England Set For The Title? ⚽️ ☕️

[@crypticfox6389]

Love seeing Rafa ❤ always a Liverpool legend

[@robbiewizz658]

I go to and watch football for entertainment . Yes I follow my team to hope to see them win but also to see good players do what I can’t. I have been to some matches that have bored me to sleep and then attended U7,U8, U9 matches and got more enjoyment watching young players express themselves… Yes great if England win ultimately but I’d like to enjoy watching them

[@kamsb]

I dont understand why we are not playing Gordon as a LM/LWB cos u can tell him to defend as well as attack and we would have a lot more energy and threat down that side!

[@realtalk8665]

Marcelo Bielsa's criticism of modern football: 💭 “I am certain that football is in a process of decline. More and more people are watching this sport, but it is becoming less and less attractive. We do not favour what made it the best sport in the world. We promote business, because business means that a lot of people watch the matches. But over time, there are fewer and fewer footballers worth watching, the game is less and less enjoyable, and this artificial increase in spectator numbers will be reduced. Football is not five minutes of action, it is much more than that, it is a cultural expression, a form of identification.”

[@ezekielthemack]

"Although Holland have got some dangerous players, I don't think that they're outstanding players". Remember those words Jonathan.

[@cjwill9920]

If England do ever win I'd like to be awake to see it

[@willhemmings]

I am sure England are capable of playing dynamic, ambitious and beautiful football; and I hope they and the remaining teams do exactly that

[@kamsb]

Playing well is important because we were 30 seconds away from going out by not playing well. You can’t rely on that

[@Giantdaz72]

Brazil 82 team is adored...The 94 team are yeah they won the World Cup but... so there's a lot to be said about winning well to be remembered fondly

[@christopherstone6614]

great pod , i also thinks some of its an age / generation thing on style , is prevalent in PL , maybe recent west ham supporting years have hardened me slightly where just winning is not enough on its own , that said we all want some excitement, the pens was the closest England has come to on that fans wise , luck of draws and nearly moments ( like Bellingham's late goal but also navigating tournaments is a skill in itself which Southgate has done well

[@rexstout8177]

I don't know what the style is. I don't know what the game plan is. I just know - whatever it is - it's being implemented poorly. I know we're scraping through because of superior individual quality.

[@StimParavane]

That sums it up nicely.

[@BriKinsella]

Denis Law was asked "What were Matt Busby's team talks like"? Denis replied "He didn't really have one, he just said go out and score more than the others"! United had an amazing array of attacking talent then and so do England now, and we should be striking fear into the opposition because we have the players to do it! Unfortunately our defensive (and albeit so far, reasonably successful) coach seems reluctant to use our attacking talent to its potential. I suppose the counter argument is Keegan's Newcastle were everybody's favourite 2nd team but they didn't win anything 😬

[@johncorcoran8172]

I think it's not only about style but it's also about risk. They have gone behind in quite a few games and have only narrowly avoided elimination due to taking a tiny bit of risk. You could argue that the risk is greater by being conservative because they have had their worst statistical sections of play while they have been safe and yet they've made their most progress statistically when they have been aggressive or risk-taking. He's only finding the solutions by accident when he is forced to make a change because then he can avoid being blamed for making a proactive decision.

[@demejiuk5660]

I agree Guillem there IS a mental aspect there. I think Jonathan just understood your question like a mental fragility thing or lack of character. They are strong mentally to fight and suffer but maybe it takes MORE mental strength to express yourself and have fun when the pressure is on than it is to run and tackle. Why were England giving the ball away so much? That has nothing to do with Southgate. Why is John Stones making so many defensive errors? WHy does Kyle Walker look bang average? Why is does Harry Kane always play like a pensioner for England. These AREN'T ALL Southgate issues.

[@pablodominguez247]

Guillem, seguro que has escuchado a Bielsa en la rueda de prensa previa al partido contra Brasil, este fútbol terminará expulsando a los aficionados. Nadie espera ver continuamente al Brasil del 70 o la Holanda del 74, creo que nos conformamos con que el primer tiro a puerta sea antes del minuto 80, y a ser posible 2 o 3 en cada tiempo.

