The EURO 2012 Fandome

[machine_recovered_meat]

He basically stuck players into positions that didn't suit them, just like English managers always do and now people wonder why the team doesn't work? The basic fact of it all is that England teams CAN NOT keep the ball, English football just doesn't play that way.

I disagree with this portion of your otherwise fairly agreeable post (Micah Richards should have been there, Adam Johnson too). Of the starting eleven last night, one player was not playing in a position they usually play at club level and that was John Terry, since he was on the right of the central defence pairing.

The players were entirely suited to their positions, and indeed arguably their roles.

The bottom line is that with few exceptions, they simply are not technically good enough to compete at this level. They're fit enough, yes, but technical skills and tactical awareness are woefully lacking.

Sadly, until we start exporting more players (i.e. producing players good enough that continental clubs which are culturally and tactically different actually want to sign them) we're stuffed.

Hodgson did a decent job in somewhat awkward circumstances.

Germany - Spain final in all likelihood, though anything can happen in the Semis, since all 4 teams deserve to be there. Let's hope there are no more borefests.

[Steve54]

I disagree with this portion of your otherwise fairly agreeable post (Micah Richards should have been there, Adam Johnson too). Of the starting eleven last night, one player was not playing in a position they usually play at club level and that was John Terry, since he was on the right of the central defence pairing.

The players were entirely suited to their positions, and indeed arguably their roles.

The bottom line is that with few exceptions, they simply are not technically good enough to compete at this level. They're fit enough, yes, but technical skills and tactical awareness are woefully lacking.

Sadly, until we start exporting more players (i.e. producing players good enough that continental clubs which are culturally and tactically different actually want to sign them) we're stuffed.

Hodgson did a decent job in somewhat awkward circumstances.

Germany - Spain final in all likelihood, though anything can happen in the Semis, since all 4 teams deserve to be there. Let's hope there are no more borefests.

I'd agree with that- Hodgson did the best that could be expected with the time+players he had by basically being organised and playing people where they usually play. I'm not sure that anybody else should have been in the squad - Adam Johnson flatters to decieve like Downing and, as I understand it, Richards+Carrick refused to be on standby and I'm not sure they should have been in the original 23. Probably the worst group of players in years but also the best manager in years.

Really this was a tournament with an eye on the next 3 with lots of youngsters given a taste of the atmosphere of a tournament. 2 years time England should be far stronger with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Rodwell, Jones, Welbeck, Carroll and Walcott established in the side

[akgaroth]

I'm surprised that some of you are saying that Italy-England was a borefest. Maybe is because I'm italian (and obviously I was quite emotionally involved), but I think it was actually an interesting match. Italy's team has grown a lot since the start of the tournament, though Germany will be most likely too much to handle ... But hey, we're the only team until now that didn't lose (and even scored) against Spain , maybe we still have some chances left.

[Tresidentevil]

I'm surprised that some of you are saying that Italy-England was a borefest. Maybe is because I'm italian (and obviously I was quite emotionally involved), but I think it was actually an interesting match. Italy's team has grown a lot since the start of the tournament, though Germany will be most likely too much to handle ... But hey, we're the only team until now that didn't lose (and even scored) against Spain , maybe we still have some chances left.

For a 0-0 draw it was a brilliant game in my opinion. It had everything except some nice goals.

I'd agree with that- Hodgson did the best that could be expected with the time+players he had by basically being organised and playing people where they usually play. I'm not sure that anybody else should have been in the squad - Adam Johnson flatters to decieve like Downing and, as I understand it, Richards+Carrick refused to be on standby and I'm not sure they should have been in the original 23. Probably the worst group of players in years but also the best manager in years.

Really this was a tournament with an eye on the next 3 with lots of youngsters given a taste of the atmosphere of a tournament. 2 years time England should be far stronger with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Rodwell, Jones, Welbeck, Carroll and Walcott established in the side

Downing had 0 goals and 0 assists in 36 league games this season, Johnson had 26 league games and scored 6 times with 6 assists. Barely any argument exists for taking Downing over him. Apparently Hodgson wanted somebody able to track back and defend, Young did that brilliantly huh? In my opinion Richards is twice the player Glenn Johnson will ever be, G Johnson is a prime culprit for giving the ball away. I agree the next crop of players look very good.

