Dr. Gonzo

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

Look mate I’m not advocating the way we’re going to play. Southgate was basically a failed club manager that got a second chance as the England U21 manager and after the many failures at England manager he’s been the best at getting results from England. I think his tactics are at best abysmal and at worst totally fucking clueless. But at the same time this dogshit football is getting us further in the knockouts than we typically get in international football. But it’s international football, it’s not the first time I’ve seen the most cowardly tactics work well or even lead to wins. So it’s not exactly new and I think some of the people who seem wound up by it are being a bit weird just because it’s England.

Think it’s a bit different when you’re being paid to win a trophy for a country that’s only ever won 1 a trophy but wants to always compete. Most countries going to the World Cup just want to give their best, knowing that they’re likely getting bounced out of the tournament by the countries that have the long and rich football heritage. But those other countries are going into these tournament wanting to win at all costs.

What? We’re still in the tournament? I’m not saying we’re going to win. But honestly it’s not like we’re the only underperforming big side. Weren’t France favourites? They’ve been worse than us and are in the same position as us but weirdly don’t get the same hostility to the dogshit football.

I don’t think many Portuguese or Greek people gave too much of a fuck when they shithoused their way to Euro wins. England are perennial underperformed in international football. So ugly wins are welcome if they lead us to success. I’d find Southgate to be a lot less irritating if he’d be willing to drop players that have been embarrassingly poor (Foden) for players that clearly fit this shit system better (Palmer). Or if he didn’t hate Trent.

Not as embarrassing as getting knocked out though.

It’s international football, it’s not high quality football to begin with. Club football’s where the quality is. International football’s just for nationalism.

I hate Southgate’s tactics, I think he’s a coward and very lucky. But if he wins something with this football terrorism, I’m okay with it. We’ve had glorious failures before, they’re not that great. I’d happily take some ugly shameless winners.

But does France get the same ire for the same exact circumstances?

Yeah except Sven’s era as England manager at least produced some football that wasn’t so fucking rubbish to sit through.

He’s genuinely been worthless in the tournament, yet he keeps starting because Southgate has ideas but none of them are very good.

Kane is a shit captain

Grabbing your cock doesn’t merit a suspension the same way overtly supporting an extremist group does.

Demiral displaying his support of the grey wolves, a fascist extremist group, takes some of the shine off Turkey’s win & he should be punished for it. Nobody would be okay with a player doing a Nazi salute after a win.

Best game of the tournament so far. Shame Austria went out as I really like the way they play. Can't say the same of a lot of other countries left in the tournament.

Germany averages about 19 days of rainfall in July, averaging about 8.38cm of rainfall.

Unpacking takes fucking ages and I hate it. I moved in over a year ago and I think I've still got 2 boxes in the garage I just haven't been arsed to unpack. Probably should just unpack them and sell whatevers inside, because clearly it's not shit I ever need or use lol.

Tbf we've hardly ever played Gakpo on the left, which seems to be his best position. Maybe with Slot we'll see him get a run out on the left over Diaz. Nunez at Uruguay makes sense, the side there is built for him being the main man - with us he's just another cog in our machine.

Took a while, but that 2nd goal finally came.

Goes with all music really. All entertainment even. No point in getting pissed off about a popstar's music, or a TV show you don't like, etc., nobody is forcing anyone to listen/watch. Unless you're at the shops or something and it's playing over a speaker, in which case... if it gets you that upset, go seek therapy lol. I don't really like pop music for the most part, I don't seek it out, if I've heard any of her songs... I legitimately don't know if it was her or not lol. But I'm not gonna be upset she's popular and making music I like because that's stupid and it would be boring if we all had to like all the same things. Life's short, pop culture's so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I don't know why so people have to get so weird about it when they can just keep living their lives and listening to whatever they want and avoid the shit they don't want.

Hopefully Gakpo can take this sort of form back to us.

The latest supreme court decision is a head scratcher too. A president can now commit crimes as long as they're part of "official acts" but one president says they're not going to use that power and the presidential hopeful is gloating about how he will abuse this power. It's a strange decision because it effectively clears Nixon of all wrongdoing decades after he stepped down because he was going to be impeached for being a criminal. Surveys show it's another unpopular decision with most people, left or right - so it's interesting because I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the US constitution for America to reign in it's supreme court. But they've clearly got to do something about a group of unelected people who hold their position for life that routinely re-write laws of the US on a whim, even when they're deeply unpopular laws with the US electorate. Weird situation where the biggest threat to democracy and rule of law in the US are the people entrusted with protecting democracy and rule of law.

Rather than rely on an old legend now playing his club football in a retirement league, perhaps Portugal should be treating Ronaldo the way Uruguay is treating Suarez. Still a valued member of the squad, but not someone to be relied on for 90+ minutes.

Austria have looked legitimately good, I think they win this

I guess if scoring goals is your weakness, penalty shootouts are awful.