The Euro 2024 Thread

[Chief]

We had a chance to be there and we blew it, I’m not convinced by Page. Germany’s a great place and I have a feeling the Euro 2024 is going to be a tremendous tournament.

I think this one is very wide open as most of the top teams have flaws.

Page has long outstayed his welcome, but he was given that lengthy contract and we can't/ won't sack him.

 

[Smurph]

Page has long outstayed his welcome, but he was given that lengthy contract and we can't/ won't sack him.

I would have replaced him after his first Euro's in charge. The way Denmark took us apart highlighted his very limited technical ability. The showing at the World Cup was just criminal.

 

[MajorR]

I would have replaced him after his first Euro's in charge. The way Denmark took us apart highlighted his very limited technical ability. The showing at the World Cup was just criminal.

100%.

I traveled to the WC for the first 2 games spending a lot of hard earned, we were abject. Page should have been shown the door.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

England are serial failures for good reasons.

The first, and most pertinent reason, is that their players never have been good enough since 1966. And yes, that includes this squad. At international level you're only as good as your weaknesses, and their glaring weaknesses are Pickford, Maguire and Henderson. All sub-standard and all are likely to feature heavily. They also have no left back worthy of the name. Yes, they have some tremendous attacking players, but that alone won't win you tournaments.

Secondly, hype. For years it's been hype, hype, hype. Mainly due to how the PL is marketed. But they never live up to it, because the bar is set too high to begin with, ie they only have to turn up and win. This means when they draw an early game 0-0 v Algeria or Scotland or USA, the world has suddenly ended, the fans go nuts, the media go nuts. They're all ridiculous.

Thirdly - English football flogs players to death. They always arrive at tournaments knackered or carrying knocks. And they always take at least one badly injured player, which is bloody stupid and something I've never understood.

Lastly, Southgate. He's a classic FA appointment - a company man, one of the blazers. Safe. Inoffensive. Won't scare the horses. But, crucially, isn't a very good coach and tactician. Never mind though, he's such a nice chap and that's all that matters.

Semi final at best - if they're lucky. And we all get our biannual summer chuckle. Lovely stuff.

 

[monmouth]

From what I remember, they weren't good enough in 1966 either, but Brazil and Pele were kicked to pieces and the homer refs took care of Argentina and Portugal. Then that ridiculous linesman call...

Their best team imo was either 1970 (Brazil were still better), 1974 (when they didn't even qualify), or maybe 1986 when Maradona beat them. Anything with the Roon, or Gerry or Fat Frank in it were overhyped garbage.

I do think they could do it this time though. It's the Euros, not the WC, and the other teams aren't up to much at the moment. They really ought to have beaten Italy at home in the final last time - that was totally on Southgate. On the other hand, they don't travel well. I wouldn't be putting any money on them, but they do have a lot of good players and, Picknose has his good days. You don't need many good days to win this tournament.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

From what I remember, they weren't good enough in 1966 either, but Brazil and Pele were kicked to pieces and the homer refs took care of Argentina and Portugal. Then that ridiculous linesman call...

Their best team imo was either 1970 (Brazil were still better), 1974 (when they didn't even qualify), or maybe 1986 when Maradona beat them. Anything with the Roon, or Gerry or Fat Frank in it were overhyped garbage.

I do think they could do it this time though. It's the Euros, not the WC, and the other teams aren't up to much at the moment. They really ought to have beaten Italy at home in the final last time - that was totally on Southgate. On the other hand, they don't travel well. I wouldn't be putting any money on them, but they do have a lot of good players and, Picknose has his good days. You don't need many good days to win this tournament.

That's why I think they've got little chance.

If you can't win what was ostensibly a home game, in a major final, where you go 1-0 up after a minute or so, against (frankly) not a vintage Italy side, then the chances of you putting yourself in that position to win again are very slim. So many other good teams out there with better pedigree and better squads who travel a lot better.

It wouldn't surprise me that much if they went in the last 16 tbh. They just don't have a winning culture. Never have.

 

[LeonWasTheDogs]

Come on, Wales! Oh, hang on......

Shame, but good to see the Scots there holding up the Celtic end, so to speak. They always liven up a tournament.

 

[bakajack]

Say what you will about England and their reputation as serial chokers but as an overall squad other than left back (where he has bizarrely selected only one player for the training camp who is currently injured) that is a pretty obscene squad.

The wealth of talent in attack between Bellingham, Kane, Foden, Maddison, Palmer, Saka, Toney and Watkins is absurd. I don't envy him having to trim that down to a 26 man squad in just over a fortnight.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Their attack is seriously impressive but they've got several deficiencies at GK, defence and midfield.

I don't think there's one world class midfielder on that list personally. At best, you've got Rice who is decent, but not a lot of evidence he can run games at international level. TAA isn't really a midfielder.

They'll be last 16 or quarters with that squad.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Their attack is seriously impressive but they've got several deficiencies at GK, defence and midfield.

I don't think there's one world class midfielder on that list personally. At best, you've got Rice who is decent, but not a lot of evidence he can run games at international level. TAA isn't really a midfielder.

They'll be last 16 or quarters with that squad.

Ahhh, every international team needs a Declan Rice in it...

 

[JustJack]

Fair play, an England squad built on form and talent, I didn't think he'd have it in him

 

[JackSomething]

Their attack is seriously impressive but they've got several deficiencies at GK, defence and midfield.

I don't think there's one world class midfielder on that list personally. At best, you've got Rice who is decent, but not a lot of evidence he can run games at international level. TAA isn't really a midfielder.

They'll be last 16 or quarters with that squad.

For some weird reason (Southgate said it was nothing to do with him), the FA listed world-class midfielder Jude Bellingham as a forward. He's been playing further up the park for Real Madrid and has certainly scored plenty of goals, but he is definitely a midfielder.

Agree with the defence though. Maguire is nowhere near as bad as has been made out since United spent far too much money on him, but he's not a player you'd ideally have in your starting XI if you're looking to win the tournament. Plus their only left back is perma-crocked and his backups would be playing out of position.

Think they're fine at goalkeeper as long as Pickford stays fit, he's good enough. Backups are not great though.

 

[waynekerr55]

100%.

I traveled to the WC for the first 2 games spending a lot of hard earned, we were abject. Page should have been shown the door.

He should've been ushered out for taking Jonny Williams "cos he was part of the squad before"

I mean, why not take him as backroom staff. But there's no point relitigating this as we are where we are

 

[bakajack]

He should've been ushered out for taking Jonny Williams "cos he was part of the squad before"

I mean, why not take him as backroom staff. But there's no point relitigating this as we are where we are

We were always going to be a lesser side once the golden era of Bale, Ramsay and Allen had run their races. Few sides could deal with the likes of Bale retiring without batting an eyelid but Page's "mates rates" approach was wrong on every acceptable level. Players in great form and high in confidence not getting a spot in the squad due to nostalgia at best or nepotism at worst would have done very few of them any favours.

That's without talking about his tactical acumen (or lack thereof).

 

[monmouth]

I think they’ll probably win it. Foden and Bellingham are white hot, Kane is an excellent finisher and Picknose has enough good days. Other teams don’t have better players this time.

If he blows it before the final, I fear I might never stop laughing.