[@sunizzo]

england fans are doing the maths… if we’re scraping past the likes of slovakia and switzerland, then we’re unlikely to beat spain, france or the netherlands

[@devilsolution9781]

In all fairness we've been getting better since the Denmark game. Were rising to the opposition DW

[@demejiuk5660]

But Football has never been maths. English pundits and fans act like its maths. We have better to players so we should smash them. But the whole allure of the FA Cup and the Premier League is that anybody can beat anybody on any given day. You always need to be at your best. Complacency wont get you anwhere. Premier League teaches us this every week. Teams have tried to buy success by buying great players and it just hasnt worked. Look at Man Utd.

[@mohammedvachhiat4233]

Id take Rafa as next England manager

[@kamsb]

Like I said to u Guillem, the back 3 is a lot better! Should go with two up front tho but still is better and should of been done a lot earlier

[@footyball66]

I don't really understand this conversation asking 'why aren't England fans happy when they keep getting through'. We have played so poorly it's embarrassing, we have scraped through and could have easily gone out. Fans confidence is so low that we think we'll struggle against France, Spain, Holland. So right now - we are hoping we can play better or at least scrape our way to the trophy. We won't complain if we win the trophy by winning 2 penalty shootouts. I agree with what that dude said about seeing England getting knocked out playing well in the past, so we do deserve some luck.

[@jc6087]

I don't care how shit we are I back the lads. You don't see San Marino fans boo their team and they get battered everywhere they go. At some point you have to back the team or you're just the enemy, because you're either with us or against us.

[@lemmingsftw2480]

@@jc6087 it is not entertaining to watch, end of, they either play football that doesn't put me to sleep or they aren't getting support, i actually despise your mentality towards this, i'd rather get knocked out than win playing this embarrassing and depressing style of football

[@devilsolution9781]

I'm seeing a disconnect between fans saying we've been playing awfully and we don't deserve to win it playing like this and other fans accepting were not creating enough but also agreeing we've been the better team in every game except Denmark. My expectations were tempered early and now I'm just glad we're in this far.

[@demejiuk5660]

Guillem's point was brilliant. England fans and pundits have become Cruyfistas when the England national team has NEVER played attractive football. Now because a bunch of foreign managers impliment attractive football with majority foreign players you are deluded enough to just assume the national team CAN play like that. Mate there IS a mental aspect there. They are strong mentally to fight but maybe it takes MORE mental strength to express yourself and have fun when the pressure is on than it is to run and tackle. Why were England giving the ball away so much? That has nothing to do with Southgate. Why is John Stones making so many defensive errors? WHy does Kyle Walker look bang average? Why is does Harry Kane always play like a pensioner for England. These AREN'T ALL Southgate issues.

[@barryosullivan1486]

The great Spanish team of 2008 to 12 in a curious was set the game back. The game has become too systematic with systems favoured over individual talent. It would be ironic if this Spain team, playing with exciting wingers, bucked this trend and brought back an emphasis on skillful entertaining football.

[@StimParavane]

I don't need fantastic. I just want quite good as a minimum, and some goals.

[@jc6087]

Good football is winning football. Football is all about winning and doing whatever it takes to win. If you think losing every week is entertaining there's something wrong with you.

[@Gooniessss]

England results is wrong. Slovenia was 0-0.

[@lilacfloyd]

Rafa Benitez, next England manager?

[@mattinterweb]

Benitez would be a brilliant national manager. He was brilliant at Liverpool in Champs League, often beating superior teams on paper.

[@NeilLewis77]

how can i shout "yesss, we are the champions, we are the best! england win because we are the best at football!", when i know full well that if england played switzerland today then they would probably beat us. how can i brag to french and spaniads and germans that my team is the best and the champions when i know full well there team is miles better than our team. the point of winning is proving your the best. winning by the skin of your teeth against slovakia does not fill you with pride. i want to be proud of my team. i was proud of the boys after euro 96. i dont think i will be very proud of this team even if they win it.

[@dirkjanvanhemmen]

England chose home against Netherlands

[@leolovetoparty]

Rafa the gaffer. We’ll never forget 2005.

[@dropseeker4800]

Probably rules Rafa out of the Ireland job, if he wants to win stuff

[@roboi2241]

England drew 0-0 with Slovenia in the group stage, not 1-1.

