Euro 2020

[big mean bunny]

Croatia aren't what they were but 3 of their front 6 had played full seasons for Inter. Then you've got Modric and Kovacic. They're not some mickey mouse outfit.

Of the team that lost to Italy in 2014 I think only Cahill would get in now. At a push.

You remember Sterling played that night yes!?

 

[Templeton Peck]

You remember Sterling played that night yes!?

Yes...

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

But you'd take 2021 Sterling over 2014 Sterling.

I thought we'd win as Croatia aren't the team they were in 2016/2018 (and in the latter, we should have been more than 1-0 up at HT, it was only in the second half they started to take control as we tired and refused to sub Ashley Young who was getting battered) but not in such a comfortable fashion.

We controlled the game, created enough, got through difficult conditions - just our luck that we play our first home tournament game for 25 years and it's hotter than Mallorca today - and defended really well when we had to.

Rarely have we ever had such a good opening game. We did play alright against France in 2004 and Italy in 2014. Lost them both though which renders it pointless, and we were better than that today.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

The England game might end up being like when we played Italy in Brazil, it felt like an okay result and performance to many initially and that we would get going and get out the group, until you saw how much Italy had regressed when they played someone else! Not saying we were bad, just that I think Croatia have massively regressed by the looks of that.

Get its early but neither England or Croatia look like they will be on any ones wall charts too far past the groups if today's game is an indication of their quality.

Teams that start playing well, always struggle as it goes on.

Teams usually start ok, and improve as the tournament progresses.

I am happy we started ok, dominated a good Croatia team, but was no where near our peak

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

The Dutch look good.
Ukraine look poor

 

[jd1981]

Don’t think Ukraine have been that bad do look a threat on the counter attack.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Dutch appear to have a weird mentality out of possession, seemingly content to stand there and let Ukraine do whatever the fuck they want.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Dutch have a lot of very average players.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Dutch appear to have a weird mentality out of possession, seemingly content to stand there and let Ukraine do whatever the fuck they want.

Welcome to Frank de Boer's football.

Got a mate who went to the two home games he managed at Palace before being canned. It sounded like Solbakken's stuff on mogadon.

 

[jd1981]

Dutch are very ropey at the back

 

[sycophantia]

Well I'm enjoying it, Dutch playing quite a high octane style, plenty of attacking intent without opening Ukraine up apart from the header near the end of the half, should have scored. Ukraine look dangerous on the break.

 

[Jack Regan]

The Dutch deservedly in front, big error by the goalkeeper.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Bad from the keeper but some real Doherty 2014 stuff from Zinchenko in the first place.

 

[Carrotdude]

Really fun game this

 

[PuntsWolf]

Not sure how that’s not offside?

Edit - because he isn’t.

 

[Jack Regan]

Just showed it and the Ukrainian defenders back leg plays him on.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Yarmolenko at international level

 

[Jack Regan]

Brilliant finish.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Yarmolenko at international level

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Lolland