It’s 745 in New York, I’m at the airport thinking about my UK brethren that woke up at 730am this morning and immediately started sinking pints. What a beautiful mess my home country is going to be today, I am gutted I won’t be there for the shame. I’ve never seen England in a final of a competition and I’m nearly 30. Quite wild.
The mural image in the picture was sent to me by Paul (check out his awesome Instagram), what a moment it’s going to be for a player that has truly blown-up onto the world stage in this tournament. He’s one of ours, there’s a small chance he starts tonight, what an unbelievable experience for him. He has everything, he’s a straight-A student, god-fearing, extremely humble, and everyone who works with him seems to love him. It is such a treat that Arsenal has a player with his technical gifts. Someone is going to need to give Jack Grealish break-up counselling when this is all over… the bromance is strong.
The game tonight is the one everyone wanted to see. The Italian’s have been sensational for the most part of it. Direct, fast, aggressive and spectacular at times. Roberto Mancini has put himself back on the map, he’s reinvented Italian football, but this is where the journey has to end.
Gareth Southgate has been on a similar journey. No one believed in him, but he reinvented the way English people look at football. He didn’t answer the question: How can I put all the shiny pieces in the same side. He built a team that could do the job. We control games, we’re patient, we knock the ball around like Spain when we want to, and we have the class to finish games at any point. We’ve conceded one goal all tournament with Jordan Pickford in goal. That is so impressive.
I really hope we can win it at Wembley. My first big football memory was that Germany semi-final way back when. My first non-Arsenal game was Turkey vs Wembley with my uncle in the early 90s. To go back to there with the man that missed the important spot-kick and win would really be a story for the ages.
It’ll be a tough game though, Italy are deadly all over the pitch. This game though is the one we all wanted. I have no idea what is going to happen, let’s just hope it’s a cracker and we’re lifting the trophy come the end of the game.
Also… those people that put on Twitter, ‘I’m English, but I really struggle to support our country’ need to get in the bin. I don’t mean to be childish, but you don’t have friends if you are writing things like that on the internet.
Onto a bit of Arsenal.
The James Maddison rumours are revving up to white-hot. The ITK rumour mill has Arsenal offering him a shit ton of money. The whispers I’m hearing are that the player wants the move, Leicester absolutely do not want to sell, and the fee will have to hit £70m.
YIKES.
Will this be like buying property in London? Extremely hard to swallow, but long-term, the right move. Or will it be like buying a timeshare to Monte Carlo from Gary down the Masons? Painful and more painful.
It’s an interesting move. Leicester were a top 4 side pushing for the title until Maddison picked up an injury. He’s created the 2nd most chances in the league behind KDB since he made his debut in 2018. He immediately addresses our creativity problem. There’s a lot of chat that his open play creativity doesn’t really match up to the big dogs, which is a fair call… but one of our biggest challenges last season was creating from setpieces. If you have someone that can provide like Beckham, you are in a great place. I don’t think there’s any way around it, he’s a very good player we lack, he’s in the top percentile categories you want him to be in, and he’s been very specifically working on the goals side of his game.
£70m is well expensive though.
Still, you have to thumb through what Arsenal are trying to do here… they’re trying to shortcut top 4 again, but this time with a younger profile of player. Maddison is 24-years-old, he’s on the verge of elite, and he’ll 100% hit the ground running. If you are calling Arteta a bum, that means you have no time for him to blood players, this is what you should be smiling about.
There’s the other side of the coin if you want to take more of a risk. Houssem Auouar for £25m seems like an absolute steal. He’s bossed Champions League knockout stages at 20 years old, he is technically outrageous, and he could be world class within a couple of seasons. But… there’s no guarantee he hits the ground running, there are worries about his attitude, and he wasn’t great last season. He feels very Samir Nasri to me, gifted, but a little unpredictable knowing what you’re going to get.
Again, who knows where this is going, but if we’re tapping up Maddison, I refuse to believe someone hasn’t said, ‘Arsenal, he’s going to be fucking expensive.’
