EUROPEAN 2016 Championship Finals France

[stattointhailand]

I know Woy has been a manager at club and international level for lord knows how many years but ......... starting with Sterling and the Llama WTF neither can run more than three paces with the ball unless they are looking at it .... asking them to look for a pass at the same time as controlling the ball is well beyond them. Playing Alli deeper is like cutting Harry Kane's leg off and asking him to still produce something. Alli needs to be further forward where he can make game changing passes/dinks or shots. Taking Sterling off and replacing him with Sturridge left me absolutely stunned .... why? in 45 mins Sturridge did exactly the same as Sterling ..... lose the ball (I know he toe poked the winner, but Kane and Vardy up front and Alli behind would have had the game won well before 92nd min). I know it will probably upset Mat80, but I thought Rooney had a solid game without setting the world on fire, and also Dier did all that was asked. Hart again was clearly at fault for the Wales goal, however much the commentators seemed to try to find excuses for him...... yes it moved an inch or two, yes it dipped an inch or two and from 40 yds any keeper (even a scottish keeper) should have saved it. Hope Woy uses all his experience and does what MP did at city .... drop him until he learns to distribute the ball and save it when needed

[Drunk Monkey]

A match summary .......

England dominated
Wales defended very well
Hart disgrace for goal
Woy very brave with his subs
Lallana had a good game
Kane looked poor
Vardy goal DEFO NOT OFFSIDE
REF HAD A GOOD GAME
MOM Walker ... great game super fit best right back on Earth .
England deserved the last gasp winner and look promising tho not tournament winners.

As ever only MY OPINION

End of the Day St George slayed the Dragon AGAIN ... how sad to see the Taffies crying after the final whistle .

DM

[stattointhailand]

"End of the Day St George slayed the Dragon AGAIN ... how sad to see the Taffies crying after the final whistle . "

Hmm they were cying with 10 mins to go ..... and it was still 1 - 1 then .......... knew what was coming :-"

Not sure about your idea of "BRAVE" Jon ..... stupid may be but brave

[BobHelm]

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[Zidane]

First half England were very poor.Kane,in particular,was dismal.His performance was summed up when he took a couple of easy strides for a free kick and still managed to put it high into the stand !
Sterling too was poor and missed an excellent chance early doors.Bales free kick was decent but Hart should have saved it comfortably.It would have been no problem for young Dave from the other side of Manchester !
But fair play to Woy for bringing both Vardy and Sturridge on and,also,later for giving Rashford his debut as England attacked and completely dominated the second half.
Vardys goal was not offside as the ball hit the back of the Welsh defender,Williams,last on its way to him which played him onside.
Overall,some good performances from England players......Smalling,Lallana,Sturridge,Rooney etc.but MOM must surely be right back,Walker,who was superb attacking down the right flank in the second half as well as doing well in defence.
England deserved to win,as they did against Russia and if they beat Slovakia they will top the group and should get a favourable draw in the last 16......Wales,too,will qualify if they avoid defeat against Russia which shouldn't be too difficult.

mat80,I'll take up your bet by going for England and you can have Slovakia and the draw.

And,finally,congratulations to Northern Ireland who beat Ukraine 2-0 and won their first game in a major tournament for 34 years =D> .If they avoid a heavy defeat against Germany they,too,should make it to the last 16.

[stattointhailand]

"Overall,some good performances from England players......Smalling,Lallana,Sturridge,Rooney etc."

err Zid, I suspect that you are being distracted faaaarrrrr too much by those young serving wenches, who are obviously not cleaning your rose coloured glasses often enough for you :-"

Sturridge was the guy who kept trying to run forward/sideways/backwards with the ball and then instead of passing to a team mate proceeded to run a bit more, get tackled, and give the ball to the Taffs. He needs to learn that football is a TEAM game and only the very best (which he is a million miles away from) can be greedy with the ball and get away with it

[Zidane]

I know he was caught in possession a few times but I thought,overall,Sturridge did pretty well.
He ran at the Welsh defence which did unsettle them and there was only him and Walker prepared to do that.
Compare that to the performance of Harry Kane.We might as well have had Harry Redknapp playing at no.9 for all he achieved.I can only assume Kane is tired after a long season with the Spuds.
Sturridge can be a very frustrating player but,also on his day,he is probably the best English striker at this level.

