Dave

Indeed he is! Good signing for them.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1806397367303753992?t=TjIuDLFMDBa7QWLHvDXpjg&s=31

Spain Kylian Mbappe 24th Minute

None of us making three rounds is absolutely hilarious.

Wtf.

Funnily enough I think going 4-3-3 so we play similar out of possession to Spain might be the way forwards. Three average sides have just put there wide center backs out very wide in possession to confuse us on who to press on. We wouldn't have that issue in a 4-3-3. That would probably mean dropping Bellingham given he's the only one that doesn't play in a 4-3-3 for his club. Which, judging by his body language against Slovenia, may not be a bad thing.

It should be a close game this. Italy are well organised but haven't kept a clean sheet and not of the midfielders or attackers have had a stand put tournament. Switzerland on the other hand lack the star power on paper but are well organised and have been playing above perceived ability levels. If there's an 'upset' it's probably here.

This is the game I'm looking forward to watching the most as a neutral given how Georgia have played against Turkey and Portugal. Not sure how Spain will play given how different they set up in and out of possession against Croatia and Italy, which adds to the intrigue really. If Spain win this convincingly then you'd have to want whoever gets through out of them and Germany to win the thing if you're not playing them in the final. It would be a criminal offence if one of the teams on our bracket ends up winning the whole thing at present.

Fourth chance for Southgate to get the country on side. All it will takes is one convincing victory. I imagine Slovakia will not play to dissimilar to how they set up against Belgium, which worries me a little as I wonder whether we'd be more suited to play against sides that like to keep possession. Nethertheless we should have enough 'star power' to get through, I'm going for a pragmatic 1-0 which wont get the nation fired up.

Whilst I expect Germany to win despite the injuries in defence I am more interested to see what kind of fight Denmark put up. Will there three at the back and combative midfielders be hard to get past and Germany win by the odd Fullkrug goal? Or will Musiala, Wentz, Gundogan and Havertz run riot early and we have to concede that the standard of attacking quality in Group C was Championship level.

Wasn't being touchy. Just speaking the language of facts. You think it's a joke that Mainoo doesn't start. At the same time you think Eze is too untested, even though he has similar experience to Mainoo at international level. You also think Bowen isn't at the level, even though he's played for a side that's finished higher than 8th on more than one occasion, unlike Mainoo. If you can't understand those points, then, well, that's on you.

I bet Ronaldo didnt expect this when he opened a football academy in Georgia ten years ago.

Mamardashvilli robbing me of the perfect score here.

It's just based on quality of chance creation. So every penalty will be something like 0.8 and you get players like Messi and Vardy who did regularly outscore there xG season upon season.

Amazing they didn't voluntarily resign from the tournament after that. Embarrassing and pathetic.

Man United finished 8th. West Ham finished 9th. Crystal Palace finished 10th. Both teams also beat Manchester United last season. Crystal Palace did it twice, with a 4-0 victory without having to move to second gear. Its not the 90's anymore. The gap between the three of them is not as big as you think.

This is a great sign. Defensively minded teams often win tournaments and we have the quality upfront to create a moment of magic to beat anybody. This, along with us avoiding the best five teams to the final, just strengthens my belief it's coming home.