England v Scotland....Match Thread

"You can't park here, Sir! Disgruntled Alex Ferguson is TURNED AWAY from Wembley's VIP car park as the greatest ever Scottish football manager arrives for his nation's clash with England at Euro 2020."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sp.....way-VIP-parking.html

England team is as per leak this morning.

Shaw and James in for Walker and Trippier.

No other changes.

Boring stat, Billy Gilmour gets to start tonight for Scotland.

He made his full Chelsea debut on 25 September 2019, playing the full 90 minutes in a 7–1 EFL Cup win against Grimsby Town.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Boring stat, Billy Gilmour gets to start tonight for Scotland.

He made his full Chelsea debut on 25 September 2019, playing the full 90 minutes in a 7–1 EFL Cup win against Grimsby Town.

It says he’s 4 foot 11 on Wikipedia

Scotland have only ever won two games at the Euro finals before. Both on 18th June. Gulp!

Far from impressed, sorry but I really don't think Southgate is the manger to take this England squad forward.

I watched the full Euro 96 match between these two teams a few months ago.

England couldn’t get the ball off John Collins and Gary McAllister in the first half. Venables brought Redknapp on at half time and it changed the game.

Phillips and Rice aren’t protecting the back four and they’re certainly not being progressive on the ball so you might as well pull Mount back deeper and bring on Grealish, Sancho or Rashford.

I can see why Southgate didn’t drop Phillips but it needs a tweak as it’s not working.

Pretty poor. Take a chance on something else Gareth before we all die of frustration.

Fuckin bore off

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Far from impressed, sorry but I really don't think Southgate is the manger to take this England squad forward.

So, whoever red crossed me, tell me why you disagree because I'm seeing a talented squad playing like shite.  

Can't believe I woke up at 2 am for this.  Sterling is not in it and Foden's first touch is poor.  Need Grealish on to force something.

We have a stronger bench, we only need a draw, Scotland will be playing out of their skins against us, keep the faith.

England might end up winning this game but I doubt 'it's coming home.'

Utter drivel no entertainment negative anti football

What's the panic, a draw will do us.

This game will be long forgotten if we win the whole thing.

In Southgate’s defence, these can’t be his instructions.

If you watch the movement of the front 6, there is nothing. They are completely static.

The players need to figure this out themselves. It’s possession-by-numbers at the moment.

England looking a bit clueless to be honest.

This is absolutely dreadful

Fuch off Southgate

Quoted from TAGG

Fuch off Southgate

I don’t think it’s his fault.

He can’t jump on Kane’s back and start whipping him to actually move.

There are no options for anyone on the ball because we are showing no energy whatsoever.

Foden off Grealish on.

intercourse off again Southgate

Looks like we are happy with a draw, we look like we don't want to win the group and have a harder route to the final.

Southgate is no mug  

Sam Matterface is doing my head in as much as England’s performance.

At least we don’t have to worry about resting players. They’ve had their rest tonight.

I think we’ve found out English players have no energy in 14 degrees rain! Another form of weather our players don’t like.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Sam Matterface is doing my head in as much as England’s performance.

They should have just let Dixon and McCoist do it on their own. Motherwell rules.

Southgate has some of the best young talent in the footballing world and can't get em to beat a bunch off mugs.
Hes flipping excrement.
It's an embarrassment

Quoted from TAGG

Southgate has some of the best young talent in the footballing world and can't get em to beat a bunch off mugs.
Hes flipping excrement.
It's an embarrassment

If you don’t like watching players a level or two below the level your team is at playing in an organised set up to frustrate then I’d highly recommend giving at least the next season at BP a pass.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Sam Matterface is doing my head in as much as England’s performance.

Totally agree, he's got more hype than a hypermarket.

We are playing not to lose rather than to win.

England 0-0 Scotland

Job done  

It might not have been pretty but it's a results business  

Can't see us not qualifying now

I’ve been a big supporter of England and Southgate but that was poor to be honest 1 to 11 we are twice as good as them and should have created much more.

Well, if's that elite football then it's a load of rubbish. I can imagine if Town played like that then we'd be after somebody's head.

Quoted from DB

Well, if's that elite football then it's a load of rubbish. I can imagine if Town played like that then we'd be after somebody's head.

I have a vision of you never watching any other game apart from a grimsby game and that was your first other game. England have always let us down .

Very disappointing from us Scotland deserve their point.

If I had to pick a man of the match it would have to be a Scot because no one in the England side had a.good game.