I salute the ambition.
Arsenal are going big with the spine, padding out the squad with well-scouted youngsters, with the hope that these additions make the rest of our players infinitely better.
Imagine an attacking line-up with Maddison, ESR, Saka, and Auba. I mean, that is very, very sexy.
Next up should be Lokonga if the media is to be believed. He’s out of isolation and the paperwork is done. Another sharp siging if it works out. I like that Arteta has been getting intel from Vincent Kompany on the player. You know that not only will he get a talent read, he’ll be getting the character download, which I think is just as important based on some of our recent experiences.
Right, enjoy the game, stay safe, don’t put anything on the internet you’ll regret. Do NOT be that meme of the naked guy crowd surfing.
See you in the comments. x
The way Italy dealt with Kane with refs blessing probably led to the victory.
only mcguire’s pen was a real good one. Kanes was finger tips too…
Bad tactics. yes sterling should have taken one.
Saka Im ok with, the kid was brave and I love him for that…he was on for a while so warmed up for that thing.
Rash and Sancho, were not
Jeez, Chellini is 37 next month!! OMG 😲
Useroz
No resale value though!
DissenterJuly 11, 2021 23:05:08 England only reached the final and were within a pubic hair’s width of winning because of Southgate’s pragmatism. — Yeah,but they also had home advantage,in addition to playing almost 4 games at Wembley. All the odds were heavily stacked in their favour Dissenter.. Especially given the talent they were and are stacked with.. GS made a huge tactical blunder in this game.He had a multitude of opportunities to wheel out the big guns in the second half,but settled for penalties for almost 75 minutes(second half-45 minutes and extra time-30 minutes). He sat back on the 1-0… Read more »
I had no team that I was backing tonight. I just wanted to see Saka come out unscathed. Now though it feels like I lost somehow because my only interest in this match lost something.
Italy were technically better and players with superior technique will always look after the ball better. We do have high technical players but most of them were on the bench.. Do we have centre midfielders who can demand the ball in tight areas , probably not, and until we do we will always spend too much of the game chasing shadows.. Let’s not forget that spain outplayed Italy and dominated possession. The other thing I noticed is that we are too nice on the pitch, Italy were ruthless when they didn’t have the ball. If England did break the press,… Read more »
I can understand why a German or Itaklian player may take off a silver medal
But an England player?
This is England’s SECOND final in a major competition in 55 years, what stupidity.
They’ve come closer than everyone who’s played for England since 1966.
Tony Pulis tactics don’t win you international finals – that much is clear.
Yeah not at all a fan of this treating the Runner Up medal like a sack of shit business that has become the latest trend.
United players were all at it vs Villarreal in the aftermath. Only seasoned pros like Matic, Mata and De Gea were above it.
JeffJuly 11, 2021 23:17:47
Tony Pulis tactics don’t win you international finals – that much is clear.
—–
Yep..100%
Marc … we are top dealer in the geriatrics markets!
Dissenter
Italy were the better team because we had all our talent sat on the bench you dense twat.
Grealish, Sancho, Foden sat and watched the final, the former two watched the majority of the tournament. It caught up with the team because you don’t just turn on good football.
Throw out an Arteta red herring as much as you want, he’s not sat picking the best talent afforded to a nation and coming up with 8/11 defensive players.
The management team always prepare for penaties by asking who’s interested.
Whatever admiration I have for Southgate is sullied by having Saka take the 5th penalty.
The best two penalty kickers take the 1st and 5th penalty
There is no way Saka is one of the best two penalty takers in that squad, he’s not invested with that role at club level.
Greece won an international competition with Pulis tactics and Southgate very nearly did.
Pulis tactic were also a great help to Arteta in winning the FA Cup.
You can get away with it over just a number of matches.
WengerEagle. Players (Southgate exempted!) should still be proud and treat it with respect for sporting reasons.
