Euro 2016

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I'm really struggling to understand how Iceland can play so well with such poor players. Of course England was playing terrible, in the qualifications when the Netherlands struggled against them the Netherlands were playing terrible as well, in the group stage Portugal struggled, I guess because they don't know what to do when it's the other team that plays defensive anti-football.

But it's not just that, the Icelanders are actually playing pretty decent. Their defense is very well disciplined and they know how to get rough and physical to destroy the opponent's attack without crossing the border and getting dirty. In fact, they got a big amount of yellow cards this tournament but they managed to get nobody suspended for the quarter final. From there starting 11 I think 7 would've been suspended for the QF if they got booked, but whenever the Icelanders got booked it was one of the guys who could take it. So it seems they weren't just playing rough and dirty, they knew exactly what they were doing.

But even in their attack sometimes it looked pretty decent. The goal by SIgthorsson was also a keeping mistake by Hart, but the attack that led to this actually looked pretty neat and well organized. Sigthorsson is a good example; I saw him play at Ajax and he was terrible, this year at Nantes he scored only thrice in 26 games, but somehow he looks like a pretty decent player in the Iceland team. He's always been a hardworking strong guy, but in Iceland he actually scores goals, contrary to what he does in clubs....

 

[jsem94]

Actually, Iceland has shown they have the quality to actually score as well. They had other attempts on goal that were also good. They set up like Atleti but without the star quality.

 

[Amsterhammer]

A whole page of fun -

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/28/england-iceland-internet-reacts-humiliating-euro-2016-brexit

"S&P just downgraded England football to LOL"

" 1 in 150,000 Icelanders have scored against England"

 

[BigMac]

Not as good as Daily Mail's comment section.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Re:

ROFLMAO

muppets for sure.

 

[Põhja Konn]

There is a decent chance to get a repeat of Italy-Belgium in the final. Belgium's path to final seems obvious and straightforward and they are getting better themselves.

Italy on the other hand has very tough opponents ahead all along the way. But crucially, none of them have looked thoroughly convincing and all are eminently beatable. Germany have had generally weaker opponents and were distinctly ordinary when faced with strong defensive team in Poland. I would even say that Germany have more reasons to worry about Italy than vice versa.

France, when everything clicks is the best team in the tournament. The problem is, that playing in front of home crowd is seemingly making them nervous and anxious instead of giving them an aura of invincibility, like it was in 1998. And should they meet in the semis, Italy can use that mental fragility to great extent.

 

[Red Rick]

Best team in the tournament if everything clicks is Germany, and it's not even close. And that's coming from a Dutch guy

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Best team in the tournament if everything clicks is Germany, and it's not even close. And that's coming from a Dutch guy

What does it change it comes from a Dutch guy, do you dislike Germany?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Best team in the tournament if everything clicks is Germany, and it's not even close. And that's coming from a Dutch guy

What does it change it comes from a Dutch guy, do you dislike Germany?

Pretty intense rivalry in football, generally. The German press were laughing their butt off when we didn't qualify.

 

[Archibald]

Re:

...Belgium's path to final seems obvious and straightforward and they are getting better themselves.

I keep seeing that Belgium are a shoe-in for the final, while no one mentions Portugal. Are opinions that low of Portugal that the belief is that the Belgies with knock them off with ease?

 

[ferryman]

Re: Re:

Best team in the tournament if everything clicks is Germany, and it's not even close. And that's coming from a Dutch guy

What does it change it comes from a Dutch guy, do you dislike Germany?

No need to troll. The Dutch don't like the Germans whoopy fuckin doo, the Scots don't like the English, the Welsh don't like the English, the French don't like the English, the English don't like the French, the English don't like the Germans......and so on and so *** on..ces't la vie....

 

[Eshnar]

Re: Re:

The German press were laughing their butt off when we didn't qualify.

sorry but there wasn't a single country not laughing when you didn't qualify

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

The German press were laughing their butt off when we didn't qualify.

sorry but there wasn't a single country not laughing when you didn't qualify

Well from those countries we can accept it. The Germans were clearly the worst. I was sad mostly because I didn't bet all my belongings on the Czech Republic

 

[hrotha]

I see the English media and fans had a field day throwing abuse at the national team again. Maybe they should take a look at themselves, admit that they are the ones creating that hype every single time, and that their team just isn't that good (and there's nothing wrong with that). "But they were kicked out by Iceland, who are a bunch of nobodies!". Well, maybe. But who are England? What have they won?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

I see the English media and fans had a field day throwing abuse at the national team again. Maybe they should take a look at themselves, admit that they are the ones creating that hype every single time, and that their team just isn't that good (and there's nothing wrong with that). "But they were kicked out by Iceland, who are a bunch of nobodies!". Well, maybe. But who are England? What have they won?

Well England have won a World Cup, which is more than most international sides regardless of how long ago it was.

Anyway, This year it seemed in the buildup that the hype wasn't anywhere near the levels of previous tournaments. But as with any fan there is always hope that your team can do well.

If you believe everything in the media then there's not a great deal I can say, for the average fan it's the fact they are overpayed and underperforming consistently. Just look at how close some teams are with the fans, we never get England players like that. They seem like they don't even want to be there. All I ask for my club and country is they give 100% effort when on the pitch and show pride when they put the shirt on.

