes and effectively a seventh game. Factoring that in their average is 1.8, less than Denmark and the Netherlands.

Moreover, they scored 5 in one game against a team probably on the take. Their metrics on KPI for expected goals is 17.1 and they only have 13 (five against the on the take team) so really that's like 8, which means they suck. Kind of like when Oleg Salenko was WC top scorer with six (5 against Cameroon)

I guess Southgate feels he has enough goals in the team. If Kane got injured, Rashford could play. Sterling has played as a striker for City too. Plus, taking off your blue shades, if we were 10 minutes from elimination needing a goal, would you bring on DCL ahead of Grealish, Foden or Sancho? To me that would be a bit like bringing on Alan Smith for Lineker. A functional forward, decent in the air but hardly prolific and unlikely to create or take an opening that someone else couldn't.

I know that's harsh and the subsequent stats in the tournament don't necessarily support that, but I know what I mean and what point Kieran is making!!

And still no mention of him doing England a favour by taking out Netherlands best defender

From a football perspective is Southgate telling him something about his playing style and potential?

Let's hope if he's telling him to work harder and do more, then he'll take up the challenge for next season for Everton.

Italy scrapped home last night, my pre tournament bet on Italy, is still on.🍻☘️

But ahead of Kane and Sterling as attacking options in the starting line up?

Ahead of Rashford, Foden and Grealish on the bench?

I don't think so. I said devil's advocate. Our best can't make the England bench.

But to reiterate, he worked hard to make the squad and tournament. It will have been a good experience for him. Providing he doesn't follow the traditional path of Everton players and being involved with England!!

Grealish and Henderson will almost definitely come on at some stage

Rashford and Sancho to play wide and with pace, one on the right, one on left. Rashford can also play down middle.

Trippier, James cover for both full backs

Mings, Coady cover for both centre backs

Foden - got to be on bench

Bellingham - important midfield option

Unfortunate for DCL - but there is logic to all the substitutes named. If Kane gets injured, there are options. Personally prefer to see DCL in place of Coady, but should we switch to 3 at the back for any reason, Coady suits it better than Mings.

Thanks for clearing that up, I never knew.

Good Danish team, good English team.

Said it before, we could do worse than shop in Denmark, Mr Brands.

England initially looked to do what they haven't shown all tournament. Quick, crisp, high intensity. And then the defence sat increasingly deeper, passing became pedestrian again and Denmark controlled the game.

Cracking free kick for them. Jordan looked a little off guard, but still got a fingertip to it. I'll wager he gets blamed rather than talk up the quality of Damsgaard.

England woke up again just before the break with Kane creating two chances in quick time, one of them leading to the equaliser. Quite clearly it's an exercise in futility crossing from deep into the Danish penalty when it's occupied by Orcs. The danger for England comes from getting in behind and playing ground balls into onrushing forwards.

The defence needs to push up a good 15-20 yards to squeeze the space in midfield and the ball needs to be moved on quicker than it has been nearly all tournament.

England can win this, but equally, so can Denmark. He who dares wins.

Great hearing the crowd roaring again.

The other difference is how ugly the England fans are compared with the Europeans, but maybe that is just me.

Last night with Italy and Spain, you saw both teams playing quick, slick, one-touch football to keep the ball moving. England? Almost every time someone receives the ball, it's 2-3 touches minimal before moving the ball on. That adds up to an awful lot of nano-seconds over a game in which margins are so small in catching a player a smidgen out of position to take advantage of.

How bold will Southgate be in the many subs he still has in hand compared to Denmark?

Come on, Italy!

The best spell of continuous pressure on the Danish goal was in the first half of extra time. Just more of the same will see it safely home. But no. Pull off one of the few creative players the opposition is wary of getting a run on them and put on another defender.

Result? Denmark camped in England's half for most of the 2nd half of extra time (even down to 10 men), with England's best spell in this period the keep ball in the final two minutes.

Even though I thought Grealish was harshly treated in being a subbed out sub and whilst Saka has been 'OK' when starting, I can't understand how Foden, from being a starter, has had so little game time.

His movement. One touch passing. The perfect weight of his passing. His all-round intelligence. He should be on the pitch from the off.

English Bulldog or Italian guile and grit on Sunday? Il azzurro from what I've seen of this tournament.

I can only see a very tense and defensive game on Sunday and Italy are masters of that sort of match.

Congrats to Pickford for breaking legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks's record of most minutes without conceding a goal for England… not enough to stop the pundits moaning about his performance, there must be some really great English goalkeepers in the squad??

Grealish sub was strange but, if you win, it's easily forgotten.

Same for Pickford, I wondered where he had been hiding. Multiple poor kicks and distribution.

The Danish goal was a good free-kick. It was on target but it was not in the corner. I think a top keeper saves that. Small margins.

Without the highly questionable penalty, the game was heading for penalties. Great shame the game was decided that way.

If that penalty was given against Everton in a Prmier League game most TW posters would have been very unhappy.

Jordan's nerves are starting to show. He's still won me a shitload of points in my euro fantasy football league.

Barring an FA Cup Final or two, Sunday is the biggest match I'll ever have watched.

I'd love to win on Sunday but I'm over the moon that we're there. Going to really enjoy the build-up for the next few days. It could be another 55 years til we reach another final.

Come on, England

Southgate brought a sub back off tonight and was praised for making big decisions, I don't recall Ferguson getting praised when he brought a sub back off.

Pickford getting blamed for the goal, but no one's mentioned the blatant fouling that gave the needless free-kick away in the first place.

Denmark have been great. I thought they looked a little less energetic tonight than in previous games, but we did hold possession well from them.

Schmeichel on the other hand looks a great keeper. Is he better than his dad? I think his footwork and reflex saves are better, maybe not the physical presence but football has moved on from that aspect.

England deserved the win, their free-kick was as soft as our pen.

Italy will be a different proposition. Their midfield and forward movement could be our undoing. We need massive games from our midfield to have any chance.

Not that everyone will agree...

It was a hell of a free-kick, with plenty of power and dip just under the bar to fly in. Just because it wasn't right into the corner doesn't mean Pickford should have saved it. But then again, this is TW and all the experts on here know better.

The idea of a wall is that it protects one side of the goal and the keeper defends the other.

It was a great free-kick but again no commentator criticized the wall for failing to block. No, it's easy to blame the goalkeeper who had no chance.

I had Brazilian commentary but imagined English pundits would be all over Jordan, for that and a couple of stray kicks. The only one I'd personally call him out for was the dreadful throw-out intercepted just outside the penalty area in the first half. Otherwise, he was catching, punching, diving and smothering the ball without a single blip.

In the second half of normal time, he had two poor backpasses to deal with. One he kicked into touch, the other on his right foot was kept alive by Denmark but came to nothing. I'll wager something was made of Jordan's perceived failings and nothing of the poor backpasses to him. Or, indeed, a couple of other plays between those incidents when both Walker and Shaw took wild swings at the ball in their own penalty area, skying them both and keeping their team under pressure.

As he was in the 2nd half of the season for Everton, Jordan is having a great tournament and the first keeper ever to keep five straight clean sheets since the first game.

Kasper Schmeichel kicked one or two into touch. Nothing was said of him doing such a bad clearance. Having said that, he was probably still MotM.

Moving on, I watched tonight's game and once again saw slab-head McGuire present the only serious aerial threat in their box. Now, given that we won by an own-goal and a lucky penalty, I'd've thought that an England manager, realising with McGuire that an aerial threat in their box is a prime goal-scoring strategy, would have had England's best striker when it comes to aerial presence on the bench at least.

