I would have taken Italy, even with those players in the Belgian team. But this has been such a wacky tournament that anything could happen, I mean you couldn't make up what happened yesterday, that was pure madness.
From what I've seen of them this tourny, with Foden and Mount on the pitch, they are drab. With Graelish and Saka on the pitch, they are lively. I also think England would have difficulty if Sterling were not on the pitch.
After 40 years of history and yesterday’s results I was 50/50 that Germany wasn’t going to put two quick fire goals in extra time and go on to lose on penalties.
Well I had an unexpectedly good day. Some of you may know the old Gary Lineker quote: "Football is a game where 22 players kick the ball for 90 minutes, and in the end, the Germans win". That sums up nicely this English fan's approach to games with them. Games that count, anyway. Yes, we beat them in a Euros when they were terrible (2000) but we were out at the group stage with them. Yes, we trounced them in 2001 WC qualifying but it was they who went on to the final in S Korea. Four straight times at tournaments, 1970, 1990, 1996, 2010, they have eliminated us. Today was an unexpectedly good day.
You just knew England were going to win when Muller missed that chance. Normally, that is just the kind of bonehead play that would have sucked the joy out of fhe stadium and seen the Germans eventually win on penalties. But in Bizarro Euro 2021, where it's the Italians who are playing the swashbuckling football, the French are blowing 3-1 leads, and the Spanish are actually playing good football AND scoring goals, anything is posible.
Belgium are the new Holland. At least they hung around long enough for us not to get stuck with Martinez as new manager.
England up a goal early v Ukraine thanks to one H Kane. Mostly Ukraine since. England just now getting a bit of possession back.
Sonofabitch! Some doofus comes to mom's door selling lawn service and in the 20 seconds it takes me to send him on his way, England scores. Dammit!
That was the most serene I have been for any England match ever let alone a knock out game in a major tournament. You could tell Ukraine were done when Kane nutmegged the keeper from a header.
Well I got to see England and Spurs in a major Cup Final in my lifetime. It’s more than I expected a few years ago.