there are some cracking squads in this euro's, I might actually watch some other games.
England will be doing well to get past quarters IMO.
Scotland as noted previously, ill be happy that we just compete and don't get pumped, getting out of the group would be massive.
I think England have a lot of talent that just isn't being utilised in the right way. Quite frankly, if they don't get past the quarters in what is essentially a home tournament for them, then Southgate deserves the sack. Southgate's 'style of play' has relied on just playing it on the ground. That's it. That seems to be the only instruction and for some reason he thinks that's good enough. Just glancing at this friendly that's on ITV at the moment they're a miserable outfit to watch. Apparent possession and on the ground play but totally impotent. They are incapable of making decisive decisions in the final third. They get there and are swallowed up in a morass of too many touches, one-two-three too many passes that inevitably start going backwards. There's no structure to their play up front which is criminal for a forward line that consists of the likes of Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Sancho. And don't get me started on the defence. The first whiff of potency from the opposition and they'll fold like a pack of cards.
A forward thinking coach of top standard (say Ralf Rangnick) would get a lot out of this England side. Giving off a 'good vibe' in the media as Southgate does, just isn't good enough. He deserved credit after 2018 World Cup and the chance to build on that but there's been no evidence that they have done so. Sad to say, but he's a total lightweight.
As for Scotland - I don't think they will get pumped. Hopefully they try make it hard for everyone they play and see what they can do from there. If they do get pumped or put in some miserable displays/scores then Clarke doesn't deserve to stay in the job. It's no use him keeping his job just because he's the first manager on over 20 years to get Scotland to a major tournament. Scotland has to hold itself to higher standards. Merely playing in this tournament and making up the numbers is not good enough for Scotland. Pumping England at Wembley would be a start.
I suppose the one thing that the two nations have in common though is that they are run by governing bodies that readily accept mediocrity. A lot of their support is like that as well in fairness.
« Last Edit: Jun 06, 2021 06:17:14 pm by Frankly, Mr Shankly »
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