I disagree with this portion of your otherwise fairly agreeable post (Micah Richards should have been there, Adam Johnson too). Of the starting eleven last night, one player was not playing in a position they usually play at club level and that was John Terry, since he was on the right of the central defence pairing.

The players were entirely suited to their positions, and indeed arguably their roles.

The bottom line is that with few exceptions, they simply are not technically good enough to compete at this level. They're fit enough, yes, but technical skills and tactical awareness are woefully lacking.

Sadly, until we start exporting more players (i.e. producing players good enough that continental clubs which are culturally and tactically different actually want to sign them) we're stuffed.

Hodgson did a decent job in somewhat awkward circumstances.

Germany - Spain final in all likelihood, though anything can happen in the Semis, since all 4 teams deserve to be there. Let's hope there are no more borefests.

Milner prefers to play central, although its fair to say he's better out wide. He rarely gets the chance to play centrally even at Man City. Gerrard ideally should be further up the field and not so deeply placed in the midfield. I'd also argue Rooney is better as an all out striker, not somebody linking up the forward and midfield. Not sure about exporting players tbh, Spain for example have only 4 players based abroad Reina, Torres, Mata and Silva. Italy only have 3, Motta, Balotelli, Sirigu. Germany only have 2, Klose, Mertesacker. I agree with the rest, England really lack technical ability.

[Ultimate Life Form]

I'm surprised that some of you are saying that Italy-England was a borefest.

Well, obviously it was as I did get bored and was heavily tempted to switch off a few times. I mean, nothing really happened... Endland wasn't even trying anymore from the second half on. The German commentator snidely remarked that their strategy basically came down to somehow surviving till the penalties. Which ironically didn't save them in the end anyway.

Reprortedly the beginning was good, and then the last part where they were practically already dead and still desperately fighting. The suspense, the drama, the tears - priceless. The other 100 minutes - waste of time.

I'm italian (and obviously I was quite emotionally involved)

Isn't that the same thing?

Anyway, this changes the whole matter a lot of course, but let the more objective people tell you that it wasn't that great actually. The end result is a victory for Italy, which I think pretty much everyone agrees was deserved in the end, they were clearly the better team overall.

[akgaroth]

Well, it certainly wasn't Italy-Germany at Ciudad de México' World Cup 1970 nor Italy-Germany at Germany' World Cup 2006 (trollolol), but many foreigner press (spanish, french and even german) agree that it was a good show.
BTW, do you think Portugal has some chances to win today?

[Solonor]

BTW, do you think Portugal has some chances to win today?

Well of course we have good chances, we have 50% chances to win the game

We lost to them in the World cup 2010 0-1 in the quarter finals but we manage to defeat them in a friendly match later that year by 4-0 in Lisbon, but of course it was a friendly game so its not the same. Nevertheless they are clearly the favourites for the match, but that actually might be to our advantage, we have fast players that can take advantage of the Spanish higher block to catch them off guard. We also have Pepe, Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrão that play in Real Madrid, so they know well the backbone of the spanish team (Barcelona structure).

[Darnok]

I watched only two of the quarterfinals, due to having been in England over the weekend.

Germany vs. Greece I found to be not that exciting. That might be due to me being the only German supporter in a pub full of Brits (and one Greek ).

On the other hand the experience of watching a game involving England in an english pub - that was pure awesome. I honestly cheered for England anyway (I hate Italy, and would have found an England vs. Germany semifinal much nicer), and I can't remember the game to be boring. England was not the better team, but had better fighting spirit, and fought to the end. The game being lost due to penalties was a huge disappointment in the end. But as a whole I enjoyed the game, and it was an experience to remember.

[Sai-Lauren]

Gerrard ideally should be further up the field and not so deeply placed in the midfield.

Agree, but that's where he finished up playing for Liverpool at the back end of the season - don't forget, he missed a good proportion of the season through injury, surgery and a subsequent infection (28 appearances, 7 from the bench).

I'd also argue Rooney is better as an all out striker, not somebody linking up the forward and midfield.