Look at Olympics pedal presentations, it’s top 3 and most look proud and happy!
Ok, some player will flat out say I’m not taking one and that’s an honest approach from someone who’s not a great penalty taker. Also, having offensive minded players like Saka, Sancho and Rashford in the first five isn’t necessarily wrong , but you have to consider the circumstances. Rashford and Sancho were on the pitch all of one minute and Saka in no 5 spot is just too much pressure on someone who doesn’t even take it on the club level, let alone on the biggest stage for the country starved of success but full of expectations. No to… Read more »
We should’ve sold Leno and offered Donaruma the highest contract to any goalie ever … he may have still rejected us but ..
1 shot on target in 120 mins. God awful.
Southgate tried to shithouse Arteta style Vs Man City and Chelsea in the FAC 2020. England had by far the easier games compared to Italy.
Italy were the most accomplished and impressive team in the tourney. Much deserved although it was really close.
This shoot out will mean a lot to Saka. It will either mean he will take it on the chin and continue to be brave or it will mean he will be broken about it. That was th risk I didn’t want. A 19 year old shouldn’t take that much responsibility ahead of experienced pros. Saka didn’t even take penalties for Arsenal. It just makes me mad that Southgate risked it in Saka and Sancho. They needed to be a bit older and experienced to take those penalties. It is fucking disgraceful. Anyway for us the neutrals though, we won’t… Read more »
CC’
Would you rather England play “good” football and play like the Netherlands who get knocked out the first time a defensive team shows up.
I get a you’re still in an acute phase of a loss but pause and remember that England lost out due to penalties.
Dissenter.
Agreed…. even if Saka volunteered and I doubt it.
Shocking decision… who would have guessed?
It’s Euro, not in the States where Saka can take a 5th, literally!!
Southgate rightly taking the blame for having Saka take that pen. I agree, who not Raheem?
Saka should have done better when taking his pen. I really hope Saka kicks on from this.
If I were a Brit, I’d stay fuck away from anyone who attended that match unless you’re wearing a hazmat suit.
Dissenter Playing peak Mourinho/Simeone tactics will only get you so far if you are Gareth Southgate. You call it ‘pragmatic’. Shelving Foden, Sancho and Grealish and opting to squeeze in another defender in Trippier is just being massively over-cautious and giving a good but not great Italy side far too much respect. Not sure how you can defend how he set England up tonight, forget about the pens. They have a far more talented squad than Italy and still opted to play as if they were some obscure minnow with barely a prayer. Who were the terrifying Italians attackers that… Read more »
Seems ppl is mocking Arsenal instead of Saka, because we are a fucking joke as a club. Worldwide jokes about Arsenal, great stuff, thats how low we have fallen.
Thank you Kroenke
How disappointing I agree that England players shouldn’t be rushing to take off their medals straight after getting them. It’s a bit petulant. Have some respect regardless of how disappointed you are Anyway regarding the game. The second half we just struggled a lot. Extra time was fairly even. For the penalties I was hoping we’d have one or two more experienced players in the first 5. Dunno how old rashford is, but sancho and saka are kids and for all their talent and confidence (I still backed them to score) I’d have had sterling or grealish to take of… Read more »
Bit of an under par tournament all round though.
Certain teams being weaker than previous ones was very evident as well as the scatter brain approach to where the games were played.
Not a vintage tournament.
McManaman nailed it in his Southgate assessment
Ishola70July 11, 2021 23:22:44 Greece won an international competition with Pulis tactics and Southgate very nearly did. —– Yeah,but Greece were the sum of their parts.. No excuse can be made for England,stacked with so much more talent… Especially,with England not really travelling as compared to other nations.They travelled once to Rome,playing Ukraine..The rest of the matches were at home. So,they had home advantage.Holland by comparison,were putting in air miles, criss crossing Europe. GS had all the cards stacked in his favour and folded with with a pair of Aces,as the stacked chips were being raised and re-raised. Italy by… Read more »
That’s on Southgate, given a golden opportunity early on, then tried to sit on a lead against a better team, Zero imagination. then sent on two players with a min on the pitch and a kid to take pens. Have never been convinced by Southgate, way too negative tonite, his inner Crystal Palace came out again. Our pen shootout record is dire, and defeats the law of averages. If they want a chance in the WC, Southgate should be sacked tonite, negativity all over , what has Grealish done to him? I would give Wenger a call, at least he… Read more »
Dissenter
You’re being really dense to dismiss the fortune afforded England, massive home advantage and a dream run to the final.