[@vkdeen7570]

if football was just about winning, then why bother watching? why not just check the score online after or the last 2 mins of the game to ee the result? the journey is a huge part, ultimately yes u want to win at all costs, but u also want to enjoy and believe u can win... England's football under Southgate doesn't entertain that often and does make u believe they can win. with such a quality squad, probably the best they've ever had overall... they look at timed medicore. if it wasn't for kobbie mainoo, the team wouldn't play any actual football at all if u play that way u HAVE to win. if u lose but u entertained most fans would be reasonably okay with it. but stinking it out and losing will always get everyone else's goat up

[@mattinterweb]

We have to drop Kane.. This system needs a mobile 9.

[@newtonheath8938]

England have no chance against Holland

[@demejiuk5660]

Holland havent even been that good!

[@StimParavane]

England have been better in the last two tournaments. These last 4 games have been awful to watch.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Spain 2008-2012 were very dull to watch.

[@adetee3126]

It's really not, sadly!

[@jc6087]

Guardiola's style is the most boring football in the world, he might win but its boring, all forms of tiki taka are boring as f*ck. Thats why the championship had the 2nd highest attendance in the world, ahead of La liga, Serie A e.t.c last season, because the championship is end to end and that makes it more entertaining.

[@leehaslam5751]

2nd highest attendance lol seens though german has highest and premier league second how do u work that out

[@jc6087]

@@leehaslam5751 Are you insane? I'll copy paste EFL website shall I? The Sky Bet EFL has achieved the distinction of being the highest attended league body in Europe, after welcoming more than 21.5 million fans through the turnstiles in 2023/24. The cumulative attendance figure is the most since the 1951/52 season, representing an 11 per cent increase on the previous season and sees the League finish ahead of Germany’s Bundesliga & Bundesliga 2. Contributing to that is the Sky Bet Championship breaking the record for total attendance, with 12,723,678 fans (22 per cent increase on previous season) representing the highest-ever cumulative attendance for the second-tier competition since records began in 1892. The Championship has also beaten the likes of the Bundesliga (12.1 million attendees), Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A to be the second most attended league division in Europe. This is an increase from fifth position after the 2022/23 season. The Championship Play-Off Final between Leeds United and Southampton had a higher attendance (85,862) than this year’s FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United (84,814). Sky Bet League One (ninth) and League Two (13th) also finished in the top 15 European Leagues for the 2023/24 season. How does it feel??? Well??

[@jc6087]

@@leehaslam5751 The Championship is the second most attended league in the world, our second tier is above your Elite leagues 🤣🤣 They're gonna get bigger TV money for it aswell 😂😂 The Prem is literally in a different league from everyone else 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jc6087]

@@leehaslam5751 I see you reported what I copied from the EFL Championship website 🤣

[@jc6087]

@@leehaslam5751 The Sky Bet EFL has achieved the distinction of being the highest attended league body in Europe, after welcoming more than 21.5 million fans through the turnstiles in 2023/24. The cumulative attendance figure is the most since the 1951/52 season, representing an 11 per cent increase on the previous season and sees the League finish ahead of Germany’s Bundesliga & Bundesliga 2. Contributing to that is the Sky Bet Championship breaking the record for total attendance, with 12,723,678 fans (22 per cent increase on previous season) representing the highest-ever cumulative attendance for the second-tier competition since records began in 1892. The Championship has also beaten the likes of the Bundesliga (12.1 million attendees), Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A to be the second most attended league division in Europe. This is an increase from fifth position after the 2022/23 season. The Championship Play-Off Final between Leeds United and Southampton had a higher attendance (85,862) than this year’s FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United (84,814). Sky Bet League One (ninth) and League Two (13th) also finished in the top 15 European Leagues for the 2023/24 season.

[@Nite-owl]

I watch football to be entertained. England simply aren't entertaining. Just for a change I'd like to go into a game with optimism that we're likely to win, rather than we might go through if everything goes our way, and watching from behind the sofa.

[@j.s3300]

Losing while being fun, isnt fun.

[@Nite-owl]

@@j.s3300 We all have different opinions, none of which are more valid than the other 🙂

[@lemmingsftw2480]

@@j.s3300 good thing that being fun doesnt mean losing then isnt it

[@j.s3300]

@@lemmingsftw2480 that wasnt what he said.

[@lemmingsftw2480]

@@j.s3300 can you read?

[@Genevasplaytime]

Do people think spain would of beat switzerland 3-0? 😂😂 they were outplayed by germany 😂😂 and spain fluked their way past with a handball.

[@michaelrichardson6125]

Not a handball .. you can sod off lol