Quite a match so far, this one.

it's certainly dope to hear a full Wembley, but I wish they'd at least mention the health side of things. There were a bunch of cases among the Scottish fans that travelled to London for their group stage game, and with hospitalizations going up 38% in the last week in England (fastest since October) it would be nice to go beyond the pat celebration of fans being back

Expecting a capacity crowd of 150,000. That can't end well.

Today it looks maybe 2/3 full? Lower levels are pretty sparse.

I get that announcers are part of the product and want to put a positive spin on things, but it's putting profit before health & life.

they just need a finisher

and a goalkeeper who doesn't scare the hell out of me on basic plays

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

what a move

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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

we deserve someone to win this outright.

(also, twice the ref ended the half with spain in the middle of an attack, grrr, but super minor--he's generally been pretty good)

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

18 going on 28

Gotten away with a couple today.

and as a sort of lifetime achievement reward.

but in a year without a clear cut favorite i could see jorginho getting serious consideration if italy wins and he balls in the final.

and messi is setting records in the copa for goals and assists.

argentina beat brazil? how do you not give it to messi, even with his year being a down one compared to the heights he's reached in prior years?

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

gotta beat Brazil though, and the way Neymar and Paqueta are ballin out there, won't be a cake-walk

I was 100% facetious in my post, but then Nicky Bandini on the FW pod after the game made the claim seriously (or seemed like she was), though that may be post-win delirium talking. And if England win I have no idea who has a good claim, Sterling? He hasn't exactly had a great club season.

which would make messi's case stronger IF they win. Add to it that scolini keeps playing stupid lineups and di maria gonna di maria in the finals most likely. I was texting with an argentine friend just back and forth in the last twenty minutes:

"i know this feeling"
"this feeling sucks"
"every fucking tourney"
"messi deserves better"

maybe this time they broke the curse? doubt it.

>if England win I have no idea who has a good claim, Sterling? He
>hasn't exactly had a great club season.

yeah, that'd be laughable. and you just KNOW the english papers will lose their shit if an english player doesn't win it if they win the euro but cmon. CMON

there really isn't a good option if italy wins and argentina loses, except of course messi just being messi. mbappe mighta been the best player but choking is choking.

but people are seriously talking up jorginho for ballon d'or. I guess Lewa could get the award, but i'm not sure how winning the league with bayern outdoes messi's record breaking copa and keeping this barca squad near the top of la liga.


-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

>and di maria gonna
>di maria in the finals most likely.

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

Really Curious to see how the final vs England turns out

...but what if they did?

Frygter vikingerne.

Jorginho's run up is a bit bs. Nothing against the guy, I didn't want Spain to win, but they were supposed to be stricter about the taker's back when they started VARing the keeper on the goal line at the Women's World Cup but no one seems to remember that, not even the refs. They aren't supposed to be stutter stepping or hesitating, you're supposed to keep the same pace in your run up, especially once you're a certain range/number of strides from the ball. I won't keep ranting though.

Hopefully Schmeichel and the Danes can get through England, that would be my favourite story now, especially after his press interview response to stopping it from coming home.

>They aren't
>supposed to be stutter stepping or hesitating, you're supposed
>to keep the same pace in your run up, especially once you're a
>certain range/number of strides from the ball.

The laws say otherwise:

https://www.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2021-22-booklet?l=en

2. Offences and sanctions
Once the referee has signalled for a penalty kick to be taken, the kick must be taken; if it is not taken the referee may take disciplinary action before signalling again for the kick to be taken.

If, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs:
• the player taking the penalty kick or a team-mate offends:
• if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken
• if the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts with an indirect free kick except for the following when play will be stopped and restarted with an indirect free kick, regardless of whether or not a goal is scored:
• a penalty kick is kicked backwards
• a team-mate of the identified kicker takes the kick; the referee cautions the player who took the kick
• feinting to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting in the run-up is permitted); the referee cautions the kicker

I remember them talking about both leading into that World Cup, about enforcing the run ups and the goal line more, but using VAR on the goal line ended up getting all the attention with calls and retakes. It said they could use VAR to monitor 'illegal feinting', but I guess that depends on their definition of completing the run-up, at the time it sounded like they didn't like that stuff anymore. I'm really not a fan of that hop as late as Jorginho's was, those last two steps are when you are planting your standing foot and shooting with the other, that hop to me is no different than stopping the swing of your foot after planting but I guess they consider completing the run up is when that foot is down.

Ospina just got away with one...

Still, colombia have played well, deserved the equalizer.

The shit talk was just as epic as the saves.

I flipped away from the nba game for that.
I was actually relieved that Messi didn't have to take that last pen.
Man, I hope they can beat Brasil.

If they can just frustrate them long enough...

Move Walker in, bring on Trippier, I guess is the way. Give Shaw more freedom.

His runs are a thing of beauty...

Game is now tied.

where are the ballers. this shit is clunky as fuck.

they've played about 90mins combined and you bring on the corpse of Henderson and Fodens unproven ass over both of them

and to save it too and get scored on the rebound :( whatever

yeah, there was another replay angle that showed up later that was a bit more damning in terms of visible contact. God I wish Kane got stopped from scoring there.