England lost because they never tried to win it, the only vindication you get with that approach is in results. So when you lose the process is due criticism. Even a win would’ve been a mask, but a tolerable one. They didn’t, they lost because they played as underdogs throughout with a squad the winners would envy.
They should add a punishment for removing your medal right Infront of the cameras. It’s pathetic and a horrible sight. Imagine kids asking their parents why are the players removing their medals: “Cause they are sore losers, my boy”
This thing working now??????? Oh good!!! Freaking champions of Europe baby
Italy controlled the game in the first half and they continued in the same way in the second half. In fact lady luck smiled a lot on England during the 90 minutes, especially when Italy’s arguably best player Ghisea went off injured. But even that failed to make any impact on Mr Southgate to compel him to make a positive change. England carried on in the same way thinking that keeping a solid defensive shape all the way to the end and frustrating Italy was somehow going to be sufficient. On paper, I agree with most people, that Italy (man-for-man)… Read more »
phd
“I knew questions would be asked of England when faced with a more tactically astute and technically gifted Italian team.”
I know from your posts that Italy have been your favourite side and they were deserved winners tonight but Spain would have showed up England even more than the Italians tonight because Spain would have just taken control of the ball.
Italy did it enough.
Spain would have done it even more.
Lol a freaking vintave tournament for us alright Ishola!!!
BatistutaJuly 11, 2021 23:34:14
This thing working now??????? Oh good!!! Freaking champions of Europe baby
—
Lol
You must have cleaned up in this tournament-I guess?
Anyway,congratulations in order.
Italy were by far the best team in the tournament.
I don’t think England missed the tactical nous, I just think that they missed central midfielders who can hold the ball and pass the ball forward effectively even under pressure. No disrespect for Declan Rice, Kalvin Philips, Jordan Henderson but in term of quality on and off the ball they are not in the same class than Jorginho, Veratti or any of the other Italian midfielders. I understand why Gareth Southgate decided to play spoiling tactics and it nearly worked perfectly, but I think that this England team is better on the front foot. I hope that this was not… Read more »
“No to pile on but Southgate late game decisions will haunt him for ever.”
Southgate got it wrong before kickoff and then doubled down in it.
CC
Yup
Congrats Bati
Italy looked the real deal from the first kick of the tournament.
Batistuta
Congratulations man. I am sad that you won it because of a Penalty miss from Saka though. Shocking from southgate.
Lest we forget under woy fans were celebrating us merely not losing against average teams Under southgate we have become over 2 consecutive competitions one of the top few teams in the world. This, just like Croatia in the WC is a huge disappointment but let’s give southgate credit where it’s due. Only one team could win. It’s not amazing but it’s a good Italy team that has been unbeaten for absolutely ages and is managed by one of the best international managers around. A team that has some incredibly experienced leaders on the pitch Who in England can compare… Read more »
England started well and were very energetic and hungry looking for the first 15 mins or so. Then Italy started to get hold of the ball more but didn’t do much with it for the rest of the first half. So you can’t kill Southgate for the first half. Where you can kill him is when England came out for the second half and just tried to defend right from the start of that half to the final whistle. Italy actually faded away when Chiesa had to come off and didn’t show the same dominance like they did in extra… Read more »
The best team won it is as simple as that.
Football didn’t come home but my £50 on Italy before the tournament started did!
Batistuta
Are u a freaking American or a freaking Italian ?
