Euro 2024 in Deutschland!

[Strummer]

Germany‘s Thomas Müller has just announced his retirement from international football after 131 caps.

The Raumdeuter („Space Interpreter“) has been a fixture in the German squad since 2010, other than being controversially dropped by Joachim Löw - a policy that was swiftly reversed, when it was worked out that Germany had nobody else to play the „Thomas Müller“ role.

He will continue with FC Bayern, of course.

 

[valspoodle]

OK, perhaps it wasn't written in the stars!

Even so, until the 85th minute, I kept muttering just one more chance, that's all we need to nick it.

But I suppose I should have realised that Gareth's failure to change anything at half time or even soon after would spell the end. I certainly didn't anticipate the England defence going AWOL after just a few minutes of the half starting; where was Walker, lightning fast who quelled the danger of Williams Jr (to differentiate him from ours, I suppose) in the first half, when that ball from Jamal, with the much praised Shaw of the first half also absent from his post, went right across the defence? I know Walker threw himself at the ball, but then it was too late. Similar situation for the winner. All-out attack meant thinning out the defence, whereas the opposition had balanced their attacking changes with defensive changes.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, that game. Certainly didn't think that we were better than Spain, but was hoping that once again the big time players would pull something out of the bag to rescue the hapless Southgate. Once again, a step too far, sadly.

 

[Trents]

Got lucky with how the group stages panned out in the end. I recon we would have been dominated similarly against the likes of Germany, France, Portugal or Belgium.

Gaz owes Bellingham so much for that overhead kick.

 

[Red Echo]

Spot on mate.

The frustrating thing for me was that Southgate still didn't change it when it was obvious we were as good as playing with 10 men.

We were getting away with that because of the injury to Rodders, but Castillo is a good manager who had the balls to make the change early, Southgate isn't and didn't, and Spain took the advantage.

Southgate just can't seem to spot blindingly obvious stuff. I get him wanting his captain and such a prolific goalscorer, figure, and quality player in Kane to start....wouldn't have been my choice but I can forgive him for that....But I can't forgive him for persisting with Kane past half time. That was just bad management, and handed Spain the advantage.

The more I think about it, the more it seems like his coaching identity is based around familiarity, and little else.

He thinks that if the same group plays together for long enough, they'll form a natural understanding and that will be enough. That's why he's been so scared to drop players, was still talking about Phillips and Maguire etc. - the idea of something new is terrifying for the bloke, because it might expose his lack of general know-how.

Whereas Spain took off arguably their most crucial player, as you say, and still played the exact same way. It's a night and day difference.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

The more I think about it, the more it seems like his coaching identity is based around familiarity, and little else.

Also wondered the same.

And have wondered whether (until this tournament) only choosing players from the top six teams was part of that familiarity play, as well as potentially choosing players who had been in more pressured situations.

Shame as we had a central midfield problem this tournament with neither Mainoo nor TAA being the right players. It should have been Bellingham in a deeper role alongside Rice but their backups should have been Yates (yes, genuinely) and Barkley or Eze given both experience and end of season form.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

Mean spirited to not think Spain were a good team. Played at a high tempo in the right way, not fearless and without doubt the best overall team.

Oh I agree they're a decent team but "brilliant" "outsranding", "world beaters", "off another planet", "scintillating" "unbelievable" is just pure hyperbole that the brainwashed public just suck up like a Dyson.

They wont fool this chikin, been watching (and playing) the game for over 5 decades.

I liken Spain to a Wolves Brentford Spurs sort of team, and to see England obviously much inferior to them is just simply depressing.

You useless bastards England.

 

[YellowBelly Red]

I saw a stat that Kane has had 1 shot on target in 2 finals!

The likes of Wharton, Bowen and Eze must be secretly fuming, with the lack of opportunity, when they can see Saka and Foden running out of steam after 2/3rds of the game.

And if the answer is Conor Gallagher, then I hate to think what the question was!

 

[Quntib Hollox]

Oh I agree they're a decent team but "brilliant" "outsranding", "world beaters", "off another planet", "scintillating" "unbelievable" is just pure hyperbole that the brainwashed public just suck up like a Dyson.

They wont fool this chikin, been watching (and playing) the game for over 5 decades.

I liken Spain to a Wolves Brentford Spurs sort of team, and to see England obviously much inferior to them is just simply depressing.

You useless bastards England.

I agree RP this was a very average Spanish team compared with previous Spanish teams. We had a favourable draw, favourable weather conditions and a lot of luck along the way.
All I wanted was for the team to remember the pain of 2021 and not die wondering but Southgate is such a cautious manager he was never going to grab the bull by the horns and go for it.

 

[Bohinens_chip]

It's funny that after all the worry about England's defence before the tournament, it was our woeful approach to attacking that let us down. We showed no variety to out play and were entirely predictable throughout.

