Peter Anderson  ⚽ So, is it finally coming home? The English certainly think so. 

A look through the English newspapers, since the national team destroyed the Ukraine, shows that they really believe the hoodoo is broken this time. Many say it was broken at the last World Cup when England won their first ever penalty shoot-out. There seems like a unanimous feeling that they will at least make the final, where they expect to face Italy.

The way they dismantled the Ukraine has given immense encouragement to the English. Yet another clean sheet means that they are yet to concede in this tournament. Pickford and Maguire have been imperious. A sentence I never thought I would ever write. Kane has finally sparked and after looking very ordinary for most of the matches, the goal against Germany seems to have restored him to his best.

The 4-0 score line also allowed Southgate to rest those that needed resting and those who were on a yellow card. With Grealish, Foden and Rashford on the bench there are plenty of creative options if goals are needed. The Danes will present tougher opposition than the Ukrainians, but I have to say that I am confident of an English victory. When the players are interviewed on TV and radio they are asked about the "English hoodoo" they always respond positively, saying that this was years ago, things have changed, they have great camaraderie, Southgate is making a difference etc etc and I'm beginning to believe them. 

Southgate favours a blend of youth and experience and they seem to be together like no previous England team. Gone are the club cliques and unprofessionalism of former years. But at the back of my mind still lingers that doubt. If they beat the Danes, and that is no "gimme", a final against Spain or Italy will provide a much sterner test than they have faced before in this tournament. 

We are so used to seeing glorious failure with the English that it cannot be ruled out this time no matter what the vibe is coming from the team. Personally, I'm hoping for an Italy v England final. They are the strongest teams in the competition and would provide and excellent final, I'm sure.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Homestretch

Peter Anderson  ⚽ So, is it finally coming home? The English certainly think so. 

A look through the English newspapers, since the national team destroyed the Ukraine, shows that they really believe the hoodoo is broken this time. Many say it was broken at the last World Cup when England won their first ever penalty shoot-out. There seems like a unanimous feeling that they will at least make the final, where they expect to face Italy.

The way they dismantled the Ukraine has given immense encouragement to the English. Yet another clean sheet means that they are yet to concede in this tournament. Pickford and Maguire have been imperious. A sentence I never thought I would ever write. Kane has finally sparked and after looking very ordinary for most of the matches, the goal against Germany seems to have restored him to his best.

The 4-0 score line also allowed Southgate to rest those that needed resting and those who were on a yellow card. With Grealish, Foden and Rashford on the bench there are plenty of creative options if goals are needed. The Danes will present tougher opposition than the Ukrainians, but I have to say that I am confident of an English victory. When the players are interviewed on TV and radio they are asked about the "English hoodoo" they always respond positively, saying that this was years ago, things have changed, they have great camaraderie, Southgate is making a difference etc etc and I'm beginning to believe them. 

Southgate favours a blend of youth and experience and they seem to be together like no previous England team. Gone are the club cliques and unprofessionalism of former years. But at the back of my mind still lingers that doubt. If they beat the Danes, and that is no "gimme", a final against Spain or Italy will provide a much sterner test than they have faced before in this tournament. 

We are so used to seeing glorious failure with the English that it cannot be ruled out this time no matter what the vibe is coming from the team. Personally, I'm hoping for an Italy v England final. They are the strongest teams in the competition and would provide and excellent final, I'm sure.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

25 comments:

  1. If Spain were to bet Italy this evening, that would make for a very interesting England project. I get the sense that England would not beat Italy but they could beat Spain

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    1. What about the Vikings? When everyone thinks about the class of '92 they mostly think about 'Fergies fledgings' or in May each year the snooker trio (The Rocket, Williams, Higgins)....

      What about the other class of '92? No one expected the Danes to win (only a hard core of Vikings) and they cleaned up then.

      No one gave them a chance after what happen to their talisman's Christian Eriksen's brush with death. Yet tomorrow they are ready to kick ass in Wembley.

      I am with the Vikings....

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    2. They never even qualified for that tournament Frankie. Yugoslavia were the team but couldn't play over the civil war. They turned the competition upside down and turned the Germans over in the final. It was just before I got out of jail. The last big finals I was in for. I would love to see them do it but without Erikson and then up against that strong defence of England I would not be too confident.
      As much as I identify with your perspective on it, I am still left with the fact that Peter is as much a part of the Quill as the rest of us, so for him I would take it sportingly if England win.

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  2. I would take it sportingly if England win.


    I'd ask for a VAR check.....

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  3. If England win, Southgate will be presenting MOTD, X Factor etc from September.
    Did Molby play in the 92 Dane team ?
    The Italians 🍕 will probably win ; a resurgence of Italian clubs in European competitions will 🔜 follow . Eighty per Cent of England players are qualified to play for at least one other country # Kane # Grealish # Rice 🌾 🍀

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    1. No - he didn't. His international career ended in 90. A talented player who could have played much more for Liverpool but for the weight.

