Topic: Euro 2016 Thread

@ShadowofSparta: I thought Germany has been good in this tournament. Having said that, I think they're better off playing Gomez at the top instead of Gotze.
If Italy wins this tournament, I think it'll be one of the best accomplishments ever considering that they had to beat Spain, Germany and possibly France as well if I'm not mistaken before heading to the finals.

@dryrain From what I've heard, Rashford played better during that 5 minutes compared to the others players that played the full match.
The EPL is arguably the best league in the world but that's only because it has the combination of the hardworking English players along with the flair and technically skilled foreign players. Not to mention that currently they just don't have any world class players. In a way, I feel sorry for whoever takes the job as the England manager. They are so pressured to do well due to the EPL being so successful that's its probably tougher than being the PM of Britain.

Plus, I don't get why they so keen on bringing an English manager in for the role but only because I can't think of any that has done great at club level football.:/

@WanderingBullet: There's still a few more gears Germany can go through. I've seen the team play better and I don't think Khedira is fully back to his old self. Kroos can also be shy in a tackle. We're better with Gomez but his lack of technique can be really detrimental to some of our build-up play. He doesn't tend to see quick passes and layoffs very quickly and there were a number of times against Slovakia where he played the ball safely out wide despite having a runner looking for a flick. Don't get me wrong, we look better with him, he gives us a presence and a target, but I completely understand why Jogi has kept trying to play Gotze there. Klose is proving irreplaceable as he gave us everything, a target and the technique (which was grossly underrated) to play in quick transitions. If Max Kruse had been a good boy, we might have had something of an answer. We have some good prospects though, like Davie Selke so I don't think we're doomed to not have one.
You hit the nail on the head with regard to England. I think the Premier League breeds a focus on results that can become overwhelming. It doesn't allow talent to develop because there is too much pressure for positive and immediate results. This ends up affecting youth development, where kids are focused on not doing any wrong rather than trying to find the best way to express their talent

@ShadowofSparta: So what's your prediction for the Germany vs Italy game?

@WanderingBullet: Much like against Spain, I expect Italy to press both Hummels and Boateng if we play with two ball-playing centrebacks. I'm actually starting to ponder whether Jogi will play with 3 centrebacks in a 3-5-2, something he tried in our March friendly against Italy. We won that 4-1 BUT Italy, much like us, are terrible in friendlies so I don't know how much to draw from that. If we play with just two, I expect Giacherrini to take Boateng and Pelle/ Eder to take Hummels, with the spare striker covering Kroos to limit Neuer's passing options. They did the same against Spain and effectively nullified Busquets from starting attacks. The one thing we have going for us is Neuer is calmer than De Gea can be. De Gea didn't know how to deal with Italy's man-marking and instead of aiming for his advanced fullbacks (who could move up as Italy's wingbacks dropped back to cover for the Italian defence squeezing Morata, Nolito and Silva) kept hitting the ball down the middle. I don't think Neuer will make the same mistake. If he finds our fullbacks, we get out. The only problem is that Kroos, our heartbeat, will be severely marked. He not only initiates attacks, but unlike Busquets, gets forward often enough to get involved in combinations around the box. The one thing we have going for us is that both our centrebacks are very, very good passers ( Hummels has been playing killer through-balls for BVB all season) and I don't know if they can keep all three deep-playmakers quiet. They had periods of compact pressing and allowed Pique and Ramos to have the ball (albeit limiting their central passing options) so there is a chance the centrebacks will get some chances to play diagonals. Plus, Spain really focused on using Iniesta as a ball carrier and often had Fabregas and Silva occupying similar areas without much interchange. Our forwards do interchange a lot so if Italy man-mark, they could lose their structure. That's a big IF though. Italy also opened the midfield up to prevent Busquets from being able to cover enough zones and with Eder and Giacherrini pushing up on the centrebacks, Italy could find Pelle in space. We have no real midfielders to counter that. Kroos is a bit shy in a tackle and Khedira doesn't challenge much in the air. Basti is not fit and Weigl hasn't had much gametime.

Basically, unless we try to revert to a 3 man backline as well to give Italy something to think about, I can see the Italians adjusting to whatever we try with the formation we've used so far. Italy has such a fantastic blend of technique and work-rate that their transitions can be killer, either going forward to kill us on a counter or getting back in shape to kill our combinations. We'll need very strong fullback and forward performances (with lots of interchange). I think Italy will win, 2-1. To beat them, we'll need a special performance, better than any we've had so far.

what a result for the Welsh. Well done Wales. Such a game, well deserved win. And this is coming from a Rep. Of Ireland fan lol

Wilmots lost his head. How can you revert to a back 3 with no wingbacks? Having Mertens as a left wb to track the cross before the 3rd Welsh goal was silly. Hungary made Belgium look better than they were by giving them so much space, so much naivety. Regardless, I'm so happy for Wales. Brilliant result and a great performance. Ramsey again having a ball this tourney. Well done Wales

