Key events
England fans: Have you watched on as other teams light up the tournament, spreading the ball at pace and attacking with enthusiasm and vigour? Have you cast an envious eye towards a rival and though, ‘Why can’t Gareth do more with the highest valued team on the planet?’
You’re not alone.
Barney Ronay has taken a gander at Austria and likes what he sees. More to the point, he’s comparing Ralf Rangnick’s renegades with Southgate’s sorry sacks and found some striking differences between them.
Club versus Country: A battle as old as time.
A battle, according to Nick Ames, with a clear winner.
And I’ve got to say, I fully agree with Nick when he argues that the Euros proves that the sordid, elitist club game has lost its soul (I’m paraphrasing here).
Another thing I love about international football is how even the best teams are restricted. England don’t have a left side – on attack or defence – but that’s just too bad. They can’t go out and buy a left footed player. They simply have to make do. I love that!
So, whatdya reckon? Agree with Nick on this?
England have never lost to Slovakia in six matches, with five wins and one draw.
But apart from a 4-0 win in a friendly in 2009, they’ve been tight affairs with scores of 2-1 and 1-0 in World Cups, and 0-0, 2-1 and 2-1 in the Euros.
Does this mean anything? Not really. England are ‘miserable’ and Slovakia are targeting an upset, according to this fascinating piece by Lukas Vrablik in Zilina:
But can Slovakia actually hurt England? Paul MacInnes breaks it down:
Here are 10 stats from the group stage and number two will shock you!
Seriously, the second stat in this list compiled by Niall McVeigh sums up England’s ineptitude so far. If they can get that right I bet their entire attack will start to function as it should.
Anthony Gordan injured in turbo bike accident
Who had this on their England Euro misadventure bingo?
The Newcastle forward was seen sporting scars and grazes on his face and hands after an accident on a bike.
England are now considering abandoning bike ride that players do as part of their post-match recovery.
Phil Foden returns
Just in time to take on the No. 10 role?
For my money, he’s England’s best player and should be entrusted to run the show. Now that he’s returned to the camp after the birth of his third child, Phil Foden is ready to crack on. This could be some month for the Man City star.
So, England are on the so-called ‘easy side of the draw’, where their path to glory is paved with gold?
Right?
Guess again, says Jacob Steinberg, who douses cold water on that hot take by taking a look at England’s murky past.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
We’re back! And now that the group stage is done and dusted, things are getting serious.
Tomorrow the knockouts get going with Switzerland playing the defending champions Italy, and hosts Germany take on Denmark.
We’ll have all the build up to those games and plenty more besides. No doubt there’ll be some fresh outrage around England. Surely we’ll have a new take on Mbappe’s France. Perhaps we might even start to wonder if a young Spanish team is, wait for it, the real deal?!
Drop a line with your thoughts. The whackier the better.