We now face Italy; wily, devious, defensive bastards as they are. On the grass, they're masters of the dark arts but, when the ball's 2 feet higher in the air than the aging Chiellini and his campadres can even dream of reaching, I just wonder if "Sir" Gareth (and that is gonna "come home" folks, regardless) might extract his head from his ass and select, even on the bench, the one attacking aerial supremo he has in his squad, he also being the only player, under Southgate at the time too, to score the only goal in a World Cup Final itself?

As Evertonians, we have to accept that the national press, pundits etc in England know the same thing we've worried about the last few years. Pickford's a mistake waiting to happen. And happen. And happen.

Except he's been excellent for the last 7 or 8 months. That the national press and pundits would've taken no mind of since he only plays for Everton; which club has given them no reason to follow or care about.

Anyway, who cares what some speech-enabled manikin says on TV. They don't matter.

The Dane's save from Kane was outstanding. So was Jordan's pair from Braithwaite and Damsgaard, even though the latter was eventually called offside by a smidgen which our lad didn't know when making the save.

I caught an earlier England match with Lee Dixon the in-game pundit. He didn't miss a single opportunity to slag off Jordan – and invented a few more for good measure besides.

It's really, really strange how unappreciated Pickford is in some quarters.

Congrats your team did you proud.

Joe

I'm with you. I wasn't around in 66. I thought we'd blown it when that cross whisked by Gazza's foot in 96. I'm in shock. On paper, we should've won; as Colin said, we had more depth but, after my 44 years of failure; handballs, penalty shoot outs and Iceland, I'm on Cloud 9.

Will we beat Italy? I don't know. They've been brilliant and greater than the sum of their parts. But to be in a final for the first time in my lifetime is unbelievable. If Italy win, they win, no complaints from me (unless it's via the hand of God) but I'm just ecstatic to be here, expecting a great final and may the best team win.

In those 30 years, after Walker, we've had Big Joe's "Dogs of War" team, DVDs of their finest moments being all but non-existent; Walter "Disappointing" Smith's team – 'nuff said; Moysey's "Knives to a Gunfight" team, their finest moments' DVD being even more absent than thOSE of the Dogs of War; and then the tsunami of chaos delivered by Mr Moshiri.

For good reason, we're regrettably eternally last on MotD every week due to what others have described as "zombie" football. They, and the Beeb, are generally right.

So, is there ever going to come a time when us lot, genuine fans, TW posters, some of us seemingly endowed with especially insightful points of view, are going to register our ire together not on some nouveau ex-Kopite manager – as hideous as he is, but on the self-serving moron who's been at the top of our club for nearly all of those 30years – according to his self-proclaimed title (but only he, other mega-rich shits and God above know the actual truth on his alleged status).

He and those he backs are a hole in our heart. Moshiri, or whoever pulls his strings if that's the case, need to eradicate his and their influence before we can ever hope to mount a credible campaign, surely?

As many have alluded over the years, the Media seem to have a total dislike for us, for whatever the reason, but yet overlook the misdemeanours of players at the darling clubs! As soon as we get genuine talent, they are sold to those clubs with hardly a mention of where they started their careers.

The ITV commentary team (apart from Ian Wright) of Dixon, Keane, Neville seemed to be just waiting for an excuse to have a go at Jordan Pickford, in truth he did make a hash of a couple of throw outs, but again his saves were excellent. If Pickford went to Man City, he would be being praised as much as Peter Schmeichel who, according to the BBC, was Man of the Match.

I so want Everton to stuff every single one of their Top 6 clubs this season and win something... I can dream.

On a couple of other points, Kane is vastly over rated IMO.

Honestly, I am amazed if he is the best striker in English football. If Calvert-Lewin had the same quality of service, he would give just as good if not better results. His time will come.

Mount and Saka, neither are good enough for the final; Foden and Grealish should start.

Lastly, the number of times there was no-one up front in the middle waiting for a cross, I lost count of the number of times we were in a good position to cross but had no-one to aim for or just Kane with 4 or 5 players around him, never going to win a thing.

Italy should be so difficult for England to overcome, but do it they must. I have a feeling the crowd may well carry them over the line.

Players I'd like Everton to be looking at are obviously Dumfries of the Netherlands, the blonde Swedish midfielder, whose name escapes me, Schick from the Czechs and my favourite of the whole thing – Dammesgard of Denmark – he's a star in the making.

I've watched all his appearances since coming on for Eriksen as a sub. He handled that situation really well and has been a standout performer, even before tonight's great free-kick. Ericksen hasn't been missed. He's 21 and Definitely worth a punt and, in my opinion, will be worth a lot more in a few years time. So sign him, Mr Brands.

As regards the Italians, it's Young Guns versus Old Masters. I hope England win but the Italians may just have a bit too much nous for them.

Fucking hell, ITV had Peter Schmeichel as man of the match even though he retired 15 years ago???!!

Typo apart, I did think Kasper was excellent. I like him a lot as a goalie and a man, He tried to save victims of the helicopter crash, then stepped up when Christian Eriksen had his coronary. I even chuckled at his cheeky post-game response to “It's coming home.” Great player, I'd have loved him to be an Evertonian.

MotM? not so sure. Putting aside my blue-tinted glasses, the ex RS Sterling is the man who's impressed me most. He's the guy making it happen for England. He's suffered horrendous racist abuse on Twitter, and tabloids misinterpreting his gun tattoo as something supporting violence. I'm as partisan and tribal as it gets but I truly admire this young man as a player and a human being. He's not just my MotM but my player of the tournament.

I was always taught, as a striker, you should be in the middle. Ready to receive the ball in the box. Or hanging off the shoulder of the last defender.

I now find myself scratching my head. More goals than anybody in the league, more assists too. Clearly the game must have moved on from when I was taught to play football! Perhaps the problem (if there is one) isn't Kane being 'out of position', it's the fact that no-one then fills in the gap.

The number of what I would call traditional Ing-ur-land supporters has diminished. They seem to have been replaced by more who now see it as trendy to follow football, but have never followed footballWell not from some of the shouts I heard last night. But they have a brand New England shirt. I'm in two minds as to which is more irritating!!

Anyway, the match. Not a classic. I thought Denmark were good, particularly in the first half. I said earlier, I do like their right back / right wing back, Larsen. Schmeical is some keeper; no disrespect to Leicester, and I know they've offered him all he needs as a player in recent seasons, but I'm surprised the really big clubs aren't hovering. Denmark simply tired and as suspected, England had too much in the end, but a close game. For me, and I called it early, I thought Sterling made a / the difference. Almost every time he had the ball, there was a sense of danger and something happening.

We mention Schmeical. Jordan is a very good and much improved keeper too. I'm not going to dwell on a couple of mistakes; they happen. Rob @73, I believe we've come out in defence of the goalkeeper's union in the past to counter those who are convinced every goal can be avoided, just like on FIFA 2023 or whatever the latest version is.

That was a perfectly executed free kick. Fairly central? Yes, But the pace, direction of travel and late dip gave the keeper no chance in real time. Those who think otherwise because they watched it second hand in slow motion have possibly never defended or tried to save that type of shot??

One more sitting surrounded by the natives to go, then I can get back to the real business of Everton.

Don't let me down on my sweep stake Azzuri. Forza Italia.

Kieran # 87, Sterling has end product and brilliant movement. He's not a dribbler like Messi but he certainly delivers.

