15-07-2024, 09:50
Football won in the end. Spain have been by some distance the best team in the tournament, i mean look at who they beat to get to the final compared to England.
England do have some high quality players but they also have a bang average manager. His loyalty to certain players has become a real impediment.
What stands out is that in most teams in the EPL that fulcrum type midfielder isn’t English and allows those teams to press and to retain easy possession.. Rice and Mainoo on the other hand gave the ball away constantly. On top of that Pickfords kicking was woeful, Kane is well past his sell by date, and by the looks of it Palmer is a better fit than Foden. Bellingham,Kane and Saka all dive constantly.
England haven't really impressed throughout the tournament bar a spell against the Netherlands and Switzerland, they were a sclaffed clearance away from going out to slovenia.
On the night Spain could have had 4 or 5 if they had been more clinical. Ruiz just glides around the pitch, Rodri is class and their players can play on the half turn brilliantly and cut through England with ease in the 2nd half. Williams and Yamal are ridiculous quality for their age. In the end only one team took risks on the ball to try and win the game.
What next ? If Southgate goes you might get a manager playing more attacking fitba which would play to your strengths but leave your defence more exposed. On the positive side only Spain and France look like settled teams at the moment (although the latter also badly need a new manager) however Germany have clearly turned a corner as well.
England do have some high quality players but they also have a bang average manager. His loyalty to certain players has become a real impediment.
What stands out is that in most teams in the EPL that fulcrum type midfielder isn’t English and allows those teams to press and to retain easy possession.. Rice and Mainoo on the other hand gave the ball away constantly. On top of that Pickfords kicking was woeful, Kane is well past his sell by date, and by the looks of it Palmer is a better fit than Foden. Bellingham,Kane and Saka all dive constantly.
England haven't really impressed throughout the tournament bar a spell against the Netherlands and Switzerland, they were a sclaffed clearance away from going out to slovenia.
On the night Spain could have had 4 or 5 if they had been more clinical. Ruiz just glides around the pitch, Rodri is class and their players can play on the half turn brilliantly and cut through England with ease in the 2nd half. Williams and Yamal are ridiculous quality for their age. In the end only one team took risks on the ball to try and win the game.
What next ? If Southgate goes you might get a manager playing more attacking fitba which would play to your strengths but leave your defence more exposed. On the positive side only Spain and France look like settled teams at the moment (although the latter also badly need a new manager) however Germany have clearly turned a corner as well.