Obviously the squad was perfectly designed to succeed rather than fail. I watched 5 of our 6 games and enjoyed 35 minutes against the Netherlands when we looked the classiest side in the competition by a distance. But Memphis Depay stopped all that by getting injured and being replaced by a pedestrian midfielder. If anyone can explain why that was an insoluble problem I'd be willing to listen and learn.
The Dutch could have started a mobile and threatening forward line of Gakpo, Zirkzee, and Depay, but they never tried it. They could've played three at the back with Van Dyke, Van der Ven and Ake, and Frimpong and Dumfries attacking from wing back. They never did. Like us they were deliberately ordinary. Like the whole competition they tried to cover perceived weaknesses rather than playing to their strengths.
Examples of idiot failure abound. Serbia have three high-class central attackers. They hardly received the ball, didn't play together, and never received the ball quickly. I wonder why they couldn't score. The Dutch already weakened before the tournament by the loss of their best midfielders, left out three of their best players throughout. Portugal with an excellent squad with genuine depth played as if the tournament were a Ronaldo Farewell Benefit Gig. France stubbornly decided Rabiot is a better player than Camavinga and insisted on playing three defensively based midfielders then discovered that with their star man broken-nosed scoring was beyond them. Belgium looked almost too old and bored with one another to share a pitch. Little wonder we found Georgia's approach refreshing.
Spain have come through a very shallow pool of talent smelling of roses, but they are coming on stage after a drag act with hairy arms, a broad arse and a few tasteless jokes. They are very beatable, but to do it we are going to have to play at least 60 minutes more football than we've done so far. Course I hope we win. Course I want to see Ollie Watkins face wreathed in a Devon smile again (a man who failed as a left back for Exeter City!). Course I hope Wakey Terrier and crew bounce all the way back to Yorkshire. But Lord the fare has been dire. And so far we fitted right in.
But a win's a win you cry. And I can't argue.
The Dutch could have started a mobile and threatening forward line of Gakpo, Zirkzee, and Depay, but they never tried it. They could've played three at the back with Van Dyke, Van der Ven and Ake, and Frimpong and Dumfries attacking from wing back. They never did. Like us they were deliberately ordinary. Like the whole competition they tried to cover perceived weaknesses rather than playing to their strengths.
Examples of idiot failure abound. Serbia have three high-class central attackers. They hardly received the ball, didn't play together, and never received the ball quickly. I wonder why they couldn't score. The Dutch already weakened before the tournament by the loss of their best midfielders, left out three of their best players throughout. Portugal with an excellent squad with genuine depth played as if the tournament were a Ronaldo Farewell Benefit Gig. France stubbornly decided Rabiot is a better player than Camavinga and insisted on playing three defensively based midfielders then discovered that with their star man broken-nosed scoring was beyond them. Belgium looked almost too old and bored with one another to share a pitch. Little wonder we found Georgia's approach refreshing.
Spain have come through a very shallow pool of talent smelling of roses, but they are coming on stage after a drag act with hairy arms, a broad arse and a few tasteless jokes. They are very beatable, but to do it we are going to have to play at least 60 minutes more football than we've done so far. Course I hope we win. Course I want to see Ollie Watkins face wreathed in a Devon smile again (a man who failed as a left back for Exeter City!). Course I hope Wakey Terrier and crew bounce all the way back to Yorkshire. But Lord the fare has been dire. And so far we fitted right in.
But a win's a win you cry. And I can't argue.