Overall, England have been extremely professional. Just one goal conceded en route to the final (and it was the best free kick of the tournament by a mile). Recovered from going a goal down – which took a lot of character.

Panicked a bit but then settled down and I think it's worth calling out Stones and Walker for just how calm and mature they are. Brilliant performances in defence.

Rice is not my cup of tea because he has no passing range whatsoever but he does a job.

Southgate's tournament management has been outstanding. They will be a real threat to win in the final. A very British team in terms of tactics and play.

Initially I too didn't understand the hype around Kane when he burst onto the scene. But the more I watch him, I see a much more complete striker than Dominic.

I remember not really being impressed with a young striker we signed from Dumbarton. A few years on, he turned into Graeme Sharpe. Repetition time from other threads, but Kane in many ways reminds me of Sharpe.

Neville knows fuck all about goalkeeping. What he should know is that Luke Shaw gave away countless free-kicks, when Denmark's main threat is free-kicks. Again, club bias exempted Neville from criticising a Man Utd player – yawn.

My limited knowledge is that the lad put it over the wall, at pace, and just under the bar. Pickford had no time to react, and no keeper has the range to cover his side of the goal plus cover the underside of the crossbar on the other side. Denmark had intelligently blocked off Pickford's view of the ball. The lad had a free hit, if he could get it up and down.

For the record, I hate Pickford. He's been excellent for England, and he would probably perform better at a top club side. But, for Everton, he has been poor at times – whether that is being over-worked, lack of concentration, or just shit players around him dragging his standards down.

Pickford -6.
Should he have done better for Damsgaard's free-kick? His worst game of the tournament regardless. Passing unusually poor and unsettled his side on more than one occasion in the first after gifting the ball straight back to Denmark, but much-improved in the second half and extra-time.

Jordan Henderson (on for Rice, 95) - 7
A great overlapping attacking threat down the right, whipping in a couple of crosses then helped England see it out after taking the lead.

I agree on the fact that it was probably Pickford's worst game so far, and a 6/10 is about right, but how the Fuck can Henderson justify a 7/10 in 25 minutes of play time, when all be did was mainly help play keep ball towards the end of extra time?

Kane gets in positions DCL never does, Kane is deadly in any situation; DCL is not.

I suspect that, if Ollie Watkins progresses this year along with Mason Greenwood, our boy's England career could be short-lived.

But arguably it simply mirrors much of the media generally, being full of drivel which is noise above which a coherent and truthful signal is often hard to discern.

The Danes knew Pickford's weakness and tried to exploit - ie on corners having everybody on top of him - good tactics.

Overall, he's having a fantastic tournament and doing fab. He's young (particularly for a goalkeeper) and can improve and experiences he's had (& having) internationally and us will improve his mental state and assuredness.

If the price was right, I'd still sell but I can't help compare any goalkeeper with Big Nev so always going to be tough and unfair comparison. Only Martyn for us have I seen fit to lace the big man's boots.

It's a blessing not to have to listen to some of the inane outpourings of some (probably all at some point) pundits and commentators and I do not read the Echo, so shite as outlined by Rob above thankfully passes me by. I noted the observation that Pickford had allegedly 'shanked' the ball a couple of times which was pathetic. He did deliver - not sure if it was kicked or thrown - the ball straight to a Dane in our own half at one point, but didn't see any other particular weakness in his game last night. If he was a couple of inches taller he may have got to the free kick but if any player wants calling out it is Kane for that appalling penalty.

He and England got bloody lucky there. Dodgy pen to start with and if Schmeichal had gathered the ball after saving it, or indeed pushed it out for a corner, there was a fair chance that we might have seen burning effigies of Kane this morning rather than hero worship had it gone to pens and we lost. Small margins as someone pointed out.

Anyway, on to Sunday and good luck England (we will need it against the Italians I think) and I will be watching in a pub in Dartmouth without subtitles so can just enjoy the game without the drivel.

I agree.

Italy are the better team but England have momentum. There's a lot to be said for momentum. England to win for me and my sweepstake blown.

At least it will be out of their system and 2021 can be the new 1966 for the next 50 odd years.

On a positive great again to see even more fans back where they belong and the atmosphere. Not just the draw, but pretty much having a home based tournament with supporters has definitely benefited England.

To pinch Tina Turners song, " We don't need another hero weve got Gareth Southgate".

No wonder there are wars when our own supporters are moved to such extremes over a bloody footballer !

Who goes out of their way to take a laser pen to a football match. Or even feel the need to own one?

As for the penalty, again you're right. He should have done better. It wasn't a hard strike by Kane, and when you see it from behind, Schmeichel seems to have the ball well smothered within his body and his arms around the ball. In my opinion, he should have held it.

Although England finally bossed the game after the 70 minute mark, the amount of times there were either no one, or just Kane, in the area surrounded by 5 Danish defenders was astonishing. Kane is undoubtedly a brilliant player, however his tendency to drop deep leaves no one for anyone else to target. We work the ball out wide and have no one to deliver it to.

Calvert-Lewin, in that England team, would score just as many as Kane by simply hanging around the goal. I think Southgate got lucky because, when we were chasing a goal, he had no one on the bench who could change the game up front. Thankfully for him, we got the penalty. When we are chasing a game like that, Kane and Calvert-Lewin could compliment each other and we'd have more than one target in the box.

England were poor for 60 out of the 90 minutes, they need to do better in the final.

Brian @106. On Southgate, he's articulate but safe in my opinion. I think he is suited to coaching rather than management, which is probably why the international role suits him rather than club.

And please, I have yet again been subject to endless renditions of an altered Atomic Kitten song last night that saw grown cockney men singing about Southgate being the one who still turns them on. Very disturbing.

Dave @107. Magnified down here. If England win this, I will need to find a quiet place to escape the hysteria. Roll on 13th August and all things Everton.

John @109. I beg to differ. When you coach a keeper, you teach them to follow the flight of the ball, especially when coming in from wide areas; they should be tracking from post to post. It "hit" Schmeical because he followed the flight of the ball and was in the right position. Just like a striker, it's often about being in the right position. Richarlison scored what some called a jammy goal near the post off his thigh last season in front of the Park End. Nothing jammy about it; he got himself in the right position.

Conversely you could harshly argue Schmeical didn't do so well on the equaliser, but maybe he was expecting a shot onto the near post? Fine margins, decision making and always an element of luck.

However, for me the tournament has shown what is fundamentally lacking in British and Irish football. We are worthy at best but more often ponderous and deadly dull. It is hard to express what is missing but I would describe it as having no zing, ping, chill or any sign of joy.
Average players are elevated by the media because they are all we have. To me, this goes to the very roots of the game where the joy is coached out of kids. I watched an under twelve game some time ago and one of the wannabe coaches was screaming at his team to " hold your shape",
It kind of made me pissed off.
Sadly, England winning this competition will only endorse pragmatic football.

I know quite a few on T/W think the same as yourself about Gareth Southgate, that he is safe and takes very few risks, reminds me of all the same comments that was said about Alf Ramsay in 1966. But many thought he was taking a big risk in playing Kalvin Phillips instead of Grealish or Foden next to Rice. Many thought is was a risk to include Maguire in the squad as he was carrying an injury, and hadn't played for a while. I doubt at the start of the tournament if many even considered Saka getting a start. Then add the fact that after the first couple of games many were calling for Kane to be dropped And there were quite a few who thought Sterling should have been left on the bench, not forgetting how he stuck by Pickford when the majority wanted him dropped.