Disagree - IMO, Rooney's better playing slightly ahead of the midfield, particularly with a target man like Carroll or Crouch, that can receive the ball in front of the D (as, with Crouch especially, once they're in the penalty area and jump for the ball, defenders usually come in underneath them to knock them off balance, their hands automatically go down onto the defenders shoulders to steady themselves, and the ref awards a free kick against them for climbing), and knock it down for him to run onto.

Then again, IMO, if we play Johnson and Cole, we should really be playing with three central defenders, and using the two of them to provide the width on the flanks - both get caught forward far too often (especially Cole).

But any England manager naming a 5-3-2 formation would be jumped on and berated by the media before the ink was dry on the team sheet...

Not sure about exporting players tbh, Spain for example have only 4 players based abroad Reina, Torres, Mata and Silva. Italy only have 3, Motta, Balotelli, Sirigu. Germany only have 2, Klose, Mertesacker. I agree with the rest, England really lack technical ability.

Germany also have Khedira and Özil playing outside Germany - they're both at Real Madrid.

[emperorpenguin]

But any England manager naming a 5-3-2 formation would be jumped on and berated by the media before the ink was dry on the team sheet...

Well the last manager to try it was Steve McLaren against Croatia......

That said I do think it's a good idea myself

[Steve54]

Downing had 0 goals and 0 assists in 36 league games this season, Johnson had 26 league games and scored 6 times with 6 assists. Barely any argument exists for taking Downing over him. Apparently Hodgson wanted somebody able to track back and defend, Young did that brilliantly huh? In my opinion Richards is twice the player Glenn Johnson will ever be, G Johnson is a prime culprit for giving the ball away. I agree the next crop of players look very good.

.

Downing playing for Liverpool is slightly different from Johnson at Man City, if you look at the actual season Johnson was good in the first half of the season and then was dropped and out of form in 2012 - as indeed was Richards. To me all 3 - Downing, Johnson + Young, are much the same - sometimes good, sometimes anonymous and all too often lacking the final ball (hopefully Oxlade-Chamberlain will be ready by 2014), IMO Hodgson went with young as he hoped that he would be able to provide the fluidity between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 but lack of possession+quality negated that. He was probably left on vs.italy as he was a penalty taker.

Before the tournament I'd have placed Richards+ G Johnson in the same bracket but I think G Johnson more justified his position and cemented it for the next 2-4 years.

[Steve54]

On paper 3-5-2/5-3-2 looks good but none of the top english clubs play that formation - and that has been troublesome in the past. Look at Spain - basically a more defensive version of Barcelona, Germany - same formation as Dortmund+bayern etc. 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 for England as thats what the top English teams play

[superdupermatt]

Bruno Alves never looked like scoring!

[emperorpenguin]

What was Ronaldo thinking of waiting until last?!

[Darnok]

I hate penalties...

[Solonor]

Though luck, good match with few chances on each side although Spain was the better side throughout the extra time, Portugal played very well in the first half, Bruno Alves was a bit nervous but had bad luck in the end.

[emperorpenguin]

Why is it Portugal can produce such great players and yet no strikers? I've never seen a good Portugese striker in my lifetime. Almeida and Postiga were poor.

[Solonor]

Why is it Portugal can produce such great players and yet no strikers? I've never seen a good Portugese striker in my lifetime. Almeida and Postiga were poor.

its our Achilles heel even in our national league the big strikers are all south Americans hehe. south European football doesn't favor the physical big striker that positions itself in the keepers area waiting for a cross.

[superdupermatt]

its our Achilles heel even in our national league the big strikers are all south Americans hehe. south European football doesn't favor the physical big striker that positions itself in the keepers area waiting for a cross.

Don't worry, both Almeida and Postiga are infinitely better than the Spanish striker that played today. So useless he belongs in the same category as Heskey, Jeffers and Gervinho.

[Steve54]

You just have to look at Negredos stats to see that is rubbish - double figures in goals in la liga for the last 6 seasons, 54 in the last 3 seasons (14-26-14) he just doesn't suit the spanish national teams style of play. Give him wingers putting balls into the box.

Jeffers+Heskey don't really belong in the same category either - and Gervinho rairly plays as a striker