EURO 2O24 ⚽ part 3

[DuncinToffee]

.

That was such a good game

They played well

Just a Villa Boy,
Born and raised in South Devon
He took the Englaandd to Berlin

Don't stop Believing
Ollie Watkins will get it in
Euros, winning, we march on and on and on and on

Southgate really is a class act.

He is a thoroughly decent guy and a brilliant manager. Every time he is interviewed, he also seems to take all of the demands of the job in his stride. I know he is paid well for the job but it’s an impossible job - you can’t please everyone whilst you are in it and you can’t just conjure a win out of a hat, however much you’d like to. He’s obviously got a fantastic work ethic and very solid values and he’s transmitted those to his players and created a really collaborative and supportive team culture which has also brought excellent results. He’s definitely become a hero of mine.

He has been criticised a lot over the time he has been in the job - and I think some of it has been justified - but I thought the criticism got very personal and harsh during this Euros and I didn’t like it at all. It showed a real contrast between his calmness and control and the entitlement of some of our fans.

Of course, we all want England to win, but it’s completely unacceptable to abuse the team. The abuse he got this Euros was terrible - as was the abuse directed at Saka, Rashford and Sancho in the previous Euros final.

Watkins, Shaw and Palmer to start against Spain?

And there I was thinking we could be friends... 😂

No seriously I have great respect for Wenger, and at least you get what it means to be disappointed.

Are you his mum?

No don't think so.

100% agree with this. Southgate is amazing.

No one has come close to what he has achieved in English football.

Why not?

But we have a world-class player, in Bellingham. But despite that goal, he hasn't really stepped up to the plate. But now he has his chance, in the Final.

We have quite a few Arsenal fans on the thread, you will feel right at home

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/5106344-the-rolling-football-thread-season-202425

Seriously @cupcaske123 🙄

Who would you rather have as England manager?

He’s the best manager we’ve had and he’s also a good man.

Like in any job, it’s a tricky balance to get consistently good results with your team and to be a kind, caring manager, rather than a micro-managing slave driver, and I think he’s achieved that very well.

And he’s just made history tonight with the team. Obviously we all would love them to win, but I think they should be very proud regardless.

Thank you I will join!

No one could accuse me of being a glory supporter! (At least not for the last 20yrs!) 😂

Wowzer what another roller coaster of a night. Well done England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. Looking forward to Sunday.

Because I think Southgate sees winning as something you do at the end.

So it will be a predictable steady start. But what do I know

That was a supremely silly comment 'are you his mum?' Pay no attention!

No chance. Along with Mainoo, Foden was England's best player until he was taken off and let's be honest the goal is very much about the finish rather than Palmer's pass. I'd be sorely tempted to start Watkins because Kane looks like he's carrying an injury but there's no way Southgate is dropping his captain for a final.

True @duc748. It just felt with those previous players that they were so hyped up and full of themselves . Wasn't it Rob Green who said that in those days the players all sat with their other club teammates (Green was on his own!) and were worried about sharing info with their England teammates who'd be their rivals at the start of the new prem season. Miserable attitude but I suppose all money based

Southgate seems to have knocked that on the head.

Agree. I think Foden had been pretty poor thus far, but he was good tonight. And Kane really didn't offer much. Great finish by Watkins, who deserves all the credit, obviously.

He does.

I know it is only little, but he has also got them singing the National Anthem. Like properly singing. This sense of identity and belonging does help.

Yes, I think Foden hasn't been great for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I believe he and Rice played more minutes at club level last season than any other player at the tournament (there's about 2 minutes difference between the pair of them) and I think both are absolutely knackered. Second, England's opponents so far have generally been happy to sit deep and when Foden takes up the sort of positions he does for City the midfielders are just not willing to play risky passes into him, so he gets starved of possession. I don't think it's a coincidence that he looked much better against a team more willing to attack England and Spain will be much more aggressive than the Dutch were.

Incredible goal to win it. Defender and goalkeeper could do nothing. Unstoppable.

For Sunday, Palmer should be starting, with Watkins first sub. Kane just isn't mobile enough anymore. It's too easy for defenders as he doesn't drag them out of position. England look far more dangerous when he isn't on the field. Southgate has to be brave (he won't be).

Watkins should start against Spain. Kane is just so static that the Spain defenders will have him in their pockets. Watkins has the kind of mobility to make them uncomfortable.