Someone said above Scotland have only ever won 2 Euro games - both on the 18 June.  

They also lost in the World Cup on the 18 June.  To Brazil 4-1 in 1982.  I watched that as the last night I was single.  (Never get married during a World Cup).  You conflict with football matches for ever.

Quoted from promotion plaice

England 0-0 Scotland

Job done  

It might not have been pretty but it's a results business  

Can't see us not qualifying now

True enough but this was a “don’t lose” game. If and when England qualify, the games are “must win”. Different kettle of fish.

I wouldn’t trust this manager to select the right team or tactics for that job.

See the celtic mafia of Keane & Souness getting stuck into England.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

See the celtic mafia of Keane & Souness getting stuck into England.

And it was a poor result for Scotland.

Boring and frustrating but the guy who got England to the semi final of a World Cup and all his staff probably know more than us. Judge him when our tournament is over.

Couldn't hear Kane's interview, I think he said something like Scotland are 44th in world rankings and we are 4th a draw is a good result, so I think we did well. It was a local derby, much more than a tournament game, it was important not to lose so we didn't have to score until they scored.

Yeah a good result, especially for the fans, lets face it we didn't have to score so we didn't.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

See the celtic mafia of Keane & Souness getting stuck into England.

Ian Wright absolutely slaughtering them too, as well as most of the England fans in the ground.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

See the celtic mafia of Keane & Souness getting stuck into England.

I should hope so.

I commended England for a mature performance against Croatia. They played like a bunch of matures tonight.

Quoted from psgmariner

Boring and frustrating but the guy who got England to the semi final of a World Cup and all his staff probably know more than us. Judge him when our tournament is over.

Southgate’s a clever guy.

He will have drilled into the players that, match the Scottish energy, match the desire, you win the match.

They just didn’t move. Didn’t compete. Very embarrassed.

Don't know why anyone is surprised. I've spent half a century watching fancied England teams huff and puff at tournaments.

Thought they only had to turn up to win and didn't work hard enough.

Scotland the better team and deserved their point.
Thought we should have brought Calvert Lewin on for Kane and tried to ruffle their centre backs, who were excellent.

Don't see where the England goals are going to come from?

Quoted from bawarmy

I have a vision of you never watching any other game apart from a grimsby game and that was your first other game. England have always let us down .

I watched an England game that didn't let anybody down. I have a vision of people hitting keys on a board without thinking about what they are typing.

My England game that didn't let me down, nor the entire nation was in 1966, we won the WORLD CUP.  

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Southgate’s a clever guy.

He will have drilled into the players that, match the Scottish energy, match the desire, you win the match.

They just didn’t move. Didn’t compete. Very embarrassed.

Try not to worry too much. I’m sure we will go further than Scotland.

Oh well. A draw with the Czechs put us in through in second and we avoid the group of death teams

Where is the passion, grit, determination? Who is the motivator, Southgate, Kane? Kane frankly looked like he couldn’t be arsed and Southgate stood motionless the entire game. I’m sure people will say it’s worth it for the point, conceded none, but it’s tedious to watch and against Italy, France, Belgium I believe our arses will be well and truly kicked.

I've noticed a fair few players in recent years being seen as being able to 'turn a game' for England. Joe Cole, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Deli Ali and now seemingly Jack Grealish. Personally I don't see being able to 'draw a foul' as being something massively beneficial especially when faced with a well disciplined side like Scotland tonight. He's no Matt Le Tissier.

Kane was embarrassingly bad. He's barely ever in the penalty area and there aren't many runs or much penetration from deeper. Going to find scoring goals very difficult if we continue like this.

Mason Mount was fooking dreadful. His corners were shocking.

I also don't know why we persist with two holding midfielders. Kante does more than both combined.

Quoted from heppy88

Where is the passion, grit, determination? Who is the motivator, Southgate, Kane? Kane frankly looked like he couldn’t be arsed and Southgate stood motionless the entire game. I’m sure people will say it’s worth it for the point, conceded none, but it’s tedious to watch and against Italy, France, Belgium I believe our arses will be well and truly kicked.

Southgate just said he took Kane off to give the team more energy. Captain, leader and main forward with no energy???????

Foden comes off, who had a decent game, and Grealish comes on. No improvement.

Southgate also said that if you're not going to win (were not good enough ) then make sure you don't lose!

I think England were very lucky and didn't seem comforable.