How can you call that in XT of an international semi final.

Don’t call it and just let it go to VAR if it’s a clear penalty.

At least England can’t cry about luck anymore.

Hadn't realized how much I wanted Denmark to go through until the game started...after that call, just sucked all the joy out of it.

gonna be a shock when england finally has to go up against a side with creative/elite attacking players (and a more than solid back line). these stale and safe tactics won't hold up for a full 90.

> these stale and safe tactics won't hold up
>for a full 90.

i absolutely hate it. as a person Southgate is probably the right guy to steer this ship. but as a manager he got these boys shackled and chained down so bad.

Yeah no.

The Queen better put a statue of him in front of Buckingham Palace.

Running circles around opponents and the naysayers....

Now take down the Axis power!

or heck next time Neymar takes a tumble

classy move...

https://talksport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/07/msemail_pxl_eng_den_schmeichel_lazered_48bjpg-JS664486707.jpg?strip=

classy

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/09/danish-woman-claims-assault-by-england-fans-after-semi-final

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/10/he-is-nine-years-old-more-danes-tell-of-being-abused-by-england-fans

After so many losses becauss teammates missed so many sitters.

Also, goddam is De Paul built for atletico. What a great signing.


---
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

>Also, goddam is De Paul built for atletico. What a great
>signing.

man i want england to win but Southgate's doing it in the absolute lamest way possible

Deschamps (rightfully) got a ton of shit for the lack of ambition of our play in 2018, but for some reason Southgate gets a pass, both at home and abroad

You can say 5 Ds and 2 DMs, but Shaw gets so involved in attack, and Philips makes so many runs and passes up the field, that's it's a bit disingenuous to say that it's a super-defensive approach. I mean, in attack it's a 3-2-5, right, with one of the 2 DMs way up around the opponent's box. That's hardly negative.

So y'all wanted a 4213/4231 or whatever? Why?

this is a well-organized team making the most of its individualities, but with this squad it should be way more fun to watch. I understand England fans are excited about ending their dry spell, but I just find it funny when say Guardian journos get swept up in the hysteria and offer no criticism of Southgate just because they win. Not a big deal, just a small thing that I noticed

tough to go from that approach to a more deliberate attacking mode

Like every England move that has broken down has ended at Mount’s feet.

And rashford for Kane

It’s so obvious

it's one thing to sit back and guard a 3-0 lead.

but to try to sit for 85 mins on 1-0?

go out on your sword or go out on your shield? i'm taking the sword.

as much love as Southgate has been getting, if England loses, the questions are gonna start coming hard and fast. And the fact is, England is better than this when you consider their talent. They CAN go take the game. It's a choice not to do so.

Try to win

cuz I don understand how anything works, including time. I feel like the shit could end any second and go to pk’s.

.

.

Played not to lose and sent Rashford and sancho in there ice cold to take these pens.

Poor saka as well

>Played not to lose and sent Rashford and sancho in there ice
>cold to take these pens.
>
>Poor saka as well

even if you want him shooting, let him go 2nd or 3rd

put him in a terrible spot. loved the team rallying around him afterwards tho.

Idgaf what the manager picked. Idgaf about how many Saka blasts in in practice. You cannot allow a child to take that pen. You step up as a senior player and take that one for the team.

Grealish isn't going to do anything brash because he knows Southgate will use any excuse to leave him out next tourney.

To not have Sterling in your top 7 though? Cmon.

after the save he just looked down and walked away, no celebrating whatsoever

Rashford
Sancho
Saka
Jorginho....

Jorginho gets a pass, because he played well during the tourney.

Sancho and Rashford were specifically brought on to score penalties....

However, when you put the game in the hands of young inexperienced players...
This is what you get.

The Jorginho/Saka back to back misses, can’t script that stuff

Had no business winning in 2006 ...and got no business winning here.

Damn, England....it was right there for taking...

Insigne, Chiesa, Chiellini, Bonnucci, Spinazzola, Verratti, Barella, Gigi were all as good as or better than their counterparts in every match

these arent untalented bums out there mucking up play

Match fixing ass country.....Italy will never get love from me.

There are only two players I appreciate and that’s Jorginho and Emerson,
because they are Chelsea guys.


England blew it...and Zizou head butt gave them the victory in the 2006 WC.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/england-eng/story/4431389/england-fa-condemn-racist-abuse-aimed-at-rashfordsakasancho-after-euro-shootout-loss

Didn't exactly take a soothsayer to know what the headlines were gonna look like this morning as far as all that goes.

Sigh.

Sent out Rashford and Sancho, cold off the bench after barely playing all tournament, and put the entire game on them.

What an asshole.

like, BAD.

you gotta fire/replace him. they BETTER do it.

Semi and a Final will save his job but I thought he coached a godawful tournament and I’ve said as much all along. They only made it this far because they were at home and the draw broke for Them.

So hopefully in the next 18 months he decides he wants to play football. Bellingham, Grealish and one of Sancho/Rashford need to be nailed on starters alongside Kane, Sterling and Rice. And hopefully he learns that you’re allowed to use subs to try to win in 90 instead of playing for pens from the 60th minute.