I haven't seen that from an England team in a long time, that's why many fans are extremely disillusioned with the England team, it's a long way back to win back the trust of supporters.

 

[gooner]

Gary Neville celebrating at the Iceland v Austria when they scored at the end which meant they avoided Portugal.

There is a lot of pontificating and populist nonsense spoken about the state of the game in England at the moment. Everyone is trying to get their name attached to it. Acadamies are useless, youth coaches are terrible. None of that adds up when you see the Wales players performing and the likes of Ramsey and Bale who got big moves in their teens and earned big money. They were involved in this academy system and many are performing in the Premiership. Chris Waddle blames the "headphone" culture, but that's the same for the players at club level and they still perform much better. Then Raymond Verheijen with "sports science terrorism". Could someone please tell me what this has got to do with losing to Iceland? Not to mention some of the names that are being thrown about by the so-called experts on the game. Glenn Hoodle, Gareth Southgate, and then John Hartson saying Shearer should get it. Oh my! I wonder would anyone have said Shearer should get it if he didn't say the other night he wanted the job. If he's so confident in his ability, why not try his luck at management these last 7 years since Newcastle instead of just sitting in a BBC studio. All he did for the first three years of his retirement was cast a big shadow over the Newcastle managers of that period and walked into a job solely based on the fact that he was a great player for them. Now he thinks he can do the same with the England job while other English managers were breaking the back doing the real work week in week out in the dugout.

The reaction was entirely predictable and one I would advise people to completely ignore.

The FA seem to want Wenger but I would be amazed to see him take it. Looks like they are willing to wait a year to get him. He should stay well clear.

 

[hrotha]

Re: Re:

Well England have won a World Cup, which is more than most international sides regardless of how long ago it was.

Yeah, I mean this particular England team.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

Just look at how close some teams are with the fans, we never get England players like that. They seem like they don't even want to be there. All I ask for my club and country is they give 100% effort when on the pitch and show pride when they put the shirt on.

I haven't seen that from an England team in a long time, that's why many fans are extremely disillusioned with the England team, it's a long way back to win back the trust of supporters.

Exactly this. Weren't the Icelandic fans awesome? What about how the whole squad went over and did their grunting, clapping thing with them after the game? Total rapport between team and supporters, as it ideally should be.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Just look at how close some teams are with the fans, we never get England players like that. They seem like they don't even want to be there. All I ask for my club and country is they give 100% effort when on the pitch and show pride when they put the shirt on.

I haven't seen that from an England team in a long time, that's why many fans are extremely disillusioned with the England team, it's a long way back to win back the trust of supporters.

Exactly this. Weren't the Icelandic fans awesome? What about how the whole squad went over and did their grunting, clapping thing with them after the game? Total rapport between team and supporters, as it ideally should be.

Precisely my point, it was great to see the videos on social media of thier fans and players. Other teams have done similar at the end of matches too.
As an Englishman it makes me embarrassed by our teams lack of passion. I feel for the thousands of fans who've spend a lot of money going over to France for several weeks to be let down by the players.

I have no bitterness towards Iceland and thier fantastic fans at all, I honestly wish them all the best against France on Sunday and hope they pull off another memorable result.

 

[Red Rick]

Aaaand I came up on the following

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dILkOh3WexA

Hogdson is fired, no terrified

 

[Põhja Konn]

Re: Re:

...Belgium's path to final seems obvious and straightforward and they are getting better themselves.

I keep seeing that Belgium are a shoe-in for the final, while no one mentions Portugal. Are opinions that low of Portugal that the belief is that the Belgies with knock them off with ease?

I'm not sure Portugal gets past Poland at the quarters at first place. Also Belgium have got themselves some momentum with last two wins and a growing belief in their own chances. Having said that, seeing them fail despite everything falling in place for them wouldn't surprise me too much.

 

[hrotha]

How can there be any special bond between the England team and the fans, when the fans regularly treat the team like crap?

 

[BigMac]

Re:

How can there be any special bond between the England team and the fans, when the fans regularly treat the team like crap?

Precisely. One only need look at most people's reactions on various media outlets, insulting players and staff left and right, showing zero respect. Some stuff I read is so messed up I would cry were I an English player.

The thing is, these behaviour has been the norm since day one.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

How can there be any special bond between the England team and the fans, when the fans regularly treat the team like crap?

Precisely. One only need look at most people's reactions on various media outlets, insulting players and staff left and right, showing zero respect. Some stuff I read is so messed up I would cry were I an English player.

The thing is, these behaviour has been the norm since day one.

There will always be mindless 'fans' who spout garbage but that's the same for many sides both national and international. Just the other day France were booed off and were being slated by their own fans on social media and that was just half-time against Ireland.

As I said above, as a fan I expect pride and passion, I can take a defeat if those characteristics are being upheld. Sadly, England very rarely do that in major tournaments.

It's very easy to blame the fans as an easy way out. England's dreadful performances this summer have virtually nothing to do with the fans, they have been backed magnificently in this tournament, even in the 2nd half against Iceland I heard the English fans try to rally behind a failing side.

 

[gooner]

Just go back to the Algeria game in the 2010 World Cup and Rooney shouting towards the camera criticising the fans for booing them,