Tonight....Italy v Sweden 8pm Thai,Czech Republic v Croatia 11pm Thai and Spain v Turkey,Saturday morning 2am Thai.

[BobHelm]

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Spain through to last 16
Italy also through to the last 16, even before the ROI & Belgium play their second match.

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[Zidane]

Belgium 3 Republic of Ireland 0.....Ireland were pretty dismal and lucky to get away with just a three goal beating.Belgium could easily have doubled that.All the Irish had was the long ball to Shane Long who was isolated all the time.Courtois,the Belgian keeper,didnt have a single save to make.

Portugal 0 Austria 0.... Cristiano Ronaldo misses a late penalty.

Hungary 1 Iceland 1.....Hungary grab a late equalizer to deny little Iceland.

The next set of matches kick off at 2am on Monday here in Thailand and viewers have a choice between the mouthwatering clash of Albania v Romania or France v Switzerland.

[mathusalah80]

"Overall,some good performances from England players......Smalling,Lallana,Sturridge,Rooney etc."
err Zid, I suspect that you are being distracted faaaarrrrr too much by those young serving wenches, who are obviously not cleaning your rose coloured glasses often enough for you :-"
Sturridge ......needs to learn that football is a TEAM game

Tactically, the Welsh were very disappointing; the fault of the Manager however, not the players. Incredible that Bale, the only international standard 'playmaker' and striker, was deployed upfield, as a spectator; watching the rest of the on field players play pretend football in the Welsh half of the field. Ramsey did the work of three players and, inspirationally and defensive was outstanding. Begs the question , why doesn't he perform like that for Arsenal?
Happy Statts has picked up on my opinion of Sterling, err I mean Sturridge; couldn't tell the difference, based on their style of play. Rooney is anathema to the English team. Statts, he is the focal point for the "pass back, pass sideways' virus, afflicting the side, which sends you into paroxysms of rage. I feel the problem is Hodgson first selects Rooney, and then designs the rest of the team to compensate for, and cover, a 'past his prime' Rooney. Rooney's recent statement that he considers he is a better player, and is playing at a higher level, NOW, than at any time in his career, demonstrates that he is living in a fantasy world. I suspect the simple truth is that Hodgson, to the detriment of England's move into a new era, lacks the courage to drop the last of the 'Golden Era" ' players.( In passing, it will be interesting to see how Mourinho handles the self same problem at Utd.).
As to England's team and individual performances. For me, Walker is now the best right back in world football, in addition to being the star performer at the tournament, to date. Dier, Rose ,Cahill, Lallana put in solid performances; Alli needs to concentrate on his undoubted footballing skills, and stop looking for confrontations, and Hodgson needs to 'do a Rannieri' with Kane, and provide him with some R&R; England will need his skills and firepower in the knockout stages, (should they get there! :-" ). Rushford, I would pick as a starter against Slovakia, after first telling him he would NOT be substituted; but then I am not Hodgson. [-o<
Spain's strikers appear to be finding some form, (please note Zid. ); Italy & Belgian have put in much improved performances, while Germany were somewhat laboured in managing only a draw, in a match the team should have won. But still, no team has set the tournament alight, and emerged as clear favourites.

[Zidane]

Last night......Romania 0 Albania 1 ; France 0 Switzerland 0 ;

These results mean that Switzerland join France in the last 16 and Albania keep there hopes alive of being one of the best placed third teams to go through.

Two important games tonight.....England v Slovakia and Wales v Russia which kick off at 2am Tuesday morning here in Thailand.Both the home countries should progress through to the last 16 BUT....

