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I agree with you, Guardiola and that Vincente Del Bosque Spain are/were practitioners of the ‘active defensive’ style. Which is that they defend with the ball, as opposed to attacking with it. I feel Guardiola has relented a little from this style but it’s still there as the current philosophical identity of modern football. You see this expressed even by Southgate’s England, it’s the aversion to risk and maximising control. 2010 Spain was horrendous compared to 2008 and 2012, the later a more aggressive expression from Del Bosque. Lacking a CF they had to rely being more aggressive than opportunistic. I still vividly remember the fullbacks eviscerating Italy in the final.

Get fucked, Le Pen.

Brazil 2002. Don’t think they cared too much and nobody, not even Germany, has the footballing pedigree of Brazil.

No, any country that has a deeper history and pedigree than Australia that plays like England and France are this tournament, I think are bringing shame to their football culture and history. I am hardline on this, and I know what coaches and managers throughout history agree with me, this isn’t some flippant ‘fuck England’ statement, this is an ideologically purity that I believe in from grassroots to professional international. I understand why people in club football accept the negativity as the existence of a club is held at ransoms to money, but this isn’t true at all for international and international teams should strive to play at a high level that goes beyond simply getting a trophy.

But in the Euros Kane hasn't started as a striker. He's been in the CB position for most of it.

You literally have a top four team in terms of talent but play like a bottom team afraid of relegation. It’s pathetic. Same with France.

Na, I'd rather break down with them.

@Tommy @El Profesor. @Machado @Rucksackfranzose. I think you should cheer on England in this tournament. Just because the @Spike and @Devil-Dick Willie breakdown will be epic if we somehow win it

I don't know why I tagged you mate I was pissed at the time

Same

@Bluebird Hewitt @Viva la FCB @Spike @RandoEFC @Redcanuck @Rucksackfranzose @Bluewolf @Coma @Tommy @Devil @Michael @JoshBRFC @Lucas @Pyfish @LFCMike @OrangeKhrush @MUFC @Dan @6666 @Beelzebub @Panflute @Pep Talk @londonerlilie @The Palace Fan @CaaC (John)

That and the rise in data has made football far worse as a spectacle to watch.

I’ve watched bits and pieces of games, I’ve watched one full game in the whole tournament, and while the public opinion and media is going to be about Gareth Southgate and England, the entertainment value throughout the tournament has been virtually zero. Eighteen draws across the board, thirteen in the groups, seven 1-0’s and twenty-eight games with two or fewer goals scored. Football is very dull these days.

Bit harsh. Guehi was suspended.

Ronaldo never really had a signature moment in an international competition. I wouldn't count the hat-trick against Spain in 2018 as such, considering it was a group stage match and that Portugal ended up being eliminated to a mediocre Uruguay. But I agree with the notion that Ronaldo made the Portugal NT and portuguese football as a whole bigger and more important. It was the Figo generation that put Portugal back on the football map, that 2000 side was a joy to watch by the way On the other hand though, it's impossible to deny that Ronaldo made the portuguese national team a huge deal globally and gave it a different status. To sum up, Ronaldo's record at international is kinda disappointing but he still belongs in the Mount Rushmore of portuguese football, all things considered.

I'm baffled that they had Jeff Jarrett lose in the first round of the Owen Hart after he gave the most emotive promo we will see in a very long time, but this is the wrong thread.