Netherlands v England - Wed 10th July, 20:00 | Euro 2024 Semi-Final

[John Wayne]

It’s very simple. He’ll only shut me up if he wins on Sunday. He’s had the best crop of England players since 66. He has been tactically inept in a World Cup Semi Final and Euro’s Final. Everybody can see we’ve been lucky to get to this final.

I know it’s tough because Spain are worthy favourites but he’s got nothing in the bank. Win, I get shut up. Lose, he fluked his way to a final and wasted a generation.

I go along with this completely. When you have a team that includes Stones, Foden, Bellingham, Rice, Walker, Kane and Saka then you should be beating all six teams faced thus far. They have achieved par so far. They won't get lower than a par whatever happens on Sunday, because Spain are the best international team I've seen since their last great side of 2008-2012. They also have the world's best player.

 

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

That Xavi Simons is utter rubbish. Seen him play maybe 12 times now and do not see anything in there to warrant any type of hype.
Watching as a neutral. England were very good in the first half, mainly due to getting Phil the ball quickly and being positive (Bellend did vey little in comparison), was never a penalty shocked he was told to go to the screen. Second half the Dutch tweaked things and England slowed everything down, therefore Phil hardly saw the ball as he was finding space but no one used him quickly enough. I do believe that the ref did seem to give England a lot of soft free kicks, the one on Saka at the end is a case in point, but the finish from Watkins was superb and they deserved to win overall. If they are to have any chance against Spain, they need to play Watkins instead of Kane and stretch the Spanish backline as they are not the quickest and push either Phil or Bellend slightly further forward (if possible). Was the only England game I have watched all the way through as the others have had me nodding off

 

[normskih]

All the F’s. Fantastic fucking finish. Mind you I’d have brought Toney on, what do I know

Actually, I did too. I was shouting for either one of them.

 

[Akira]

Thought England did well overall. Very good first half, second half not as much. Watkins should've came on sooner, probably should've even started. It showed what happens when you actually have a striker running between channels and behind defenders.

Phil had an excellent first half, ran the show without reward. Bafflingly asked to be more static in the 2nd.

Bellingham was dreadful for most of it. Handled a long pass like hot potato when he was in open space. One good nutmeg there, but struggled to stamp a mark on the game.

Kane started well when he was moving into deeper spaces. Only briefly, because he reverted back to playing a traditional striker role and his influence diminished.


The Dutch were not great. I thought Depay was poor, but Weghorst was even worst. Ruined so many chances or opportunities for corners because he can't keep his hands off the opposition.

Xavi Simons, excellent goal but blew hot and cold all game, with most of it cold.

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Nah, simply unanalytical and biased re the pen. He made it impossible for Kane not to make contact with his raised studs. Dangerously impeded him. Foul anywhere you like.
Well done on getting Dumfries in - feel better?

Right re the corner - but like a Liverpool decision. Perhaps we should go back and back and back.

You'll just have to cheer for Fort Williams in the final now.

Fort William would sadly have given a better account than Scotland managed.

The lad put his boot up to block the ball, Kane kicked the ball and his follow through made contact. It's a nothingness, nothing dangerous or reckless about it...simply just nothing in it.

The free kick given for a mystery foul on Saka which eventually led to the goal was just as ridiculous, but common theme for the game with officials needlessly ending any Netherlands attack or pressure on England.

If you feel bias takes over my opinions, feel free to check my views on the Scotland penalty claim Vs Hungary, I haven't posted too much since. The decision that night was correct, this one not so much and the overall display by officials was one of the worst I've witnessed in years.

 

[normskih]

I was talking to my brother, another blue, after England qualified. He, like me, supports England whenever they play but were both disappointed in the style of play and when I brought up the often spoken idea that teams that get better in a tournament often go on to win it. England played their best football by far in the first half last night. Lots of people said when England come up against the first decent team they would get knocked out, they said that v Swiss. Then they said that v the Dutch. Now I hear the Dutch were rubbish anyway? With some people England will never win, no matter if and it’s a big if they do the unimaginable and beat Spain in the final, it will be because England have had the lucky blah, blah, blah. You have to have luck along the way, Spain were a whisker from conceding a penalty in their semi final, another referee would have given that. I’ll be cheering England on in the final as I have done throughout the tournament, and hopefully one of those shots by Foden will go on the inside of the post this time and a Euro winning goal, wouldn’t that just a great way to start his summer holidays.

 

[Bluemanc100]

It’s very simple. He’ll only shut me up if he wins on Sunday. He’s had the best crop of England players since 66. He has been tactically inept in a World Cup Semi Final and Euro’s Final. Everybody can see we’ve been lucky to get to this final.

I know it’s tough because Spain are worthy favourites but he’s got nothing in the bank. Win, I get shut up. Lose, he fluked his way to a final and wasted a generation.

^^^This

 

[Sale Moor Blue]

All these people in this country celebrating into the early hours and acting like fools.
Do these people not have jobs?

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

There's no way he'll ever take Bellinum off. Never, ever !

The emperor's new clothes that guy...

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

You can't beat scoring a 90 plus minute winner.
Watkins finish was fantastic.
Waistcoat has shut a whole lot of people up, me included.
I just think the way we've played and how we've won the last 3 games our name is on the cup.

I'm beginning to believe that grind and grab football might be the way in internationals.
Be nice if everyone supplied the same work ethic though...