"Wayne Rooney is one of six players reportedly set to be rested by England boss Roy Hodgson for their final group game against Slovakia on Monday.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are also expected to be named on the bench.
Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand are in line to start as England aim to top Group B.
Slovakia could be unchanged following their win over Russia"

I hope this isn't true.Sure,Kane and Sterling shouldn't play but resting the likes of Walker is madness !
Its not as if we have already qualified,Woy......

[mathusalah80]

[quote="Zidane
tonight.....England v Slovakia and Wales v Russia which kick off at 2am .Both the home countries should progress through to the last 16 BUT....

Rooney is ...set to be rested.... by Hodgson for the final group game against Slovakia on Monday. =D> =D>
Kane, Alli, Sterling, Walker and Danny Rose are also expected to be on the bench.
Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand are in line to start.
...resting the likes of Walker is madness !
Its not as if we have already qualified, Woy......[/quote]

Zid, in response to Hodgson's emailed enquiry, I have suggested to him the following:
Forster - Walker (capt.), Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand - Henderson, Dier, Wilshere, Lallana - Rushford, Vardy.
If Henderson or Wilshere are not performing, or injured (or Wilshere is in danger of being sent off ), bring on Milner.
If Lallana injured, bring on Alli.
If England winning COMFORTABLY then, around 60 minutes, choose from following substitution options: Stones for Smalling; Clyne for Walker; Sturridge for Vardy; Alli for Lallana..
Hodgson has not yet replied!

[souness]

other than walker,sturridge was Englands best player against the Taffs....stattointhaland and methsusalah80 must have been watching a different game. ha ha !

sean

[mathusalah80]

other than walker,sturridge was Englands best player against the Taffs....stattointhaland and methsusalah80 must have been watching a different game. ha ha !
sean

Or WE were only drinking soft drinks, whilst watching! :-"
Hope you have a more enjoyable evening tonight; even if a rare English success would cost me a third consecutive bottle of quality Oz wine, for the unappreciative Zidine!
DO try to stay sober tonight, so that we can then discuss the same game tomorrow.

[BobHelm]

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Oh dear, oh dear!!

[stattointhailand]

other than walker,sturridge was Englands best player against the Taffs....stattointhaland and methsusalah80 must have been watching a different game. ha ha !
sean

Or WE were only drinking soft drinks, whilst watching! :-"
Hope you have a more enjoyable evening tonight; even if a rare English success would cost me a third consecutive bottle of quality Oz wine, for the unappreciative Zidine!
DO try to stay sober tonight, so that we can then discuss the same game tomorrow.

I suspect Souness is quite right Mat He most obviously WAS watching a different game. Whilst you and I were watching Eng v Taffs he MUST have been watching a rerun of a Liverpool game when Sturridge was playing alongside "THE ANIMAL" which was probably the last time Sturridge had a good game :-"
I wonder what he and Zid thought of Sturridges latest lack of effort last night?

[BobHelm]

An interesting aside from last night's results is the position of Russia.
To say that they have had a disastrous campaign is a mighty understatement.
On the football field their only result was a lucky 1 all draw with a lacklustre England side.
They finished bottom of a fairly mediocre group.
Their fans displayed appalling behaviour & the authorities, rightly, threatened to ban them from the competition. Indeed the side might have done France a huge favour by going out now.

They are, of course, (& still somewhat controversially) hosting the 2018 World Cup.

From a social point of view I rather shudder at what might occur. Indeed I would not recommend that anyone bothers to physically follow their team to the event.

From a football viewpoint it is even worse for Russia. Hosting the event means that they do not need to qualify, so that means that this disappointing campaign were the last competitive games the side will be involved in until kicking off the World Cup.

Their coach, Leonid Slutsky, has offered his resignation. To do that is often a beleaguered manager looking for support from above. In this case I think that he probably hopes that the Russian FA put him out of his misery by accepting.

