The Official Euro 2020 thread....

[Brave Fart]

TEKNOPUG said:

sim72 said:

If as is suggested he plays Rice and Phillips, I think one of them is going to stick to Modric like superglue. Southgate remembers the 2018 semi too well, I suspect.

Good luck with that.

I suppose I agree with both of you gentlemen. Meaning that marking Modric out of the game makes sense, but recognising that neither Rice nor Phillips is experienced enough to do so. Modric is a wonderful player, very clever and very experienced. He's key to Croatia and we need to keep him quiet. Ah, but can we?

[sim72]

Brave Fart said:

TEKNOPUG said:

sim72 said:

If as is suggested he plays Rice and Phillips, I think one of them is going to stick to Modric like superglue. Southgate remembers the 2018 semi too well, I suspect.

Good luck with that.

I suppose I agree with both of you gentlemen. Meaning that marking Modric out of the game makes sense, but recognising that neither Rice nor Phillips is experienced enough to do so. Modric is a wonderful player, very clever and very experienced. He's key to Croatia and we need to keep him quiet. Ah, but can we?

Phillips did a fairly good job on De Bruyne earlier this season at Elland Road, but Bielsa doesn't usually like using him as a man-marker as it impacts on his passing ability (remarkably, he's 2nd on the list of forward passers in the PL).

[ray von]

GTO-3R said:

If I was Shaw and Chilwell I’d jump in a plane and come home.

[TCEvo]

bristolracer said:

Brave Fart said:

Actually, being sensible for a moment I predict a cagey low scoring draw. Anyway, too early for a beer?

I hope so, I've got money on 1-1

Can't see past that scoreline - Croatia to score first, Stones w/ headed equaliser IMO

Hoping for some bit more upbeat but weather's going to have a large bearing (27 on the pitch apparently), although that should equally affect the teams.

[Driver101]

I'll go England 2-0, but a slow paced game.

[TCEvo]

Team news in & starts for Trippier and Sterling.

[Murph7355]

[redacted]

[Challo]

Murph7355 said:

I don't mind Trippier as much as many seem to.

Sterling, however, should not be starting.

I wouldn't start Rice or Pickford either.

I suspect this will be a frustrating start to a campaign that will end much earlier than many predict.

What’s the point of taking proper left backs in the form of their lives, and start someone who plays right back in front of them. fking useless

[TCEvo]

[redacted]

[Pommy]

Legend83 said:

Acquaintance of mine in the biz spoke to his agent last night - he is doing ok but as of last night the doctors still couldn't say what caused it.

Agree with above poster (although probably more hindsight) but every close up of him in the match he looked like he had a "film" on his face, not sweat from running but more the look of someone who has the sweats when they have flu or something.

Shocking scenes. I was genuinely shaking watching it, should have turned off but it's like a car crash. Thank Christ they got him back.

Yes this, like a film on his face. Really sweaty.

I just went back and watch the match and he goes over to take a corner at 4m 39s and he looks absolutely fked and is blowing out his arse but he wasnt involved much in the build up to the corner. Did he have Covid or something as he looks clearly unwell.

[type-r]

Pickford, Trippier, Mings, Stones, Walker, Phillips, Rice, Mount, Sterling, Foden, Kane.

[TCEvo]

Challo said:

What’s the point of taking proper left backs in the form of their lives, and start someone who plays right back in front of them. fking useless

Chillwell's not on the bench, so assume injured; agree though - players out of position is a piss-boiler.

[scoey1001]

Did I just hear we haven't won our opening game in 9 previous tournaments?!

[The Hypno-Toad]

It’s like he’s being deliberately spiteful. Everyone with half a brain cell knows you start Grealish but he’s like “no, no you can’t tell me what to do, I’m England manager! It’s my choice! Mine!”

[GTO-3R]

I’m completely baffled but not wholly surprised at that line up. Trippier left back and Sterling in for Sancho who’s not even in the squad.

We’re not getting out the groups…

[mick987]

Another tournament wonder if any of our superstars will perform or will they get found out as usual. We can but hope.

[The Hypno-Toad]

And we need to stop wallowing in this Euro 96 nostalgia too. We didn’t win. We need to concentrate on this tournament.

[Radec]

Weird lineup, expecting Phillips to be hitting long balls to Foden/Stirling and play on the counter in a cagey affair.
Hopefully we don't concede in the process, however love if we took the game to them.

Shaw should be in to whip crosses in, and Grealish to carry the ball through midfield to attack.

A loss/draw here won't surprise me, love to be proved wrong though

[anonymous-user]

The Hypno-Toad said:

And we need to stop wallowing in this Euro 96 nostalgia too. We didn’t win. We need to concentrate on this tournament.

I was enjoying the reviews on BBC . ‘Late 90s we’re a great time in the U.K. it’s great looking back and seeing the tournament and music etc.

I agree this x many years of hurt stuff needs to stop though.

[TEKNOPUG]

Brave Fart said:

TEKNOPUG said:

sim72 said:

If as is suggested he plays Rice and Phillips, I think one of them is going to stick to Modric like superglue. Southgate remembers the 2018 semi too well, I suspect.

Good luck with that.

I suppose I agree with both of you gentlemen. Meaning that marking Modric out of the game makes sense, but recognising that neither Rice nor Phillips is experienced enough to do so. Modric is a wonderful player, very clever and very experienced. He's key to Croatia and we need to keep him quiet. Ah, but can we?

He'll simply drop deep and pull his marker out of position, opening up space behind him.

Lots of pace up front and players who can beat a man.

Ultimately it will come down to whether Kane gets dragged back in search of the ball or whether he can stay up top to score the goals.