Strange logic, when Southgate needed to make a call to change the course of the game got found wanting again just like the world Cup semi.
Racism aside (if that’s possible) you play for your national team in a competition that engages over half the nation who go mad for it every other year and you’re in the goldfish bowl. You know full well in advance the pressure and responsibility of not just taking part but being there at the crunch taking penalties. You miss, you know you’re getting pelters. At any point in the lead up you can say no and leave. He might be young but so what? Age is no guarantee of mental solidity and I’d argue that a youngster might shrug it off quicker. My point is that nobody forced anybody to do anything tonight. If you have the balls to step up and take one, you must equally know the repercussions of not scoring.
Dickheads insulting the players is nothing new. Doing it on social media might be. But bringing race into it just shows the neanderthallian level of the insulter.
Saved a very good penalty, did well tonight. Shite last match granted.
Those who are English who do not support or wish your country on is quite an ugly trait. Where some are actually anyone but England. Those who cannot put aside feelings towards another clubs player really need to mature.
Don’t have much of an issue with him bringing Rashford and Sancho on to take penalties. I’m not sure if Sancho has any experience taking them at Dortmund but I’d definitely have backed Rashford take a penalty over the likes of Sterling and Hendo who are both shite at them, at least Rashford has a proven track record of success and scored one in the shootout against Colombia. I think the order could be questioned, Saka going last seemed like a recipe for disaster but I suppose it’s better to front load with your better takers otherwise you risk them not getting the chance to take one.
If Southgate is to take some criticism, I think it should be more about the approach England took after going ahead. A real lack of ambition and there was a definite sense of inevitability about Italy equalising. The overly cautious nature was a pretty recurrent theme throughout England’s tournament. Maybe the lesson to be learnt here is to have more faith in the likes of Sancho and Grealish and to actually give them sufficient amount of time on the pitch to make a difference.
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Well these pen takers who do the ‘hop, skip and a fart’ technique, can get a gold in the next few weeks…Olympic triple jumpers!!!
Silver lining:
2 Man U superstar strikers miss penalties.
Harry Kane has still lost every final he’s played in.
Gutted for Henderson, he would have scored his penalty and would have changed the game if he had come on earlier. Sort of glad he isn’t available for Southgate to throw him under the bus.
Southgate very gutless imo, such a unbelievably strong attacking side and squad, yet setup so negatively. It looked as if England would blow Italy away for the first 20 minutes, then after Italy got to grips there was no coming back.
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Now, Saka, Sancho and Rashford are getting a huge amount of racist abuse on social media.
Its fcuking disgraceful. I am reporting as many as I can. This has to stop every time a team loses a match. Social media owners need to root it out.
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Very disappointed with Southgate he’s a mourinho type manager he has loads of attacking players but is afraid to play them.
Well done Italy 
you deserved it.
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Will Southgate keep his job?
Yes , there is talk of a statue for doing so well. No wonder we fail.
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Unfortunately yes because nobody of any calibre wants it Lampard could be interested but Southgate is a yes man which will swing it his way.
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I meant that to be sarcastic it should have been “better” managers.
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Tong firmly in cheek there?
Doubt they’d sack him off the back of making a semi and then a final. The approach can be questioned but the results and progress through tournaments is better than it has been for absolutely ages.
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Unfortunately, that was to be expected. And honestly, the players know exactly what to expect the moment they wear the England shirt. And I doubt that anything will change in the foreseeable future as long as it is not possible to punish these racists more severely. It happens again and again and again. Because these people, who do that sh*t, always get away with it.
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I always hark back to the Australian cricket team in the 90s. Ruthless and nasty bunch of spectacularly talented individuals. If you’re out for a duck at a critical phase, you ain’t getting cuddled and cosseted, you’re getting the riot act and possibly dropped. Do better or get out.
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Huge difference. An actual small number of idiots throwing stones compared to hundreds / thousands rampaging, terrorising people, fighting and intimidating someone driving an Italian car. Morons and neanderthals. Delighted Italy won.
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Classic Harry Kane, “we’re all winners.”
Jesus how thick is this guy? He’s won nothing. England have won nothing since 19 diggity 6. Some of the squad have medals for sure, if they’re Liverpool or Manchester based!
Agreed with anyone blaming Southgate. Sat back after 2 minutes to hold on to the lead. Picking the penalty takers in advance is ridiculous bordering on showboating. Putting 2 kids and a Rashford who barely had a kick as 3 of 5 peno takers is idiotic. If senior players knew in advance that was the plan they should have given his head a wobble.
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