If we go 5 at the back a 2 of Rice and Phillips runs the risk of getting overrun I agreeI think our midfield face a mammoth task
We have the ability to score, our defence is strong, we have more depth in the squad, midfield is where we match up the weakest imho
If we go 5 at the back a 2 of Rice and Phillips runs the risk of getting overrun I agree
Yeah they’ve got to think about the game, not the occasion. But surely the most professional of professionals can’t block it out entirely, there has to be at least a hint of shitting it.
Just to get everyone in the mood
yea…wasnt talkin bout scotlandThat doesn't work the same in Scotland. I see more kids wearing English PL shirts than Celtic or Rangers or even Scotland.
I saw a video of the coach leaving St George’s Park, one of the players took it, they seemed in shock at the amount of people lining the streets waving them off. Didn’t like it, didn’t want it all being built up so much.
Then again these are trained professionals, you’ve got to hope they know how to deal with it.
Italy likely to start with full backs of Di Lorenzo and Emerson. Our wingers are key to winning.
That's how I see it. Flanks will be key.
It's going to be a tough game, but I back us to win the game. Personally, I feel like we have the defence to keep Italy at arms length as Austria did and our double pivot is key to this as Rice will slot in for Shaw when he attacks and Phillips will need to harass Veratti when he's on the ball. We've got the pace out wide to really hurt their defence and we have the strength in depth to keep our ranks fresher than theirs. We need to keep calm and not make any silly mistakes as we have done along the way to the final. Pickford, Stones et al just need to play the ball long in the wide channels if they're in any danger of misplacing a pass.
Key individual battles we need to win:
Walker v Insigne
Mount v Jorginho
Sterling v Bonucci/Chiellini
Phillips v Veratti
Southgate v Mancini
I fancy us to win win 2-0 or 2-1 (AET).
CO'MON ENGLAND!!!
Saka will need to put a lot of pressure on the Emerson/Chiellini channel, the former who is half the player Spinazzola who didn't really make an impact against Spain.
Saka will play a key defensive role too.
Andif they don't then Rice or Phillips are going to have to get across and support either Shaw or Walker depending on which flank they're cominging down. Key battles.
Spinazzola a big miss for the Italians
Enjoying first spritz Campari of the day by the pool
I'm confident that Mount will do a good job of nullifying Jorginho and that is key because we don't want to have a repeat performance of 2012 where Pirlo controlled everything from deep.
Italy/Spain have the best midfield in the competition, but I am confident we can nullify them.
Exactly what MR did for us before the playoff final.Sky sports is embarrassing. Players getting messages from their family, anyone wanna let them know they’ve won fuck all yet
Him and Mount is going to be the battle of the game I think.This is the big problem I think- Jorginho dominating midfield
Exactly what MR did for us before the playoff final.
Him and Mount is going to be the battle of the game I think.
Sky sports is embarrassing. Players getting messages from their family, anyone wanna let them know they’ve won fuck all yet
We need to keep our cool if we get into a rhythm and they get disruptive. They’re going to try and do whatever it takes to stop us playing our game. We need to just relax, take that time to get a breather and go at them again.
They’ve almost certainly identified Maguire as someone they can wind up relatively easily.Definitely. Cold look at things and I think we have the edge aside from midfield, and the ingrained Italian mentality of winning at all costs, which isn’t as big an advantage now Southgate has them drilled to almost be the same. Years gone by we’d have approached this by just going at them and walked right into their trap, can’t see that now.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we see some attempts to put Pickford under pressure too, they must have seen how wild he got v Denmark. If I was them I’d be firing in a few early shots and test him
They’ve almost certainly identified Maguire as someone they can wind up relatively easily.
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