EURO 2O24 ⚽ part 3

[DuncinToffee]

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And saying that Southgate is a brilliant manager when we're sneaking last minute goals due to individual brilliance is a bit rich. He's obviously good at keeping his people on the straight and narrow, but for the rest I guess it's Napoleon's statement that he'd rather have lucky generals than brilliant ones...

I agree with this. If I were England manager, I’d enforce singing!

it seems that quietly sensible chaps being in charge are the new thing in Britain. Long may it continue.

This pic makes me a bit emotional, it means so much to him and I remember that poor lad who missed a crucial penalty.

Well done Gareth 👏

Can someone explain the home soil thing?
We got to the final in the last Euros I think?
What's the difference. It says they play in Berlin against Spain .

surprised that everyone thinks we'll lose against Spain. At the very least we're equal to Spain in terms of talent. It's the psychological side they need to address, but England are looking more confident every game.

Last final we played in England (home soil) so it’s our first time getting to a final away from home if that makes sense. It generally means you have an advantage if you play at home so winning an away game is more notable.

Can he please go back to wearing his waistcoat for the final?

Won’t argue about the talent we’ve got but it’s Spain’s speed of passes/play and cohesive, strategic display that I’m impressed with.

If England can take Rodri out of the game (i dont mean physically take him out btw!) it shuts down half of Spains attack.
we need to be smart, play as we did today and we can win it.
I know they have other amazing players but Rodri is their biggest threat I think.

Completely agree ❤️ for all the criticism he’s had and all the things he could improve on (e.g.
subbing players earlier, which I know is important), he’s come a long way since missing that penalty.

He’s clearly extremely resilient, capable and hard-working, and the team that he’s put together also show those values in most - if not every - game, so for that, they should all be very proud of themselves. I don’t think he’s just lucky - I think he knows he’s put together a strong team and that they will deliver when they need to.

Also, this is England’s first ever final outside the UK, which is a historic achievement.

sounds he clicks with the players and although many may not be happy with being benched when they do come on they’re fired up

men's final

Oh yes, of course 😳 sorry! 😂😂 The women have of course taken us to 2 finals, with 1 win!

Very few people seem to care a lot about the Lionesses doing so well. (They won the Euros in 2022.) Even most women I know weren't massively bothered.

I mean they were happy for them, and pleased they won, and thought it was a good example to girls to see women doing something like this.

But it was nothing like the euphoria that exists right now with the men. And when the men were in the final of the last Euros (2021,) and the quarter final of the world cup in December 2022, and in the semi final of the world cup in 2018.

I wonder why?

Probably partly because the men’s team have existed for a lot longer than the women’s team. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons.

Another reason is probably because women’s sport is still unfortunately considered secondary to men’s sport, in many cases (although this is improving). A case in point is that Sarina Wiegman, as England women’s coach, earns about a tenth of what Gareth Southgate does (£400k compared to about £5m). I imagine that was one of the reasons you were thinking of!

For me it's because I've been supporting the men's team for decades. Since I was a child, I've watched every world cup and every Euros. Most of it's been horrific. Disappointment after disappointment; losing against Iceland in 2016 is a particular low point. Our final against Italy was amazing, couldn't believe it and now to be here again, feels like an alternate reality. I'm beyond ecstatic.

I’m thinking back to a few weeks ago, when my Dad and I went to Wembley to watch the England-Iceland friendly that was England’s final pre-Euros game.

We both had very high hopes - which I think were justified- firstly given their opponents and also because of England’s previous record against Iceland(!) - yet it was not to be and England lost.

It feels particularly sweet to look back on that result now and to see how far England have come. I know we’ve got through some matches this Euros by the skin of our teeth, but still - they should be very, very proud of what they have achieved.

It’s this for me. I have a lifelong history with the men’s game that just isn’t there with the women when it comes to football.

For all of my criticism of Gareth Southgate’s decision making, I have no doubt he is a decent man who is trying his hardest and I will be thrilled for him if he puts the ghost of his missed pen in 1996 to bed on Sunday. It would be a great story…

Thanks for the responses. Something to think about I guess.

Wasn't it Rodri who went off with a hamstring injury on Tuesday? Maybe he won't play.

In terms of hype around men's final. I have been watching men's football since I was a young child 1986 was my first world Cup wallchart. Although I remember seeing the odd women's game when Hope Powell was manager & Kellie Smith was playing and i think we have some 2018 Euros t-shirts it wasn't really mainstream and only properly came onto my radar when my daughter started playing. Our first live game was the Euros QF in Brighton. I think the more it's on tv and the more fantastic social media content and PR the women have the more it will grow.

I was absolutely ecstatic that the Lionesses won!
Me and a friend watched it on a huge screen and it was brilliant.
It was a quality match with a lot of skillful play.
And the atmosphere was very family orientated and no one got soaked in beer!
After a lifetime of supporting football I was getting disillusioned with the men's game, the greed, the dirty tricks, revelations of historical abuse etc and my local very moneyed up team not doing much for the local community.
It felt like the women brought a fresh new energy and the women's current attacking game has improved beyond recognition.
And the women alone in recent history have lifted a trophy.

I care significantly more about women's football than men's. Whenever we go see live football with my bf it is usually women. He no longer even looks at men's game if we will go to a game. Went to last euros with my bf and the one before with my dad. Also went to see the women's world cup final with my dad and brother at a pub. My other brother took his sons to the worldcup in France.

My brother (former pro, now a manager) said last year that during WWC whether and his co-manager talked football it was always "did you see the game" and no mention of them being women. Obviously not the norm. But it will gradually get there. Current women's football started to exist in the 70's so it is still so new.

The Killers interrupted their concert at the O2 to show the end of the game so fingers crossed for you.

There's an official England band - well, it used to be a band, just a drum and a trumpet now - and they have official permission arranged through the FA.

If it's annoying when you're watching on TV, try standing about five rows in front of them.