Match #51 (FINAL): Spain 2-1 England (Sunday 14th July, 8pm)

[Puff Daddy]

The loudest collective sigh of relief can be heard in Scotland, where they were concerned they would never hear the last of it had England won

[vietnammer]

Seeing Geoff Hurst on BBC, blimey that bloke has aged well! Good to see.

[westham,eggyandchips]

Also walker was having a mare all game.

After Kane he was our worst player on the night. Positionally getting caught out on numerous occasions.

[DusseldorfHammer]

What's the odds kane retires from international football. Looks completely statuesque . Spain were by far and away the best side in the tournament . As soon as they beat Germany they were nailed on . I suspect Southgate will resign . And no doubt the fa will go for another safe option.

Not many great managers/coaches around. Especially English ones. No English title winning manager since... Harry Redknapp. That's an issue as well.

[Puff Daddy]

Dont worry. The real stuff and the only stuff that teally matters starts again in just under a month from now

[Kermit]

Saks did nothing second half. Bowen may as well been holidaying with the Dyers for 2 weeks.
Pickford is a worthless twat too

Pickford did make two crucial saves, on e of them a "worldie" imo, both from Lamne Yamal, which, at the time, kept England in the game. And, just as the Southgate argument, if not him, then who ?

[westham,eggyandchips]

Just seen that Kane had more touches in our box (2) than Spain's (1)

Good grief.

[Kermit]

Overall, I think this tournament bore witness of a way too tight schedule for the top players. Many of the biggest teams and players seemed to be running on fumes from their first match. England and France in particular.

That's always been/going to be the case when tournaments are played at the end of the season.

And, no, I'm not suggesting we do the same as happened for the Qatar world cup.

[EvilC]

Rice is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.

He's technically very sound and, in particular, a very decent passer of the ball.

He also has very limited vision and almost no creative output except - in the past season - creating chances from dead ball situations.

Playing for Arsenal he relies upon Odegaard to do the creative work next to him. For England's midfield no one is currently doing it.

All of those things can co-exist, as uncomfortable as they might be to accept as an England fan.

Earlier we were talking about possession stats. Now we are talking about creativity in a position where it isn’t the most important part.

I thought Mainoo did pretty well when he came in, he’s happy to take the ball in tight spaces, as is Foden, Bellingham, Saka and Kane. They are not technically deficient.

[Puff Daddy]

Here's an interesting stat for you. Stern John has scored more international goals, 79 for Trinidad, than Harry Kane

[dasnutnock3]

Just seen that Kane had more touches in our box (2) than Spain's (1)

Good grief.

Fifth consecutive final he’s played, hasn’t had a single shot on target in any of them.

[EvilC]

Fifth consecutive final he’s played, hasn’t had a single shot on target in any of them.

He’s definitely due one now, we’d be mad to drop him.

[alf git]

Here's an interesting stat for you. Stern John has scored more international goals, 79 for Trinidad, than Harry Kane

Harry Kane isn't qualified for Trinidad.

[westham,eggyandchips]

Here's an interesting stat for you. Stern John has scored more international goals, 79 for Trinidad, than Harry Kane

.....and Greaves, Lineker, Owen, Charlton, Rooney and Shearer.

Whats your point Puff?

[Monkeybubbles]

After Kane he was our worst player on the night. Positionally getting caught out on numerous occasions.

I'm still not sure if we were playing 4 or 5 at the back.

For both their goals, Walker was central and first Williams and then Cucurella were totally unmarked on their left. Wtf? Where was Saka?

[mattyD]

Thought we looked much better when we reverted to a back 3, which worked much better in previous games. Not sure why GS changed it in the first place.

[mattyD]

IB no way - I coach representative teams - and changing intent and mentality that is ingrained is incredibly difficult. Once the players have a certain mindset it becomes a habit - and unless you as a manager change éverything' they cant just turn on the áttacking' switch.

This is 100% down to Southgate, his mentality is reactive and intent is to deny, not impose. So the players will usually go back to habit - it is 100% him. England plays controlled when in possession but are absolutely scared of actually risk taking with the ball - thats the tactics coaching and intent of the team.

Mind you that stuff is not easy to coach and especially for 11 different players and a group of 26 with differing temperaments, confidence and fears.

I think this is still a problem at grass roots level. Still a football culture problem. It's all very well saying we should play like Spain but they've had decades of looking at the game in a certain way. We just don't have that level of intelligence.

[Aceface]

Rio and Micah Richards basically implying they should be winning the tournament with this squad. Sure, you *could* win the tournament with them but it’s far from being a squad that demands it. The defence aren’t world class, the midfield aren’t world class, the keeper isn’t world class, it’s basically just that we have a lot of good options for the front 4 positions.

But it’s hard to remember many tournaments that have been won in modern times by teams that didn’t have a *superb* midfield - starters and replacements. We’ve got Rice and then 4 or 5 more spots to fill currently to get to that level. THEN you can demand a squad wins tournaments.

[Puff Daddy]

.....and Greaves, Lineker, Owen, Charlton, Rooney and Shearer.

Whats your point Puff?

In all time international football, our leading goal scorer has 66 goals, I think it is, yet other nations, have many with way more than that and Bobby Charltons's record of 50 stood for around 30 years, before it was broken y Wayne Rooney

[Coops]

It's on Southgate for not playing Bowen. Everybody knows that England only ever win finals when West Ham players score.