Euro 2016

[budgetmeansbudget]

Kane may have touched the ball a few times but all of them were ineffective. He is absolutely desperate to get back a bit of form but the more desperate you get the more you seem to fail

Could you name one moment other than Vardy's chance where he made any kind of contribution? As I said, he might play better in an open game against a better team, but he was utterly redundant in this match for all but 10 seconds. There was a cross at the end where Clyne puts it in with 94 minutes gone, and Kane was the only one attacking the six yard box. At 0-0 and with a last throw of the dice, where was Vardy? He should be busting his lungs to attack the box.

I could say the same of many though. I believe the only other person in the box was Rooney.... when 90 are up and your team's most advanced player is 30 yards from his own goalkeeper, you put 7 men in the box and start launching them like Howitzers. That more than anything annoyed me last night. Right at the end you had 9 men outside the box as they were putting crosses in.

I'm not suggesting Vardy has been much better, just reiterating that Kane has been awful.

All the strikers have been poor, but they've all had to contend with teams with men behind the ball and zero space to operate in.

[sussexpob]

Sturridge hardly ever plays the obvious ball. It's annoying when you're at home watching but at least the defenders can't read him either.

He also has this need to beat players and get a shot off without much regard for what his teammates are doing. A bit Ronaldoesque at times but not as good.

Sturridge is a great player, but he seems like a man hellbent on trying to prove he is special and is worthy of his place, and in doing so is annoyingly proving the opposite.

The moment in the 2nd half vs Wales summed it up. He beat two men, had still 4 men in front of him and decides rather than capitalise on the space he created with his initial good run, he would try and score a Maradona goal, and got tackled with a wide open overlap to his right.

At one point yesterday he did a bit of skill on the spot with back to goal that had every football fan in Europe shouting "Ole" at the tv, but then proceeded to shoot from 40 yards with a man 1 yard in front of him, who inevitably blocked the ball.

If, and it seems a big if, he gets his head engaged with his brain, he could be mega dangerous in this team.

[sussexpob]

All the strikers have been poor, but they've all had to contend with teams with men behind the ball and zero space to operate in.

Harry Kane seemed to lose it the moment he stepped on the plane, but Id still back him to get it right.

For all the negatives, we took the youngest team by some distance to this tournament while also taking a team that is much better than our previous efforts.

It is apparent that the tournament experience maybe lacking with some performances. I just hope Kane and Alli can shrug it off after the groups.

[sussexpob]

All in all, even if we get knocked out Id rather be missing chances then not creating them. This could be a turning point for the National team.... give it another two years and these guys will be better.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Getting all the negativity out the way in the group stages so we can go over the top with praise when they beat France 3-0 in the quarters!

To see them then lose to Germany on penalties in the semis.

[sussexpob]

Getting all the negativity out the way in the group stages so we can go over the top with praise when they beat France 3-0 in the quarters!

To see them then lose to Germany on penalties in the semis.

Id take us knocking out one good team and not winning.

[budgetmeansbudget]

All the strikers have been poor, but they've all had to contend with teams with men behind the ball and zero space to operate in.

Harry Kane seemed to lose it the moment he stepped on the plane, but Id still back him to get it right.

I think he lost it with about 4 games to go in the Premier League season. Probably physically and mentally knackered after a mega tiring season.

[Gingerfinch]

England have played better Football than they ever did under Capello, and under Sven in 2006, which is a positive. Playing three teams intent on damage limitation hasn't helped us. Bring on a team with the foresight of actually trying to score and we might get a few.

[sussexpob]

England have played better Football than they ever did under Capello, and under Sven in 2006, which is a positive. Playing three teams intent on damage limitation hasn't helped us. Bring on a team with the foresight of actually trying to score and we might get a few.

Or some luck like Wales.

Gareth Bale has scored two rubbish free kicks that keepers have let in. And Ramsey's first goal last night was offside.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Agree with that Finchy, but I still want Hodgson gone. He's done OK but I don't think he's the man to take this young team forward.

[budgetmeansbudget]

England have played better Football than they ever did under Capello, and under Sven in 2006, which is a positive. Playing three teams intent on damage limitation hasn't helped us. Bring on a team with the foresight of actually trying to score and we might get a few.

Or some luck like Wales.

Gareth Bale has scored two rubbish free kicks that keepers have let in. And Ramsey's first goal last night was offside.

Wales also played a Russian team that had to win so they were bound to get more room to play than we did.

[sussexpob]

England have played better Football than they ever did under Capello, and under Sven in 2006, which is a positive. Playing three teams intent on damage limitation hasn't helped us. Bring on a team with the foresight of actually trying to score and we might get a few.

Or some luck like Wales.

Gareth Bale has scored two rubbish free kicks that keepers have let in. And Ramsey's first goal last night was offside.

Wales also played a Russian team that had to win so they were bound to get more room to play than we did.

Well indeed. We played every team at the wrong time.

Russia when they were happy to get just a point on the board to start and target the other two
Wales after they had won and were happy to get a point to qualify
Slovakia going out with a loss.

[sussexpob]

Wales on the other hand.....

Played a Slovakia team that tried their best to score when it was 1-1 and were caught on the break
Played a Russia team who couldnt draw let alone lose.
Played an England team that were never going to play for anything but the win

[Gingerfinch]

I don't wish to generalise but my wife who didn't watch the game, said the England players earn enough money to win, and a lady in the office said exactly the same thing this morning. The ironic thing being, the lady who works in the office is massively overpaid!

[sussexpob]

I don't wish to generalise but my wife who didn't watch the game, said the England players earn enough money to win, and a lady in the office said exactly the same thing this morning. The ironic thing being, the lady who works in the office is massively overpaid!

Not sure that England are the highest paid squad.