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

[Keeper!]

You know, the more you watch that Watkins goal, the better it looks. It's a complete no-look goal, from the moment when he starts his run. He's on the wrong side of the defender, swivelling through 180°, and he gets the angle spot on. Anywhere else, and the keeper's getting it. I take my hat off. I don't know if he was doing anything like that for Villa during the season, but I did notice that he was scoring in match after match for them. Probably a major reason why Villa qualified for the CL.
I'd have Watkins or even Toney on from the first minute against Spain. Southgate won't, though, not a chance(got to give Kane credit for a very well-taken penalty, though. It was the one thing he did in the entire match, but he did it well).

It was a superb finish and goal from nothing, he should be starting over Kane everyday of the week.

 

[Keeper!]

Netherlands finished third in their group. A last-gasp winner against them must surely warrant three days of manic celebrations.

And if that penalty had been given against us, WWIII would have been declared.

 

[lazerblue]

Don’t be silly, It’s the Waistcoat.

as the great Joe Royle once said, "if you cant be good, be lucky"

 

[KS55]

Always curious to understand what the phrase "it's coming home" actually means?
We haven't won anything since 1966, most people on this forum would not have been born.
Are we implying the trophy or football itself. I've never understood the song.

Ringo Starr writes:
Once upon a time, there was a football tournament called the Euros. The very important gentlemen at UEFA decided that the finals would be held in England.
Now England is credited for inventing the modern game we call football because the modern rules were written in England, which unified several different versions of the game all over Europe. So England is called the home of football, much to the annoyance of the Germans and the French.
When the euro finals were held in England, some troubadours celebrated this fact with a song called: “It’s coming Home.” The Turks for some reason thought this was colonial and complained when fans of Ingerlund, as the country is called by those fans, sang the song at a subsequent tournament.
But we took no notice because the Turks are a bit silly.
Now I must go to feed the hungry children in the North.
“And that tackle by Moore…..”

 

[ancoats]

as the great Joe Royle once said, "if you cant be good, be lucky"

I think luck is earned, Southgate does have some of the best players in the world in the squad which helps.
The Netherlands are average at best and reverted to the long ball game at halftime with Weghorst.

Pep and City struggle at times and earn some luck.
If your shit then be hard to beat, at least make them earn the result and don't hand it to them on a plate

 

[supercity88]

Glad to see the anti-England brigade out in full force today.

It's coming home is England fans taking the piss! It's better to believe and get carried away than mope! It's not entitled it's not arrogant, it's a laugh. The song is based on England inventing the sport and Euro 96 being the first tournament back in England. Calm down.

England dominated the first half, it wasn't a penalty for me but these days the bar is low. We deserved to be at least level at the break. They adapted, the midfield condensed and we lost momentum. The subs were late, but luckily we held on until they arrived and then they changed the game. Job done and we are.in the final. One we will have to play even better in to win most likely but the squad has done its job and Southgate has mixed up who he has brought on and so far he has got it right.

 

[Mancity1980]

England V Spain Sunday.

As every City fan knows. Rodri doesn't lose. (Apart from penalties)! Just saying!

He loses cup finals!

 

[KS55]

You know, the more you watch that Watkins goal, the better it looks. It's a complete no-look goal, from the moment when he starts his run. He's on the wrong side of the defender, swivelling through 180°, and he gets the angle spot on. Anywhere else, and the keeper's getting it. I take my hat off. I don't know if he was doing anything like that for Villa during the season, but I did notice that he was scoring in match after match for them. Probably a major reason why Villa qualified for the CL.
I'd have Watkins or even Toney on from the first minute against Spain. Southgate won't, though, not a chance(got to give Kane credit for a very well-taken penalty, though. It was the one thing he did in the entire match, but he did it well).

We are all going on about luck and overlooking what was a brilliant collect and strike by Watkins.

 

[jimharri]

We are all going on about luck and overlooking what was a brilliant collect and strike by Watkins.

Meh; he shinned it.


:-)

 

[Mancity1980]

Glad to see the anti-England brigade out in full force today.

It's coming home is England fans taking the piss! It's better to believe and get carried away than mope! It's not entitled it's not arrogant, it's a laugh. The song is based on England inventing the sport and Euro 96 being the first tournament back in England. Calm down.

England dominated the first half, it wasn't a penalty for me but these days the bar is low. We deserved to be at least level at the break. They adapted, the midfield condensed and we lost momentum. The subs were late, but luckily we held on until they arrived and then they changed the game. Job done and we are.in the final. One we will have to play even better in to win most likely but the squad has done its job and Southgate has mixed up who he has brought on and so far he has got it right.

