To anyone criticising England

[cricketfieldclarets]

That Italy game was as bad as any I’ve seen all tournament. Austria much the better side. But that isn’t saying much.

Just shows. All teams have it.

[Elizabeth]

This is tournament football , let’s see what happens. If I thought we would win I’d want the Italians out . Sadly even if they are eliminated tonight it won’t help our chances of winning

[cricketfieldclarets]

Now ahead in extra time. Good goal. Austria will be dejected from that.

[Elizabeth]

Italy have scored - tournament football !

[tiger76]

Yes it's been boring I agree, I hoped once we reached the KO stages teams would adopt a positive mindset, but sadly that's not been the case in this game. we'll get some excitement when we get to the penalties.

Maybe we won't need pens after all 1-0 Italy at long last. Good finish by Chiesa, now can Austria respond.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Yes it's been boring I agree, I hoped once we reached the KO stages teams would adopt a positive mindset, but sadly that's not been the case in this game. we'll get some excitement when we get to the penalties.

Maybe we won't need pens after all 1-0 Italy at long last. Good finish by Chiesa, now can Austria respond.

Great goal.

Very dull especially after the Denmark wales game earlier. Denmark were top drawer.

[Claret Till I Die]

Still think that anyone capable of beating France and carrying on that form will win it

[cricketfieldclarets]

Game over now.

[Elizabeth]

That’s it over ! Play poorly , know how to win !

[cricketfieldclarets]

Still think that anyone capable of beating France and carrying on that form will win it

I agree. There’s something about France that I will think undo them.

[cricketfieldclarets]

That’s it over ! Play poorly , know how to win !

Sounds like England in the groups.

[Vegas Claret]

That Italy game was as bad as any I’ve seen all tournament. Austria much the better side. But that isn’t saying much.

Just shows. All teams have it.

Mancini won the Premier League, Southgate relegated Boro. End of conversation

FWIW I think the first semi decent team Italy play they will get spanked

[tiger76]

Great goal.

Very dull especially after the Denmark wales game earlier. Denmark were top drawer.

Yes Italy have sadly reverted to type sadly after showing so much attacking flair in their group games, however I suppose if they see out a 1-0 win they'll consider it job done.

2-0 now and that should be that, 2 subs with both goals, so Mancini will feel vindicated in his selection after all.

But Italy have made heavy weather of this, and they haven't particularly impressed me, however another clean sheet on the cards, and that would be 12 on the spin.

[Elizabeth]

Some posters have no idea what tournament football is all about
I suppose it felt like a good idea to start this post when it looked like Italy were in danger of going out. The thread seems pointless now

[cricketfieldclarets]

Mancini won the Premier League, Southgate relegated Boro. End of conversation

FWIW I think the first semi decent team Italy play they will get spanked

Capello won everything there is.

Means nothing. International football is totally different.

Shall we get ranieri in?

[cricketfieldclarets]

Some posters have no idea what tournament football is all about

You’ve misread the opening post unsurprisingly.

[dermotdermot]

That Italy game was as bad as any I’ve seen all tournament. Austria much the better side. But that isn’t saying much.

Just shows. All teams have it.

But it’s not over yet. Extra time has been much better.

[Elizabeth]

At the risk of repeating myself , a pointless thread now

[cricketfieldclarets]

But it’s not over yet. Extra time has been much better.

I agree. My point was. Every team has their moments. Italy have been quality every game. But were poor in 90 mins tonight.

Much better in extra time.

Had England drawn 0-0 with Austria though a lot wouldnt care if we won extra time 5-0.

[Claret Till I Die]

I agree. There’s something about France that I will think undo them.

The one man midfield that is Kante plus the people at the side of him will run any game for me

[Vegas Claret]

Capello won everything there is.

Means nothing. International football is totally different.

Shall we get ranieri in?

Would be more deserving than Southgate who did nothing to warrant the job but your point is a fair one

[cricketfieldclarets]

Would be more deserving than Southgate who did nothing to warrant the job but your point is a fair one

And his record as an international manager was awful.

[Elizabeth]

I agree. My point was. Every team has their moments. Italy have been quality every game. But were poor in 90 mins tonight.

Much better in extra time.

Had England drawn 0-0 with Austria though a lot wouldnt care if we won extra time 5-0.

