Author Topic: EURO 2016  (Read 2556 times)

celeste

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All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

celeste

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #1 on: 12:11:01, 12/06/16 »
England 1 Russia 1

There is not much more brutal in football than a last-minute goal and, for England, it was a numbing sense of disappointment at the final whistle. They have waited an awfully long time to win their opening match of a European Championship and the clock had ticked into its third minute of stoppage time when their chance to end that long run, stretching back to 1980, was wrenched from their grasp.



On the pitch there was a contrasting scene created by the two sets of players and their own reactions. For Russia, it was a mix of relief and joy. For England, there was raw disappointment and the unmistakable sense they had blown it.

Roy Hodgson argued there were still plenty of encouraging signs and he was right, to a degree, even if it can never be a good sign when a team are guilty of this form of carelessness. England had enough chances to make it a relatively stress-free victory but it was not until the 73rd minute that they went ahead, courtesy of Eric Dier’s free-kick, and it was a galling way to surrender that lead.

James Milner, one of England’s second-half substitutes, let Georgi Schennikov go past him far too easily to deliver the cross. The Russia captain, Vasili Berezutski, had managed to get in between Danny Rose and Dele Alli and his looping header was on its way into the far corner of Joe Hart’s net, almost in slow motion.

Hodgson, describing himself as “bitterly disappointed”, must now decide whether to stick to his new 4-1-2-3 formation for the game against Wales on Thursday, but there will also be some difficult questions for the England manager. Yet again it was hard to understand why Harry Kane now takes the team’s corners, but Wayne Rooney’s substitution was even more perplexing bearing in mind he had played with distinction in his new midfield role and, perhaps most importantly, had the kind of experience that was needed late on.

Jamie Vardy was not involved at all, despite having the speed to trouble an ageing Russian defence in the final exchanges, and the nature of the equaliser did nothing to disperse the theory that England’s defence is too vulnerable.

On a more positive note, Rooney justified his selection in midfield and, for the most part, England played with movement and fluidity. Hodgson had five players from Tottenham Hotspur in his starting lineup and Dele Alli’s early nutmeg on Roman Neustädter quickly showed the midfielder would not be fazed in any way by his first tournament experience.

With Kyle Walker and Rose surging forward from the full-back positions, there cannot be many other sides in the competition to play with a more adventurous shape.

What England lacked was the know-how to spare themselves the late ordeal when until that point they were the better side by some distance.
« Last Edit: 12:21:19, 12/06/16 by celeste »
All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

celeste

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All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

arhan

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #3 on: 12:53:49, 14/06/16 »
Some say this is the beauty of football... But yes, last-minute goals hurt the most.
rgds,
ahn

Junaid

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #4 on: 09:56:28, 27/06/16 »
And there are a few last sec goals right after the last minute one :)

migky

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #5 on: 21:01:17, 27/06/16 »
Here we go again  :-\

Migky
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Junaid

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #6 on: 09:10:16, 28/06/16 »
Despite England going out of Euros last night I still believe they were a better side. Unmatched players they had don't know why they can't stay on their confidence. Goalkeeper (English) was a bit weaker than the Icelanders had, I heard the commentator saying Iceland's GK is one of the best in goalkeeping department. Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, both played very well.

celeste

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #7 on: 09:13:20, 28/06/16 »
Hodgson should have brought on Vardy and Rashford earlier imo
All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

migky

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Re: EURO 2016
« Reply #8 on: 11:52:02, 28/06/16 »
When i voted out of Europe, i didn't know it was to include us & the football ???

When will people stop thinking Rooney is the bees-knees of English football?
115 caps in hand with every time his head bowed down.  >:(

Well done Iceland you played like you wanted to win O0

Migky ;)
I'm a bit like Marmite