[Zidane]

We shouldn't be too surprised that dumbo Woys experiment with 6 changes failed miserably.
No way Wilshere and Henderson should have played.They are not international class and only in the squad because of the paucity of midfielders.Surely Ross Barkley would have been a better option than either of these two ?
Of the two full backs,Clyne did quite well but is nowhere near as good as Walker and Bertrand was poor making too many dodgy challenges.
Upfront,Vardy started well but faded as the match progressed and Sturridge was pretty awful having one of those days when he is at his most frustrating ! ("stationland" and "Meths80" please note)
Probably the only one who could be pleased with his performance was Dier who is having an excellent tournament.
Possibly Woy could have brought on young Rashford instead of the lumbering "Harry Redknapp" but the game had 0-0 written all over it,anyway.
So,if I've got this right,England will face the 2nd place team in Group F in the last 16 ? One of Portugal,Hungary,Austria or Iceland.It will probably be Portugal and England will lose on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Rooney being sent off for biting Ronaldo after 10 minutes !

Well done to Wales who easily saw off a poor Russian team,unlike England.They seem to have a much easier draw playing one of the third placed teams.Possibly one of Albania,Czech Republic or Northern Ireland.
That should have been Englands draw if tinkerman Woy hadn't screwed up....

[skinner]

Agree completely , Henderson and Wilshere are not world class, Sturridge did nowt, Vardy didn't seem to be at his best, didn't see him have a run at them. I think Clyne did ok because his opposite number struggled.
Personally I hope we get Portugal and somebody breaks Ronaldos legs. Hes going to roll around anyway.
Cant see us going much further. Same old, same old.

[stattointhailand]

aw Zid, you actually paid attention to the woeful display from Sturridge this time then, what happened no serving wenches to distract you at 2 am :-"

I had my friends at "Stats are us" keep check on his display just in case you had your tinted specs on again and still believed your own comments "on his day,he is probably the best English striker at this level." .... I'm assuming that was one day about 2 or 3 years ago never to be repeated. In case you are not familier with them "Stats are Us" are (NOT SPONSORS) so knowing that their information can be questioned they have to make sure it is correct.

5 Nearly touched the ball. Would have if he had run. But ball out for a throw.
8 Nearly touched the ball in 6 yd area, but ball deflected to safety without his help
9 Managed to touch the ball, lost control, gives away foul
12 Touches ball. 10 yd Backpass to Cahill
15 Receives short corner from Bertrand and playes it back to corner taker
22 Touches ball and loses possession
26 Three touches and a stepover before playing 15 yd backpass to Cahill
27 Attempted flick, ball goes through to Henderson anyway
28 Touches ball 5 yds inside own half and gets fouled
31 Shoots ….. scuffed
32 Plays one two with Wiltshire ball goes out of play
35 Touches ball twice but offside
37 Short pass to Wiltshire who loses possession
38 Rec ball from Dier defender plays ball out for corner
38 Dinks a cross in pen area cleared by defender
41 Makes forward pass to Lallana England keep possession
42 Receives ball from Henderson and playes it back to him
44 3 Touches and stepover before losing possession
HALF TIME
47 Slov have ball but Sturridge almost gets near enough to tackle 3 times
50 Receives ball from Wiltshire and plays it out to Bertrand
52 Makes pass to Clyne whose shot is deflected over
54 Touches ball 4 times before making 3 yd pass back to Wiltshire
56 Two touches before ball runs out for goal kick
60 Two touches and Short pass to Henderson who cross leads to an Alli shot
61 Short pass out to Bertrand who loses possession
63 4 touches and completed pass to Alli
64 within 15 seconds we see Sturridge jog from one Slov player to the next not putting any pressure on and then Vardy sprint ½ width of the field between two Slov players and win a throw in
65 Passes to Rooney who loses ball
66 2 touches and passes back to Smalling
68 Tries audatious back heel which is easily cleared
72 5 Touches before passing back to Cahill
73 Makes darting run into six yd area fails to make contact with the ball (note made that this was the quickest he had moved since running out after half time)
74 makes short completed pass to Vardy
75 Woy sees that the energy used to make the 73rd min sprint has taken all he can give and subs him