Fingers crossed it’s a very miserable week (purely in footballing terms) for your family 
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When we win we’re England, when we lose it’s the United players’ fault. Win-win really 
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Southgate is a bit of a plonker. Made a non issue over the Henderson penalty. I normally can’t stand the English footy team, goes back to Stuart Pierce thinking he was a better winger than John Barnes, then Darren sicknote Anderton over Macca, ridiculous. Then playing Stevie G out of position for England (a far superior player than fat Frank).
But I have to say, this team doesn’t have a cocky, look at me attitude. Look at the way everyone was celebrating Henderson scoring his first goal. There is more of a togetherness.
Southgate has got together a good England TEAM. The media does overhyped but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
How hard has Italy’s or Spain’s route to the semi’s been compared to England’s? Pretty similar no?
I would like England to win. I won’t be crying if they don’t. LFC is my true love. I also wouldn’t be in the least surprised if England bottle it against the Danes.
Don’t see why Italy are the favourites, if anyone is over hyping it’s people on here gushing about the free flowing football the Italians play. It’s better than normal but they are the masters of cheating. Horrible to watch and a crime to football justice if they win the tournament.
For me it’s pretty even amongst England and Italy, followed by Spain who are a little inexperienced in important areas followed by the Danes. Just my opinion.
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I find the many ways Spain miss the target to be quite entertaining
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Yeah but the buildup just goes on and on and on
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That’s not always a bad thing.
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That is only because Kane wasn’t on the pitch to swear on his daughters life that he got the last touch.
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Hey, I’m a Reds fan through and through, but you’ve got to admit Sterling and Kane truly are awesome. Shame we don’t have more British players on the Reds team that could qualify for the National Team. I’m totally rooting for the English National Team. Pickford, well yeah I’m still pissed at him but he’s been a hell of a goalie so far can’t take that away from him. I’m hoping the National Team will win it all. Seeing Henderson score and that cool back foot pass he made was truly awe inspiring!
In what is a really good England team, Pickford is probably the weak link. We saw against Ukraine he has an absolute batshit one in him. And he’s only got little arms. Maybe I’m being spoiled by watching the best keeper in the world week in week out, but there have been loads of shots where Pickford has done some mad flying save, or like the one on Saturday where he punched away a shot straight at him, and I’m thinking ‘What are you fucking doing? Just catch it…’
If England had a keeper in the mould of Alisson, Ederson, Neuer, Courtois, Ter Stegan, etc. it would elevate them to be a really awesome international team.
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I don’t at all like Southgate. For me he always has to be the smartest man in the room. Exudes arrogance, he’s more statesman or politician than he is football manager. He’s just a better dressed Sam Allardyce.
I think it’s wonderful he’s given England supporters something to be excited about and the spirit is at a high level, but I also think he’s incredibly overrated. He has unbelievable depth of talent to choose from.
**all that said, I also very much respect Rambler’s football opinions. He’s one of my favorite posters on TAN.
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Regarding Grealish…I have posted many times on here how much I love watching him play and what he brings to a side.
It’s amusing to me he’s now a rockstar amongst England supporters. The outcry for “START GREALISH!” is everywhere. Yet, just a few short years ago he was physically assaulted on the pitch, and there was a widespread unpopular opinion. Now he’s somehow the most popular boy in the national team.
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Yes! Very much this. I listen to that same podcast every day but I’ve had to give it a rest. Their inability for objective assessment has become insufferable. All of them Southgate fanboys.
You would have loved Steve Bull, with England fans he had rockstar status however the media never understood it. At least the media can get behind this fan favorite.
There are similarities, West Midlands, played for their childhood clubs, very much from and of the people …
I thought Steve Bull was magic if he had 4 defenders blocking his path he would just bowl them over. 
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I’m not overly impressed with southgate and think he’s too conservative with his approach, but you can’t fault his results. He’s made big unpopular decisions on who to play/formations that could have blown up in his face with English tabloids like rabid dogs…
But it’s all worked so far. Changed formation in knock out against Germany to good effect, etc etc. I’ll grudgingly say he’s actually done a very good job so far, and think he’s earned the right to stay on after euros regardless of result against Denmark. (That doesn’t mean I’m not terrified he’ll get it all wrong tomorrow, I still think he’ll screw it up somehow lol)
Sterling has been player of the tournament so far, or at least put himself on the short list of candidates. Phillips has over performed expectations to where I’ll grudgingly say he’s earned starting spot over Henderson, despite only being his place holder until Henderson was fully fit.
It’s been a fun euros to watch as an English fan. I think it helps I’m watching from USA and am not immersed in English tabloids shithousery. I mean, even Pickford is having a good tourney!
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That isn’t a recent thing, it’s been a running gag on their podcast for as long as I can remember when England or one of the teams they support wins. I haven’t listened to it much since they started to break apart the regular four hosts and introduced new hosts last season but I never got the impression any of them were anywhere close to being those types of personalities, if anything they were constantly criticising and taking the piss out of that type of fan.
Marcus Speller and Luke Moore are raging fanboys. They have a separate “Three Lions” pod they also do.
EDIT: sidebar; I question whether or not Pete Donaldson even watches football anymore. His views are very generic and overall jaded. Seems he gets more enjoyment from the pro wrestling show he does.
I am a big fan of Kate Mason. Love her views on football and her knowledge of the game. Someone I know said she’s Cambridge educated, she’s extremely intelligent and eloquent.
Meh. Beat Germans in knock out and beat (a relatively poor) Ukraine 4-0 in quarters. Two tourneys, two semi finals appearances. I think this team is better than world cup team. Let’s see.
I also am not his biggest fan, but zooming out and looking at results they’ve been better than general expectations for England I think.
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True but this is only his 2nd tournament no? I’m not his biggest fan but 2 semi finals is not to be sneezed at. It’s better than his predecessors no?
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It’s not that long ago that we didn’t qualify for a world cup. Now we’ve done 2 semis on the bounce. Like him or hate him, he’s doing a VERY good job.
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Wasn’t the last World Cup England failed to qualify for in 94?
There was Euros in '08 under the Wally with the Brolly but I can’t think of any others