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  4. At yr 🔚, will there be prizes for best contributors to the site 📝 ? Asking for a friend . 😚

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    1. we had a bullshit award for the best bull of the year!

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  5. A certain cleric was the winner # Honest John 😇

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  6. Just to be clear. I am a Northern Ireland supporter not an England supporter. I want England to do well in the Euros because I love English football and have an affinity for the players (except the ManUre ones lol), and because Northern Ireland are not there. I have a major problem with the majority of England supporters and with the fawning media just like most of yous. I will be glad if England win tonight but won't be jumping up and down.

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    1. if Denmark do beat them there won't be as much fun as when Iceland done them over. I remember going to the Home Internationals at Windsor

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  7. I wouldn't care if England win the Euros but I just can't bear the thought of them bleating on about it for the next 50 years.

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  8. the better side won last night despite the cheated penalty and the lucky own goal for them. They had more control, more patience, pressed higher, controlled the midfield. Pickford's distribution was woeful but one goal in conceded in six games - he is not as bad as he is often made out to be. Doubt Schmeichel could have saved the free kick. The Danes looked sluggish for the second half. They did well to get to the semis given their misfortune on the opening day and probably feel much as England did when Maradona cheated them. I felt watching the game that neither side would beat Italy but the Spaniards (who England are a better side than) almost did.

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  9. Penalty against Denmark was never a penalty VAR is without doubt a failed experiment

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    1. it was a s graceful decision. I suspect unfair play in VAR - it was never a penalty. I don't mind VAR as it has the potential to ensure fairness but last night was a serious miscarriage of justice,

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  10. .So the Danes score two goals, England score a dodgy penalty from a Sterling dive and they go through...So much for VAR...

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  11. Every angle shown proved there was no contact made. I want to be impartial but I can't particularly as when you say a miscarriage of justice was witnessed before our very eyes. It's a shambles. The Italians are playing away against England at home with the referee and VAR firmly in the lions camp. Last night proved beyond doubt VAR has run its course and needs removed from our game. I'm seething,cheating your way to a final, Sterling Kane and others throwing themselves down in the box in blatant attempts to con the refs,elbows in faces,deliberate elbows in faces unpunished. The games lost. International football is a joke

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    1. Gary - soccer has never been any different. Teams have always cheated their way. Every foul is an attempt to cheat the opponent out of an advantage. Maradona cheated against England - the problem for the English is that they have not since shut up about it and now they too have cheated their way to the final. VAR was found out last night because the person viewing it was not playing with either a full or a straight deck. I still think the principle is correct. Even without VAR the penalty decision would have stood because the referee called it. If we get rid of VAR on those grounds we also need to get rid of the refs.

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  12. My first reaction was that it was a pen and obviously so did the ref. On replay it is doubtful that he was tripped, but the co-commentator rightly pointed out the nudge to Sterling's hip. Was that enough to bring him down? Who knows, but VAR only changes a clear and obvious mistake and the replays are inconclusive. On this occasion it was right to stick with the ref's initial decision. It was very soft though, however England were the better team. We now have the final the competition has deserved.

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    1. I don't know how VAR could possibly stand by such a decision that seemed so blatantly wrong and on which so much sat. It has not dented my confidence in VAR per se but in the way VAR is managed. Stirling's dive was as much a cheat as Maradona's hand ball. I can imagine doing both in the passion of the game and would not be judgmental about the players who instinctively try to gain an advantage without trying to break an opponent's leg. But VAR is supposed to be detached from the immediacy of the moment and yet here failed. Denmark committed their share of so called professional fouls during the game which is cheating as well in as far as they are committed to gain an unfair advantage.
      If we watch these things from a purely sporting perspective the better side went through. That foul means clinched it will always be used to sully the victory.

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  13. Mr McIntyre- we agree and disagree on many things and this is one of those things we disagree on .. VAR has ruined the game and yes I fully accept that the decision would have stood without VAR how many times have we seen scandalous decisions being justified by VAR? An offside elbow, perfectly good goals ruled offside because arms legs heads hands are "offside" I'm sorry and apologize if I'm sounding ranty and irate but the thing is I am ....I want it gone last night was the last straw

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    1. Gary - I think the offside rule needs tweaked rather than VAR. The offside elbow is a fine example. I want it to stay and the reason for that is that it has the potential to reward those players and teams who put in the honest graft and not those who use sleight of hand.

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  14. The English are getting wildly cocky thinking they have this in the bag.

    The Italians cheat more than most. Should be an interesting final.

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