[Blue Baggie]

I assume most are watching.
Quite a struggle for the so called better sides.
(Including us) 
Shows us lots of excellent unknown talent are out there. Brings me on to what the hell are our recruitment department doing.

[Salopbaggie]

I assume most are watching.
Quite a struggle for the so called better sides.
(Including us) 
Shows us lots of excellent unknown talent are out there. Brings me on to what the hell are our recruitment department doing.

My guess is watching the players at the euro's. Which is why no clubs are doing any 'standard" business at the moment

[drewks]

(This post is carrying on from TalkSAFT's which had a rant about the Euros.... but was on the anti Sky thread!)
England ARE very, VERY boring aren't they? IMHO Southgate is to blame - he's turning exciting, very capable players into zombies who are instructed NOT to take a chance, NOT to risk giving possession away at any cost.
What really gets me is when the ball is with the back 4 and they're attempting to ' play it out from the back', they'll dilly dally about with it and wait till they're virtually closed down, THEN PASS slowly back /square again because, surprise surprise, there's no other option! JUST PASS THE BALL EARLIER, WITH ENOUGH PACE ON IT!
Drives me mad!
I honestly hope we get knocked out early now as that will /should mean the end of Southgate. Nice bloke he may be, but he's just too negative.

[Stairs]

I find watching England play hard enough in the last decade due to their lavish salaries and less than committed attitude to playing for their country.

But at least the style of football in the main was attacking - but now, Southgate has sucked the energy and attacking flair out of the qhole squad.

I just can't watch at the moment, but despite that I will switch on again in the hope that as a tournament evolves the playeer might get more energised.

Our best result was today. We did not play and yet impressively we are into the knock out stages!! (Sorry Scotland)

[talkSAFT]

I really enjoyed last night's match (Georgia v Portugal). Georgia seem capable of beating anyone, and I wouldn't mind too much if they beat England in the Final!!!
How sad to see poor old Ronaldo humiliated (apart from his one great Direct Free Kick)!

[Blue Baggie]

With the knockout stages about to start the tournament can begin. It's either win or go home time.
Southgate will be remembered for his safety at all cost approach. Good qualifying plan, but alas it doesn't win tournaments.

[Salopbaggie]

What utter rubbish so far these are big money players, they don't look like they could make our starting 11 yet. 1-0 down as I type. These players are quality so you have to assume its the tactics.

[talkSAFT]

I can't believe it, but in the 2nd half I was really hoping we'd get beat so I wouldn't have to watch them again, and they'd all come home in disgrace. (But in the 95th minute I went barmy......... and I can't wait for Switzerland!!)

Even Jude was poor apart from his goal. Just reading yesterday he was brought up in Dudley.....anyone know if he's a Baggie, or a Dingle?

[BaggieSteve]

For me, the excitement of the couple of minutes either side of the end of full time masks the paucity of the rest of the performance. As others have said, these are individually good, some even excellent, players so why the desperately bad team performance. I can only assume it's down to the tactics of the coach, who seems keen to put players into their less than optimum position for the sake of accommodating them into the team. I like Southgate as a person, I think he has a lot of integrity and decency but, as a tactician, I think he is severely lacking. Is it completely unfair to say that England's "success" under him (we haven't actually won anything) is despite and not because of him?

Having said all that, I've no idea who could replace him. Perhaps Josh has some ideas on overseas coaches whom he thinks could fit the bill.

[talkSAFT]

I enjoyed watching Ronaldo's tears last night.

(Pity, though, his tears weren't an apology to his team-mates, but self-sympathy. I bet Messi was laughing his head off. )