Admittedly they don't play as openly as France or Portugal, but they have both been knocked out, the job of a manager/coach is to find a formation and team to win a trophy, Southgate is on the verge of doing this and is the only English manager to get to a tournament final since Ramsay.

On the subject of the free kick/goal. It would appear that there is an optimum distance (from about 5 to 10 metres outside the penalty area) where a skilled FK-taker can get the ball over a wall and down enough to hit the goal. Nearer to the goal this does not seem possible, and further away the effect is lessened.

The modern theory appears to be that the wall defends one half of the goal and the goalkeeper defends the other, however, if the FK-taker can get the shot right he has a virtually undefended shot because the GK is a long way across the goal.

If the ball is placed over the wall accurately, the GK only sees it when it is some 12 metres away which, as we saw last night does not give enough time to react.

A goalkeeper seeing a ball hit 25 metres away has about twice as long to react, and would be much more likely to make a save.

I therefore question whether it would be better to have no wall (or at least a minimal one designed to cover the area very close to the post) at least when he FK-taker is known to be good at up-and-down shots.

The GK would have to make more saves, but I suspect the average GK is better at moving about and making saves from 25 metre dead ball shots than he is at stopping 12 metre shots when he starts off in the wrong place.

I also agree with Simon (119). Southgate got lucky last night with that decision to take off Grealish for Trippier. He handed the last 15 minutes to Denmark, which was entirely unnecessary. Fortunately, we kept the ball for the final 3 minutes, which ironically was England's best movement of the whole game.

Sunday will be tense but Southgate's choice of first eleven will be interesting - the usual ten plus Saka or Sancho or Grealish?

The tough Italians may not be as accommodating in the same position so England had better score first. It could well be a penalty shootout with Pickford turning out to be the hero.

The Queen is already preparing Southgate's knighthood whatever happens.

Southgate has as nearly many major semi-final appearances and does own as many wins as every other England manager in history combined. Never rated him, but you certainly don't argue with those results!

Hope they don't shrink "in the moment" but give the best account of themselves in the final. The home crowd should hopefully help.

Well done again.

He's been exceptional throughout, will win the Golden Glove, and he's one of ours.

We should all be made up for him. His levels in this tournament can only help is confidence going into our new season, so we should all be pleased.

England 2-0 if he plays Sancho or Grealish. I think the game got to the young Arsenal boy last night and Grealish or Sancho can win us free-kicks against the tough-tackling Italians

Rob Halligan, you mentioned the Merson word. Sin Bin. Take 10 minutes.

My wife is an accountant and the owner of her company has just purchased 4 tickets for the final. I had to do a double-take on the receipt. Genuinely seen with my own eyes; £7,495 per ticket. I don't swear a lot but "Fuck me!"

Wow! I have no idea where they are, but I hope that includes overnight accommodation, all inclusive drinks and food, pre-match, half-time and post-match entertainment.

And a guarantee that Italy win so I win £82 in my pub sweepstake.

If Pickford stands one metre to his own right, he is then leaving the whole of the left-hand side of his goal totally exposed. At the point of contact (when the ball is struck), he is just slightly to the left of centre, guarding the side of the goal he is meant to do, with his wall defending the side of the goal in front of the ball.

I hear what you're saying, but Damsgaard would have noticed this, and probably would have tried to put his free-kick to Pickford's left. Pickford was in the right position prior to the kick. People just need to accept, not you by the way, that it was a well-executed free-kick, hit with power with plenty of dip, flying in just underneath the bar. Pickford had no chance.

ps: 17 minutes long enough, Danny? 😁😁😁

Did anyone else find the commentary hard to stomach? Now, I find it strange that grown men should paint their faces but, hey, they were having fun. Nor do I expect commentators to display 1950s BBC style neutrality. In fact, had that been an Irish team last night I suspect the commentator would have burst a few blood vessels.

However, to me, the braying jingoism of the match commentators was a tad too nationalistic. I didn't need to be told by the commentator on ITV, who sounded like he had wet his pants, that this was going to change my life. Some part of me was telling me that it likely wouldn't.

If this comes across as curmudgeonly, I will try to be a ray of sunshine come Sunday.

Last thing, does anyone else think that Martin Samuel is an appalling "journalist" who panders to the agenda of his employer in a manner that turns brown-nosing into an art form.

Despite the criticism, I think Pickford has been the best goalkeeper in the tournament so far.

Walker has done what Walker does and has looked the most athletic player in the competition.

Stones has organised the men around him magnificently and has been superb – Is he the first man to get to a major final without breaking sweat?

McGuire has been a constant threat in the opposition box.

Shaw has put in some wonderful crosses.

I accept the midfiled players are more workman like than other countries, but they have been industrious and done their jobs asked of them.

Kane gets better as the tournament goes on... and although some find Sterling a disagreeable little sod, if you asked the neutral who has had them off their seats the most times, many will point to him.

Denmark are no mugs and this game was always going to have attritional periods, but I don't think there is any doubt England deserved to win.

The Italian midfield will be technically superior to England's (assuming Foden and Grealish don't start) but I think England have enough to create all sorts of problems for them. This is one tough call…

BTW; Where is Tony Abrahams and his full eyewitness report from last night?

Article please!

Spot on.

I'm English but the jingoism of the pundits and commentators spoils it for me plus they talk such unadulterated cliched shite.

Don't get me wrong, I know he would likely have moved on regardless given his talent and where we were / are, but I wish we'd have collectively been more patient with him as a young centre back learning his trade. His coolness is what I love in a ball playing centre back. Sadly for a generation of Evertonians who know no better, he freaked them out and gave them high blood pressure. Often because, as a player who wants to retain possession, there was often not a lot of options in front of him.

This may not be palatable with many, but Stones reminds me of Alan Hansen, one of the best centre backs I've visually witnessed.

Fortunately, I've not had to listen to the commentary as I've watched all the England matches in my local Irish Pub.

There's always a downside to everything. Unfortunately, that's because it has been drowned out by previously mentioned cringeworthy chanting and songs, which has included hearing Chelsea and QPR fans singing in admiration of Harry Maguire. Very odd. Me singing for Jordan Henderson? I feel ill thinking about it.

Maguire is another who has had a great tournament by the way.

Danny & Brian

I think Kosovo rattled Southgate. Up until that game a year or so ago, we were much more attack minded scoring four or five a game as we did against Kosovo. But their late comeback and an uncomfortably close 5-3 score line seemed to unnerve Gareth.

Since then we've been far more conservative. That said, we are winning and we are in a final so as far as I'm concerned hats off to the man.

You are obviously not old enough to remember Bobby Moore whose ruddy kit never got creased let alone breaking a sweat!

I think Stones passed it only the once further than that, but I'd had a drink. It was brilliant to be able to spend some real time with my oldest two sons.

My only criticism was that England were too cautious imo, but I've never been to Wembley before and saw the whole ground celebrating the way they did, which was absolutely fantastic – especially after the misery of the last 17 months of soulless football!

Anybody else find all this hullabaloo about us reaching the final embarrassing? It's football, for god's sake, on what level is it important? Maybe it's me getting old and cynical, I don't know.

Plus I see a few morons who support England have as usual managed to disgrace the country again.

I would prefer England to win the final even though I had a small bet on Italy early in the tournament to win it. But, to be honest, I'm not too bothered what the result is.

Stones might not have sprayed the ball about but he was defensively sound. I am surprised in truth at what a good partnership he has built with Maguire.

Next time you get down there, it will be even better because it will be us.

Stones has been excellent throughout.

