Poll: UEFA Euro 2020 Final Italy v England ** spoilers ** [Sunday 11th July 2021]

[Sui]

Some of you lot are right miserable *******

Remember, even if we didn’t have Southgate, there’s no guarantee we would have even reached the final. You might not agree with his tactics, yes they are probably too cautious, but we have improved immensely as a unit.

Onto Qatar, I’d rather the whole thing was boycotted but I’ll support them every step of the way.

 

[Kirby Wurm]

more like a milkfloat. A train might actually do some damage.

 

[Mr Jack]

Thing is, even if England won the Euros, or win next years world cup, there will always be those people who continue to moan and complain.

OCUK's negativity towards the England team is breathtaking. It hurts to have lost yesterday, especially on penalties, but we performed brilliantly to get that far. I'm proud for the team, and Southgate's leadership has given me hope for the World Cup.

 

[phil-k]

England did very well considering all the cheating and fouling by Italy, I can't remember the two players involved in one incident but the Italian who deliberately yanked the England player back by his shirt collar should have been sent off

 

[Rroff]

He did play the exact same setup against Germany and it failed miserably because Italy didn't play they way Germany played.

Germany game had Trippier and Saka on and approach to mid-field was quite different.

 

[LiE]

Brother just sent me a photo of his 2 tickets. He won them a while back in his work raffle, turns out they are rather sort after now. He will be in the VW lounge enjoying the game.

Caused some upset in the family because he’s taking his wife as the +1 and not one of my brothers who loves football. He doesn’t even follow football himself outside of England games!

Well looks like he had a good time, he sent me this photo, bumped into Dr Strange.

In 14 million futures he saw just one where England wins…

 

[phatboy]

I think England did bloody well to be honest. Prior to the tournament I had them going out after the group stage.

We beat Croatia!
We beat Germany!
We held Italy to a draw over 120mins

That in my book is a fantastic achievement. I'd have been happy with any one of those. We got to a final, I enjoyed it.

Thing is, even if England won the Euros, or win next years world cup, there will always be those people who continue to moan and complain.

I have to say i never thought at all we would have got to the Finals, completely agree with your sentiment. Its a young team, the Italian team are just...well phenomenal! to watch when they get into their stride and that's what they did from a goal down.

Its a big shame that peoples dream of "it coming home" didn't come to fruition. but they will learn, improve and hopefully come back stronger and be even more enjoyable to watch play

 

[Joxeon]

Still recovering from the final,

So many comments on social media about "it should have been red" - which by the way neither was. Yet they have simply forgotten how much Italy outplayed England for what 80% of the game? Even when they conceded, just watch how good Italy were at keeping and moving the ball - the highest level of skill. They deserved it, you're in dreamland if you think otherwise.

Some key players didn't turn up for England or were Italy just that good?

Italy were lucky to be in the final as they were dominated by a Spain team who got their tactics spot on but lacked some clinical finishing.

England needed to press high like Spain and man mark Jorginho but instead we sat back and let them play and tried to defend a 1-0 lead essentially the same tactics which failed so miserably against Croatia in the World Cup semis.

 

[phatboy]

Well looks like he had a good time, he sent me this photo, bumped into Dr Strange.

In 14 million futures he saw just one where England wins…

Now THAT is a night out!

1 future you say, that will do lol

 

[Robbo]

So, thoughts:

As I have thought from day 1, Southgate is out of his depth. From a tactical perspective he's barely a manager. He's done well to keep the players happy but that only gets you so far.

Unfortunately, when you play super-defensive in a knockout game, you often end up on pens, which is generally a bit of a lottery. Of course there's great penalty takers, but you're betting the ranch on people keeping their cool under pressure - and most don't. Look at Kane's penalty vs Denmark.

We had the tools to exploit Italy's weaknesses, and barely even tried for the entire game. Southgate basically wanted to defend a 1 goal lead for 85 mins when it was obvious the team were struggling long before half time.

Of course it hasn't been a disaster, getting to the final is good, but it was just painful to watch the game slip away and knowing the coaching team can't stop it.

 

[robfosters]

Just woke up after a nights sleep, that’s better………

Nope! Still hurts

 

[McBain]

Compounded by having to be in work. **** work.

