Summer of sport

[perrykneeham]

"Gareth Southgate described himself as being “devastated” as England lost a second successive European Championship final, but refused to make an instant decision on his future as manager.

Former England internationals-turned television pundits, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand all predicted Southgate will leave his post following the 2-1 defeat by Spain in Berlin.

Harry Kane was taken off in the final and Southgate admitted his captain had been below par during the entire tournament.

Bukayo Saka had to be consoled by Southgate at the end, while Jude Bellingham kicked over a drinks container on the touchline after marching off the pitch."

Okay,enough now.

[mids]

A drinks container, you say?

[moggyonspeed]

Haven't we seen similar England performances before though?

The English fans whip themselves up into a frenzy, goaded on by the British press, believing that this really is the year that football's coming home (?!). Based on what exactly? England had a coast-in to the final compared to Spain, being up against comparatively weak opposition and securing a 1-0 win, a one-all draw and a goalless draw against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia respectively in the group stage. They then manage to avoid the big guns of Belgium, France, Germany and Portugal in the knockout stages, beating Switzerland in the quarters and the Netherlands in the semis - the latter on the basis of one of the most shocking penalty decisions of the entire tournament.

All Spain's goals were scored in open play, only once having to go to extra time - against Germany, which one would expect. England, on the other hand, were taken to extra time by Switzerland - which perhaps one wouldn't expect - only winning 5-3 on penalties after extra time.

The better team won, no question, and not just "on the day" either, but based on performance throughout the whole tournament.

As for England, there is still much work to do both on and off the pitch. A rethink on the part of the fans and the British press is in order too, as the whole "It's coming home" mindset smacks to me of a degree of entitlement based around f*ck-all evidence.

[Repat Van]

Jul 15, 2024 8:54:42 GMT perrykneeham said:

"Gareth Southgate described himself as being “devastated” as England lost a second successive European Championship final, but refused to make an instant decision on his future as manager.

Former England internationals-turned television pundits, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand all predicted Southgate will leave his post following the 2-1 defeat by Spain in Berlin.

Harry Kane was taken off in the final and Southgate admitted his captain had been below par during the entire tournament.

Bukayo Saka had to be consoled by Southgate at the end, while Jude Bellingham kicked over a drinks container on the touchline after marching off the pitch."

Okay,enough now.

Link?

[perrykneeham]

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/07/15/gareth-southgate-england-future-euro-2024-final-spain/

[flatandy]

Jul 15, 2024 10:02:07 GMT moggyonspeed said:

Haven't we seen similar England performances before though?

The English fans whip themselves up into a frenzy, goaded on by the British press, believing that this really is the year that football's coming home (?!).

We have seen that many, many times before, yes. But did it happen this time? I admit that I'm looking on from a distance, but I didn't feel like there was too much excessive expectation, I saw lots of comments on the luck of the draw (which, to be fair, I've seen many times before and England have managed to f**k up). There was none of the Golden Generation bullshit. In the build up to the final itself there was some stuff, but it was actually the final of a major tournament which is a match England had a puncher's chance of winning, could have been the first one in almost 60 years.

[moggyonspeed]

Yes, I agree with most of that although, putting aside the words "Golden Generation", we still have pundits, ex-players and members of the public alike still saying that the England squad has the best players. How so? Where is the evidence for such an assertion? Pre-last night's final, if one analysed most any playing stat, from defending intercepts to completed passes to incursions into the box to attempts on target, Spain had England beaten, so to say that "football's coming home" is, at best, wishful thinking, but woeful ignoring of the facts at worst - all egged on by the British press, o' course.

The like of Micah Richards then trying to say that "we have the best players but not the best team" is back-pedalling of the most obvious kind. Yes, Mr. Richards, we all understand that one doesn't imply the other, but I somehow didn't hear you saying that pre-match. Funny that.

[flatandy]

I saw a headline this morning on the BBC saying England had the best squad but not the best 11, which seemed to also be wishful thinking, unnecessary hype and stupid puffery. So it obviously is still around.

And I saw some nonsense thing from Sky where the only Spanish players that the Sky viewers would have in the combined 11 are Cucurella, Rodri and Yamal.

The madness never goes away completely. I just think it's much less endemic this time and the public and even media were a lot more realistic this year.

[perrykneeham]

I guess there's a bit to be said about the best combination of players, personalities and styles. Leadership too. I felt a bit sorry for poor Harry Kane last night, basically being told by 40,000 that he's on his way to the knacker's yard.

[flatandy]

Kane's problem is mostly that he's not had a rest for 4 years - he seems to have played every summer and regular season - and at the same time has been the main star carrying the rest of his domestic team. It's not that he's done as a player, it's just that he was obviously completely exhausted.

[voice]

In related news Argentina won the Copa America last night where the kick of was delayed by a riot of fans without tickets trying to force their way in, many here saying it's not a good sign that the policing and security has been bellow par for the entire tournament given the world Cup is coming to the US/Canada and Mexico in two years

[perrykneeham]

Hmmmm .... can't help but think that's a omen.

[mids]

Just in time to have some games in the Estadio del Malvinas, thanks to Labour.

[moggyonspeed]

OK, forget football, cricket, tennis, rugby and all that nonsense.

I wish to put on record that The Dorset Knob-Throwing contest took place over the weekend in Cattistock of that fair county, the important bit being that the men’s competition was won by my youngest stepdaughter’s boyfriend. The bugger even made it onto the local TV news this evening. Link to follow if I can be arsed.

FYI The Dorset Knob is a dry, sweet, small, hard (some would say stale) bun-like bread roll. In fact, they’re so dry they make Ryvita feel like jam doughnuts by comparison.

[perrykneeham]

I got Dorset Knob after a night out in Bridport in the 80s.

[moggyonspeed]

Boom tish! The man is on FYAH!!

[moggyonspeed]

Dorset Knob-throwing link, courtesy of BBC's South Today 15/07/24. Stepdaughter's boyfriend's after-match synopsis starts at about 23:30. Look out for TWO youngest stepdaughters and their partners - bloody reprobates the lot of 'em ...

Andy Warhol: “... everyone will be famous for 15 minutes”

[Repat Van]

I think this is pretty sad.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c978e37ld7ro.amp

[moggyonspeed]

Well yes, although it also shows that honour is alive and well amongst those in the public eye.

[Repat Van]

I think he seems to be taking the brunt of the criticism and the players precious little - sadly.

I maybe find it sad because I think he gets no credit for actually taking our men’s team further than any other manager has done for a while.