EURO 2012

oh lol

i think you need to beat the game all the way through before you can unlock Iniesta and he finally becomes playable.

even putting aside my hatred of the term, i don't think you can just dole out "unplayable" in a closely fought game like that. He was very good obviously

“The pitch is a disaster,” said Fabregas. “It’s lamentable to play on a pitch like that. We deserved a lot more. It’s lamentable that we still have to play on pitches like that.”
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The Spanish insisted they had been assured the surface would be watered for more than an hour before kick-off, but questioned whether this had happened.
Although Spain eventually created enough chances to win the match, they only found a cutting edge when Torres was belatedly introduced.
Worryingly for the tournament favourites, Italy found a way to cut them open when they broke with speed, often catching the Spanish with too few defenders to cope with their attackers.
However, both Spain’s playmakers, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, also rounded on groundstaff for failing to prepare a playing surface that suited their style of play.
“The fact they didn’t water the pitch compromised us and our dynamic and fluid passing game,” said Xavi, who could not get the better of opposite number, Andrea Pirlo, for long periods. Although it rained heavily in Gdansk on Saturday afternoon, Iniesta added: “To see the pitch in this condition was a disaster. It was super dry and that makes passing the ball difficult.”

Oh diddums for poor Spain

hope st ledger tells them to be men

the pitch was crap tbf, and I think they play all 3 of their group games there so tough luck bros.

Love Xavi obviously but every time he opens his mouth it is unintentionally hilarious at the moment.

This fluid passing game sounds like something they should keep to themselves tbh

Spain really impressed me the way they stepped things up hugely after conceding. I've got so used to Barcelona refusing to deviate from the true path that I was expecting Spain to just carry on like they'd been doing, and lose. That said, I don't really know what changed - Torres brought huge (potential) benefits imo but it wasn't that I don't think, and Iniesta was superb but he'd been superb all game.

I think Navas made a difference when he came on too.

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/901623-euro-2012-tickets-on-sale-for-just-14-as-england-fans-avoid-ukraine

put off by the high cost of travel and accommodation /racial tensions and political unrest or just don't want to watch a bunch of incompetent thugs led by a weak as piss-water manager?

true, the team's never been like that before

i recall the team's been favourites to win the tournament every single tournament up until now.

Best fans in the world so long as they can combine it with a nice pleasant holiday.

cost of accomodation/travel surely off-set by 59p a pint?

wldn't piss-water be quite strong?

I think there's probably a perception that getting around Ukraine would be a logistical nightmare, which isn't really true.

people must have thought it was the UK by mistake.

*insert your own terrible UK rain pun here*

the reign of spain fell lamely in ukraine

“The pitch is a disaster,” said Fabregas. “It’s lamentable to play on a pitch like that. We deserved a lot more. It’s lamentable that we still have to play on pitches like that.”

My heart bleeds

the reign of spain fell lamely in ukraine

next-level

Ox to start. Makes things a little more interesting

Yeah, one more Arsenal player to fall flat on his arse

Hart; Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole; Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Young; Welbeck

It's Milner that raises eyebrows there, when did he last play in central midfield?

john terry is losing his influence on the team

Milner is playing right wing

lol

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556637_10150837888036886_1969500608_n.jpg

Milner will be sitting deep somewhere near Parker, or France could overwhelm that midfield

So it's a 4-4-2 rather than a 4-3-3/4-5-1? With Young upfront?

That's what i reckon. I'm assuming Milner is there to protect Glen Johnson

Have to play Young upfront, gives him the chance to dive in more beneficial areas

The trouble with that midfield imo is that Gerrard and The Ox both like to wander; unless they're disciplined, Milner is going to be drawn across, exposing Johnson to Ribery. An alternative of England camping narrow and conceding the wings doesn't seem like a great idea with Benzema up front.

felt certain woy'd go with carroll to try and beast mexes and rami, mildly impressed though unconvinced

i didnt really watch the friendlies, was it flat four in midfield for those? conceding the wings (of what wings the french even have) seems much preferable to being overrun centrally imo

http://euro-2012.sport24.com/football/euro-2012/journal-de-l-euro/actualites/pourquoi-l-angleterre-est-une-petite-nation-de-football-561341

lol

in that Given pic, it looks like he's about to give a Rutger Hauer type speech about 'seeing things you people wouldn't believe'

«Calamity» James

haw-haw-haw

Opinion on Torres divided in a pub yesterday between "useless cunt who misses chance after chance after chance" and "guy who turned the game by giving Spain a cutting edge and helped create a number of chances" - I was firmly in both camps.

Extended highlights of Brazil vs Argentina was the best thing I watched all day.

that's a pretty attacking England line-up, i think Blanc's sledging might've gotten to Woy

Carra dissapointly not mentioning the exclusion of Carroll from the line-up.

Carra's brilliantly positively English here. I expect him to nut Vieira in a bit.

'arry should've done commentary on all Eng games. I, for one, am disappointed the arrangements could not be made.

What's it going to be Britishers?

I filled in a 1-1 at half-time, 3-1 win for France.

(so you know, that won't be it)

england get their traditional opening goal early doors, then demoralising outplayed draw or 3-1 slump

a non-regular on the footy threads asks; how comes the England game isn't on the BBC?

they take it in turns with ITV

at least until the quarter fi...no, i can't do that with a straight face