When you start a game with 6 defensive outfield players against a team 40 places below you in the world rankings, it shows there is something wrong with your whole setup. Especially when said defensive players don't exactly snuff out the opposition threat! If I was a Scot tonight, I'd be disappointed on missing out on 3 points as they were certainly there with a bit more luck.

Absolutely no point in putting Kane on the teamsheet with the way we're playing at the moment (and the way he is playing to a degree). Southgate has developed a style of play (such as it is) which doesn't play to any of the strengths of our best striker, so we'd be better off leaving him on the bench and putting someone else in the team who suits it better. One-twos from midfield and chips over the top to players running on is what we aim to do so stick Rashford or Sancho in the team instead and leave Kane on the bench as a plan B when we're chasing games.

In the last World Cup, we scored lots of goals from set piece, did little from open play but defended quite well in general. This tournament, we're not scoring goals from set pieces and are doing little from open play. Defended averagely tonight after replacing defensively capable full-backs with players less capable. Quality of most of the set pieces today was dismal, other than the one from which Stones missed his chance. Without a big improvement, we won't even be knocked out in the quarter-finals.

Lots of ability in this squad but no apparent plan as to how it should be used. Absolutely no chance of winning this tournament that I can see.

Quoted from LH

If you don’t like watching players a level or two below the level your team is at playing in an organised set up to frustrate then I’d highly recommend giving at least the next season at BP a pass.

Idiot

Quoted from mariner91

Kane was embarrassingly bad. He's barely ever in the penalty area and there aren't many runs or much penetration from deeper. Going to find scoring goals very difficult if we continue like this.

Must've touched the ball 20 times in 2 games.

As per Sunday - what a bag of shyte. I had a think about this today....here is my reaction to all the tournaments I can remember:

1982: Bewildered...too young
1986: Heart broken when Maradonna stole the game from England (even though with hind sight we kicked the crap out of him for 90 mins)
1990: Still burns
1996: I was at all the games - heartbroken when Gazza missed that tap in
1998: I was in France - distraught
2000: Too violent - avoided - England under Kegan were a joke - got over it
2002: Was at the tournament - England were terrible - Not that bothered when we lost
2004: Gutted - really thought England had a great team and unlucky against Portugal - went to all England games
2006: Avoided all England games - disgraceful Peak Gerrard and John Terry - happy to see them eliminated
2010: Didn't really care - accepted our fate
2012: Hilariously retarted football
2014: Hilariously retarded football
2016: Hilariously retarded football
2018: Not a bunch of male masturbators - mildly surprised - bit not heartbroken when eliminated (its the hope that kills you)
2020/21: Distanced sense of "why am I not that excited about this anymore"

Win tonight = we'll urine this tinpot tournament.

Draw tonight = angsty over analysis of everything.

Being generous, felt like a team that didn't want to lose (and be embarrassed); Being extra generous felt like a plan to navigate an easier route through the next few stages. Being honest, thought we just had a bad day at the office. Being critical, not good enough to beat the top teams in the competition.

Quoted from spartacus

Being generous, felt like a team that didn't want to lose (and be embarrassed); Being extra generous felt like a plan to navigate an easier route through the next few stages. Being honest, thought we just had a bad day at the office. Being critical, not good enough to beat the top teams in the competition.

That’s a very dangerous game to play though.

We were never in control of that match. We’re not good enough to be throwing games just to be knocked out in the QF.

Southgate said we were too frantic at times in his post-match interview.

Possibly the only person on the planet to think 'frantic' after that turgid display.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

That’s a very dangerous game to play though.

We were never in control of that match. We’re not good enough to be throwing games just to be knocked out in the QF.

Agreed, that's why it was an "extra generous" thought. Honestly thought we just had a bad game and we will  have better performances. Just not convinced we are quite good enough, to win outright. Maybe quarter final disappointment beckons.

Part of me wants Southgate to play the likes of Mount, Foden and Grealish deeper and bin the non-protective double pivot.

However, none of Tuchel, Guardiola or Smith trust them to play there for their clubs.

To win a tournament you either need a strong defensive unit, ability to retain possession under pressure or the fitness and intelligence to press strongly. Realistically you need at least two of those three.

We don’t do any of these particularly well which is why France, Italy or Portugal will win it.

England are shite. Don't buy the media bullshit. We're really not that good. Knock out stages would be an achievement for this second rate team.

We're a million miles behind the likes of France, Belgium and Portugal as well as arguably Italy too.

Quoted from psgmariner

Boring and frustrating but the guy who got England to the semi final of a World Cup and all his staff probably know more than us. Judge him when our tournament is over.