Our sporting psychology seemed weak. Should be making your opponents have to think about what's going to happen next.

Reminded me of when forest would impotently shuffle the ball about in the championship playing "patient" football. Just doing the job for the opposition.

 

[The Doctor]

Many Brazilians don't like Spain, the repeated cases of racism, the intrinsic arrogance in football and several other reasons.

Almost every Brazilian I know supported England. And they all have a general consensus, gratuitous insults towards Southgate.

 

[Tricky Tourist]

Germany‘s Thomas Müller has just announced his retirement from international football after 131 caps.

The Raumdeuter („Space Interpreter“) has been a fixture in the German squad since 2010, other than being controversially dropped by Joachim Löw - a policy that was swiftly reversed, when it was worked out that Germany had nobody else to play the „Thomas Müller“ role.

He will continue with FC Bayern, of course.

What a player! Glückwunsch on a top international career, herr Müller!

 

[Erik]

I think people are being a bit harsh on Harry Kane and by extension Southgate.

I thought Kane was one of the outstanding defensive midfielders in the tournament.

Got to give credit to Southgate for that idea. Not many other managers or coaches would have thought of it let alone implemented it so successfully.

 

[Strummer]

A few stats from the tournament, which the organising committee are hailing as a success:

Euro 2024: Germany celebrates largely secure tournament – DW – 07/15/2024

Germany was bracing for terror risk, but officials have now hailed a "fantastic football festival" as the UEFA Euro championship wrapped up mostly peacefully.

www.dw.com

 

[Erik]

A few stats from the tournament, which the organising committee are hailing as a success:

Euro 2024: Germany celebrates largely secure tournament – DW – 07/15/2024

Germany was bracing for terror risk, but officials have now hailed a "fantastic football festival" as the UEFA Euro championship wrapped up mostly peacefully.

www.dw.com

Of course it was a success. They'd got Southgate there to sniff out and stifle any attacking threat.

 

[jdthebrit]

I think people are being a bit harsh on Harry Kane and by extension Southgate.

I thought Kane was one of the outstanding defensive midfielders in the tournament.

Got to give credit to Southgate for that idea. Not many other managers or coaches would have thought of it let alone implemented it so successfully.

Sitting in my garden in the dark drinking beer.
Laughed uproariously.
The wife came out onto the balcony in Hilda Ogden's curlers and told me to cut it.
Thanks pal.

Sent from my moto g53 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

Poor Arry.

 

[PK12]

@Strummer , dunno if you'll see this in time but I'm in Stuttgart on 31st August and it's been...mmm...18 years since I was last here. Anything particular you'd recommend? Am with the family but a cheeky relaxed beer garden is always good.

Too bloody hot, mind. Munich was lovely but we're hiding back in our air b&b.

 

[Strummer]

@Strummer , dunno if you'll see this in time but I'm in Stuttgart on 31st August and it's been...mmm...18 years since I was last here. Anything particular you'd recommend? Am with the family but a cheeky relaxed beer garden is always good.

Too bloody hot, mind. Munich was lovely but we're hiding back in our air b&b.

Cheeky relaxed biergarten, you say?

Say no more: try the Biergarten in the Schlossgarten: https://www.biergarten-schlossgarten.de/ it’s literally a couple of minutes walk from the main station, and you’ll be able to see the marvel of engineering that is the new Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof on your way past.

Nice cold biers and decent local food. It’s run by Sonya Merz, who is something of a local legend in hospitality (you can even reserve a table via that website above) and don’t worry, all the staff speak good English!

 

[PK12]

Perfik, fella, much obliged and for the quick reply.

Yeah, I consider my German to be just about passable but whenever I open my gob, the locals twig I'm English and speak fluently back to me in English.

Fantastic week here though

 

[Strummer]

Perfik, fella, much obliged and for the quick reply.

Yeah, I consider my German to be just about passable but whenever I open my gob, the locals twig I'm English and speak fluently back to me in English.

Fantastic week here though

Yeah, I get the same.

Always reminds me of this cartoon:

 

[PK12]

Am in my Stuttgart 06 shirt (I think they won the league that year) and sorely tempted to join the hordes of fans at the station here to watch the game and thereby escape the family!

 

[Strummer]

Am in my Stuttgart 06 shirt (I think they won the league that year) and sorely tempted to join the hordes of fans at the station here to watch the game and thereby escape the family!

Many will be taking tram or S-Bahn to Bad Cannstatt, and then doing the Karawane, the famous walk down Mercedesstraße to the stadium (which takes about twenty minutes).

 

[PK12]

Many will be taking tram or S-Bahn to Bad Cannstatt, and then doing the Karawane, the famous walk down Mercedesstraße to the stadium (which takes about twenty minutes).

We're heading for your earlier suggestion

 

[PK12]

 

[PK12]

18 year break between getting these tops!