Congratulations Bati, enjoy the evening mate it was well deserved throughout. Mancini deserves a lot of respect back in the motherland for daring to alter the approach of old. Excellent stuff
Southgate could take some notes.
Don’t think Italy were in it till they scored
How that window licker Kane can be captain is a joke
He’s been fucking awful all tournament,and was a disgrace today
Bats
“a freaking vintave tournament for us alright”
Congrats Bats
Best team won on the night.
Not sure about Mancini revolutionising Italian football though.
Italy DNA wins tournaments not footballing revolutions.
England mid – Leeds, West Ham.
Italy mid – PSG, Chelsea.
Ishola70July 11, 2021 23:35:03 I know from your posts that Italy have been your favourite side and they were deserved winners tonight but Spain would have showed up England even more than the Italians tonight because Spain would have just taken control of the ball. Italy did it enough. Spain would have done it even more. —— Not so sure about that … Spain for me were defensively vulnerable and not clinical enough in front of goal. Out of the two teams,I’d stack my chips on Italy (a more well rounded unit)to win.Not so on Spain… PS I told my… Read more »
Apparently England have won 2 of 9 of the,last penalty shootouts?
That should be almost impossible at elite level.
I don’t blame the players in this game, they did their best, but surely, there is something a little wrong there 2 of 9?
Southgate got a hell of a lot wrong tonite , he should see Grealish in his nightmares
Ishola
“Safety First”
Yep I said from the start I wasn’t a fan of the negative tactics Southgate plays, England have some real attacking talent but he’s reluctant to play them. When you see the stats, one shot on target says it all. Kane didn’t have a single touch in the opposing penalty area, not one single touch!! This is not to blame him but to highlight the negativity of Southgate.As for the goofball from Pickford, no words.
I’m guessing Pickford has done a demolition job in the dressing room.Blaming all and sundry for the loss.
Pickford cam watch…
Lol
phd
England would have struggled with Spain keeping the ball.
England’s weakness was always going to be against a team that could hold and play the ball in midfield.
Italy showed they could do it.
Spain would have shown this even more.
*hoofball.
Southgate….you can take a man out of Crystal Palace ………
England are just serial losers when its comes to football. This super safe approach was not going to win us a final against Italy.
Noone remembers the lovers in the final.
Winning trophies breeds confidence. Look at the Italians.
The problem with Kane is his leadership is leading by example
Which is fine when you’re banging in 2000 goals and assists a season. But when you’re not playing well and you have no other leadership traits the captaincy becomes a vacuum
I love bukayo ..
Congrats Bati, enjoy the night pal.
losers *
Also phd I didn’t see much lethalness from Italy tonight offensively but they still ended victorious.
I agree that the Spanish are seen as more defensively suspect than Italy but it wouldn’t have mattered.
Spain would have played England off the park.
Congrats Bati
We love you Saka stay strong
Media quote..
ENGLAND MANAGER GARETH Southgate said it was his decision to put teenager Bukayo Saka as his team’s final penalty taker in their shoot-out loss to Italy in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
“That was my decision to give him (Saka) that penalty,” said Southgate, who missed the crucial penalty when England lost in the Euro 96 semi-finals to Germany on home soil.
“We worked with them in training. It was a gamble.”
Sounds like Saka was one of the designated takers during training …
anyway, back to real football at last, Jesus.
Charlie
Thanks mate, said at the start i loved the fact no one was looking at us as favourites and yes Mancini is like a god over here right now.
A very sad night..
Eagle and Leftside
Thanks guys.
Such a high considering we literally didnt even qualify for the last world cup
Congrats bati
For us English it’s easier to take when we are just trash like usual. But for us to be a couple of penalties from a trophy? Damn this hurt much more
Give Wenger a go with England, he wouldn’t hold Grealish back
Bring back Woy
Those were the good old days when there was no reason to give a fuck lol
Mancini surprised a lot of people including me. Phenomenal work to make the catenaccio inventors play total football.