We got lucky with the urine poor opposition we faced.

Will never win anything with Southgate

Quoted from DB

I watched an England game that didn't let anybody down. I have a vision of people hitting keys on a board without thinking about what they are typing.

My England game that didn't let me down, nor the entire nation was in 1966, we won the WORLD CUP.  

I want to be entertained if I get up at 2am.

Quoted from TAGG

Southgate has some of the best young talent in the footballing world and can't get em to beat a bunch off mugs.
Hes flipping excrement.
It's an embarrassment

Whilst i think we definitely should be beating Scotland, they're far from mugs. Granted there is a handful of their players that are not household names but a good chunk of their starting 11 play in the premier league at clubs like Liverpool, Man Utd, Villa and Arsenal. So not only are they operating at very good level week in week out, they also know our team very well.
Add the fact that they were always going to raise their game ten fold against us and it was always going to be a difficult one.

Well that was shite last night. England allowed themselves to be dragged down to Scotland's level. If you hope to win tournaments you must have players who have the mentality to keep a lid on emotions. It doesn't matter if Scotland 'raise their game' if you keep your cool and keep passing (which means players moving into positions where a sensible pass is an option. England reverted to type. Different players, same old approach.

If we're going to have Declan Rice drop back to about 5 yards in front of the centre-backs to receive the ball only to then play a simple sideways pass to the full-backs you might as well play 3 at the back and give the full-backs more license to get forward and play them as wing-backs.

But the bigger issue is Harry Kane. Southgate has gone all in on Kane and his form is terrible and he doesn't look match sharp. But what are the alternatives? Rashford isn't a solo striker and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the only out and out striker other than Kane is the squad. When you see the endless attacking midfielders and right-backs in the squad you can't help feeling that Southgate should have not taken Saka & either Walker or James and taken Patrick Bamford & Danny Ings instead.

For the Czech Republic game I'd like to pick this team on the basis that Jordan Henderson won't be ready to start & Harry Kane is on his last chance to find some form before we thrown Dominic Calvert-Lewin in instead...

                  PICKFORD
         MAGUIRE   STONES    MINGS
TRIPPIER                            CHILWELL
          BELLINGHAM     PHILLIPS
     FODEN          KANE          GREALISH

In reality we have less to do than Croatia & Scotland to get through to the knockout stages, then again the other piece of reality is that even in European football we’re a 2nd tier nation.

Never mind the lifeless team performance, lacking desire and quality, the use of subs was probably as bad.  Kane has had 4 consecutive tournament games where he has been poor.  

My dad took me to my only England against Poland in 1974.  We drew then and went out the World Cup but we at least tried everything to win.  Not much has changed overall in nearly 50 years.

I was asked a few weeks back if I had a problem with Southgate. Now I think a lot of people have a problem with him. He is a good man, he looks after his lads and protects them from criticism. But that ability is not the one that brings home trophies unless you get very, very lucky.

This wasn’t a game they had to win, they just had to avoid losing. I accept that. I accept that the Scots were up for it. But this is a competition, all sides will be up for it, except England it seems. Where was the pressing game? Where were the Philips runs through the middle? Where was the Sterling pace down the outside?we were back to the slow, slow, slow, slow. By the time Grealish appeared it was too late to upset the Scots, they had an ambush planned for him but Southgate is too slow to see this left opportunities elsewhere.

I fear that the first side England meets that has the same resolution as the Scots but more firepower will see us out of the tournament and no one will care if the final is in Budapest, London or Dubai.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

If we're going to have Declan Rice drop back to about 5 yards in front of the centre-backs to receive the ball only to then play a simple sideways pass to the full-backs you might as well play 3 at the back and give the full-backs more license to get forward and play them as wing-backs.

But the bigger issue is Harry Kane. Southgate has gone all in on Kane and his form is terrible and he doesn't look match sharp. But what are the alternatives? Rashford isn't a solo striker and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the only out and out striker other than Kane is the squad. When you see the endless attacking midfielders and right-backs in the squad you can't help feeling that Southgate should have not taken Saka & either Walker or James and taken Patrick Bamford & Danny Ings instead.

For the Czech Republic game I'd like to pick this team on the basis that Jordan Henderson won't be ready to start & Harry Kane is on his last chance to find some form before we thrown Dominic Calvert-Lewin in instead...