 

[glenimp617]

on to the world cup!

 

[Nasher]

In the end they did well. 2nd in Europe and 4th in the world is very good. Its not like most countries have won these trophies.

 

[omnomnom]

OCUK's negativity towards the England team is breathtaking. It hurts to have lost yesterday, especially on penalties, but we performed brilliantly to get that far. I'm proud for the team, and Southgate's leadership has given me hope for the World Cup.

People are allowed to be negative...its the sheer bias thats breathtaking not the negativity. England were poor last night.

In the end they did well. 2nd in Europe and 4th in the world is very good. Its not like most countries have won these trophies.

Both with easy run inn though. Come up against a half decent team and England were dreadful.

 

[Nasher]

People are allowed to be negative...its the sheer bias thats breathtaking not the negativity. England were poor last night.



Both with easy run inn though. Come up against a half decent team and England were dreadful.

There are no easy teams once you get out of the group stages.

 

[lemonkettaz]

So, thoughts:

As I have thought from day 1, Southgate is out of his depth. From a tactical perspective he's barely a manager. He's done well to keep the players happy but that only gets you so far.

Unfortunately, when you play super-defensive in a knockout game, you often end up on pens, which is generally a bit of a lottery. Of course there's great penalty takers, but you're betting the ranch on people keeping their cool under pressure - and most don't. Look at Kane's penalty vs Denmark.

We had the tools to exploit Italy's weaknesses, and barely even tried for the entire game. Southgate basically wanted to defend a 1 goal lead for 85 mins when it was obvious the team were struggling long before half time.

Of course it hasn't been a disaster, getting to the final is good, but it was just painful to watch the game slip away and knowing the coaching team can't stop it.

Totally agree.

Southgate had one plan last night after 3 mins, defend. Obviously a big well done to the team for getting to the final, but come on, we had an opportunity and more so, we have the attacking players to of really gone for the Italians last night, but Southgate didnt take that chance and this is where we are. Just more of a nearly team.

We have a great chance again with this team in Qatar, but I feel we will just do this again at some stage, defend a bit too much. It was inevitable last night Italy would score once we become Megabus FC.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

England did very well considering all the cheating and fouling by Italy, I can't remember the two players involved in one incident but the Italian who deliberately yanked the England player back by his shirt collar should have been sent off

Says it all when you don't even know a world cup winner, one of the best centre halves in the world, Italian captain. The guy Suarez bit at the world cup.

Like do you even watch football? Or do you only watch England?

 

[The_One]

Totally agree.

Southgate had one plan last night after 3 mins, defend. Obviously a big well done to the team for getting to the final, but come on, we had an opportunity and more so, we have the attacking players to of really gone for the Italians last night, but Southgate didnt take that chance and this is where we are. Just more of a nearly team.

We have a great chance again with this team in Qatar, but I feel we will just do this again at some stage, defend a bit too much. It was inevitable last night Italy would score once we become Megabus FC.

megabus fc got england to first final for 55 years

 

[tlrBeta]

Hold on, you're saying that absolute shocker of a 'challenge' on Grealish wasn't a red? Over the top, studs into his thigh ... that wasn't a red?

I haven't seen it, I was at the game. I assume it went to VAR? I can't find any highlights of it either. I was actually referring to the shirt pull on Sake.

The other one - at full speed, Grealish slide in from about 5 meters away - should Jorginho just stop going for the ball? To be honest with you, it would have made little difference at 113th minute & he missed his penalty

*Edit* Just seen it, you didn't tell me he got the ball first. Probably a yellow for being silly, not a red.

Italy were lucky to be in the final as they were dominated by a Spain team who got their tactics spot on but lacked some clinical finishing.

England needed to press high like Spain and man mark Jorginho but instead we sat back and let them play and tried to defend a 1-0 lead essentially the same tactics which failed so miserably against Croatia in the World Cup semis.

I wouldn't say lucky, Italy still had chances also against Spain.

I agree, tactics wrong - not brave enough to take Kane off (who was nowhere) or mix it up to stop Italy play keep ball for 100 minutes. I'm sure at one point Italy must have put around 50+ passes together.