It's the Euros 2020! Finals Match Thread: It’s gone to Rome…

[Amo]

Southgate's tactics, unsurprisingly, were pragmatic AF, but it was ultimately a sloppy set piece that was out undoing tonight - at no point aside from a single Chiesa run, did I actually feel like italy were ever going to score.

Was that our fault for inviting pressure upon ourselves, or simply bad luck?

Well it was the first goal we conceded that isn't a direct free kick so.

 

[Tim Spur Would]

How so?

Likeable nearly man whose mistakes are defended by the dross who suggest he could do no better

 

[mezza84]

Really disappointed with Sterling tonight.
We did have very few regular pen takers out there.
Maguire a real leader, had the character to hit home.
Rashford was dreadful.
Sterling and Grealish, have missed quite a few for clubs.
Thought Henderson would have the to take one.
Saka should never have been on p5
Not many left after that.

Tbf Henderson did get subbed off.

Kane on P1 was interesting. If he was meant to show them the way they didn't pay attention ?

 

[easley91]

Southgate's tactics, unsurprisingly, were pragmatic AF, but it was ultimately a sloppy set piece that was out undoing tonight. At no point aside from a single Chiesa run, did it actually feel like italy were ever going to score.

Was that our fault for inviting pressure upon ourselves, or simply bad luck?

Bit of both I'd say. Pickford made a great save on to the post but it fell to Bonucci. Overall I thought we were defensively solid the entire tournament. Pickford was rarely called into action tonight. No goals conceded from open play in 7 games. That says it all.

We just need to find the balance to unleash our attacking talent now.

 

[easley91]

Well it was the first goal we conceded that isn't a direct free kick so.

It was a corner though and a rebound off the post. Hardly a great bit of play from Italy to cut England open.

 

[rossdapep]

The game was lost with that approach to the 2nd half, not the the shootout. Sitting back and inviting pressure was never going to work against a side as good as Italy

Baffles me how the biggest penalty in England’s history is left to a 19 year old, a more experienced head should’ve taken responsibility. Really feel for the lad, and the abhorrent abuse already being sent his way by subhuman scum is utterly disgusting. Add in the scenes at Leicester Square, before the game at Wembley and now after the match it really makes me ashamed to be English

Yep. Could have completely caught Italy off guard.

They had already adapted to our 3 CBs and Walker practically plays as a third CB at times even with four at the back. Emerson struggled vs Spain because they pinned him back and denied him opportunities to get high up the pitch.

If Southgate had have switched Trippier for Grealish, for example, and then Mount for Sancho it would have forced them back and given us a bit more control.

I fucking hate watching your team get deeper and deeper and lose more control while the coach refuses to change something.

It's football management 101, you have to change something to give some control or relief the pressure for a bit.

Football fans are clueless the majority of the time but in these instances they are right to demand a change cause they can see the pressure is building

 

[hutchiniho]

Mancini changed his attacking options not because those on the field were playing badly but to inject fresh legs and new ideas into the team and give the England defense new problems to solve. Southgate just stuck with the same lineup until the 70th minute. Regardless of how you or I feel Sterling and Mount were playing they should have been substituted early in the second half for fresh legs like Sancho, Grealish or Rashford so they could run at what is an old CB pairing.
I am baffled by Southgate’s reluctance to freshening up the team and his almost pathological aversion to actually attacking the opposition.

definitely agree. Both should have come off at around the 70 minute mark.
GS has leant on Sterling right through the tournament though. Talked about his pace been key. Can see why he stuck with him but both would have been off mid second half for me. Especially if Sterling was never top 5 for a pen.

 

[Amo]

It was a corner though and a rebound off the post. Hardly a great bit of play from Italy to cut England open.

That's what I was implying.

 

[rossdapep]

Southgate's tactics, unsurprisingly, were pragmatic AF, but it was ultimately a sloppy set piece that was out undoing tonight. At no point aside from a single Chiesa run, did it actually feel like italy were ever going to score.

Was that our fault for inviting pressure upon ourselves, or simply bad luck?

Our own fault.

If you allow the ball to spend a large majority of the time in your own third then you are risking something going wrong.

