On the Road Again!

Sadly after taking the lead in two minutes England lost to Italy on penalties.  After the full 120 minutes including extra time it was penalties that decided the trophy's destination.   A couple of dreadful misses from both sides were then exceeded by both goalkeepers making excellent saves. Both of them did their utmost and it was the misses that saw the trophy go to Italy. Players on both sides gave their all and England's young players stepped up to the mark during the game. Sadly the racist scum that benight/infest social media were out again.   Pouring their disgusting vitriol against the players that missed or had their penalties saved by Italy's giant keeper. It's time that Facebook and Twitter banned these arseholes for life. Congratulations Italy.

 

At last another semi-final of a major championship again. This time England had made it unbeaten in the group stage and this far without conceding a goal. The Danes had lost two group games and scraped through. They were the lucky recipients of a wrong decision against the Czechs in the quarter-finals when the linesman gave a corner when the ball clearly came off the attacking player. Some complaints at the time but "it's football" was the excuse. This of course will come back to bite our arses. After some early domination, what we call "huff and puff" England failed to score. Another dodgy decision gave Denmark a free kick and they scored. Apparently the first goal from a direct free kick of the championship. England hit back quickly. Kane split the defence and Saka took the ball and crossed low towards Sterling only for the defender to slide it into the goal. Into extra time. Sterling's run into the box brought a penalty. A slight touch of legs...

England win 4-0.  Into the semi-finals. 

The last time that England beat the Germans in the finals of a tournament was 1966!  We have turned them over previously but in qualification for World Cups or Euros. I watched the 1966 World Cup Final as a 10yo boy and it was one of the greatest games I had seen to that point. After all when you are a supporter of Oldham Athletic then it wasn't hard. Today though was something else.  Chances from both sides and one monumental cock up from Muller and a couple of excellent saves from Pickford from Havertz and it could have all gone the wrong way. But once Grealish came on it seemed to give Shaw more freedom and it was his cross that was turned in by Sterling.   Later his drive from the halfway line and pass to Grealish, led to another cross and Kane stooped to head in. Up to then Kane hasn't been convincing as our main goal scorer but has done enough now I think to keep his place. We'll enjoy a few beers tonight in celebration. Highlights -...

The world and his brother must have expected this to go one way.  That the Oranje would batter the Czechs off the field  The Netherlands came into the came with highest goals tally. The Czechs finished third to England in their group. Amazingly the game swung on what was a few short minutes. The Dutch right through on goal, the Czech keeper making a save, the quick ball upfield where De Ligt fumbles under pressure and then deliberately handled the ball. Red card.  A minute later the Czechs were 1-0 up with a header from Holeš.  Schick added a second a little later. After some hesitation in the Dutch midfield and Holeš was onto before getting the box and cutting back to Schick to slot home. I have a soft spot for the ČR since living there in 1992/93. As long as they don't play England.

Changes made as we had already lost players due to Covid.   Two players from Chelsea were in close proximity with one of their teammates in the Scotland squad and this was enough for the Covid alert. Grealish and Saka playing well.  Maybe they should have started other games too? England 1-0 at half time. Sterling goal on 12 minutes. And that's how it ended up. In the other final group game, Scotland managed to get beaten 3-1 by Croatia.  Due to Scottish incompetence the Czechs finished 3rd in the group but qualified for the last 16.