Quarter final line up. Spain v Switzerland Belgium v Italy Czech Republic v Denmark England v Ukraine. Another weekend of football coming up and can't wait.
Don’t care how we get it done, just as long as we do. If there is one thing to be said for Southgate’s approach, it takes a lot of the surprise out of games — we tend to manage the opposition quite well and aren’t prone to wild rushes of blood to the head. 2-0 England
Well be pretty gutted to lose this after the Germany game ! Think Italy , Spain and Denmark will the other ties. So probably be Belgium, Switzerland and the Czechs !!
Yeah I would rather win ugly under Southgate than play 'good' football and lose... Many people are still totally convinced we could have the best of both worlds and win with panache, and shoulda started more attacking against a side that ripped Portugal apart when they went at them. Maybe we thrash them, maybe they thrash us, but this way we won 2-0 so who cares about hypotheticals! France for example proved you gotta keep it tight. Even with all their talent, they won playing like we are, and lost this time when they started playing loose and tried relying on talent. Greece shithoused it playing defensive. Ukraine will be tired, big quality gap and they lacked urgency vs Sweden, so we should rip them to shreds on paper, but I doubt we will... Still, if it's 1-0 in ET or even on pens, then so be it as long as we get through. I've really got no time for criticisms of Southgate's approach, as we've had a lot of success, and have a third of all our tourny wins since 66 under him. He probably wouldn't be a good club manager even now, but he's tailor made to be a good international manager IMO, and I have full confidence in him.
Spain v Switzerland Could be 7 each this one. Both will be full of confidence - Switzerland after beating the French and Spain hitting goal scoring form in the last two games. I do think that game will have taken a lot out of Switzerland so its whether they can keep it going against Spain who will have the majority of the ball. Spain do luck vulnerable at the back and Switzerland have been pretty clinical so should be a good one this. Prediction: Spain 3-1 Switzerland Italy v Belgium I think Italy are starting to run out of steam after a great group phase, however, they will very much know what to do to get past Belgium and with that I still fancy them to win this. Belgium are doing ok but don't look as solid as they have previously - it all depends on KDB playing and how fit he is. Prediction: Italy 1-0 Belgium Denmark v Czech Rep I think Denmark may run out of steam here, they have been incredible following what happened in the Finland game and the last two performances have been fantastic viewing, I fear for them that they have put everything in and may come unstuck against an organised and rather clinical Czech team. This will be close. Denmark 1-1 Czech Rep (Czech to win on Penalties) England v Ukraine Last night will have taken a fair bit out of Ukraine and they didn’t look great. They can be dangerous coming forward but I do think they will leave space in behind for us. Its going to warm in Rome even at 9pm local time and the crowd will be very much behind Ukraine with a large number of Ukrainians based in Italy and the locals also backing them. I think we will come through again with a Croatia/Czech like performance. England 2-0 Ukraine Semi Finals Italy v Spain England v Czech Rep Jesus Christ!!!
@Ollie: I already wrote here Last 16 how happy I am to read you and your posts again. Fully agreed here re Southgate: If Germany would be in the situation of England with no final appearance since 1966 and never won against the other again in a knockout match after that and now he brings you to a semi-final in the World Cup 2018, now to a quarter-final and to a possible semi-final/final in the Euro, something you've never achieved in back to back tournaments, then our coach would be hailed as a hero (Heil Southgate ) Yes, it may not be spectacular how England plays in the tournament. But who gives a **** when it is successful. You can shine in friendlies or qualifiers ( don't know if the 5-0 against Czech Republic in the Euro qualifiers was a brilliant performance but at least it looked like it when you read the result). re Quarterfinals: With our archrivals Netherlands already gone (and us, too, now) I can watch the remaining matches relaxed (OK, Italy is still in it, another archrival. But the way they actually play I can't "hate" them anymore like before). My predictions for the quarterfinals: Spain vs Switzerland 2-0 Although the Swiss are our friends I don't think they can give us another great match as against France. Hope I'm wrong but if everything goes the "normal" way than Spain advances Italy vs Belgium 1-0 Belgium would've deserved to win a tournament, at last. They were already due at the World cup 2018 were they unfortunately failed in the semi-final against later winner France. But after seeing them in dire needs against Portugal I'm not so sure they can withstand Italy. Hopefully Kevin de Bruyne is fully fit and can perform like against Denmark, then it is possible. Otherwise Italy will win Denmark vs Czech Republic: 2-0 Czech Republic is Schick Republic in this tournament. The Bayer Leverkusen striker makes a difference in some matches, hopefully not against the Danes. I've often mentioned it here, I want them to advance (not only because of Christian Eriksen but because I like people and country) England vs Ukraine 2-0 You can't win against us and then lose against Ukraine, can you? So better win this one
Like many others I would want Denmark to win if we don't, love their team spirit. Obviously they've been galvanized by the Eriksen incident, and came back from losing their first two games, so would be an amazing story... I was impressed by the Czech's work rate and physicality though so will be a tough game. Schick isn't even that good at club level and Leverkusen might be happy to cash in on him while his stock is high, but he's an in form hero right now, gotta love football eh!
We have a game going at work predicting scores etc .... I'm currently 9th out of 33 & have gone for a very tight quarter final set of results after 90 minutes with 3 draws needing extra time & only 1 outcome within the 90 minutes . Swiss 1 v 2 Spain The other 3 games I've gone for 1-1 draws .
yeah that’s what I think as well. Denmark have been really good this tournament, bar the first game which should have been called off. That’ll be a tough game if we get past Ukraine
Does Southgate drop the players on cards and play squad members .Maybe a midfield of Bellingham ,Mount , Henderson ,Grealish would not be the worst options in that case .Mings in for Slabhead .Surely those are good enough to Beat Ukraine and then the card count reverts to zero if we get through.
as good as! I doubt it. He won’t be looking past Ukraine. Personally I’d like to see him start grealish and either one of Henderson/mount, for rice or Phillips
Just seen this reported on TV. Got to say it's not for me and incredibly conceited, no way you should play a weakened side in QF of major international tournament.
That would be insane. No point resting players and then not getting through, better to play (in Southgate's opinion) England's best team and worry about the next game if they progress. "One game at a time" is one of the oldest sayings in football.
