International Footy

[Drog]

England v Germany.
Why are England playing in an all orangery / red strip when they are at home?
Pope might be a top keeper but he's dreadful with the ball at his feet and resembles a bag of nerves.
Saka dropped from his duties on the left but Grealish is not even on the bench.

 

[Drog]

England 0-Germany 1 Pen. Careless giveaway by Maguire and a clumsy challenge in an attempt to regain the ball and a def penalty awarded by VAR.

 

[Drog]

Foden off Saka on.
Sterling off Mount on.

 

[Drog]

66 mins Eng 0-Germany 2 Havertz. Quick break after Maguire was dispossessed in Germany's half. I'd say this is game over now.
BUT hang on......

70 mins 1-2 Luke Shaw.

Expect lots of time wasting by the Germans now.

74 mins 2-2 Game on. Good work by both subs, first Saka's trickery down the right leading to a perfect strike by Mount.

 

[Drog]

VAR decision and a Pen for England after Bellingham is hacked down.

83 mins Kane obviously with the kick.....
..... 3-2 the perfect pen into the top left corner.

 

[Drog]

86 mins with England flying it's 3-3 after Pope spews what should have been a routine save straight to the feet of Havartz.

Saka has a 1 on 1 saved after he scuffs his shot.

Probable MoM Bellingham off for Henderson 89.

 

[Drog]

FT

 

[Husky]

Typical England. Make an unexpected comeback after looking dead in the water. Then cock it up at the end with a terrible mistake.

If this had of been a tournament knock out game England would have lost on penalties. FACT!

 

[Drog]

That second half made for one hell of a spectacle though Husky. Unfortunately they scored 3 from just 4 shots on target and two were from amateurish mistakes whilst the other was Maguire copping it for losing possession in their third of the pitch, sure he should have done better but there were lots of others who could have rescued the situation.
I trust we will never see Pope again in an England jersey. His kicking and touch when playing out from the back were/is just awful, he nearly gave 2 or 3 goals away to a German side who knew his weaknesses and pressed him relentlessly. For the rest of the time he looked like rabbit in headlights. He should have held the shot instead of letting it bounce off him too for their 3rd goal! In short Pope was a liability, he'll be OK at club level but he's not international class that's for certain sure. Problem with Southgate is that everybody, including himself must have already known that anyway.

 

[Alan]

Gareth Southgate....... The only person to describe the match v Italy as a step in the right direction...... Italy 1-0 England: Performance 'step in the right direction', says Gareth Southgate - BBC Sport

Time he was sacked. He's more interested in taking the knee than the team

 

[Drog]

Here we go................



Personally I'd have taken Toney instead of Rashford. Rashford hasn't been playing particularly well and Kane is the only one in the squad who carries a threat in the air. Whether Maguire should be there will be the main point of debate I should think, that defence looks awfully dodgy. Lets hope should we go ahead in games that Southgate doesn't revert to type, forego anymore attacking ambition and rely on the defence.

 

[Drog]

I think Ivan Toney justified my opinion this afternoon. Destroyed City in the air, scored two goals and played the long ball game to perfection. We need someone like him after top level football has turned away from traditional centre forwards these past few years. As football has done that defenders have also forgotten how to deal with them as Haaland and Toney are proving.

 

[Alan]

I think Ivan Toney justified my opinion this afternoon. Destroyed City in the air, scored two goals and played the long ball game to perfection. We need someone like him after top level football has turned away from traditional centre forwards these past few years. As football has done that defenders have also forgotten how to deal with them as Haaland and Toney are proving.

Toney before Rashford every time.

 

[Drog]

Poor James Madison's hopes look to be fading after he scored v WHU and then disconsolately limped off later in the match after pulling up. Unless Southgate goes like for like with a replacement ... and I wouldn't put it past him.... it might be a way in for Toney.

 

[Drog]

I think Ivan Toney justified my opinion this afternoon. Destroyed City in the air, scored two goals and played the long ball game to perfection. We need someone like him after top level football has turned away from traditional centre forwards these past few years. As football has done that defenders have also forgotten how to deal with them as Haaland and Toney are proving.

I'd read months ago that toneys been under investigation for over 6 months. Obviously by the time of the naming of the squad the situation must have been pretty clear to the authorities. I guess the big question now is the 'perfect' timing of the announcement. I'd say it's been rushed out to to validate Southgate picking rashford and take the flak off him. I suspect many nations would have 'buried' this news until after the World Cup.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Rashford has in fairness improved as of late. Could this be anything to do with employing Benni McArthy as a striker coach?

 

[Drog]

He might have ODB but if Kane get's crocked or rested who have we got who can head a ball? Especially should we be drawn against a diminutive Asian outfit.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

So Euro 24 qualification commences tonight with a tricky away tie in Naples against Italy. Can’t see further than a 1-1 draw here with Kane scoring to beat Jug Ears 2s record.
Come On England

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Well I never saw that coming. 2-0 to us at half time including the Kane record breaker but should have been 3-0 with Grealish missing a sitter. Bellingham is awesome, Man City beckon.

 

[Drog]

2nd half a different story as Grealish, Saka and Bellingham all disappeared. With Phillips anonymous in midfield, Shaw sent off and biased officials the team struggled to repel the Azzuri. 5 minutes extra time and it was a hard earned three points in the bag.