2021/22 Soccer Thread: It's Euro 2020 until it becomes 2021

He looked very silly. When he finally saved the last one, I was amazed.

OTD

Prederick wrote:

OTD

That was a thing of beauty. I remember thinking that I would like to have seen that Dutch team get to the final.

Uh.... England?

Have been shocking tonight? However, this is about the 10th game too many after 3 solid years of football. The players are tired and fed up and it really shows.

I hope people aren't too harsh on them. Or Gareth Southgate. But yes, a little embarrassing now.

Do they rebound in Qatar and play better football?

Sorbicol wrote:

I hope people aren't too harsh on them. Or Gareth Southgate. But yes, a little embarrassing now.

England humiliated by Hungary in worst home defeat in 94 years

That ship has prooooooooobably sailed.

I don't think anything that happens in the Nations Leagues or friendlies matters other than injuries.

End of a long season after what's been a marathon over a couple years because of COVID and the early part of next season is condensed to accomodate the World Cup.

The papers and pundits are having a meltdown here this morning. Good grief.

I hope Southgate survives and just sends out a very young green team next time. Maybe you could call this his failure in not seeing how tired his first choice players are, but I don't think that is a reason to fire him immediately.

Zaque wrote:

I hope Southgate survives and just sends out a very young green team next time. Maybe you could call this his failure in not seeing how tired his first choice players are, but I don't think that is a reason to fire him immediately.

It's just overreaction really. I do think Southgate struggles when he can't play his preferred style because players are not available, but there are a lot of factors at play.

Anyone who thinks Southgate should be sacked is a complete and total imbecile.

Ever since Terry Venables left the job in 1996, England went progressively downhill, with each manager worse than the last - culminating in the nadir of the Hodgson regime, with our bottom-of-the-group finish in WC 2014 and the humiliation of Iceland two years later.

Southgate comes in and leads this disaster of a national team to the World Cup semifinal and then the Euro final.

What more does he need to do to gain the support of the media and the Great Unwashed?

I understand England were awful yesterday but so what? It was a glorified friendly. I couldn't care less if England lose every game they ever play outside of major tournaments, because these matches are not important except for experimentation in tactics and personnel.

Sorry for the rant. I'll stop there.

As a neutral, I very much agree with Tasty Pudding's take. England is the only team to make at least the semifinals in the most recent World Cup and Euros. That may not be a trophy (well, technically 2nd place at Euro 2020 is a a trophy), but it's extremely good.

I do think you can question who took the penalties at the end of Euro 2020, but getting to that point was an elite tournament performance in the first place. You can adjust that one detail. I wouldn't interrupt the larger plan that seems to be working.

I think it's on the FA's to stagger players usage at this point.

I'm not even really paying attention to these games at all. I caught the second half of the Portugal game the other day but I'm so dialed out because these are glorified friendlies anyways.

Come the knock out round maybe and even then if I'm bored.

Joao Felix wasn't involved with the Portugal team recently and only reason I noticed was because he posted on IG at the Celtics game. I guess he's 'injured'? Google says hamstring injury ending club season in April. Ronaldo also didn't play and really shouldn't.

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FVUXiBXVUAAfDcj?format=jpg&name=large)

This year's Ashley Cole Contract Negotiations Award goes to........ Paul Pogba!

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FVZ7cVWWQAE8rhe?format=jpg&name=900x900)

Was really hoping for Nashville. Free place to stay with my family would have made it easier to attend

Pretty happy SF Bay Area was selected. I was pretty sure it would happen but now that it is official just 3 more years to wait before ticket sales.

Or if the US team happens to play down in LA venue that would also be an easy trip.

DMV's got a gripe, although ultimately, it's probably Dan Snyder's fault. FedEx field is so garbage, FIFA probably opted not to even look at M&T Bank as well.

Also, Robert Kraft pretty much swiped it.

I feel bad for DC area fans, but hey! Eat f*cking sh*t Dan Snyder!

How many humans is Levi's going to roast alive during this?

MetLife! Yeah!

I already have heartburn thinking about the traffic, mind you...

Tasty Pudding wrote:

MetLife! Yeah!

I already have heartburn thinking about the traffic, mind you...

I work just a few miles from MetLife, but might go see games in Philadelphia instead.

Back in 1994 we drove down to RFK to see two matches.

I remember going to the first match at Stanford in 1994. I haven't been a fan of bleachers ever since.

I have no idea what's going to happen between now and 2026 but the dream would be to go to all the US games. I don't know if that will be possible, between one thing and the other, so it's very cool that the World Cup is coming to Houston. If I do travel, I'd have to say Miami would be an awesome spot to visit - I've been there before, but not in a long time.

I have to say that one downside to the idea of going to World Cup games is not being able to watch all the games those days in their entirety. And if you travel, you've probably got to fly on days that have games.

Let's do this.

Does anybody have any idea how far ahead they would determine which games are played at which stadium? Like are we talking months ahead or weeks?

It would be fairly easy for me to go to a game in Kansas City but I'd really only be interested in going to a Germany game (unless by some miracle Finland got in).

I think I'm most excited for thousands, if not millions of people from outside America to all find out together that the United States is f*cking huge.

iaintgotnopants wrote:

Does anybody have any idea how far ahead they would determine which games are played at which stadium? Like are we talking months ahead or weeks?

It would be fairly easy for me to go to a game in Kansas City but I'd really only be interested in going to a Germany game (unless by some miracle Finland got in).

I think if I remember correctly the stadiums are drawn before the teams/groups.

That said I'm not sure if hosts were already locked into venues dates.

I'm pretty sure when I went to Brazil I knew where I was going but had to wait for the draw to see what games I got. That's applying for a stadium/area package though not follow a team.

So as a Euro body which of these cities are best to visit and not eye wateringly expensive? Id like to go even if Scotlands awful run continues....