 

[Thewobbler]

34 games unbeaten for italy. Thats impressive.

 

[DenverSpur]

Baffling Mount started over Grealish.

It’s not really. Mount is more disciplined defensively. Having said that I don’t think he had a very good game and so what’s baffling is why he stayed on so long (same is true about Sterling)and why Grealish did not come on earlier!!!! SouthGate made very poor use of his bench throughout the tournament but especially tonight in such a big game. It’s not like he had no options on his bench!!!! His use of substitutes was as bad as Poch.

 

[hutchiniho]

Tbf Henderson did get subbed off.

Kane on P1 was interesting. If he was meant to show them the way they didn't pay attention ?

Yes. The sub was subbed but thought, as a clear leader, he would have had a pen pencilled in.
I’m all for the best player taking the first pen.
Some shoot outs you might not get to the 5th taker.
Template was there. Especially against a Hugh keeper, pens need to be side netting or as close as, hit hard too.
Easier said than done.
Sancho and Saka, maybe not their fault given the pressures, both hit comfortable saves.
Rashford should have done better with his experience.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Did I read correctly that Saka has never taken a Pen as a professional?

If true, Southgate and a lot of players should be held accountable for him being in that situation tonight.

 

[Thewobbler]

How do social media companies still allow people to hide behind these accounts and post this vile crap.

 

[Syn_13]

Bit of both I'd say. Pickford made a great save on to the post but it fell to Bonucci. Overall I thought we were defensively solid the entire tournament. Pickford was rarely called into action tonight. No goals conceded from open play in 7 games. That says it all.

We just need to find the balance to unleash our attacking talent now.

All in the midfield, in my opinion. Two holding mids just invites pressure and doesn't allow you to control the game in the middle. Rice is a good holding mid but should play with two mids that are attacking or creative. Alternatively, do as Italy do and play with 3 midfielders that can do a blend of jobs. Otherwise it's just too safe.

 

[JCRD]

Southgate's tactics, unsurprisingly, were pragmatic AF, but it was ultimately a sloppy set piece that was out undoing tonight. At no point aside from a single Chiesa run, did it actually feel like italy were ever going to score.

Was that our fault for inviting pressure upon ourselves, or simply bad luck?

We were defensively solid I felt and Italy did find it tough to break through and I'm sure what is most disappointing is they scored from a set piece.

What I felt was our undoing was thta our transition from midfield to attack was poor and ultimately we may aswell not have played Kane and sterling after the first 25 mins and just out on a couple more defenders. Would have been more useful.

Italy were the best team of the tournament and rightful winners but think they were there for the taking tonight.

 

[rightwayup]

In all honesty the players have given all they could. The shame is players who missed have been blighted when we should never have reached penalties. They were held back by negative thinking from the coach. Italy must have been rubbing their hands when our team was announced. IMHO our team selection v Germany was as bad and we were lucky not to have beaten by them.

 

[Guntz]

How to social media companies still allow people to hide behind these accounts and post this vile crap.

Social media needs to be 18+ verified with national IDs provided as a requirement.

It's the only way you'll stop these cowardly anonymous trolls.

 

[Timberwolf]

Yes. The sub was subbed but thought, as a clear leader, he would have had a pen pencilled in.
I’m all for the best player taking the first pen.
Some shoot outs you might not get to the 5th taker.
Template was there. Especially against a Hugh keeper, pens need to be side netting or as close as, hit hard too.
Easier said than done.
Sancho and Saka, maybe not their fault given the pressures, both hit comfortable saves.
Rashford should have done better with his experience.

It was simply a case of training vs reality.

Southgate has always been meticulous in his planning, and he knew 100% that those were his best 5 penalty takers in training.

Problem is, nothing in training will prepare a 19/20 year old for the pressure of taking a penalty in the cauldron of a European Cup final.

It really proves that preparation comes to nothing when it comes to penalties: it really is all about the moment and who has the balls to handle the pressure.

 

[DiamondLites]

Gotta be one of the most brutal combos in football.

It would be ok if one was shit, but it's always falling at the last hurdle with both.

I’m English, and my teams are Spurs, The NY Knicks and The Chargers. I’m convinced no one else on earth has such a cursed combination of teams ?