Ah man, this could be something.
As for Jack Grealish, I’m pretty sure Southgate will leave him out and I would too. Again, he’s a lovely player, but Dean Smith has also struggled to balance a midfield with him in it, and he’s not played well enough to demand inclusion. On top of that, having him to bring on an commit tired defenders if you need a goal, or to hold the ball and win free-kicks if you need not to concede one, is a huge asset.
In midfield, my guess is that Southgate reinstates Mount. It’d be hard to query that call, but I’d got with Foden because I think he’s a bigger goal-threat – important in a team struggling to score. But I also think he’s a better player – not that I don’t think Mount’s excellent, he is – and was struggling on the right in England’s system. Getting him in the middle of the pitch gets him involved in the game, and means you can play Saka on the right, giving the team a winger in form and the protection of a winger who knows how to play full-back.
I say my team, but I’d be picking Bellingham instead of Phillips – there’s just no chance that happens (similarly, I’d also have had Tomori in the squad, and think he might be better than Stones). Anyhow, there’s a good chance Southgate goes for Trippier ahead of Shaw – he clearly likes him as a player and personality, and probably wants the set-piece delivery too. I’m not having that he’s the superior left-back, but it wouldn’t be an inexplicable call – especially for a naturally conservative manager who is tightly wedded to what he knows.
My team, now that you ask: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips, Foden; Saka, Kane, Sterling.
On which point:
I’d be surprised if Southgate reverted to three at the back, I must say. Perhaps I’m just projecting – I don’t much like the formation because 3-4-3 leaves you light in midfield and 3-5-2 ignores the flanks. But aping the system of either a superior team, which Germany may be, or a team used to playing it, which Germany are, rarely ends well. On top of that, if England stick with their 4-3-3, they can dominate midfield physically and numerically, while targeting and overloading the space in behind the wing-backs.
Here’s Jonathan Wilson on the various dilemmas facing England.
I went to watch England v Colombia in a little town on Egypt’s Sinai peninsula called Tarabin. Imagine our delight when it turned out they were showing Romania v Tunisia.
Not gonna lie, I half-expected Shaggy to suddenly get fit and make a late run for the squad.
Yes, that was a segue. Here’s Ed Aarons’ interview with Darren Anderton.
It is probably the greatest goal celebration that never happened. “It was one of those things when you are messing about and had kind of been mentioned in passing,” says Darren Anderton. “We all knew the new format of golden goal and we all thought: ‘Wouldn’t it be hilarious just to run off the pitch?’”
Yes, yes it would.
We’ve been going nearly two-and-a-half hours now and we’ve not mentioned England. What do we win?
Here’s Jonathan Liew on Belgium’s last go at it.
When I think about this Belgium team, I can’t help but think of another no-show, against Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup. For getting out of group which also included Algeria, Russia and South Korea, and for narrowly beating USA in extra-time, they were issued with a hero’s welcome. That did not make a lot of sense.
The advantage Belgium have over Portugal is that they’re a settled side who’ve been playing together a long time and know exactly what they’re doing. Portugal don’t have that cohesion, and it’s hard to see them happening upon it just like that. But they should be able to keep the ball well enough to have a good share of the game, and they have game-breaking individuals able to settle things alone or in concert.
You know what, Belgium v Japan was alright as well wasn’t it?
Belgium are, of course, running out of time, and if they can’t bring it home here, with live to rue their absolute no-show in the semi-final of the last World Cup against France – after absolutely sorting Brazil. That game – one of the best of that tournament and one of the best of Lukaku’s career – demands a rewatch.
NB, I may be trying to convince myself that the few pennies I had on them retaining their title were wisely spent.
If Portugal come to attack, they’ve got the players to have a serious go at Belgium’s defence. Obviously that’ll give scope to Lukaku and De Bruyne, but them being on the pitch does that too. Tell you what though, I’m extremely eager to see Lukaku ruckusing with Pepe and Rúben Dias, and the more I think about it the more I think if Portugal are bold, they’ve got a great chance.
