The Best Team Won
Day 22 – Sunday 11th
July – The Final
55 years of hurt, apparently.
I wouldn’t actually say that hurt is the right word, I’d say it’s been 55 years
of being resigned to England royally screwing up at some point. I don’t think
I’ve ever, in that 55 years (and I’ve lived through 52 of them) actually
expected England to win anything. We could’ve won in 1990 and we probably
should’ve won in1996. Other than that
we’ve either had managers who have squandered very good generations of
footballers and underachieved or we’ve just not been very good or alternatively,
we’ve had players who have been good enough but have been so ego driven, it was
more about them as individuals than the team. Yes, that’s you I’m looking at
Rio, Frank, Stevie.
England of course have grown as the tournament has gone on, Gareth Southgate has silenced his doubters so far because of results and of course, we have home advantage in the final. It’s that against a 33 match unbeaten run for the Italians. Play the game and not the occasion is going to be a huge thing this evening. The Italians, with the experience they have got in their side, should be fine on that score but they do have a couple of hot-headed players, like Veratti who always seems to walk the disciplinary tight rope.
News from the England camp is that Phil Foden his struggling with an injury which is bad news without being a game changer. It just means we have one less good option to come off of the bench should we need a goal.
I’ve been pondering the reputation of England with other countries since the semi-final, whilst looking at a map of the British Isles with Scotland being retitled North Italy, Wales West Italy and Ireland as Far Western Italy. All good clean fun and so was the picture on the front of the Scottish newspaper with Roberto Mancini photoshopped onto a picture of Braveheart. I actually get annoyed with English supporters saying “why don’t you support us after you’ve gone out, we always support you“. Firstly, I absolutely do not support them, in the same way that I don’t support Portsmouth when Saints have been knocked out of the FA Cup and they are still in it. Secondly, why do we care? Do we need other supporters from other countries? I don’t think we do – actually we could do with some of the well behaved ones to replace some of our dickheads and more on that later. As a postscript, I used to work in Ireland and it always amused me when I would watch a Manchester United game in a pub in the Champions League and the Irish were singing Rooney’s praises but the following week when he was playing for England, he was any four letter word that you like.
Today marks the end of a tournament that was always going to have an element of rubbish about it, a) because of Covid b) because of staging it in multiple non-neighbouring countries and c) the 24 team format.
It’s worth remembering that this was the brainchild of Frenchman Michel Platini who, in his final act before he went to prison, gave the casting vote to make France the single host in 2016 and then came up with this monstrosity for 2020. Travel distances were always going to be a nightmare in non-neighbouring countries, especially when one of them is Azerbaijan. Still, I’m sure that the Platini pension pot is quite healthy.
As far as the 24 team format is concerned, it tends to get forgotten when we’ve had a few weeks of knockout games that have all meant something but having four third place teams getting through the groups is rubbish. The ideal size for the Euros is 16 teams but it is of course much more likely to be expanded to 32 than to go back to 16.
Back to today and in the build up to the kick-off there are reports filtering through of England fans acting like complete knobheads in the streets but also storming the turnstiles and breaking into the ground. These people are beyond contempt really. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody but apparently it was to the organisers, who didn’t have the requisite security in place around the ground.
The teams have been announced with Italy unchanged and England switching to 3 at the back with Trippier coming into the side instead of Saka. This is the same formation as when we played against Germany but in that game we had Saka instead of Mount. Therefore, there is some big pressure on Mason Mount to provide some dynamism and thrust down the wing and to be honest, I’m not sure about that selection.
The game starts with a wobble as Maguire needlessly passes the ball out for an Italian corner but from it we spring forward through Shaw, infield to Kane and he switchea the ball out wide to Trippier in oceans of space. Trippier gets his head up and superbly picks out Luke Shaw galloping into the box and he smashes it first time on the half volley against the inside of the post and past Donnarumma before he can move. Two minutes, 1-0 to England, fucking hell, what a start.
The Italians look shellshocked and can’t handle England’s
shape. Italy play in a narrow 4-3-3 formation and they all seem to be arguing
with each other as to who should get out and mark the wing-backs. It takes them
about 10 minutes to sort it out and slowly the Italians start coming into the
game. England are closing down relentlessly though, with Rice and Phillips
constantly getting to the Italian players. Predictably, England are already
struggling to do anything at the top end of the pitch with Kane dropping deep
to try and get involved and Sterling chasing lost causes. Mount meanwhile is
struggling to have any meaningful touches of the ball.
Italy haven’t created much but you can tell that they have
now taken over as the better side. Chiesa picks up the ball in midfield and
bundles his way past Declan Rice before shooting just wide from the edge of the
box. We need to wrestle back some of the initiative and most of our good play
is coming down the left-hand side through Luke Shaw but it’s somewhat telling
that he gets down the line and gets in a cross which flashes across the penalty
area and we don’t have a single player in the box.
Half time and 1-0 up. Overall it’s been a good half but one
thing is certain, we can’t play as we have done in the last 20 minutes and
expect to still be in front when the final whistle goes. There has to be some
sort of tactical tweak to make Italy have to think again. The tide is
definitely turning and whilst we still have our heads above water, our feet are
getting wet.
