2012 UEFA European Championship

(11-06-2012 22:39 )mikedafc Wrote:  so having no Lampard in midfield alongside Gerrard, help or hinderance?

Help those two simply can't play together

(11-06-2012 21:24 )Merc with the Mouth Wrote:  that ref was a wanker! a draw isn't bad, but england are so infuriating to watch. it's always the same in these tournaments. we have little bursts of class then for the rest of the game we're just sitting back inviting pressure, then when we get the ball back we give it away. every.single.fucking.tournament.

a team with more killer instinct would have destroyed us, the way we just sit deep and invite pressure, standing there watching the opposition pass it around. close them down for fuck sake! put them under pressure, make them make mistakes on the ball. nasri's goal, which was a great finish, is a perfect example of this. why the fuck was every one just standing there watching? gerrard made a run for it but it was too late.

and when we do have possession in midfield there is just a complete lack of movement. you look at teams like spain and even france and their players are ALWAYS moving around, trying to create angles so the passes are easy high percentage passes. but england? no, our midfielders are too static, just jogging or even walking around aimlessly, not creating nice angles for easy passes, forcing the player on the ball to try something more risky. this is why our players are always knackered. it's harder work to chase the ball that to retain it. we just don't seem to be able to keep possession for more than 5 passes. a few sideways along the back four, then it gets to midfield and a player gets surrounded, or can't find an easy pass forward, then goes for an ambitious long ball and loses possession.

it's the same with every england team for the last 10 or so years. doesn't matter what manager, or players.

I totally agree. We may have beaten Sweden before we came out here, but we've never been able to be them in a compettive match. If we play like we did against France, Sweden will simply just overrun us, and that will leave us with a mountain to climb to beat Ukraine who were pretty useful against the Swedes. Our problem is that that at every tournament, we either try to play every game like as if it was a PL match and it never is a PL match!! We were way too predictable and I think Sweden will be more up for the game than we'll be. The FA needs to find a way of giving our players a rest and the only way is if we were to qualify for Brazil 2014, (and at the moment, it's a pretty big if) then we need to start the PL season at the same time as the Championship, ensuring both finish at the same time and therefore our players can rest better and be better prepared for that competition, otherwise the altitude there will just knacker us more. We need to get that physical side of our game going and be creative. England without Rooney were toothless. Hodgson needs to kick a few backsides this morning.

I have heard there has been some fighting among Polish and Russian supporters before the match tonight. I hope the Czech Republic and Greece match surprises me, because on paper, it could be the worst match in this tournament

The Czechs look like they mean business today

If the Czechs win this match, they stand an unexpected chance of getting out of the group

so far nearly all games have beenb bloody good 2 watch

Greece look like heading out of the Euros, theres no way they will beat Russia

looking forward to a Russiasn goal feast!!

(12-06-2012 19:13 )babelover48 Wrote:  looking forward to a Russiasn goal feast!!

also voilence between some fans.

itv had their best presenter and pundits on for the greece v czech republic game now their reserves are getting an airing (chiles, carragher, keane, southgate) thank god for mute button and 5live.

I don't know how ye tolerate Chiles, Lineker and Hansen, they are shit at what they do and always state the obvious. Thank God for Eamon Dunphy