Stop with this 5 defender 2 cdm garbage. You have too much talent to resort to that,

you go a goal up in 3 minutes?

YOU'RE PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY BABY!

I get sitting on that for a bit, but as soon as Italy scored (from you sitting back and just absorbing pressure and never holding possession), you bring out the choppas and let 'em sing.

go WIN the damn game, don't just sit there and continue to absorb pressure. shit, they are lucky they even made it to penalties.

and then when he finally made subs, they were all poorly timed. Grealish doesn't come til 99 mins? shit, he barely got Sancho and Rash on (and in hindsight maybe it woulda been better had Italy held the ball and not let them get on - i'm half joking, obviously).

and then, to have Saka (who should have never came on IMO) taking that final kick? someone else (Grealish?) needs to be taking that.

He just got them to their first final in 55 years or whatever it's been, went to penalties against an excellent team—arguably the most consistently strong in the whole tournament—with an excellent coach, in the last few years has made the team likable, done away with all the ego-driven shit of "this guy HAS to play because he's so and so instead of this guy who would fit in better, and now has the squad positioned to roll through the WC next year. And y'all are saying fire him?

Goddamn.

LET ME SAY IT AGAIN IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

FIRE GARETH SOUTHGATE.

OL BITCHMADE ASS TACTICS.

England has the talent to get to a final WITH NO FUCKING COACH.

but you do need some balls, some backbone, to get it right and win the shit.

he failed. in every way.

why is "getting over the hump" (except the hump of actually winning) good enough? doesn't England want for more? well, they can have it with a different coach that has the guts for it.

>England has the talent to get to a final WITH NO FUCKING
>COACH.

For this worldview to work.

i'm not saying the guy has never done anything good for English soccer.

i'm saying he got it completely fucking wrong which pretty much anyone with eyeballs agrees with, and that it doesn't appear that he's going to adjust his style to best mesh with the talent he has at his disposal.

so, England should find a manager who can best utilize the resources at their disposal for greater success.

clearly there has been some disconnect between the talent and the easy peasy results you think it should bring

its not a coincidence that he's the only coach thats ever been able to bridge that. so if hes a transition coach, then fine. but to not acknowledge that England's national team was the 00's Clemson version of a soccer team before he got there is silly.

its not random chance that made them choke artists for decades, and its not random chance that Gareth Southgate swept that stink away.

no one is in here saying that, and you're acting like an obtuse dickhead.

That Southgate got outcoached, in the end, and by the thinnest of margins, by a vastly more experienced manager with a long record of success, and that he ought to be given the chance to learn from his mistakes and apply those lessons to next year's tournament with the strong core of young talent he's helped assemble.

But I guess "Fire his ass" will have to do.

Please do tell.

LOL

you should find something better to do with your time and get off my dick.

how bout that?

"i'm not saying he never did anything good for English soccer"

okay, he got the stink off. he served his purpose.

now, fire his ass and get someone in there who isn't scared to do what it takes to win trophies.

He can be GM of the FA or whatever equivalent front office position they would have for someone who oversees the whole operation. He sorry as fuck as a coach though.

horrible substitutions (as he did all tournament), and real galaxy brain shit on the PKs.

Not subbing off Sterling (and Kane) after Italy tied it was horrible, leaving all that talent unused on the bench was stupid.

And I can hardly think of a worse approach to picking your first 5 penalty takers.

England managed to survive the tournament without Pickford OR Maguire doing something incredibly stupid and costing them a win. They couldn't survive Southgate though.

instead we have the sadly predictable racist abuse against some of the brightest stars on the team. Fuck these hooligans

especially with whatever he was on yesterday.

he was GASSED up. you could tell the way he was talking shit (i think to himself) that he was gonna save Jorginho.

defend his substitutions yesterday and his selections for penalties.

I'll wait.

they're clearly a team to count with again, not just the usual Rd of 16 laughingstock, but they didn't exactly swash-buckle their way through daunting adversity in '18 and this year. Of course you play who's in front of you, but their last two exits have been remarkably similar in their construction, and maybe Southgate could draw conclusions from them

That was about as good of a performance as you're going to see from a CB in a game of that magnitude.

As always it's fuck him and all other things Bianconeri-related but he was phenomenal and should now be completely solidified in that Baresi/Maldini/Cannavaro/Nesta tier of Azzuri defenders

https://twitter.com/OfficialTM_3/status/1414655312074784785


Tyrone Mings
@OfficialTM_3
·
You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.

Quote Tweet
Priti Patel
@pritipatel
· 12h
I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.

It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.

people try to act like Europe is some higher more advanced society.

Where do they think the white people in this country are from? lol

i saw Rio Ferdinand tweet something like that today...something like "something must be done about racism in soccer" and I'm like, well, something needs to be done about racists and their racism.

soccer doesn't have a racism problem. racists watch soccer so until you take care of all the racists, soccer will always have a racism problem.

days late and whatever, but so happy for the goat. Now all that "never did it for Argentina" chatter can finally die.