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Post by staggerstag on Jul 6, 2024 15:25:44 GMT
Here we are again.
Let's keep it calm and low-key this time.
I think it'll be that kind of match. 0-0.
No place for Arnold in the England starting eleven and Konsa comes in for suspended Guehi in a back-three situation. I'd have thought that formation would have suited Arnold really well over Trippier but Mother knows best.
Switzerland remain unchanged from its last outing.
England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Konsa, Trippier, Mainoo, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane.
Subs: Shaw, Alexander-Arnold, Ramsdale, Dunk, Gallagher, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Henderson, Palmer, Wharton.
Switzerland: Sommer, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez, Ndoye, Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer, Rieder, Vargas, Embolo.
Subs: Stergiou, Widmer, Elvedi, Zakaria, Okafor, Steffen, Mvogo, Zuber, Zesiger, Sierro, Duah, Kobel, Shaqiri, Jashari, Amdouni.
90 mins
England 6/5
Switzerland 3/1
Draw 2/1
Outright
England 4/7
Switzerland 11/8
Team to kick off
England 4/6
Switzerland 6/5
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Post by staggerstag on Jul 6, 2024 16:53:24 GMT
It's reached half time.
No shots on target for either side. England slightly edging the play but with no real threat from either side it's difficult to go into any analysis, except bring on Arnold Palmer.
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Post by staggerstag on Jul 6, 2024 17:08:32 GMT
It'd be a grand idea if instead of half time pundits talking nonsense, there was a roaming camera team inside the stadium asking fans their opinions, because switching on the BBC for two minutes of their interval chat is laughable. They're talking about England's first half performance in glowing terms, full of it. It's all very delusional. I am fortunate enough to be following the game on a US channel which again is free of the metallic nasal drone of Alan Shearer and, despite it being a boring game so far, you are at least spared the verbal drivel of the numbskulls at the BBC.
Anyway, there are no line-up changes from either side for the second half.
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Post by staggerstag on Jul 6, 2024 17:33:59 GMT
GOAL
England sleepwalk the last ten minutes and are rudely awakened by Embolo on '75. The ball was cut in to the area, bypassing four or five defenders, and was slid across to Embolo at the far post who made no ado about slotting it past Pickford.
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Post by staggerstag on Jul 6, 2024 17:38:15 GMT
GOAL
Saka on '80. Fired it into the Swiss goal.
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Post by staggerstag on Jul 6, 2024 17:46:31 GMT
In the privileged seating area there are members of the palace and their servants clapping avidly and breathing sighs of relief. I don't know. It's not been an entertainment and sometimes you wait and wait for an entertainment and all you get is a basic offering, enough to keep you going but hardly a memorable feast, and sometimes you want that. And then you see moths come out of the cloth and flutter around the glowing light of a goal and you think, no, not today. There's something oddly un-football about this whole event, and I am afraid I am not up for it today.
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Post by sdm3 on Jul 6, 2024 17:53:50 GMT
It'd be a grand idea if instead of half time pundits talking nonsense, there was a roaming camera team inside the stadium asking fans their opinions, because switching on the BBC for two minutes of their interval chat is laughable. They're talking about England's first half performance in glowing terms, full of it. It's all very delusional. I am fortunate enough to be following the game on a US channel which again is free of the metallic nasal drone of Alan Shearer and, despite it being a boring game so far, you are at least spared the verbal drivel of the numbskulls at the BBC. Anyway, there are no line-up changes from either side for the second half. I’m glad somebody agrees; I thought I was going crazy. They considered this performance a big improvement just because Foden completed a few passes? Not a single clear-cut chance created all game. As usual, the goal was their only shot on target. What were these pundits watching? Watching this England team is not inspiring even when they pull out a miraculous winner - all it does is encourage Southgate to continue in his ways. |
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Post by sdm3 on Jul 6, 2024 18:10:19 GMT
The dreaded penalties loom.
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Post by sdm3 on Jul 6, 2024 18:44:32 GMT
I have to admit watching them dispatch those kicks with ease was a nice surprise. Still not optimistic about the semis - these players simply have to create more chances. They can’t keep relying on individual brilliance to bail them out.
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darkshines
Sophomore
@darkshines
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Post by darkshines on Jul 6, 2024 18:49:36 GMT
I'm pretty gob-smacked that England have made it through to the semi-finals, although it's been by the skin of our teeth. Not going to lie, my heart is still pounding a bit from watching that penalty shoot-out, LOL. Now I feel slightly odd because the relief of this rare victory after the dreaded pens is a very unfamiliar feeling. Think I'll just enjoy it.
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Post by sdm3 on Jul 6, 2024 18:52:48 GMT
I'm pretty gob-smacked that England have made it through to the semi-finals, although it's been by the skin of our teeth. Not going to lie, my heart is still pounding a bit from watching that penalty shoot-out, LOL. Now I feel slightly odd because the relief of this rare victory after the dreaded pens is a very unfamiliar feeling. Think I'll just enjoy it. They've barely mustered a shot on target in 5 games, I can’t believe they converted 5 penalties with that level of precision. Who knows - maybe it’ll give them some attacking confidence. |
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darkshines
Sophomore
@darkshines
Posts: 587
Likes: 697
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Post by darkshines on Jul 6, 2024 19:05:55 GMT
I'm pretty gob-smacked that England have made it through to the semi-finals, although it's been by the skin of our teeth. Not going to lie, my heart is still pounding a bit from watching that penalty shoot-out, LOL. Now I feel slightly odd because the relief of this rare victory after the dreaded pens is a very unfamiliar feeling. Think I'll just enjoy it. They've barely mustered a shot on target in 5 games, I can’t believe they converted 5 penalties with that level of precision. Who knows - maybe it’ll give them some attacking confidence. It's mind-blowing, there has to be some divine providence at play to get a fairly mediocre England side this far in the tournament. |
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