                  PICKFORD
         MAGUIRE   STONES    MINGS
TRIPPIER                            CHILWELL
          BELLINGHAM     PHILLIPS
     FODEN          KANE          GREALISH

The problem with that is that the Czechs play 5 in midfield. Foden and Grealish will drop into midfield, which leaves an unfit and (non-Ciro) immobile Kane isolated up front.

I'd rather go out like the plucky Danes.  when they went 1-0 up against Belgium, they kept pushing forward  The Welsh too played with a spark against a physical Turkey.  Both  goals were well worked.   The second goal, they could have taken the ball into the corner to wind down the time.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

In reality we have less to do than Croatia & Scotland to get through to the knockout stages, then again the other piece of reality is that even in European football we’re a 2nd tier nation.

We're already through though aren't we? We can't finish bottom & 4 points will be enough even if we lose to the Czechs & Scotland beat Croatia with enough goal difference swing for them to pip us the 2nd. By the time we play on Tuesday night 4 of the other groups will have been completed and we will already be guaranteed qualification.

Tuesday will just decide where we finish & how difficult the path to the Final is.

We ideally want to be in the bottom half of the draw...

Top Half of Draw

B 1st - Belgium
? 3rd - 20% chance of being 3rd in England's group

A 1st - Italy
C 2nd - Ukraine/Austria?

F 1st - France?
? 3rd -

D 2nd - England (if we finish 2nd)
E 2nd - Sweden/Spain?

Bottom Half of Draw

E 1st - Spain/Sweden?
? 3rd - 30% chance of being 3rd in England's group

D 1st - England (if we win group)
F 2nd - Portugal/Germany?

C 1st - Netherlands
? 3rd - 50% chance of being 3rd in England's group

A 2nd - Wales/Switzerland?
B 2nd - Russia/Finland/Denmark?

If we finish 2nd we'd have a very winnable Round of 16 match, but then we'd have a QF against France & if we somehow got through that it would be Italy or Belgium in the SF.

If we win the group we'd have a home Round of 16 match probably against Germany or Portugal and after that it would be a QF (possibly Spain) and a SF against maybe Netherland (or Wales).

If we finish 3rd we are 80% certain of the being in the bottom half of the draw as things stand.

It gets a bit players becoming Ballon D’or winners while sitting on the bench stuff but not getting Sancho involved at all (16gls/20 assists for Dortmund this season) and not starting Grealish who draws opponents in and turns that into dead balls in dangerous areas seems very strange. I know managers have their favourites but Kane and Sterling are well off it. Kane does this for Spurs every now and again but does come back into form fairly quickly but he can’t do that without service. Persisting with two DMs and not utilising the talent we have at wingback is frustrating too but this is England in a modern game where not losing is as important as winning. Portugal won this daft format last time winning one game in 90 minutes…

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

The problem with that is that the Czechs play 5 in midfield. Foden and Grealish will drop into midfield, which leaves an unfit and (non-Ciro) immobile Kane isolated up front.

And there we have the big problem with England (especially under Southgate)...

We always worry about what the opposition are going to do and don't just play to our strengths and have confidence that we will beat them if we do.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

And there we have the big problem with England (especially under Southgate)...

We always worry about what the opposition are going to do and don't just play to our strengths and have confidence that we will beat them if we do.

Yes, Hurst often gets blamed for that.

But as with Hurst, if you know your opponents are playing 5 in midfield, you can’t really play two.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

We're already through though aren't we? We can't finish bottom & 4 points will be enough even if we lose to the Czechs & Scotland beat Croatia with enough goal difference swing for them to pip us the 2nd. By the time we play on Tuesday night 4 of the other groups will have been completed and we will already be guaranteed qualification.

Tuesday will just decide where we finish & how difficult the path to the Final is.

We ideally want to be in the bottom half of the draw...

Top Half of Draw

B 1st - Belgium
? 3rd - 20% chance of being 3rd in England's group

A 1st - Italy
C 2nd - Ukraine/Austria?

F 1st - France?
? 3rd -

D 2nd - England (if we finish 2nd)
E 2nd - Sweden/Spain?

Bottom Half of Draw

E 1st - Spain/Sweden?
? 3rd - 30% chance of being 3rd in England's group

D 1st - England (if we win group)
F 2nd - Portugal/Germany?

C 1st - Netherlands
? 3rd - 50% chance of being 3rd in England's group

A 2nd - Wales/Switzerland?
B 2nd - Russia/Finland/Denmark?

If we finish 2nd we'd have a very winnable Round of 16 match, but then we'd have a QF against France & if we somehow got through that it would be Italy or Belgium in the SF.

