Topic: Euro 2016 Thread

@ShogunRok: Generally more cagey affairs as they know one mistake can end their tournament. If a team manages to get an 'early' goal though, it can certainly change a match. Switzerland didn't really turn up until the 2nd half at 1-0 down (great equaliser) and after that it was a case of try to win but do everything not to lose. Extra Time always seems pointless to me - teams rarely go for the Win but almost settle for penalties. It seems to be 'just don't take a risk/make a mistake...'

Good start by the Republic of Ireland... A penalty inside the first 2mins against the host nation - France...

Yeah today's matches were far better, thought all three of them were well worth watching. Hopefully Italy v Spain keeps up the pace tomorrow!

@TripleGK: I think the difference is that now we are at the Knockout stages. England haven't exactly sat back and not created a lot of chances, even against stubborn teams. On another day we could/should have scored more. Iceland haven't been very adventurous and I think they will try and park the bus. If England can get a goal, I can see Iceland getting beat easily as they would have to push up a bit more or else they are out. The longer it goes though without a goal, the more I expect Iceland to play for penalties.

Looks like we have gone for pace but hope we don't get bogged down in the middle but use the width...

Poor Spain - Italians got it spot on and stopped them in their tracks. Came back towards the end, but too little too late. Germany vs. Italy is going to be fun!

Penalty to England after 3mins... which Rooney scored! Sturridge and Sterling combining to get the penalty so I guess Hodgson was right to pick both so far...

Not that the lead lasted long!!!! Ridiculous but hopefully the match will be interesting!

Its going from bad to worse if you are an England fan - now 2-1 and Hart makes a hash of that!

Why does England make such hard work of everything they do? Sad fact Iceland have scored more goals in the Euros than us so far and thats including tonight. A country of 300,000 people and we can not even score against them in open play, shameful

Only reason I want England to go through now is to see us get ripped to shreds by France. Absolutely appalling display, and no idea why Sturridge is so deep, he's having to do everything while Alli sits in the box - it's madness.

@ShogunRok: You have won of the best goalscorers in England (Sturridge) playing as a winger, Rooney (a striker or No 10) playing quite deep, Alli (a midfielder) playing further forward than our Striker (Kane) - its a MESS!!!

At least we are creating chances but you want the players putting the ball into the box, in the box and those in the Box the ones putting the ball in. Sturridge is having to drop deep every time Rose goes forward to cover for him....

England players should hang their heads in shame no pride, no passion

@dryrain: Totally agree although I do think Hodgson got a lot wrong today. Playing Sturridge out on the wing (although he did put a few great balls into the box), Alli playing in front of Kane for a lot of the match. Sterling, I don't recall him actually getting past a player or creating anything. Rooney was terrible with his distribution - the passing in general was poor! Even when a ball was passed into feet, they miss controlled it. But the team formation was awful and often the only person in the box was a midfielder because Sturridge had to drop deep to cover Walker, Kane was pulling out of the box Rooney was sitting deep too. The longer the match went on the more the players congregated around Icelands 'D' making it even more congested - no width - particularly down the right and Rose kept coming inside whenever he got the ball (assuming he managed to keep hold of it). The Subs Hodgson used did nothing to affect the game or change the formation. Rashford at least injected some pace but he should have been further forward. Kanes 2nd half performance was terrible yet Hodgson stuck with him. Lallana (who had played well in the tournament) should have come on for Sterling and Rashford for Kane. Lallana would have provided width and the ability to beat a player - could have passed our way in behind the Icelandic back 4. I have never seen such a disorganised and ill-prepared England team and Hodgson showed no ability to change things tactically either! POOR!

Twice in less than week we have gone out if Europe LOL

It was inevitable that England were going out, let's face it, but I thought we'd at least scrape Iceland by a goal or so and then get destroyed by France. Quite amazing that the team failed to even reach my low expectations.

@BAMozzy: Agree on all points.

Rooney 3/10 - when the pressures on he's awful
Sterling 4/10 - freezing cold form
Kane 2/10 - still on free kicks

I never watched the Slovakia game, apparently we played quite well bar the finishing why did Roy repick these 3 Muppets?
Just what was Hodgson thinking?

Unfortunately Roy missed a trick; Dier and Drinkwater Holding. Baines on free kicks. Wes Morgan at the back with Smalling. Hindsight is a lovely thing - if we all hadn't worried about these issues previously.