I have had several conversations with foreign fans about that song and they just don’t get it. They really see it as arrogance, even when I point out what the original protagonists of the tune say and the reality of England’s trophy haul. It is hope which is not based on realistic expectation. We are different in attitudes and behaviour to the rest of the world and this is a good example of that leading to misconceptions.

 

[Mancity1980]

In what way

He ate all the team pasties, Pickford was livid.

 

[Stephen230]

Well that was a bit more like it.

Thought everyone bar maybe Kane, Bellingham and Rice had a really good game.

If we can repeat that on Sunday, we should have at least a fighting chance. Still clearly underdogs though.

Rice definitely needs to up his game if Rodri isn’t going to totally run the show though. Although I have to say, after mocking the early hype that Mainoo is looking like he’s going to be a serious player. Not sure I can ever recall a player so young playing that position with such authority.

All the City boys looked right back on their game aswell, so looking forward to Sunday. Hopefully we can give them a decent game and after that, who knows?

 

[jimharri]

I have had several conversations with foreign fans about that song and they just don’t get it. They really see it as arrogance, even when I point out what the original protagonists of the tune say and the reality of England’s trophy haul. It is hope which is not based on realistic expectation. We are different in attitudes and behaviour to the rest of the world and this is a good example of that leading to misconceptions.

What can you expect? Those horrid, smelly Johnny Foreigner types just don't understand God fearing Brits' sense of humour.

;-)

 

[KS55]

as the great Joe Royle once said, "if you cant be good, be lucky"

Wasn’t that Napoleon?

 

[jimharri]

Wasn’t that Napoleon?

Napoleon Royle? Never heard of him.

 

[Keeper!]

Well that was a bit more like it.

Thought everyone bar maybe Kane, Bellingham and Rice had a really good game.

If we can repeat that on Sunday, we should have at least a fighting chance. Still clearly underdogs though.

Rice definitely needs to up his game if Rodri isn’t going to totally run the show though. Although I have to say, after mocking the early hype that Mainoo is looking like he’s going to be a serious player. Not sure I can ever recall a player so young playing that position with such authority.

All the City boys looked right back on their game aswell, so looking forward to Sunday. Hopefully we can give them a decent game and after that, who knows?

Not sure why we are underdogs, keep Rodri out of it and they are very beatable.

 

[Ste68]

I really don't care whether the penalty should or should not have been given. The important thing was we converted it and although we could not take advantage of being the much superior side in the first half we did made sure we did not lose it when the game was pretty even in the second. The side reminds me pretty much of the effective German sides who were often not spectacular but would do just enough and if it had to go all the way were prepared for it. We do look tournament savvy if at times uninspiring. Will take a tournament win anyway it comes. Much of the improvement I think is down to the academy systems and the additional hours now allowed to coach kids producing more technically gifted players so am hopeful we will continue to be very competitive going forward as well. Fair play to Gareth (have been critical of him like others) and if he wins the tournament give him a knighthood and another crack at the World cup.

 

[Crooked_rain]

Well that was a bit more like it.

Thought everyone bar maybe Kane, Bellingham and Rice had a really good game.

If we can repeat that on Sunday, we should have at least a fighting chance. Still clearly underdogs though.

Rice definitely needs to up his game if Rodri isn’t going to totally run the show though. Although I have to say, after mocking the early hype that Mainoo is looking like he’s going to be a serious player. Not sure I can ever recall a player so young playing that position with such authority.

All the City boys looked right back on their game aswell, so looking forward to Sunday. Hopefully we can give them a decent game and after that, who knows?

Rice could become twice as good as he is now and still wouldn't be half as good as Rodri, generally speaking.

However it's one game. We saw a mediocre rag side do a job on us in the FA cup final, it happens.

As I've said a few times, Spain have only been beating decent teams by a one goal margin. People would have you believe they're spanking everyone 4-0.

They're a good side, I don't think they're anything special though. England are a good side, just less attractive to watch. Spain will be favourites and should be, but it's not a team anyone should be shit scared of.

 

[mattcity5]

Not sure how taking the best player on the pitch off, in our Phil, was a good move

Taking Kane off for Watkins was the right thing but should have happened after an hour in every match

Got to say, the subs worked. However, while the ones coming on were right, it should have been Kane and Bellingham off. Taken Foden off was nonsense.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

I haven’t seen Bellingham do much at all apart from the two goals, he is nowhere near as good as Foden, Palmer and a few others in this tournament. Strangely the two outstanding English players in the Bundesliga have failed to impress. I can understand why Southgate took Phil off, he did more running than any other player on the pitch, but his faith in Bellingham is hard to understand.