The Football Thread

[Grand Moff Muffin]

So, football, eh? What's all that about?

Answer:

SPOILER: Click to show

Money, apparently.

Martin

[Bogatan]

I cant believe the last 2 days action.
I hope the six gets points deduction.

[Rich]

I'm a United supporter and I completely agree.

[Andy Turnbull]

I note this with resigned fatigue,
still doesn't fix the shit that is the champions league,
Oh the hoops you have to jump through to get in if you are a smaller league title winner,
where fourth placed teams get in with ease, absolute fucking dogs dinner

I think there should be points deductions and I'd ban the clubs from European tournaments next season,
maybe next time they will think before they allow madness to replace reason.

[Andy Turnbull]

Euros coming up - Scotland v England as well.

WOOOO

[Andy Turnbull]

Italy actually scoring more than 1 goal in a group stage!! Result.

[Andy Turnbull]

Wales got out of jail there, they didn't look too impressive. I think they may end up going out at the group stage.

[Andy Turnbull]

Heartbreaking scenes in the Finland/Denmark game.

Hope Christian Eriksen pulls through.

[Andy Turnbull]

England game this afternoon, probably their biggest test (much as I'd love it to be Scotland) and I suspect whoever wins this, tops the group.

[Andy Turnbull]

OOOFT!!!!

[Andy Turnbull]

Final tonight.

I'll be watching, honestly don't think England will win. They've done well to get to the Final, but I think Italy will do the business.

I would cheer on England, but unfortunately all the commentators and pundits are insufferable arsewipes. Rio Ferdinand especially.

[Pinwig]

I love a good football tournament and have watched as much of this one as I've been able to. Somehow though reaching the final doesn't seem to me to be the achievement it's being chalked up as. Playing all bar one game at home against sides England should be beating anyway doesn't really feel like a cause for public holidays. The Germany game was a significant moment, but getting through the semis by virtue of an own goal and a rebounded penalty felt more like a lucky escape than a team in control. England's slow controlling/passing play will suffer at the hands of Italy's speed tonight and I think we'll come unstuck pretty quickly.

[Andy Turnbull]

It's been a very underwhelming performance from England, all jingoism aside if Scotland had an actual goal scorer up front I fancied we would have won. England are a team with some great individuals but they don't play as a team and it shows. Certain players work well with each other, but a few never click and you can see the understanding isn't there, hence why the passing play is so slow and controlling, as opposed to being fluid and quick.

Harry Kane has been awful this tournament, he looks like he is running on fumes. I still think you have an absolute bomb scare of a goalkeeper in Pickford. He's not really been tested and it shows.

Germany are a shadow of what they were, the fact that Joachim Low had to go back and recall players he's cast adrift tells you their issues right now.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Martin

[Andy Turnbull]

FUCKING YASSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ABSOLUTELY BOUNCING AND YES I HAVE BEEN DRINKING ON A SCHOOL NIGHT!

[The Doctor]

It's been less than a week since you last destroyed Rule 1!!!

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Rule 1 was adhered to. Sensible drinking stuck to the Dark Fruits.

[Andy Turnbull]

Well that was a week.

Heartbreak on Wednesday night, was absolutely scunnered when Ramsey took that awful penalty. Thankfully yesterday we did the businesss and picked up our first Scottish Cup since 2009.

[Andy Turnbull]

So we are on the Semi Finals of the most horrifically objectionable World Cup since the last one.

England out last night, not a surprise as I didn't think they would have enough to beat France. Very pleased to see Morrocco get through to the semi-finals.

I would absolutely love to see a Croatia v Morrocco final.

[Pinwig]

Mrs P wanted to watch last night which is why I had to leave the call so quickly. It did give me an hour to sit and fiddle with Junkheap though. I suspect this might be my toy of the year.

[Andy Turnbull]

Had the BBC text commentary on the other computer wasn't fussed to watch it, as I knew the broadcast commentary would drive me nuts. The main reason why Scotttish fans adopted the anyone but England mantra, is due to the absolute arse that has been continually spouted by commentators and pundits over the years.

[Andy Turnbull]

First old firm game of 2023.

We drew, but going into the game I thought we'd get pumped, so to be 2-1 up and lose a late goal, sicknener. SPL title race is done, if we'd won we'd have pulled them back to a 6 point lead. 9 is too big a gap to claw back at this stage.

[Andy Turnbull]

So the Euros kick off next Friday.

Before this week I was predicting a majestic 4 points for Scotland, with 1 win and a draw and a defeat. Based on the last 2 games, we will be lucky if we get a point.

England will get to the final and they will lose, genuinely think they have the best squad they have ever had access to in my lifetime, but Southgate is not a good enough manager tactically to get them over the line.

[Stomski]

Strong start for Germany. Only seen the highlights, but Slsome of those passes were insane.

[Rich]

Watched until halftime last night but then turned over because it wasn't really a contest in any meaningful way. Hoping things click for England and that Iceland didn't tell us anything.

[Andy Turnbull]

They were good, we were pish and should never have set up like that. Should have had a 4-1-4-1 and played McTominay right in front of the back four and had Billy Gilmour in from the start for when we could get possession, and give McGinn license to roam behind Che Adams up front. We left pockets of space which they exploited easily and overran us.

The minute we went down to 10 men we were fucked, Porteous is an arse and did that constantly when he was at Hibs, last ditch challenges that were always going to see him carded.

[Andy Turnbull]

Now I would like to say I am not one of those Scottish fans who is anyone but England. I can't have you winning the tournament as your media will be insufferable pricks for decades.

However, I would say this tournament is your best chance, but I don't think you will win and it's not down to the players, it's Southgate, tactically he is not good enough.

Think tonight will be a scrappy affair and you will win, but not comfortably.

[Rich]

Southgate's not an amazing tactician but he does know international football. Better tacticians have managed England but have been inferior to Southgate when it comes to common sense and preparation and they've performed worse as a result. I'll take the downside with the upside.

As for insufferable media, you don't get worse than France's representative in this country, Julien Laurens - he definitely makes me feel anyone but France (and PSG).

[Andy Turnbull]

Oh gods he's such an arse, I remember enduring him when I used to listen to the Guardian football podcast and then James Richardson's one.

[Andy Turnbull]

I also think some of the squad selection is a head scratcher, he better pray Pickford doesn't get injured. Have no idea why Butland wasn't selected.

Would also have taken Grealish, always worth a gamble.