Also hugely important; whoevers feeding Joe Hart Red Bull before game can you please stop it, the guys more hyped on the pitch than Sammy is for Shenmue.

@themcnoisy: Well Hodgson has gone... With the players we had and a bit more wisdom in picking players to play in the right areas - the areas they play at club level, I think we really could of beaten Iceland convincingly. Kane and Sterling have been poor all tournament. Our only win came when these two weren't playing - Vardy and Sturridge getting the goals against Wales after being 1-0 down. Playing Sturridge as a winger - a player who is a centre forward goal scorer is ridiculous. Kane is more of a 10 than a 9 when on form - he isn't the payer to get behind a defence but to drop a bit deeper - Vardy or Rashford should have started instead. Sterling can't beat players and with out his pace, he is very average. Even if he gets on the ball in behind, against a physical, strong side, he can't do anything with it - Lallana might not have the pace but he has the ability to pass and beat players.

Hodgson couldn'r even pick players to play in their best and most natural position so you can't expect him to make tactical changes when needed! He didn't last long at LFC and I must admit I was surprised he lasted this long for England - helped I guess by a weak qualifying group that saw us win every match but when it really counted, we scraped through the group stages and go out against Iceland!

I've been right behind England until the second half of tonights game, I was willing Iceland to stick a couple more in by the end, though. We were literally falling over the ball. Madness!

@themcnoisy: Didn't watch the game but I've never been a fan of Sterling. He's good with running with the ball but his decision making and final pass into the box have always been poor. Never understood why he was included in the squad.

Just watched the replay match between Spain and Italy and I've been very impressed with Italy's performance during this competition. Last night, they've showed that can play attacking football as well. Not only were they defending in numbers but they were also attacking in numbers and with purpose. On top of that, they've made it through to the next round with an aging back three and keeper, all top class I might add.

Conte has got it right strategically against Spain and it'll be interesting to see what he does against Germany and how he does at Chelsea.

Roy Hodgson has said "I did not see the defeat coming. Nothing in the first three games we played here gave me any indication we would play as poorly as we did"

Every England fan says "We all saw the defeat happening! Playing people out of position, a formation that hadn't been tried before and selecting players Low on confidence and looking unsure throughout the tournament so far. How could you not see we could play so poorly after 2 lacklustre draws against VERY average teams and about to play a TEAM high on confidence, passion and desire to win and work together, a TEAM that were organised and had a game-plan, a TEAM that that knew their strengths and played to it etc. We all knew (especially us Liverpool fans) that Roy has no clue about tactics, how react and organise a team to overcome the oppositions strengths and attack their weaknesses, respond to the way a match is progressing and make tactical changes where necessary, motivate players low on confidence, give players a 'plan' and some 'direction' - especially when formation and position are not 'natural' or familiar to them...

Oh well glad he has gone!!

Who's next Gareth Southgate? Seems he the Bookies favourite at the moment...

There is something about English players that when they play for ther country they just do not perform when it comes to euros or world cup. At club level they do well but when the pressure is on and there is any kind of expectation they always let the fans down. Rashford should never have gone to the Euros he hardly played him and that meant a winger could not go which left us short. I like Hodgeson as a man I think he is a good guy and its a shame that it ended this way. He has had a great managerial career which now will always be remembered for this result. He did play people out of position but equally none of the players put in a performance.

@WanderingBullet: As a German fan, I'm terrified of Italy. They're our boogey team and they looked rather comfortable against Spain. I wasn't one of those who thought that, coming into this tournament, Italy had one of their worst teams in their history as I've watched a lot of Serie A over the last few years and they have gifted talents (Insigne, Bernadeschi, Florenzi, Romagnoli etc) but they've gotten by without even playing them! Germany have been rather disappointing so far and I can't see us overcoming the Italians. I hope we do, but I think our midfield is all too easily bypassed and with the Italian speed of transition, we'll be in trouble.
@BAMozzy: I don't think formation and player roles were the deciding factor. As I watched the game, I was shocked by the complete lack of movement from any English forward player. When Sterling ran down the flank, nobody made any run to give him an option when knowing full well he wouldn't want to cross. Compare it to the movement of the German forward players. Also Rooney has never been a midfielder, I have always said it and he showed just why. When under pressure, his movement and his touch are distinctly less than world-class. I don't think Hodgson should take all the blame as the players should have performed better. I agree with Alan Shearer that the Premier League may make players look a lot better than they are.