I don’t think I quite get what Fernando Santos is trying to achieve with his Portugal side. I get the desire for two holding midfielders even if I don’t necessarily agree with it, but two holding midfielders and Moutinho, while Fernandes sits at the side? That seems a bit much, and a bit like hoping something good happens rather than seeking to outplay whoever the opposition is – and Portugal have the players to do that.
There’s something extremely compelling about Renato Sanches, it’s not just him playing for Swansea. I hope he keeps his place in Portugal’s starting XI tonight (though I also hope Bruno Fernandes comes back in for João Moutinho) because not many players have the control and physique to drive through the middle of the pitch with the ball.
The Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries was one of the stars of the group stages. Can he step it up again?
So what’s going to happen in today’s games? Netherland are playing pretty well now, but we shouldn’t forget their struggles against Ukraine, and Czech Republic are a better side than them. I think they’ll find a way – Georginio Wijnaldum appears to be on one, Frenkie de Jong is also moving nicely, and Memphis Depay is a threat. But as anyone who’s watched Slavia Prague in Europe could tell you, the Czechs have a decent group of players, and Patrick Schick seems to be maturing into his ability and physicality. I’m looking forward to it.
This is less great. What an absolute world.
Gabby Logan is great. Read about her here.
Here’s our pod looking back at yesterday’s activities.
I love the smell of toadying in the morning. It seems that tournament hosting relies on keeping Uefa sweet as much as it does infrastructure. A real turn-up for the books there.
Perisic’s tournament behaviour really is something. He’ll be a huge miss for Croatia, especially if Spain really have found form, formation and personnel. That said, it’s hard to see either beating France in the quarters, who it’s hard to see Switzerland beating in the last 16.
Bad news for Croatia:
When Bale does walk away, Wales have a big problem. They’ve still got plenty of talent, but at international level at least, Bale is probably the best player in their history (though I didn’t see John Charles). Either way, over the last 10 years, he’s continually won them games, and replacing that is difficult if not impossible. Though if David Brooks gets fit enough to fulfil his potential, that’ll be something.
Post-match, Gary Bale was asked about his future and, understandably, wasn’t minded to discuss it in the aftermath of a miserable thrashing.
And here’s Ben Fisher’s report from Wales v Denmark...
Meanwhile, bit of A-League grand final.
Tell you what, though: I can’t wait to find out.
What do we think about Italy then? During the group stages, I wrote in these pages that I could see them beating a serious team but couldn’t see them beating three serious teams in a row, and that remains the case. Whichever of Belgium and Portugal comes next, maybe, but Belgium or Portugal, followed, say by France and then Germany? That’d be a monumental effort for any team: three brilliant performances in a row is unusual, and I wonder if Italy have individuals able to compensate for poor ones at that level.
And here’s Jonathan Liew’s colour piece.
Here’s Barney Ronay’s match report from last night’s little go-around.
Morning! However engaging any tournament’s group stages – and despite the awkwardness of the format, these finished in the grand style – ultimate success is determined by the quality of the knockouts. Think Italia 82, Mexico 86, Italia 90, Euro 2000, Germany 06.
Well, we’re off the a decent start here, yesterday’s games giving us a lot of what we needed. First, the feelgood story of Denmark continued, bathing us in a glow of joy and relief – sorry Wales – then Italy and Austria delivered pretty much the prototype, an exciting game in which a favourite was taken deep before prevailing, scoring a sensational goal in the process. Things are happening.
Today should give us more of the same. In the early game, an in-form Netherlands face the awkward Czech Republic, the winner to meet Denmark – there are no givens there. And second, the tie of the round, in which already there Belgium meet getting there Portugal, one team searching for that elusive first major title and the other defending that elusive first major title, both stuffed with brilliance and flair. Let’s be having you.
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/35ZxbMo
via IFTTT
No Comment