It is the accurate 10-yard passes that allow us to retain possession – rather than Beckham and Gerrard trying to hit worldies all the time and conceding possession to the opposition.

Rice is the player I'd expect more of. He is very limited indeed on the ball. If we had Busquets in that position, we'd be next level.

That was my impression. Kane definitely could have headed that free-kick by keeping his head up, maybe could have even lifted it up further instead of lowering it.

Kane has improved his overall game considerably in the last two years, adding playmaking to his goalscoring ability. Add this to his diving technique, although he failed with his one for the penalty but managed two or three outside the box. He's not as good as Sterling's, whose dive was perfection to the finest degree.

Henderson's was a disaster, he even forgot to scream as he dived!!

I couldn't agree more re. the commentary "Hullabaloo". Patronizing, bread & circuses fayre arrogantly phrased as if for the perceived little people whose whole lives begin and end with only football. I'm surprised they didn't suggest Ovaltine at the end.

Ditto some of the "Fans". The ridiculous booing was a genuine embarrassment. I've only just read of the laser pens in the thread above; not surprised.

Who would boo Denmark? What antipathy do we have towards that country? Aside from being underdogs and the Eriksen situation, why anyone would disrespect them is beyond me.

If it were 1939 and we were playing Hitler's Germany, then yeah… but this behavior is shameful. The FA and the tabloid media should get off their moral high horse and address it.

Steve Sherwood in the 1984 FA Cup Final is an example of poor goalkeeping but it helped us to our first trophy in many years.

That Danish free-kick was pretty close to perfect and only an anticipated leap could have saved that because Pickford had no sight of the first millisecond.

Let's not stoop to the low levels of the dickhead ex-pro TV pundits with all of this over-the-top analysis. They should know better.

I'm no England fan but, having watched the highlights, I think England were value for the win even though it was a shithouse move by Southgate to take Grealish off. He is a creator and would have kept a very tired Danish defense busy for sure. I would love him at Everton.

Anybody comparing Calvert-Lewin with Harry Kane needs specs. Harry Kane was doing exactly what top midfield players do and putting lovely weighted passes through for Sterling and Sako. The fact that he's a striker makes him all the more special in my eyes.

If England beat this very good and streetsmart Italy, I will be very surprised. I just hope they don't both bore everyone to sleep trying to get to penalties.

I love watching England as it allows you to go the pub with all your mates, regardless of what domestic team they follow, and for once we are in it together.

To all those weirdos that spout “Scouse, not English” we are all laughing at you, get the chip off your shoulders and join the party atmosphere, you miserable sods.

If you look at some of the fan parks, you can see Black, White, Asian, boy & girls all hugging and celebrating together, that's the positive message this tournament is giving us, embrace it, it's a great feeling.

Very proud Englishman that just happens to be from L4! Come on, England!!!

The pundits are a turn off and a lot of the fans who attend are a bit too jingoistic – what have the poor Danes done to be booed? No thanks.

We all know that Pickford is left-footed, so why pass back to his right foot? Asking for trouble!

I just don't understand why people who are not bothered read and participate on a England thread.

There was a good atmosphere but I was one of several who was given abuse for not standing for the national anthem (how long have teens and early twenties lads been into the Royal Family anyway?)

And following the anthem got treated to a loud rendition of "No surrender to the IRA" – again teens and twenties – why???

I thought England played well and deserved the win and I hope they do win it but, as I said, I'm not that bothered, so I won't comment.
UTFT!

Most of the negative comments are from pundits who have never played in goal and could not catch a balloon.

I mentioned on the forum at that time that Kane seemed to withdraw his head, another 1 inch it would have touched his head and either hit the bar or gone over.

There still seems to be a number of Pundits, and one of the worst is Kevin Kilbane, who will only reluctantly give any praise to Pickford and can't wait for him to make a mistake to say, "I told you so."

Let's get off his back and give him some praise for beating one of England's greatest keepers Gordon Banks's record.

As Evertonians we have criticized Pickford for some of his mistakes, but are you not supposed to learn by your mistakes? It might be that Pickford has, and this will benefit Everton.

As someone who can't stand national anthems, that would suit me down to the ground. Also, knowing England, they would play ours first to avoid the booing ban.

Just coming on this post and I will declare before I post that I have been one of Jordan's biggest critics.

On the goal: No blame. It was a brilliantly taken free-kick.

I also concede that he is one of the best shot-stoppers in the business and comes off his line quickly to snuff out dangers in one-on-one situations.

However, Jordan's distribution last night was as bad as I have ever seen. At least two kick-outs directly out of play, at least two more directly at the opposition in very dangerous positions. He was lucky that neither resulted in a goal because, if it had, the abuse after Van Dijk would be mild in comparison.

I thought he had settled down after Carlo had “protected him, dropped him or left him out due to injury”. He seemed to be much calmer and composed when he was regularly back in the team but, for me, he reverted back to his old bad habits last night.

The RS-based shite talk about Pickford is just another example of their feral nastiness. If they were mature adults, they'd be focusing on the positivity of the overall England success so far, in a spirit of unity and togetherness, but they're too base for that, and their behaviour is symptomatic of many of the ills of the modern game.

Faulkner pleaded guilty to both the unlawful supply of content and his own use of the service to view content he should have been paying to watch. The judge recognised that Faulkner's use of the unauthorised service was a crime in itself which lead to him receiving a separate sentence of four months' imprisonment. The court heard that crime was made more 'serious' and 'sophisticated' by the involvement of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Premier League director of legal services, Kevin Plumb said: "This sentencing demonstrates yet again that the courts take piracy crimes seriously and there are significant consequences for criminals involved in all forms of piracy.

"Legal action will be taken against those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football, regardless of the size or scale of the pirate operation.

"This defendant was also given a separate four-month prison sentence for simply watching the unauthorised service. If it were needed, this should dispel any misconception that watching pirate streaming services is a grey area or is not an offence in any way.

I think we may see many more sentences handed out in the near future as the businesses providing legitimate services and the footballing authorities look to claim back some of the lost revenue due to Covid-19.

For what it's worth, I think that the providers are overcharging for their product in the UK and they would likely see a rise in legitimate subscriptions, if they provided more affordable, and flexible packages, which might deter some from seeking to watch on illegitimate platforms. For those that pass on links via fansites or social media, be careful as you never know who is watching.

Jailed for Illegal streaming

There's a boatload of reasons, and everybody is different. But a big reason for my own indifference is the national press, and their ruthless exploitation of the England team no matter what the circumstances are. Those bastards don't miss a trick, they never have and never will.

You can already see some of the shite in the papers, and to my mind – an outsider really – Pickford already looks like he's being set-up to be a potential fall guy should it all go tits-up on Sunday.

Paranoid? No, I know how these bastards work. They hack the phones of murder victims and lie about it, they make up hideous lies about fans at a tragedy like Hillsborough, and they most of all seem to love to bait fans of the national team at the big moments.

If it does go tits-up for England on Sunday, the press reaction will be utterly predictable, and I almost feel like I've read half of the nationalistic tripe that'll make it to the editorials page in the next few days before it's been written. These guys wait years for stuff like this.

There's a lot of other reasons as well, but I thought that one had not been mentioned that and it's quite significant in my own indifference. I feel much same the way about the royal family – personally I wish them no ill will at all, but I really dislike how the press use them. And that ultimate obsequence to the gutter press is at the heart of why I don't invest a lot of energy in following either.

