Match #47 (QF): England 1-1 Switzerland (1-1 AET) (5-3 Pens) (Saturday 6th July, 5pm)

[hammers92]

Luke Shaw absolutely must start on Wednesday. Southgate was prepared to put all his eggs in the basket by taking only him in that position, the risk may well pay off.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Lets be honest, we were largely poor again.

Yes
We have played:
- Serbia
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Switzerland

And only beaten one of them in 90 minutes.

We may get to the final by playing those teqms and Turkey. None of which are close to the top ten in the FIFA rankings

[The Straw]

I have said all along that no matter how bad we have been playing we will make the final and I still think we will
Whether we can then beat France or Spain (probabky France IMHO) is another matter

England v France would probavky be the most boring final ever played

They would be better of just longing off the two hours of football and go straight to penalties if this is the final.

[EvilC]

Two semis and a final in three tournaments. It can't all be down to luck.

A lot of it is down to having better players than we have historically.

We aren’t in the semis this time due to brilliant performances, that’s for sure.

[Hamburger]

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[alf git]

Assumed we’d lose 2-0, fair play to them for proving me wrong.

How did Shaw look when he came on? Any chance he starts the next one?

He looks like he's eaten Ben White.

[stu1]

Two semis and a final in three tournaments. It can't all be down to luck.

It’s not all down to luck, but we’ve been far worse in this tournament than others. Rather than luck, it’s more that player for player we are far better than the opposition, which is (just about) overcoming Southgate’s poor tactics.

That being said, Southgate is super lucky with the routes he’s been handed. The only tier 1 side we’ve beaten is Germany where we had home advantage. Our other knock-out wins came against Colombia, Sweden, Senegal, Ukraine, Denmark, Slovakia and Switzerland.

If ‘the golden generation’ had faced similar opposition instead of playing Argentina, Brazil, France and Portugal x2 in the last 16 or quarter finals I’m sure they would have made a few semis or finals.

[Larrakeyah Hammer]

Yes
We have played:
- Serbia
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Switzerland

And only beaten one of them in 90 minutes.

We may get to the final by playing those teqms and Turkey. None of which are close to the top ten in the FIFA rankings

I’d love us to play great each game and can understand frustration especially about Southgate . I think a better manager we would of won 2021 and maybe 2018 World Cup

But there is also a part of me that’s just glad we are through irrespective of the performance

Having watched tournaments since 1986
I’ve seen enough good or decent performances eventually get you nowhere
Plus regarding the countries we’ve played who cares
We’ve had plenty of tournaments drawn against Argentina, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal etc or countries who were good at the time like Uruguay, Sweden , Croatia

After years of disappointment we are due some luck

[Croydon]

This! This is why! For God’s sake, it no wonder the rest of Europe thinks we are so arrogant! Nearly 30 years of saying this and what has being brought home! Nothing! Good night Sir!

I don't think anyone has said this in earnest for a long time mate!

[Morocco Mole]

Yes
We have played:
- Serbia
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Switzerland

And only beaten one of them in 90 minutes.

We may get to the final by playing those teqms and Turkey. None of which are close to the top ten in the FIFA rankings

It’s par for the course under this manager. Prior to this tournament the only top 10 team we’ve beaten in knockouts is Denmark. Lost to Croatia. Lost to Italy. Lost to France.

[RexBanner]

Just out of interest am I the only person who hates this recent trend to show the shootout from in front of the goal?

[Puff Daddy]

So, we play the Netherlands in the semi's . They ain't anyv shakes either

[k-r-c]

Just out of interest am I the only person who hates this recent trend to show the shootout from in front of the goal?

Yes.

It’s the perfect view.

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

[1966]

Due to work was only able to watch the second half of extra time and penalties.

At last something to be positive about. Southgate had some players out there today that should have played also in the group stage.

In my opinion this has been a poor tournament throughout with no team performing like nailed on winners so there's no reason why we cannot come out on top.

[Rust]

Agree with what has already been said. Would add-

We have no-one running in behind. Kane is maybe supposed to be doing it? But he's so slow. Saka does it but is playing wing back now, prefers it to feet, is wasteful and when he does cross it nobody's there!

It's so clear, especially after 60 odd minutes, Bowen / Watkins / Gordon should be coming on to stretch the defence.

Bellingham has Vincius J + Rodyrgo at Real.

Foden has Haaland at City.

Kane had Son at Spurs.

It's how you get the best out of our most creative players. I just don't understand the hesitance

Gonna be difficult to enjoy this even if we do s***house our way to it. Southgate isn't optimising this team

Roll on the Semi...

[WCpete]

England will beat Netherlands, and in the end it will be a drag to watch. But I just don't think the Dutch have the quality and depth that you do.

[Believer]

We are just about surviving despite him not because of him. He’s lucky that he has a good bunch that are giving everything for him. 3 out of the 5 penalty takers were substitutes.

Maybe you’ve got to give him credit for ensuring those penalty takers were on the pitch for the anticipated shoot out ?

In all honesty, the grief that GS has had throughout this tournament has been unbelievable. People seem to forget that England are a huge scalp in these games and everybody raises their game just cos they’re playing England.

It’s a semi final again and yet people continue to moan. I’m dumbfounded. I really am.

[Believer]

It’s not all down to luck, but we’ve been far worse in this tournament than others. Rather than luck, it’s more that player for player we are far better than the opposition, which is (just about) overcoming Southgate’s poor tactics.

That being said, Southgate is super lucky with the routes he’s been handed. The only tier 1 side we’ve beaten is Germany where we had home advantage. Our other knock-out wins came against Colombia, Sweden, Senegal, Ukraine, Denmark, Slovakia and Switzerland.

If ‘the golden generation’ had faced similar opposition instead of playing Argentina, Brazil, France and Portugal x2 in the last 16 or quarter finals I’m sure they would have made a few semis or finals.

Very good post and well made. Agree with this.

[CurlyHammer]

Just out of interest am I the only person who hates this recent trend to show the shootout from in front of the goal?

Absolutely hate it. Glad I’m not the only one. Strange perspective.