Wait a minute do you actually think they made the finals in 96?
Ah ok misunderstanding than with finals I meant the championship game (term we use in America) or what ever you call it in old England
Euronymous
Senior Jockey
Imo reasons we underperform:
Technique - but this is getting better.
Unlike Rugby Union the club game is prioritised over the National one. This is the single biggest reason for England's failure down the years. Delli Alli or whatever he's called looked a frigging world beater for Spurs mid season against far better defences than he faced at the Euros. Our pros are asked to play too many games. The powers that be need to get together and:
a) nix 2 teams from the PL, saving four games a year.
b) **** the League Cup off.
c) Have a winter break for the top division after Christmas (2 weeks) and have them come into the FA Cup in the 4th rather than 3rd round
This would save our best players up to 10 games a season.
Technique - but this is getting better.
Unlike Rugby Union the club game is prioritised over the National one. This is the single biggest reason for England's failure down the years. Delli Alli or whatever he's called looked a frigging world beater for Spurs mid season against far better defences than he faced at the Euros. Our pros are asked to play too many games. The powers that be need to get together and:
a) nix 2 teams from the PL, saving four games a year.
b) **** the League Cup off.
c) Have a winter break for the top division after Christmas (2 weeks) and have them come into the FA Cup in the 4th rather than 3rd round
This would save our best players up to 10 games a season.
Unfortunately Euro, the clubs hold too much power and not enough of them would vote to drop 2 teams as the amount of money they would lose if being one of the clubs dropping out is too much for them to gamble. The winter break will be discussed again no doubt, but in the end they will just carry on doing as they do now and continually not being good enough.
Euronymous
Senior Jockey
One of the reasons I'm done with club football. Too much money, too much power, too much corporate **** sucking.
simmo
Senior Jockey
drop the s from finals. It still wasn't a hairsbreadth.
That said, I think England's level is similar to that of the likes of Belgium/Poland - capable of putting in a semi-finals performance when they put it all together but that bit short of the top table.
Perhaps West Ham/Southampton is a better comparison.
AliGupter
At the Start
Any old twat knew that the winner of England v Germany in 1996 would win the whole thing.
If Gazza had longer studs...
If Gazza had longer studs...
S
SlimChance
Guest
England are simply not a cohesive attacking unit. They lack a player(s) to bind the individual pieces together and make the system(?) work. They are no where near the level of Portugal of Belgium and miles away from Germany. All I saw from play in the final third in their last two games was panic, they had conposure. Rooney sprinting to take corners in the Slovakia was a strange sight. What was the rush? Just keep playing possession football and wait to find an opening rather than the panic that allowed them zero, yes zero shots on target in second half of that game.
Yes. Czech republic would have been worst team we faced in tournament bar scotland
Had to get that dig in didn't you
of course
i was at every england game in that tournament. For a brief period of time we had a very good side. Some very strong characters and a genius (mean that too..and rarely say it) in Gazza
People do forget that the first game was a shocker. Spain was the hottest afternoon imaginable and they wrongly had a goal disallowed offside..( i was right in line) but in a strange way that was perhaps the best performance eclipsing holland.
it was unforgettable.
i was at every england game in that tournament. For a brief period of time we had a very good side. Some very strong characters and a genius (mean that too..and rarely say it) in Gazza
People do forget that the first game was a shocker. Spain was the hottest afternoon imaginable and they wrongly had a goal disallowed offside..( i was right in line) but in a strange way that was perhaps the best performance eclipsing holland.
it was unforgettable.
And while all that might very well be true it underscores my point that in the last 50 years there is only one tournament talked about where England was a legitimate contender.
I think Simmo's comparison with Belgium and Poland is not far off the mark, and it depends on what one deems upper echelon but my list would include for Europe:
Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands and after last night Portugal. Sustained excellence over a longer period of time. Netherlands deserve a mulligan for their non qualifying this time around.
I think Simmo's comparison with Belgium and Poland is not far off the mark, and it depends on what one deems upper echelon but my list would include for Europe:
Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands and after last night Portugal. Sustained excellence over a longer period of time. Netherlands deserve a mulligan for their non qualifying this time around.
simmo
Senior Jockey
His goal against Scotland certainly was.
AliGupter
At the Start
1990 was the same situation of course.
Probably 1986 too.
Worth remembering that Portugal haven't actually won a match in this Euros.
Probably 1986 too.
Worth remembering that Portugal haven't actually won a match in this Euros.
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simmo
Senior Jockey
So what we're basically saying is that England have arguably had two periods where they were capable of performing well on the world arena - 1966-70 and 1986 (arguable) - 1996. Other than that they are mediocre, likely to go out in the group stages or early knockout rounds.
And on the basis of something that happened 20/50 years ago the current team should be capable of doing well????
And on the basis of something that happened 20/50 years ago the current team should be capable of doing well????
Attachments
No they haven't but they've actually been to a final and four semis since 84. England one semi.
Sustained excellence was my criteria, otherwise I'd have to include Greece, Denmark and possibly Czech Republic in the mix.
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S
SlimChance
Guest
It was a team full of men and proven winners past and present. They rode their luck but they were absolute men when it counted against Germany. The 2016 version is a bad joke.
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icebreaker
At the Start
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2005
- Messages
- 2,957
Oh Wow, Wales !
Get in there boyo's !
Get in there boyo's !
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 23,876
Wonderful result for Wales. They showed England how to play for each other and for their country.
Utterly delighted for Chris Coleman, a thoroughly decent guy and obviously a very effective man manager who got a raw deal at club level.
Superb night.
Utterly delighted for Chris Coleman, a thoroughly decent guy and obviously a very effective man manager who got a raw deal at club level.
Superb night.
tiggers1972
Senior Jockey
Wales were excellent, alway knew Belgium had a soft centre. As an Arsenal fan it pains me to see them wasting Ramsey's talent by not playing him as an attacking up and down midfielder, he has been their player of the comp by a mile, possibly even the whole tournament's. Think he'll be a huge miss come the semi but then Portugal are shite, but horrible to play against.
I'll still be amazed if the winner doesn't come from tomorrow night's game.
I'll still be amazed if the winner doesn't come from tomorrow night's game.
Oh well, if that's not the explanation is it the arrogance of the England players? How else to explain the success of so called lesser teams made up of players from the same leagues? Well done Wales, it's great to see.