I hope England win and win well on Sunday. But mainly because many of the press would rather someone get sent off, or miss a penalty, or a wide open goal than write the simple feelgood story that England are European Champions. The feelgood story sells less papers. The feelgood story doesn't give the opportunity to follow someone and their family around later and ask them how they feel for letting the nation down.

The media are jackals; lower than snake shit, as my dad would say. Which is part of the reason I'm discussing these weighty issues right here, on an independent and supporter-led internet blog among a peer group with a large commonality of values.

It doesn't seem so odd now, does it?

That's an argument, wholly justified, with excess nationalism and the obnoxious nature of the popular press. Why turn it against the national team, who, for the first time in many years, seems to comprise genuinely likeable, diverse, grounded, dedicated and caring young men?

C'mon England!

I thought it was a good performance by England. More chances, shots on target, more energy & stamina. In the 'negative' second half of extra time, the ball was in our box once. Once.

People ask what Rice & Phillips do. They do what's missing in our midfield. They work, hassle, tackle, play the odd pass, cover the back four and allow the forward players time and space. The Germans ran out of ideas against them, the Danes ran out of gas against them. Southgate has worked out the best team doesn't always have the 'best' players.

I went to four semi-finals on the 1980s, against the 'mighty' Southampton, Luton, Sheffield Wednesday & Norwich. All four were gritty workmanlike wins. They were marvellous. Doesn't have to be like the Harlem Globetrotters.

Got their work cut out on Sunday, but I bet Italy are thinking the same.

Please do not be surprised but I also agree with you on all points. For me, following and watching England is never like watching Everton. Everton are my heart and soul and I am never really relaxed when they are playing. However, I am English and it is just common sense to support them. For the most part, I am also enjoying watching this England team, and also most of the Euro games.

Considering they are a bunch of players from many different teams, England have blended together as well as could be expected. I think Foden and Grealish could be given more time, but I do not see them in game preparations or practice.

I am sure Evertonians would like to see more of Calvert-Lewin but he is not in the same class as Kane in regards to being the "complete" centre-forward. I just hope he benefits from playing with him.

Fair enough, Ray, if that's your view, but I actually don't really care for Maguire, Kane or Sterling at the best of times. And I actively despise Jordan Henderson, one of the few modern players who still stirs me enough to really viscerally dislike them. "Hendo", England shirt or not, is certainly a bridge too far for my support to journey.

This England team is far more generally likeable than most of its recent or near recent predecessors though, I'll freely admit that. Southgate's personal history – the bloody penalty – and his own nice but dim persona probably have much to do with the goodwill in addition to the results.

I feel that, if Calvert-Lewin got the level of service that Kane does, he'd excel more than Kane. Kane struggles when the support struggles, as does Calvert-Lewin. On the whole, Calvert-Lewin has a higher level of skill than Kane, but has been frustrated playing for a dysfunctional Everton side.

Many Evertonians will appreciate Calvert-Lewin more when he's left us for a top club. This always happens when our best players leave for brighter pastures, Stones and Lukaku being examples.

Glad you had a good day out Tony. It was great to see fans and an atmosphere back in force. Shame it wasn't Everton but then that's going to be next May.

Interesting point on the passing thing. How different a player is Stones for England as apposed to City? He definitely sits back a lot more. At times last season, you could have been forgiven for thinking he was playing in midfield. With England, aside from corners, he rarely ventures too far from his own 18 yard line.

The booing of other national anthems is a shameful English thing. They've always done it and its embarrassing as much as it is disrespectful. And on national anthems, yes, England need their own one, not stealing the UK one. God Save the Queen / King is the anthem of the United Kingdom, not England or London.

Alan @153 & Geoff @156. I'm Everton and British. I served my nation in uniform for 28 years. This is an Everton website and this is a broader football thread relating to the Euros outside of Everton. Not all Evertonians support England. Just because I don't doesn't make me a weirdo or mean I can't comment. I've actually been quite complementary to England's steady progress in the tournament.

I'm a proud Brit, just not an Englishman. But I can observe and comment on their performances on a football discussion forum.

One thing this tournament has shown is the bitterness online towards the England team and the nation as a whole. I've had to leave a couple of other international Everton forums that I'm in as there's been some absolute pure hatred towards anyone English. I'm so hoping that we do win on Sunday, just to see the reaction.

Kane can shoot fiercely and cleanly from long range with either foot, has provided numerous assists for others, and has the vision to play the sort of defence-splitting pass that led to the own goal last night.

Could you really see Calvert-Lewin hitting that volley that Kane tried against Ukraine?

Maybe an internet thing. I'm in Kansas City and have friends and acquaintances from the US, Mexico and El Salvador all rooting for England. No idea why, I'd have thought the latter two groups would go for Spain as they avidly follow the league there.

No, I couldn't see him hitting that volley, and I take your point. But, I think of many goals Calvert-Lewin has scored where he's displayed very unusual levels of skill that you don't see from Kane. He's scored from a few back-heels, and in particular, that goal against West Ham, from a Keane through-ball from defence, where he took it first time on his left foot, flicking it onto his right foot, and then first time into the net, was absolutely top class.

He and Kane have different skill-sets, both are very good, but I believe that Calvert-Lewin is a more balanced and elegant player, especially for a big lad. He's probably as good, or better, than anyone else in the Premier League, in the air. There's far more to come from him, and in time I'm sure he'll be England's No 1 striker.

Patriots are sensible people, whereas nationalists need counselling.

I think that Calvert-Lewin is far more of an athletic specimen than Kane. I am sure he is faster and better at receiving long balls, something that he had to do far too often last season.

But: Ray (178) astutely explains the main difference. Kane's contribution is easily observed by the fact that he has scored with his left, his right, and his head in equal amounts during last season. He has also provided far more assists than Dom.

That said, I am a big supporter of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. I just feel that he can improve his statistics with the right support and coaching. I also feel he can learn from Kane.

Has anyone seen the shooting drills England training video? Calvert-Lewin gives a decent account of himself. If he could learn from Kane how to strike a long shot, that would be appreciated.

I think Calvert-Lewin shoots the ball incorrectly. He jabs it like a long pass rather than the leg following through in a classic shooting action.

Calvert-Lewin is strong, holds the ball brilliantly, excellent in the air and fit and fast. Just his shooting holding him back.

Kane is a top striker. A bit leaden footed right now but he scores and assists, holds the ball up, wins fouls and lets Sterling do the running in behind (like Son does at Spurs). Calvert-Lewin is someone to try if we're desperate – but Rashford and Sancho are probably a better bet.

Facts state none of them ever won a full professional tournament, in their England careers.

But great for the English nation, which collectively if you take in the respective regional disasters in the economy over the years, since 1966, is a fantastic achievement and testimony to the spirit of the people, and to the England squad.

I get my dismay and reality checks on Calvert-Lewin not being in the squad, but the petulant scolding by a crap right back, who only got 22 caps in 9 years, of Everton's goalkeeper, tells a story.

Rise above the pundits' verbal spites, and let's believe that the omens of 1966, a good year for Everton, will resonate next season.

Still I approached my stake on Italy before the tournament, based purely on form, and facts. Let's see what happens. In it to win it!

nb: Are there any TW plans for the long awaited TW beer in Town?

One mistake in 6 games. And he's won some of those games with saves. The mistake didn't result in a goal and didn't change the result. Well played Jordan.

As for the final, I think Italy are a gift. Spain would have been a horrible match up for England but Italy are basically an old style English team. The 'wily' campaigners at the back are fodder for Kane, Sterling and Saka.