If we win the group we'd have a home Round of 16 match probably against Germany or Portugal and after that it would be a QF (possibly Spain) and a SF against maybe Netherland (or Wales).

If we finish 3rd we are 80% certain of the being in the bottom half of the draw as things stand.

I think I’d rather go out to a favourite and blame it on a VAR decision or a gust of wind, than go out on penalties to Sweden after a double pivot fuelled 0-0 draw.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Yes, Hurst often gets blamed for that.

But as with Hurst, if you know your opponents are playing 5 in midfield, you can’t really play two.

Would Hurst change? There are 24 teams at Euro 2020. We are the 3rd highest ranked team (FIFA World Ranking) at the tournament. Czech Republic are the 21st ranked team.

Did Hurst ever change his system at Town against a team in the bottom 4? Would he have changed his system to match up Histon? Or Welling United? Or Nuneaton Town? Never!

I like Southgate a lot but our problem has been constant for 3 years
When it’s not going we’ll we don’t have a plan B. Our subs are like for like and I just can’t recall a game changing moment

Quoted from buckstown

I like Southgate a lot but our problem has been constant for 3 years
When it’s not going we’ll we don’t have a plan B. Our subs are like for like and I just can’t recall a game changing moment

Longer than that.

2018 World Cup...

We beat Tunisia, Panama & Sweden.
We drew with Colombia.
We lost to Belgium, Croatia & Belgium again.

Boring manager boring football, Southgate was never the right man his body language offers nothing inspirational only dour, Belgium France or Italy would embarrass us, sooner were out the better, get someone the players actually look up to. Just watched a documentary on the euros in 96 and the team and Venebles just felt right the players today admit they were gutted when he resigned, I very much doubt the players will feel the same when Southgate goes.

Quoted from Humbercod

Boring manager boring football, Southgate was never the right man his body language offers nothing inspirational only dour, Belgium France or Italy would embarrass us, sooner were out the better, get someone the players actually look up to. Just watched a documentary on the euros in 96 and the team and Venebles just felt right the players today admit they were gutted when he resigned, I very much doubt the players will feel the same when Southgate goes.

Lampard for me.

We weren't the best team in the tournament after beating Croatia and we're not the worst after failing to beat Scotland. Could still very easily end up winning our group without conceding a goal and we'll have a punchers chance against anyone. Tournament football is a funny thing and plenty of history of organised, unspectacular teams doing well, particularly if they get a bit of luck with injuries and refs and especially if they're good in penalty shootouts. People talk about Italia 90 and Euro 96 but England were spectacularly average in more than one game in each of those tournaments.

I doubt Scotland will play like that again, they were well up for it, National pride played a big part in the game, nearly all the Scots would have put their life on the line to beat
" The Auld Enemy", Wales won the other night, not because they were particularly the best side, although Turkey were poor, but because they played with passion, pride and belief, small nations do that, unfortunately England don't.

The problem with Southgate is he will send out a team that is very hard to beat.

But

Although he has plenty of attacking options he is reluctant to start with them.

He will not change so we will have to wait until the FA appoint a manager who is willing to take the chance that our attack will score more than the opposition.

We have the attack to win tournaments and a defence that is also capable we just need to get the balance right.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

My dad took me to my only England against Poland in 1974.  We drew then and went out the World Cup but we at least tried everything to win.  Not much has changed overall in nearly 50 years.

If I recall correctly, the ‘clown’ in goal for them had a superb game. Thanks Cloughie 😕

England will never win this tournament playing sideways/backwards,sideways/backwards, good god that was bad !

How on earth could Scotland be deemed more "Up For It" than England ? It really beggars belief !

If these players spent as much time on their commitment to football as they do to their virtue signalling bullsh1t we would be world class !

As for Southgate, a perfect manager for the English FA, Beige, Bland and Boring !

Anybody who thinks we can win this competition needs to give their head a wobble !

Awful !

Southgate is clearly a really nice guy, generates a good team spirit and talks to the media well. But he’s tactically inept. When you watch the top teams, they play with purpose. We don’t. Under Southgate we play walking football with no temp or intensity. It’s very frustrating but I genuinely believe this is the best squad we’ve had in a long time, but it’s being wasted.

England will never win a major tournament again while our domestic game runs like it does

Plastic fans love the spectacle of the Premiership and this is what drives the game.  How many of the starters each week qualify for England, 10%?
Consequently, how many of the England “superstars” would be deemed to be in the highest rated couple of players at their own clubs?