@ShadowofSparta: Ah, I see. Well, this is one of the few matches I'm definitely looking forward to watching but I'll be catching the replay match since the live one starts at 2am here.lol

Position for position apart from one Belguim had a better side. It just goes to show how team spirit and a passionate manager can make all the difference. Bale said it righn when he talked about England we could learn a lot from the welsh. Ramsey will be missed in the next game and will be good to see the battle between two of the great players of Real madrid

What a crazy penalty shoot-out! Who would have thought that Germany would miss 3 penalties (1 saved) out of their 5 - 2-2 after 5 each both with some poor penalties although didn't miss in sudden death. 18 penalties in the end and finishes 6-5 to Germany! Germanys first win against Italy in a major tournament although still haven't beaten them in normal play...

@BAMozzy: Haha we came closer than usual though. For what it's worth, I thought, tactically, Germany were outstanding. The best way to play against this Italy was a back 3 that Jogi toyed with in friendlies and it worked beautifully (the Italian forwards were at times unsure whether to press Kroos or the centrebacks before covering angles, the way Basti moved wide to pull the Italian midfield out and give Kroos space and cut off Chiellini-Di Sciglio before running around like a madman second half- brilliant), although I guess it wasn't very fun to watch. Still very proud. I think Italy were excellent but I can't help but feel that if Muller was in goal-scoring form, we might have just (just!) won it in normal time. Penalties were awful. I knew Muller would miss his but he keeps going (good on him). Pens were worse when you consider Germany have been using new tech to help them take penalties. Zaza...well...

Do we think Wales are going to do it, then? Portugal have been incredibly poor in this tournament IMO, but they seem to keep scraping through.

Ramsey will be a huge miss for Wales, but I think they've got a shot at getting to the final, I really do. Portugal must be exhausted after two 120 minute matches.

@get2sammyb Wales can do it, but who can say if they will or not. Portugal did play very well against Poland, really. That Renato Sanchez is seriously good. Wales will really miss Ramsey but yes, I think they can edge it. Allen is perfectly good enough to replace Ramsey in that position, and Bale can make something from nothing.

@get2sammyb: The way I see it, Portugal have got by without playing near their best. IF they ever decide to start, it'll be tough to call. Tactically, although Portugal are a bit muddled at times, they're not bad. Wales though have been one of the strongest teams tactically throughout the tournament. They have a chance to beat Portugal. However, they can replace Ramsey's work rate off the ball (e.g. shifting to cover wingbacks) but the timing of his runs and his quality on the ball will be a huge miss. I think Portugal, with players playing to their level, would win it. If Santos got some guts and played both Sanches and the awesome Andre Gomes, they'd be stacked with players who can create moments of magic. Still, this has been a tournament of tactics so I can't count out Wales. They've been amazing

@Speedy67: Ramsey is a key player for Arsenal. Allen is a fringe player for Liverpool. Wouldn't exactly say they're so easily comparable.

I really hope Wales do it — even as an Englishman, I'd love to see them get to the final. Do agree with what you said about Ramsey @ShadowofSparta — like you say, they can put someone in who'll match his workrate, but not necessarily his quality.

Suddenly everyman and his dog has some kind of connection to Wales. Its nice to have a British team still in the cup but if it was England how many welsh people would be supporting england to win? I doubt it would be very many. I think they stand a good chance tonight Portugal have not exactly been free scoring and Wales are solid in defence. Get Ronaldo frustrated an dits a winnable game.

@dryrain: Thats because Welsh football is also English football, our English league is split between England and Wales for instance where as Scotland have that pants Celtic only league north of the Border. So yes I am supporting Wales as I used to watch Fireman Sam, love throwing random double Ls everywhere and used to love going to Rhyl suncentre! Come on you LLwelsh LLDragllllonllls.

Ramsey was sorely missed but much props for Coleman and his boys and, of course, Joe Ledley's mighty beard.

You can never rule out Germany, but I fancy France tonight. Am I alone?

@get2sammyb: France do seem to do well on home soil and Germany are without Khedira, Hummels (suspended) and Gomez. I know Germany struggled against Italy but Italy are a 'bogey' team (first time Germany have beaten Italy in a tournament) and seem to set up more to stifle than to win. Pogba seems to be about to move back to the EPL with a £100m, £300k a week deal - whether this has any impact on his performance tonight, who knows... Some others, like Newcastles Sissoko are also playing for paydays.

I am not overly bothered who wins in truth, I guess I would prefer Germany because I don't have any French players in my favourite Club side - a lot of German links and at least 1 player (at the moment) - not that they have featured much. Regardless though, I will be routing for the winner of this match to win the Tournament. If France do get through, I will be routing for them after the terrorist attacks they have endured...