China
I don’t agree that Kane had a poor tournament.
If you say he had a poor tournament then you are not looking at what role Kane was given by Southgate for this tournament.
He wasn’t given an out and out striker role.
More like spare midfielder/striker role.
He was asked to do an awful lot of work away from the opposition penalty area in the role Southgate gave him.
It’s not easy.
Painful
Can we sign mancini please???
Rap… nobody cares about you views.
I”m praising Italy btw when I say that their DNA sees them win tournaments rather than “total football” or “revolutionary football”
DNA is very important.
Italy had lost their way for quite a while before so it’s good to see a traditional powerhouse get their mojo back,
Ishola
Kane wasn’t great. He was leggy & kept falling over trying to win free kicks As much as I dont like Southgates tactics, Kane hasn’t played well. I said a while back I was amazed DCL didn’t get any minutes because of his mobility.
China “England has tanked virtually every tournament since forever until he came in. He doesn’t play how the fans and media want us to play but a semi and a final defeat on penalties has vindicated his approach overall.” But think about it like this: we are Euro finalists and WC semi-finalists, but come the WC next year, would any of the big teams be scared of playing England? Absolutely not. Every coach would privately say they can’t keep possession if you press them, and they will retreat into their own third. We would have lost to any of Spain,… Read more »
I suppose it comes down for people whether they think Italy had the better players and Southgate took the path he did because England couldn’t compete.
I totally disagree but to each their own.
For me England played for majority of the game like a Poland or Slovakia would against them up a goal.
Italy didn’t dominate England, England gave Italy the space and the ball.
If I’m the 37 year old Chiellini, I’m loving it. He probably couldn’t believe his luck how little defending and chasing he had to do.
didnt england play with 5 defenders?
“How that window licker Kane can be captain is a joke”
I start Henderson as captain. There was no one out there who had any character. Maybe Walker.
The Italians bar Chiellini dont know what it means to win… these are youngsters and not around at the WC win.
they were better than England. I am upset bc you are at home, with the home crowd – after the goal, we need to chase another one but nothing of the sort. This is super baffling and cowardly to me.
85 mins and you want to protect that lead to pens?????
aint no party unless its a kyle walker party
The whole nation wants to hug saka.
Just look at what Saka did to Chiellini on the touch line that got him booked to see my point.
Southgate has been excellent up until this game.
The two players he brought on specifically to score penalties, missd their penalies and getting our 19 year old Saka to take a penalty was a crime against football.
Why didn’t stirling, stones, shaw or other more senior members of the team step up?
Elmo spot on. England had the home advantage as well.
Tom
Italy’s whole planning this week was probably around avoiding Chiellini and Bonucci getting isolated in foot races with Sterling, Saka or any of the other English pacey, skillful forwards.
To their surprise, England didn’t even attempt to force those situations at any point during the game.
Kane had ZERO touches in the Italian box.
Guns of SFJuly 12, 2021 00:03:31
didnt england play with 5 defenders?
—–
Yes they did,with two wing backs.
69 years of hurt
Be back next year bollocks.
GS probably did enough to keep his job but he was a coward today.
If you’re gonna gamble with kids – you do it playing actual football in the 90 minutes , and not on high pressure penalties in the the first major final in 55 years. If anyone should know better , it’s Southgate. Bar their keeper and chiesa – I don’t for one second think Italy had the better squad , But the tactics tonight were diabolical. England without doubt have the talent to take the game to Italy – Austria completely disrespected Italy at times during their game against them , England certainly have the talent to do more damage than… Read more »
Lose showing Courage and ambition is one thing, but losing with over caution is something else
Southgate will never lose that side of him, get someone in who doesn’t try and sit on a lead when he has an expanse of attacking talent
England needs a peak Wenger, not a Sean dyche
None of this is Sakas fault btw, he had some decent moments
At least we looked good for the first 10 minutes then went to cautious as usual with u defensive players