Yeah, USA 94. As for Mclaren, he was worse than Woy.
I don’t get the Southgate hate either. From what i understand, he is one of the nicest guys in football. Even, the foreign managers like him, he shows alot of respect for others. He cares for his players.
He wrote such an inspurational open letter to the public.
He managed to get rid of the cliques within the team and unite the players from rival clubs to think of the national team.
Two semi-finals within 3 years is great.
Some of us England fans are never happy.
We don’t have alot of good choices of managers for the national. Sam Allerdyce would be insufferable if he was still in charge.
Exactly. Im no massive England fan (if they win great if they lose tonight, oh well) but wasn’t every England fans request to at least compete in tournaments and 2 semis in last 2 have shown improvement.
He’s done well. I do like the way there is no set 11 and different players come in for different games.
Maybe people miss the how do you fit Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes in the same 11 conversation!
It might be that Southgate is a poor club manager, but has the skill set needed to succeed as an international manager, where it’s less about developing players, and more about building team spirit and setting up a team for a short run.
He’s done really well. There have been done things I haven’t liked about him (the stuff around Trent, throwing Hendo under the bus) but it’s hard to argue he hasn’t done a good job - certainly better than any England manager since Robson and Venables.
The caveat to this should be that England have been gifted a piss easy runs to the finals in both the tournaments he’s managed. I’m not saying this to be mean spirited - it’s just true. At the World Cup England were beaten by both the good sides they faced. And this Euro’s their great run, should be in the context that they haven’t really played anyone of note, bar Germany - who a pale shadow of what you expect them to be.
I’m at the point where I actually do hope they go on and win it - too many people I know are invested in it for me to be cunt about it But there is also something about this England team that feels a bit more likeable, a bit more humble. They feel a bit more like a side you can get behind. Maybe I’m going soft.
Interesting tie tonight. After the contest between two tactical and technical powerhouses, it’s now a battle between two northern teams, with a more physical component to it. Denmark will certainly provide more fight than Ukraine the other day, who were miserable to be honest.
It will be interesting to see if England can assume their role of favourites, raise their game, win the physical battle and provide that little bit more quality when in front of goal.
I’m almost always for the underdog, so I’ll cross fingers for the Danes tonight. They are accustomed to hurt and invade England, so who knows…
Seriously, may the better team win. Oh and no injury to Hendo please!
There’s one thing (well, apart from technical ability) England have always lacked in major tournaments; let’s see if Southgate can provide it.
Did the journalists really need a response from Kane on Kasper’s comments? “Kasper Schmeichel’s put down of England”.
What a bunch of idiots.
At least the Danes can speak english, what were those other people garbling?
What a bastard, sitting there and calmly saying something true…
There is something a bit distasteful and entitled about the ‘coming home’ stuff. Like it’s our game, we invented it. It belongs to us.
I agree. It makes me cringe tbh. It’s like milking our only claim to fame in the sport. I also don’t get how the media and pundits are painting us being in the final as a done deal. Have they never watched Ingurland in a tournament before?!
The hilarious thing is that while England were genuinely on top of the game and could have won everything in sight, they snubbed FIFA and the world cups as being beneath their dignity.
Meanwhile, Uruguay and Italy inscribed their names on the trophy list during the pre-WW2 period…
Mascot, you are definitely getting soft in your old age😂. I am shocked with your softened spot for the ENG boys!
I’ve no love for England at all, usually want them to lose so I don’t have to listen to all the fawning, but I don’t understand the crying over Three Lions. It’s a catchy tune and not particularly offensive. Arrogant? Well so are plenty of football chants, including many of our own.
Thought it was odd that the Croatians were upset by it. Great response by KS above though to a stupid question from the journalist.
I know what you mean. There was a documentary on that song on Talksport. Skinner and Baddiel said their lyrics were misunderstood. It was not meant to offend tge other cpuntry’s football fans. It was supposed to be about building oneself up, only to be disappointed of always losing at important stages of an international tournament. It was kind of self depecrating lyrics.
Also, if you listen to Biddel and Skinner talk about the origins, it is more about how fans believe in the team but unltimitely know the team will fuck it up and break their hearts.
So really it couldn’t be more apt for Ingerlaand.
I’ve always heard it as a desperate plea rather than an arrogant chant. But even if it is arrogant, that’s pretty normal for the terraces right?
Anyway, three lions is a cracking song.
Only downside, Atomic Kitten have re-issued their single again for England!
Interesting thing is I look at the Copa America and the games in the Euros and I’m seeing a lot of average teams, next World Cup and you could have 8-10 teams with a chance.
I think Southgate’s built a side and he has picked on merit, Foden would have played that first game and then been in the side throughout the tournament in the past but Southgate changed it, he gave Saka a game and I have no doubt he would have started against Ukraine if for. Kane is probably the only one who wasn’t playing well but getting picked and yet as captain and without Hendo in (who I still don’t feel is fully fit) it’s probably forced his hand.
You can lament the run but this is an England team that has failed badly since 1996 and it’s faced average versions of great sides and still lost.
I think he deserves credit for creating a team from this England side and i would say that’s not been the case since Hoddle or even Venables.