It's a final, so has the potential to be tense, but I've a sneaking suspicion that we're about to see a one sided final. I think England are a terrible match up for Italy. 3-0 England and celebrations starting from the hour mark.

Saying that, we've had a bunch of American lads come down to the local bar with us. Partly to cheer on England, but also to be a part of the atmosphere. We have a pretty sizable English population here in North Carolina, so the pub has been packed. Many of the guys said they've never experienced a real soccer pub atmosphere like it and joined in with the celebrations.

I'm not too sure what they made of the celebrations last night though. They all had their phones out recording 40+ English guys n' girls who were in their 40s & 50s, jumping around like lunatics at the final whistle.

Calvert-Lewin is more of an old-fashioned centre-forward right now but is nowhere near Kane's ability. He has time on his side, though, and he has seen close-up in this tournament what is required at the top level Unfortunately he hasn't had much game time to show what he can or can't do and we will find out soon for ourselves if he has improved his overall game.

Back to Jordan Pickford. You do get the feeling that these pricks in the studio are actually waiting for him to drop a clanger so they can justify their own thoughts on him. 'Pricks' is too nice a word for them and I wish we had our own representative there to defend him.

This time last year, we were all also a bit doubtful about Pickford but he had a very good season just gone and has improved a lot. Let's hope for another clean sheet.

At 27 years of age, he is still pretty young for a keeper and looks a lot fitter than last year too.

Spot-on. Kane is a clever player and has so much variety in his game. He has looked slow and is perhaps carrying an ankle issue but he is getting so good at pulling defenders out of position and opening up space for Sterling etc to exploit.

I thought it was dim of Southgate to have 2 goalies on the bench and no room for Dom. I also disliked him pulling Grealish off. His tactic worked – so he wasn't criticised – but it just brought them on to us and could have been costly.

As for Jordan on the free-kick, I think a taller guy might have got to it, but it was a hell of a shot, hit with such pace. He had looked edgy, for the first time really in this tournament. I wonder how he will feel in the final?

I don't think you can accuse Southgate of being “dim” for selecting 3 keepers given the rules:

Each manager must select a matchday squad of 23 for each game, which must include three goalkeepers.

I did wonder! So he's not dim then!

I think Pickford's relatively period of poor form was for most of the time he has been at Everton, after a good first season. In the last six months, he has become a safer and calmer goalkeeper. Although he was like a cat on a hot tin roof during periods of the Denmark game. For England's sake, I hope he stays calm on Sunday.

One thing I'll say for England, they've consistently had very good keepers, and there's a reason that Pickford has been England's No 1 keeper for a few years now. It's because he's bloody good.

It seems that the nation and those that want England to lose the final, can't lose, they have their scapegoat primed and ready. I really don't understand and have never understood the dislike of Jordan.

Is he the best available to England right now? Of course, he is. Could Everton buy a better replacement? Probably but at some considerable cost. Would Jordan receive the same scrutiny if he was plying his trade elsewhere? I don't think he would.

There is an easy solution to the predicament that Pickford finds himself in: he should tell his fellow defenders to take responsibility for punting the ball upfield and ask them to refrain from passing the ball to him so often, unless it's absolutely necessary.

Obviously, the incident with Van Dijk hasn't helped his popularity among the media, with even a group of Dutch fans blaming him for their poor showing in the tournament, but this 'witchhunt' as Neville Southall described it pre-dates that incident and shows no signs of abating, at least whilst he remains at Goodison.

The whole narrative surrounding Jordan, has spoilt for me what has been a very good tournament, and will spoil my enjoyment of the final, regardless of the outcome.

I have some red mates, and when Allison was making blunders last season, I was sympathetic but assured them how good he is. However, there's been no hint of reciprocity with Pickford, and indeed there never is. Many are simply nasty when it comes to Pickford.

Re Van Dijk, it's always bad for such an injury to occur, but I've told my Red mates that, while Pickford did not set out to deliberately injure him, earlier in the game Van Dijk deliberately injured Rodriguez. For Pickford, there was no intent to injure, but for Van Dijk, there was intent to injure.

The point here is that, if he hadn't set out to deliberately injure Rodriguez, the course of the game would have been different and, in all likelihood, Van Dijk would not have been injured in that way. That's what we call Karma. But the Reds I know, and the media, try to ignore what happened here, and have no answer to this point.

There are enough RS Fans (most of whom I know are not alright, not as humans but as moaning biased RS, but don't go the match) Enough media RS "experts", enough pundits and so calling Pickford, Everton The Blues and that's why I ask that we on TW and The Live Forum while criticizing play or form do not call our own club and players (and worse, fans) unpleasant names.

Season Ticket bought… enthusiasm brewing for August. Blue Skies everywhere. Cosmic Bluetiful waves and grooves all the way. Up The Blues.

I said in an earlier post that I was not too bothered if we win or lose on Sunday. What I should have said is I won't lose any sleep if we lose. I would I prefer for us to win, of course I would.

I think the lethargy is because us older guys have been let down by the national team that often since 1966 that we have given up on them.

Calamity James and Grobbelaar the Clown spring to mind despite both being reasonable goalies, not to mention various Scottish keepers who made ricks at internationals but were okay domestically.

It's just something Pickford has to carry around… unless he drops it – arf, arf!

We have seen it first hand at Everton and also at England, there is far too much playing ticky-tacky football between the defence and the goalkeeper. Sooner or later, a mistake will happen, and the blame will always be down to the goalkeeper.

What I will say on the game itself: a very very soft penalty for me; however, I do think the one on Harry Kane was a penalty.

Where abouts in North Carolina are you based? My son was coaching near Morehead City but had to return from the USA due to Covid restrictions.

As long as Pickford reverts to his earlier tournament form, he will be fine. Despite the back four having a great tournament, I am more worried about how Shaw is going to handle Chiese (not sure I have spelt that correctly) – he just might have Shaw on toast.

Come on, England.

OKAY, you did make a couple of frustrating clearance mistakes but, as life's story goes, you never get anywhere without making the odd mistake or two..

Keep cool, do your very best in the final (as we believe you always do) and turn a deaf ear to the shit brains that want always to be critical of you.

Good luck wishes for the game vs Italy! My accountant and my hairdresser are Italian and I reckon they are really worried!!!!!!

1. The foul against Kane has 100% penalty nailed on to it. No doubt. No question. Absolute shit refereeing from a guy who had refereed the game generally very well.

2. The second and decisive incident. Might I first state, as a True Blue since 1953, Raheem Sterling has performed brilliantly for England. When you look at the penalty decision it comes from 2 contacts within perhaps a second of time in which he was first knocked by one Danish defender and, as falling from this, he was again sent down by the second Danish defender. Clear penalty, don't know what the fuss is about. if it had been at the other end of the field there would have been shit all media coverage of it - Nailed on penalty they would say.

Barry what do you make of the standard of play compared to today? I don't think Cohen would even get in the squad!

I don't like talking about the other crowd, and for years I thought the opposition wilted at Anfield, but then I realized how much harder it makes the Liverpool team work, and the harder you work, then the “harder it always is” for the opposition imo.

Everton 3 Accrington 0

But good to see Everton back. One more night of Atomic Kitten and then it's all eyes on the real business of 14th August!!

Make your own minds up.. But I reckon this season that mediocrity won't be accepted at Goodison Park.

There's a long way to go, but I'm backing Rafa, he does know the score.

There is something seriously wrong with how we are producing young players. Answers on a postcard please.

