West Ham Online

"We seem to have an England v Bosnia thread but not an actual Euro 2024 thread so here it is So, do we realistically think England can win it? On paper we obviously have a very talented squad but I just don't see us going all the way. For me it's ""same old"" when it comes to England. Breeze the group, favourable draw in last 16 and win then up against far superior opposition in the QFs and out. At best I can see us at the SF stage before being beaten again. Winners for me: France, Portugal, Spain Dark horses: Germany - even though it's a home tournament they've been in a consolidation period, could go close Biggest flops: Scotland - no goals scored Top goalscorer: Mbappe I'm just hoping it's a decent tournament with plenty of decent games that's not ruined by VAR (are they using it?) consolidation period but could go close"

"I wonder how horseface gareth is planning on deploying his 3-4-3/3-5-2 system. no doubt it will include foden/bellingham/kane/saka and no room for a genuine winger. maybe we can see trent back in midfield, once last try to make it work ?üòÇ"

"And what have they ever given us, apart from watches and Toblerone, which people only buy at Duty Free anyway, and is losing the airport random chocolate purchase now to Oreos? Plus they have the distinction of appearing in the title of the only rubbish Laurel & Hardy film, 'SWISS MISS'."

"Switzerland...who wants to fucking live there? They have the Frogs to the left,Austria to the right,Krauts above them and worse of all the Eyeties below If it was a flat you're never be able to sell it."

"It's not ridiculous at all. The draw was literally designed to be as equal/challenging on both sides. It's not the organiser's fault France and Belgium didn't top their groups, or that a few surprise teams did or sneaked a 2nd or 3rd place. It is however lucky that it couldn't have one any more fortunately for England, who will manage to fuck it up."

"""was the fa cup a ridiculous competition that year?"" Yes"

Millwall in the final did make it ridiculous Utterly outclassed and a complete shambles Should have been about 8-0 and the referee felt sorry for them as the cսnt Dennis Wise should have been sent off several times The only positive is I dont believe their fans fought each other that time Three quarters of their 'fans' there didnt watch a home match all season

Pickle making a fool of himself again on a football thread. Imagine my shock.

"It's called luck of the draw, that doesn't make the whole competition 'ridiculous'. Millwall reached an FA cup final without playing a Premier league team in 2004, was the fa cup a ridiculous competition that year?."

"It's called luck of the draw, that doesn't make the whole competition 'ridiculous'. Millwall reached an FA cup final without playing a Premier league team in 2004, was the fa cup a ridiculous competition that year?."

"The last Euros as virtually a home tournament and avoidance of some teams was similar Not Englands fault , they won their group so its the fault of other favoured teams who DIDNT and ended up on the other side. Its about peaking at the right time and can see a final between the best team so far ... Spain ... and England."

"With virtually every tournament, there's always a team or two who get potentially relatively easy draws to progress. But because this time it's England it's now all of a sudden ridiculous?"

England’s side of the draw reveals the whole thing has been a bit ridiculous.

(nt)

Spain v Germany - GER (aet) Portugal v France - FRA England v Switzerland - ENG (pens) Netherlands v Turkey - NET Germany v France - GER (aet) England v Netherlands - NET (pens) GERMANY v NETHERLANDS - GER (on home soil)

What chance is there of Rice being played in a more attacking capacity in the knock-out stage against stronger sides when he has had this defensive role against relatively weak opposition? You reckon the tactical genius has a cunning plan?

Rice needs to play another 10/15 feet forward he has so much to offer and he is a match winner come on Southgate let him just play his game PLEASE!

Its all a bit MOYESBALL innit? I mean you lot moaned like young virgins over Moyes and then most Euro Nations kinda thought it was a hood idea. I really fucking hope we come alive but if we win MOYES style I’ll be as happy as when we won our cup.

"Rice needs to play another 10/15 feet forward to me that would be big game winner Rice has so much to offer . Lost the final due to him not doing that ,well being told not to by Southgate of course ."

"Sir Alf 10:43 Wed Jul 3 I suspect it was more to do with Deccers cramping more than once in the tournament, most notably against Germany. I agree that it cost us but I really think there was logic there."

"I never realised that Austria had a significantly better pedigree in the Euros than Turkey, until I listened to the experts post match analysis. I guess appearing in a semi-final of one doesn't count against a team who haven't or summink?"

"Wow. Just seen that save from last night. Really good but it doesn't really compare to Gordon Banks' one. There always seems to be a need to compare something modern and very good immediately to 'the best of all time'. This, the Bellingham goal.... Agree about the England line up- he's not changing it now unless he is forced to by injury."

"Would be a strange one playing Turkey in a Euro's SF if it pans out that way, but fancy the Dutch will beat them. In the last world cup Southgate made changes to the starting line up in every game, so seems strange that he's not now, even more so with how shit we've played. It's pointless to keep saying drop Kane, zero chance of it happening, plus he's the captain and has netted twice now, which is more than most other forwards in the tournament, but if he sticks with Foden and Saka again it's going to be depressing, but suspect it will be more of the same with just Konsa coming in at CB and Trippier being passed fit."

"Yeah, Southgate’s sell by date was a tournament or two back. I remember him taking Rice off against Italy in that final and the Itslians being both relieved and shocked as they thought he was our best player and was causing problems in midfield with surges forward. Southgate is clueless and formulaic and probably planned before the game to take him off because he was a young player in a first major tournament. Like Moyes, no dynamic in game management, was not able to see what was happening in front of him. Kane needs to be dropped, the left side needs a left sided player like Gordon, Foden needs to be tried as a number 10 or dropped and Bellingham a false 9 or played deeper . Mainoo looked our best creative player until Southgate took him off !! Ok Mainoo is a risk defensively as he is not that defensive but needs to play. The rest of the squad outside the 13 or 14 players he uses may as well go home. One or two might needed if we get a spate of injuries. Im fully expecting exactly the same performance against the Swiss. He’s been lucky and will need individual brilliance to save him again. But the Swiss are decent and like Moyes his luck will run out. Still a decent night and a few pints at the pub Saturday :-)."

Great to watch…best so far… Save of the tournament so far… Either team could have won… Arnautovic missed at least 3 cert finishes… If only England could play with such energy and desire… We have the talent…but Waistcoat is an uninspiring Plodding Luddite Manager… Just as he was as a player…

Great to watch…best so far… Save of the tournament so far… Either team could have won… Arnautovic missed at least 3 cert finishes… If only England could play with such energy and desire… We have the talent…but Waistcoat is an uninspiring Plodding Luddite Manager… Just as he was as a player…