Chiellini has spent the build-up to this game, shithousing
anyone that will listen about Sterling going to ground too easily and I’m not
saying it influenced the referee but what I am saying is that he was right, as
Sterling tries to burst in between him and Bonucci and hits the deck. Bjorn
Kuipers, the excellent Dutch referee is having absolutely nothing to do with it.
Mancini makes his changes and takes off Immobile, who has
been absolutely shite. Chiesa is now on the left with Insigne in the middle and
this gives us a different kind of problem. Chiesa has a shot from a narrow
angle which Pickford pushes away and then the same player cuts across the top
of the penalty area and in on his right foot, hammering it goalward, forcing
Pickford to get down well to save again.
There is brief respite as John Stones heads over from a Shaw
corner but we are largely now, defending in our own half with Italy passing the
ball about, totally in control. When we get it, we usually then just smash it
up the pitch and the whole process starts again.
On 68 minutes, the inevitable happens. The corner comes in
from our left, it’s flicked on at the near past, Veratti, all 5 foot 5 of him,
wins a header against Mount and heads it goalward, Pickford pulls off an
unbelievable save to tip it onto the post but can do nothing as it rolls out
and there is Bonucci to knock it into the net. Bollocks.
Southgate immediately makes a change with the back five being
abandoned with Trippier going off and Saka coming on. Not long afterwards,
Henderson is on the excellent Declan Rice. There is no immediate improvement
and no pressure on the ball and Bonucci is allowed to get his head up and play
a ball over our entire team which is met by Berardi it was very unfortunate to
fire over the bar as Pickford came flying out.
Saka is having very limited success down are right and side
button one occasion he does get away from Chiellini who grabs the back of a
shirt and throws him to the ground. It’s so cynical it’s almost funny.
Into extra time we go and Southgate finally makes the change
that should’ve made about half an hour ago with Mount being replaced with
Grealish. England immediately start looking slightly more positive and getting
on the ball and Phillips shoots a couple of yards wide from the edge of the box
after a Shaw corner is cleared out to him.
Italy have a couple more chances with Bernardeschi beating
Walker and putting have a really dangerous cross which Pickford manages to
clear whilst looking the wrong way but he has to look the right way as extra
time winds down as Italy get a freekick about 30 yards out and Bernardeschi
clears the wall but luckily, it straight down Pickford’s throat.
Jorginho then puts in a challenge on Grealish which would’ve
got him sent off in the Premier League and with penalties looming, we could
certainly have done with him getting sent off but as as is the norm in this
tournament, the referee is lenient.
There is one last chance for England as a Grealish
shot is blocked, Kane crosses and Stones gets across in front of Donnarumma but
can’t get a touch. As we reach the last minute, Southgate makes two
substitutions for penalties with Rashford and Sancho coming on four Walker and
Henderson. Being substituted is actually Henderson‘s biggest contribution to
the game since he came on. Somewhat alarmingly, the board goes up and we still
have five minutes left to play and so we have Marcus Rashford playing at right
back and having to put tackles in. Luckily, we reach the end and now for the
penalty shoot-out that I am not remotely confident for. Harry Kane wins the
first toss to choose ends and Chiellini wins the second one to go first. Chiellini doesn’t try any of the games he
tried with Spain in the semi-final.
Here we go…
Berardi - Wouldn’t it be nice if they missed the first one?
Wouldn’t it be nice if one of them does a Graziano Pelle and chips it
pathetically wide…. Goal, comfortably, maybe later. 1-0
Kane - Bloody hell Donnarumma looks an absolutely massive unit.
Just hit it properly Harry, please… Bang, brilliant pen. Doesn’t matter how big
you are or if you go the right way or not, you’re not saving that one. 1-1
Belotti - got to have a chance here. If he can’t get in the
team ahead of Immobile, he can’t be that good, miss it you fucker…. saved
Pickford. What a shite penalty. 1-1
Maguire - seriously? Maguire does know he’s not allowed to head it doesn’t he? Don’t head it… Bang, top bins, fucking hell what a penalty. Come on! 1-2
Bonucci - Well he’s not going to miss, he just isn’t… Bollocks, Pickford has gone the right way but he’s just chipped it over him. 2-2
Rashford - not very confident I have to admit, here goes, stutter, stutter, stop, time stands still, keeper goes right, Rashford left… hit the post, fuck! 2-2
Bernadeschi - he’s very average, Come on Jordan…fuck it, straight down the middle 3-2
Sancho - confident lad, come on, stutter, stutter, Donnarumma saves easily, fucking hell. 3-2
Jorginho - this is to win it then…oh this bastard is never gonna miss is he…. Hop step jump wanker… no problem says Jordan, I hope you’re right son… What a fucking save, arise Sir Pickford. 3-2. One more for sudden death.
Saka - what the fuck are we sending him up for and not Sterling… Oh shit, why do left footers always look dodgy on penalties?… easy save, fuck.
My first thought was that there was going to be loads of
racist abuse on Rashford, Sancho and Saka’s social media. It is depressing that
it is the first thing you think of now.