As much as I don't follow England, I wish them well tonight, But if they do win, and I think they will, it will simply mask over the flaws in our grass roots system for another 55 years as we will continue with the "fingers crossed" approach that a few good players will materialise at the same time. Rather than properly invest and restructure.

It's only just gone 9am and the hysteria is winding me up. Time for the dogs to go out again!

The BBC has just suggested that come the final whistle we could be talking about this England team in the same breath as the World Cup winners of 1966.

This is the Euros right? So more like winning the FA Cup than the Premier League?

I need to leave it. I think living in London has really affected my view of the England football team and support base!!

But Roger's point is valid in terms of how our system has not produced. When you compare the England record to that of the likes of Germany, Italy and France, it is poor. Even Holland in relative terms has out performed over the years.

And then when you get into the detail of the quality of players those countries have produced, England pales into insignificance.

France had Zidane, but they were definitely based on physicality imo, and it's interesting that England, have got to a final using players and a system, that most of us probably think we could improve upon, if we were picking the current English team?

The FA changed their structure, and many of their functions because it wasn't working and wasn't ever going to work. They looked at world class, proven programs across the world and in other sports, looked at the logic and feasibility of integrating them into a new approach for football, and then shamelessly stole them whilsat setting up their own program.
A program that has generated more success for the national team in less than fifteen years than almost it's entire existence up until then.

It was the sort of thing we were promised as Evertonians with Brands arrival. Will we ever see the same renaissance however?

https://twitter.com/mainteamsports/status/1170448708409974784?lang=en

(sorry, can't do linkie things)

But, my observation with the English game and FA investment remains that it still seems to be focussed on and exclusive to the elite academies at the top of the pyramid. Ones and twos lucky enough to get through benefit from the investment the FA has put in place. But that investment is only at the top. Meanwhile, elsewhere, on the sloping, badly maintained parks, where lines are marked (I won't call them pitches) . I'll stop the scratched record!!!!

To my crossed fingers analogy of English football's approach. I don't think there is much of a plan other than provide outstanding facilities for those fortunate enough to make the elite. Hence us not producing the quantity of top players that other countries do in comparison. Also the type of player we tend to produce is rarely of the same standard, but that's down to the culture of what you see on the parks. Which is where most of our kids play football, not in the academies, but that's what feeds them.

So, while I agree to a degree, that it does seem to be improving, if the FA really want to tap into and develop more of the talent that is out there rather than hope and pray that the planets will align and a decent bunch will happen to come along at the same time, then I'd like to see more bottom up investment & restructuring at grass roots. That's how Germany, Holland and France do it.

I guess that's my point and prior frustration. We have talent, but for many previously discussed reasons, we don't identify or develop enough of it from grass roots. But it is out there. We can do much, much better.

If you want to escape from what I imagine is the wall-to-wall hype over a certain game of togger today, let me give you another goody.

I know you, like me and a few others on TW, like yer clikky. I'm watching the Roses match streamed live on YouTube. Join me here:

Roses Match Live

Red Rose going extremely well on the first day with the little 'n large openers, the towering Jennings and the short arse Davies. Just returned from lunch. Davies gone to his 50, Jennings not far behind. Almost a ton up without loss.

On all day, every day. Been watching Lancs games all summer this way. Enjoy!

But like the fool I am, I've got a table booked in my local west London boozer for later. The wife follows England so I have to earn points for when I drag her out to watch Everton.

As for the biggest hyped up game of football, possibly in the history of the game, I'll be watching that and hope we see a good game of football, may the best team win, even though we'll never hear !!the end of it if England finish on top.

It's a world away from Iceland, and how they started the revolution in their football and national team. But as you alluded to Danny, you cut your coat according to your cloth, and the national team has enjoyed it's most successful sustained period in fifty years.

England fans should also be able to realistically expect more success like this in the coming years, despite the historical context of underachievement. The FA are getting much better at equipping and preparing a group for tournament success, something borne out not only by the progress in this tournament but also the nature of it. An England team assuredly swatting the Germans in a knockout tournament game is the real measure of how far they've come.

I think Hell might be a bit like that, with Jim White as the devil.

The live cricket stream is great, and great relief, with good informed, non-biased commentary, and no hyperbole.

I suppose my hope is that regardless of which way around they build the house (top down or bottom up), I truly hope that the investment filters down, as there is much more to talent to tap into rather than hoping for a once in a generation team every fifty years. Sustainability and consistency is not something the English game has majored on. It tends to be about hoping for the here and now quick win rather than a strategy. As you say, there are signs that is changing.

Germany were always in transition for this tournament. A few left overs from the 2014 team, a few up and coming, but they lacked something in-between in my opinion. They will go away, study and rebuild. Just like they always have done (4 World Cups, 3 Euros and countless near misses). They have a proper football strategy built from the grass roots up.

Hey, I'm not even an England follower, but I care passionately about the English game and development of home grown players.

Football obviously enjoys far higher rates of participation and thus more and deeper competition than a sport like cricket enjoys. A ground-up approach is IMV exactly what's required but for money and simplicities sake, England have gone in the drection they have.

And perhaps with the pre-eminence of the Premier League, the various academies and scouting networks will find talented youngsters and mould them into the next generation of Kane, Sterling and Stones for the national team to profit off. The ends sadly have entirely justified the means thus far; having found a successful formula of sorts you'd expect the FA to cling to it like religious doctrine. An investment in the very foundations of the game is probably not on the agenda.

The national lottery investment and what it has done for the British Olympic team is what English football needs to truly transform itself from the bottom up. It was only after leaving the UK and living in other countries that the lack of accessible sporting facilities in Liverpool became so obvious. You don't miss what you don't have. Something massively improved upon since I first left in the mid-nineties. Everytime I have returned I have noted the impressive improvement in opportunities sporting youngsters in Liverpool have now, and rightfully so.

The Aussies teach all their kids to swim from the age of 5. Then they throw them in the pool every spring at every single school until they are 15. This lets them identify all of the talent, late bloomers (for swimming) and prodigies alike.
Voila. You have an entirely self-sustaining production line of swimming talent for the World Championship and Olympic level virtually forever.

There's no real reason (other than finding who ought to pay for it) why English football should or could not be exactly the same.

As you say a restructuring from the ground up would uncover many more Sterlings', Stones', Kanes', and Foden's than the few gems we have seen come through.

They are out there.

Their local team, which I believe hovers around their 4th team has outstanding facilities. Fantastic setup.

We should also mention Denmark and Croatia, countries with populations similar to Scotland.

** Ieper (Ypres)

** 4th tier

It's his ability to pull off unorthodox great saves could frustrate the Italian sharp-shooters.

Actually I fancy Calvert-Lewin as a sub, I think the Italians will contain Kane. . Calvert-Lewin is used to feeding off scraps.

I wonder if Ancelotti's coaching and advice might prove useful to them both.

Good to see you've got your priorities right Dave!

Good call by the Tykes to put Lancs into bat (titter!). Creaming 'em at the moment.

Hayes did hit six sixes in an over once, but it was in a club game is my understanding.

Alan (52) yes I saw Leicestershire at Aigburth in the early fifties, they batted all day and slogged their way to over 350 with very little loss of wickets, Inever went back for the final two days, missed seeing Cyril Washbrook and Winston Pace batting for Lancashire and never saw them in person batting, only in the field.

The county games were held at Stanley Park in Blackpool, the last one being in 2008.

It was against them, for Notts I think. Nash was a pretty decent County bowler. I think Lancs played Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay, occasionally.

Today's match was originally planned for Scarborough apparently, but Covid put a stop to that.