Desperate stuff now

[Jakubclaret]

Some posters have no idea what tournament football is all about
I suppose it felt like a good idea to start this post when it looked like Italy were in danger of going out. The thread seems pointless now

Good teams always find a way of winning even when playing poorly & Italy have done exactly that tonight, the quality counted when it mattered, we seem to do the opposite play well but find a way of losing when it matters, could be the crucial difference.

[dermotdermot]

That Italy game was as bad as any I’ve seen all tournament. Austria much the better side. But that isn’t saying much.

Just shows. All teams have it.

You definitely spoke too soon.

[Elizabeth]

The OP must be praying now Austria equalise

[Elizabeth]

Shots of Italian fans praying in the crowd

[cricketfieldclarets]

You definitely spoke too soon.

Extra time has been excellent.

[cricketfieldclarets]

The OP must be praying now Austria equalise

Why? I don’t mind who goes through. And with mates in Italy makes it more interesting if they do.

[bobinho]

Capello won everything there is.

Means nothing. International football is totally different.

Shall we get ranieri in?

Just GS out will do for now….

[Elizabeth]

That Austria team probably would have beaten England tonight

[cricketfieldclarets]

That Austria team probably would have beaten England tonight

Anything’s possible in Tournament football.

[Elizabeth]

You’re starting to get it CC , Bravo

[nil_desperandum]

I think the key thing in tournament football is that the top teams all appear capable of going up an extra gear or two if required, as Italy demonstrated in ET this evening.
I'm really not sure that we (England) are able to do that. I guess we'll find out pretty soon.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I think the key thing in tournament football is that the top teams all appear capable of going up an extra gear or two if required, as Italy demonstrated in ET this evening.
I'm really not sure that we (England) are able to do that. I guess we'll find out pretty soon.

Extra time with the fresh legs on (all three scorers were subs) it was a totally different game.

Italy were drab in 90 minutes though. And the point was it happens to all teams.

The one thing that’s impressed so far. Three clean sheets. We have excellent attacking talent. But to have kept three clean sheets has been very impressive.

[tim_noone]

Extra time with the fresh legs on (all three scorers were subs) it was a totally different game.

Italy were drab in 90 minutes though. And the point was it happens to all teams.

The one thing that’s impressed so far. Three clean sheets. We have excellent attacking talent. But to have kept three clean sheets has been very impressive.

Correct...what a terrible 90 minute game time. I switched off at that point . I wasnt prepared to sit through another 30......

[boatshed bill]

Correct...what a terrible 90 minute game time. I switched off at that point . I wasnt prepared to sit through another 30......

Leave the sound on, Tim, then if it sounds exciting you can switch back

[tim_noone]

Leave the sound on, Tim, then if it sounds exciting you can switch back

If I'd left the room during that 90 minutes I guarantee there would have been goals!

[willsclarets]

The op wasn't that tricky to understand, and nothing whatsoever to do with the ultimate result but what had played out in 90 minutes. Really easy to interpret, or at least you'd think.

[BenWickes]

The op wasn't that tricky to understand, and nothing whatsoever to do with the ultimate result but what had played out in 90 minutes. Really easy to interpret, or at least you'd think.

You'd think wouldn't you? I got the OP's point too but it seems it went over some heads.

[elwaclaret]

I’d say there is a world of difference between the Italians on a very poor showing beat one of the best Austrian sides in many years and England who consistently under perform, have no soul and struggle to a goalless draw against championship quality Scotland.

[KRBFC]

I’d say there is a world of difference between the Italians on a very poor showing beat one of the best Austrian sides in many years and England who consistently under perform, have no soul and struggle to a goalless draw against championship quality Scotland.

Englands b team comfortably beat that Austrian side and were slated for not playing the A team.

I like how you said one of the best Austrian side for many a year but didn’t give Scotland the same credit, Scotland would give that Austrian side a real game

Championship quality with Premier League players all over the pitch including Arsenal Chelsea United Liverpool players

[diamondpocket]

Before the tournament, I don't think keeping 3 clean sheets against an average Czech side, a Championship standard Scots side, and a fairly lacklustre attacking unit of Croatia, would have been seen as a big surprise. Not exactly strong opposition. It was as easy as a group as we could have hoped for.

Now, we'll see what this squad is made of with Germany. If we pass that test then it becomes a mental thing playing in Quarters/Semis where we've failed so often. The teams on paper after the Germans are in our favour and we'd expect to beat them on any other given day (Sweden/Ukraine & Netherlands probably/Denmark).

