It Could Get A Bit Messi In Here - The Football Thread.
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
Jan
Well-Known Member
That's why I see France and Italy with high chances . The French are really deep on the bench and Italy seems to really work well as a collective with no outstanding stars. Whenever they switched players It did not seem to matter.
But as always, once the knockout games start a little bad luck, a stupid red card or something else and swing a game and then it's over fast.
Skalap
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I think a few players would play better. Ronaldo is the center of attention and I've seen many times another player in a position to score a goal who ends passing the ball to Ronaldo to make some of his magic. Portugal won the Nations League without Ronaldo (he only joined for he final four IIRC) and they played well without him. Don't get me wrong, I prefer to see Portugal with Ronaldo than without but I would like to see him giving more room and opportunities to his team mates. He only needs another 4 goals to become the all-time highest goalscorer in international football. After that, he will only play for fun (probably not
)If Ronaldo is injured, you can replace him by André Silva who had a great year in Germany. Bruno Fernandes and Renato Sanches behind him and Jota/Silva on the aisles.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I think a few players would play better. Ronaldo is the center of attention and I've seen many times another player in a position to score a goal who ends passing the ball to Ronaldo to make some of his magic. Portugal won the Nations League without Ronaldo (he only joined for he final four IIRC) and they played well without him. Don't get me wrong, I prefer to see Portugal with Ronaldo than without but I would like to see him giving more room and opportunities to his team mates. He only needs another 4 goals to become the all-time highest goalscorer in international football. After that, he will only play for fun (probably not
If Ronaldo is injured, you can replace him by André Silva who had a great year in Germany. Bruno Fernandes and Renato Sanches behind him and Jota/Silva on the aisles.
Maybe I’m bias because he’s the best footballer I’ve regularly seen live I only saw Messi live once) and that 12 years on my club have still not even come close to relaxing him. I still would pick him as the number 1 shark in world football even if others offer more in general play.
Skalap
Well-Known Member
Oh I remember his first brilliant moments at Man Utd (basically he was elected player of the match every two matches, sometimes more). I used to stream the matches just to see him play.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Yeah he had 2 and half years as an extremely frustrating, but clearly promising, kid and then 3 and half as an emerging goal scoring machine! I can’t believe it’s 12 years since he left and that he’s still scoring ridiculous amounts of goals every year. When he left we basically had to completely change the way we played because there was absolutely no way of just putting another player in his place!
Jan
Well-Known Member
That France Portugal game ( which unfortunately is not shown on German tv) will be really interesting. They will both be qualified by then and could relax but the winner of group f gets a third placed team from a group, the second plays England in Wembley and I guess both will want to avoid that this early in the tournament
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
England have to beat their neighbours in the oldest international fixture first.
England should win on paper but no game between England and another home nation/Ireland is played on paper, especially Scotland, they’ll be desperate to win at Wembley. England should still win it but it won’t be as cut and dried as it might look comparing the squads on paper.
I also wouldn’t assume Portugal will beat Germany, I’d prefer them but it will likely be as tight as the France game the other night.
Jan
Well-Known Member
even with an upset against schotland it is still likely that they will win the group. Yes, i think portugal is more likely to win, but germany got enough talent to beat most nations on a lucky day. They are really terrible against low blocks but if they somehow manage to get a lead and get more space gnabry, sane ,, haverts and mueller can get most teams into trouble.
Englishbob
Well-Known Member
I'm actually a little nervous about the Scotland game. If England play with any kind of fear then I think they may struggle.
Scotland will be ferocious from the outset but if England stay composed i think they can pinch it.
This is a game where a coach like Southgate can be a great asset.
Scotland will be ferocious from the outset but if England stay composed i think they can pinch it.
This is a game where a coach like Southgate can be a great asset.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
I can imagine that, looking at your squad there is a really lack of striking options. My utter contempt for Werner as a footballer knows no bounds.
Honestly though in world football there is a general dearth of high quality proper centre forwards. There seems to be more of a trend for inside forwards and my least favourite footballing development of recent years, a fucking centre midfielder playing as a false 9. Hopefully it’s just a trend and we see centre forwards come back into fashion again…
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Scotland will make it a fight. England’s best opportunity is to avoid that. Pick all the exiting attacking talents and look to beat Scotland early. Avoid letting Scotland get a foothold and building up a head of steam. Basically the complete opposite approach to the Croatia game.
I’ll be watching with my Dad on Friday so our house will all be rooting for a Scottish victory!
Englishbob
Well-Known Member
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Paragraph 1. - this exactly
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Hahaha! I never really supported the English team despite being born and brought up there. When I was a kid in the late 80s and 90s it was a really dark period in terms of the support, especially if like me you had an Irish parent with some of the nonsense chants that were far too prevalent. The English national team support harboured a lot of bollocks that appeared to have been driven out of the rest of the game and larger society a long time before.
With my Dad being Scottish too England shirts and matches were not allowed in the house growing up. When I starred getting into football the first two videos he bought were a Jimmy Johnstone one and one of the greatest Scottish victories over England
Englishbob
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I remember back then traveling on the tube to a game at Wembley that was filled almost entirely with England supporters. I was in my early twenties and completely immature but even I felt embarrassed by some of the chants I heard.Hahaha! I never really supported the English team despite being born and brought up there. When I was a kid in the late 80s and 90s it was a really dark period in terms of the support, especially if like me you had an Irish parent with some of the nonsense chants that were far too prevalent. The English national team support harboured a lot of bollocks that appeared to have been driven out of the rest of the game and larger society a long time before.
With my Dad being Scottish too England shirts and matches were not allowed in the house growing up. When I starred getting into football the first two videos he bought were a Jimmy Johnstone one and one of the greatest Scottish victories over England
A lot of it came from the rival London 'firms' who would use England games as an excuse for violence. Thankfully those days are gone.
Skalap
Well-Known Member
Portugal have been very lucky with England and their match were all really really good. That game in 2000 where England scored two goals in the first 15 minutes but lost the game by 3-2 with this amazing Figo's goal. I watched the video quite a few times, it is one of the best match I have ever seen. Same at the Euro 2004 when goalkeeper Ricardo removes his gloves. Same two years later at 2006 World Cup with Ronaldo's best friend Rooney receiving a red card.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
That was a really poor England team in Euro 00! If I remember that game correctly had it not been for the Ginger Ninja Scholes England would have been battered. Out of the three big games I think 2004 was the most unlucky for England, had an 18 year old Rooney not broke his toe I think they’d have won the game in normal time and likely the tournament. 2006 was a terrible game neither deserved to win lol!
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Yeah we were taken to a game with school at Wembley in, I’m going to say 92/93, and I remember even at 10-11 being kinda confused by the “no surrender to the IRA” chanting that was on a constant loop. Then Landsdowne Road in 1994 was a real shocker. The “hard” English lads ripping up a stadium, throwing seats and injuring kids in the Irish section.
Im sure the firms were in on it but it was definitely more widespread in the support. I knew of lads from my area who were miles from London, supported lower league clubs, England would be their “focus” and they’d 100% be in on that action.
I’ll be honest I thought it had gone too but brexit really has brought a lot of those people and attitudes back out of the woodwork.
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