In the immediate aftermath of the defeat there were several
things going through my mind. First of all, why the fuck do we have a
19-year-old kid taking the pressure fifth penalty. Raheem Sterling was still on
the pitch and I would’ve had Saka behind Grealish, Phillips and Shaw. I don’t
blame anyone who actually took a penalty and had the guts to do so, for missing
but I have to question the penalty techniques of Rashford and Sancho. If that
is how you always take your pens and you take them regularly then fair enough
but if you’re going to completely stop as you run up to the ball then it is
going to look horrifically bad if you miss.
Italy deserved to win over 120 minutes, no question about
that. They kept the ball for long periods of time and when England got it, we
just banged it forward and gave the ball back to the Italians every time. No
wonder we were knackered. We did well to get to penalties in truth.
The manager has got more or less everything right and got us
into the major final of a tournament for the first time since 1966 so you
cannot criticising too much but as you’d expect, I’m going to. If you forget
about the rest of the tournament and just look at this game in isolation, I’m
afraid Gareth Southgate got it horribly wrong.
It started with the team selection. The last time we played
this formation was against Germany when the front three contained both Saka and
Sterling so we had some pace. Leaving Saka out and leaving Mount in the team
meant that most of the time, there was no way of stretching the Italian ageing
defence, especially when the wingbacks weren’t able to get forward and we did
end up with the 7–0-3 formation which just let the Italians have the ball and
pass us to death. Actually it was
7-1-1 with Kane dropping into midfield and Mount being nowhere.
The substitutions were a nightmare - Why was Jack Grealish
only given 25 minutes to try and win that game for England. Mason Mount was
having an absolute stinker and was barely finding an England player with any
pass and also, was offering nothing defensively. That substitution should’ve
been made as soon as Italy scored. Declan Rice was having a fantastic game in
the centre of midfield and though he was admittedly tiring, replacing him with
Jordan Henderson just made us worse. Henderson has done okay in the games where
he has appeared in this tournament but his lack of match practice looked
apparent straight away today as he struggled to get with the pace of the game.
Okay, it was unfortunate that the two lads who were brought on to take
penalties both missed but Henderson and Walker were replaced five minutes from
the end of a second period of extra time. Can you imagine the nightmare if we
had let in a goal before that and not even got to penalties with Rashford
playing at right back?
Our wingbacks surprised them initially as the Italian back
four wants to play fairly narrow and neither the midfielders or the forwards
seem to know who was supposed to be tracking forward runs from Trippier and
Shaw. They sorted the problem out though by basically keeping the ball in
midfield and passing it which meant that we dropped into a back five and our
wingbacks were kept busy watching Chiesa and Insigne. We had three centre backs
marking Immobile and could’ve done with John Stones stepping into midfield and
helping out Rice and Phillips. Mancini made his changes early to keep the
energy levels up and to sort out problems. Southgate took too long either to
recognise the problems and certainly took too long to correct them. Don’t get me started on the penalty takers…
Overall, this game was so much like the defeat to Croatia in the World Cup Semi-Final 3 years ago. Today as then, we went in front early, allowed the opposition to play themselves back into the game and the control it and pass it around at will and then we got knackered and had nothing to respond with. The only difference really being that we lost that game in extra time and this one on penalties.
The fans, the genuine ones, were magnificent. When you look
at the passionate, well-behaved England fans, there are none better. However,
there are too many England fans who are an absolute fucking nightmare.
Considerable numbers forced their way into the ground yesterday and though it
was played down officially, there are too many eyewitness accounts for it to be
the minimal disturbances alluded to by the official channels. The pictures
emerging from around London, in various squares and meeting places told a sad
story as well. Every country has its idiots but we have more than most. People are saying it will derail any bid for
the World Cup in 2030 – I doubt that.
Next year the World Cup is in Qatar – need I say more. The awarding of that tournament was managed
by Platini’s mate, Sepp Blatter.
So where does this rank in amongst England’s near misses. You
would expect that losing on penalties in a major final would be the worst but
it really isn’t. For me, 1990 was worse, as was 1996. Obviously, I’m older now
but I think that the fact that it was the Italians softens the blow a bit in my
book. Losing to Germany om 90 and 96 was worse and at least we put that one
right in this tournament.
Over the course of the tournament, the attitude of the
players and the manager has been exemplary and you cannot really dislike this
group of players at all. They all seem very down-to-earth and humble, which is
a refreshing change. You only have to look at the pundits in the studio, who were
in the main, part of Sven’s failed golden generation, to remember what it used
to be like. Let’s hope that we can continue to improve under Southgate and
become more progressive and use more of the attacking players that we have at
our disposal. There of course have been the knee-jerk calls for Southgate to be
sacked after one bad game. That would be madness, which we only lost on
penalties. Statistically, he is the best England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.
He has had two tournaments which have brought a semi-final and final. I do
question whether he he’s just too cautious to ever get us over the line but he
deserves another opportunity at least and it is after all, only just over a
year away.
Also, can we put that fucking song to bed now? It’s not coming
home. As Leonardo Bonucci yelled down the camera, it’s coming to Rome.
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