[elwaclaret]

Englands b team comfortably beat that Austrian side and were slated for not playing the A team.

I like how you said one of the best Austrian side for many a year but didn’t give Scotland the same credit, Scotland would give that Austrian side a real game

Championship quality with Premier League players all over the pitch including Arsenal Chelsea United Liverpool players

So Scotland were not **** poor and apart from against super England they looked like they could go all the way. Sorry.
Oh well England will easily win it then. All good.

…I predicted how Scotland would go about England, and that England would be unable to cope if the Scots refused to allow England to settle… if Scotland can do that to England what are some of the other teams capable of doing using similar tactics?

[elwaclaret]

In fairness I remember England looking pretty ordinary before the 2001 Game in Germany… so at least there remains hope that England will suddenly find another gear. It’s a slim hope but remains a possibility, I for one would be very happy if I needed to issue an apology to Southgate for misjudging him as a manager… but I haven’t started making any notes yet.

[KRBFC]

So Scotland were not **** poor and apart from against super England they looked like they could go all the way. Sorry.
Oh well England will easily win it then. All good.

…I predicted how Scotland would go about England, and that England would be unable to cope if the Scots refused to allow England to settle… if Scotland can do that to England what are some of the other teams capable of doing using similar tactics?

Clear bias in saying one of the best Austrian sides for many a year and not saying the same about Scotland.

Championship standard?

Arsenals best player (Tierney), one of the best left backs in Europe (Robertson), a regular at Man United (Mctominay), one of the brightest young players in Europe at Chelsea (Gilmour), another midfielder linked with a big money move to Liverpool/United (Mcginn).

They clearly aren't Championship standard.

You're talking about one game against Scotland, why not talk about the Hungary performance against France and Germany? or the Sweden/Poland performance against the Spanish? or the Austrian performance against Italy? Portugal conceded 4 against Germany and scraped past Hungary.

As for England unable to cope against Scotland? that's an overreaction, if Stones scores, England win that game. I only recall one Pickford save from their fullbacks volley. It wasn't a good performance by England and they didn't lose, I thought playing below par and making sure you don't lose in tournament football was a positive.

[diamondpocket]

Yeah, that great Scot side full of Prem class got 1 point against their arch rivals but bottled it against Croatia and Czechs in front of their own fans! hahaha. KRBFC must be fishing again as it's Sunday!

[KRBFC]

Yeah, that great Scot side full of Prem class got 1 point against their arch rivals but bottled it against Croatia and Czechs in front of their own fans! hahaha. KRBFC must be fishing again as it's Sunday!

They have some very good players and have finally managed to qualify for a major tournament. Anything can happen in 90 minutes, they raised their game and were at 100%, England weren't and didn't need to be. I don't know why people are acting like that Scotland game was a must win, it was a pretty meaningless group game for England and the performance kinda reflected that.

[elwaclaret]

Clear bias in saying one of the best Austrian sides for many a year and not saying the same about Scotland.

Championship standard?

Arsenals best player (Tierney), one of the best left backs in Europe (Robertson), a regular at Man United (Mctominay), one of the brightest young players in Europe at Chelsea (Gilmour), another midfielder linked with a big money move to Liverpool/United (Mcginn).

They clearly aren't Championship standard.

You're talking about one game against Scotland, why not talk about the Hungary performance against France and Germany? or the Sweden/Poland performance against the Spanish? or the Austrian performance against Italy? Portugal conceded 4 against Germany and scraped past Hungary.



As for England unable to cope against Scotland? that's an overreaction, if Stones scores, England win that game. I only recall one Pickford save from their fullbacks volley. It wasn't a good performance by England and they didn't lose, I thought playing below par and making sure you don't lose in tournament football was a positive.

I think Scotland saw it as very much a positive… they thought they were in for a trouncing, now they are positive England is at least 80% hyper bowl as usual on such occasions. England have world class individuals… and are badly managed, as per.

[diamondpocket]

They have some very good players and have finally managed to qualify for a major tournament. Anything can happen in 90 minutes, they raised their game and were at 100%, England weren't and didn't need to be. I don't know why people are acting like that Scotland game was a must win, it was a pretty meaningless group game for England and the performance kinda reflected that.

I agree regarding England. It was a point taken from a potential banana skin tie. The win against Croatia made it a good point. Without the Croatia win it might have been a different game.
I just don't see the Scottish love in though.