MarcusX

That is literally the only mitigating factor between reactions to France and England's results. In some ways it's a fair one, Deschamps has won them a tournament - he's also failed in two finals (but I guess in credit for getting there). He's also crashed them out of Euro 2020 poorly in the last 16 after a slow start (something Southgate hasn't done) so could go either way for them from here.

Of course it is, he gained an advantage by it. I dont know if you just made your point badly but quite obviously it wouldn't be reviewed if he didn't go on to score - because there would be no goal to review

Well obviously, if there's no goal it wouldnt need to be reviewed as it wouldnt be a red card potential

This gets said a lot but I dont think it's actually true. Dont get me wrong I dont like VAR and its a terrible stadium experience (especially at places with no screen / notice that VAR is looking) but from talking to mates who go regularly to Prem games, they dont think its ever stopped them celebrating a goal The players not noticing it doesn't necessarily mean a mistake hasnt been made though. Offside is very objective though, that's down to the rule, not VAR.

Definitely, it's one of the biggest ever at the Euros in terms of ranking

This is absolutely bang on. Pre-game: England shouldn't take this for granted, Serbia are no mugs Post-game: Cant believe it's only 1-0 we should have hammered Serbia There is a culture in this country of loving to hate England and it's frankly embarrasing and bizarre. Heard so many shit takes from people since the game. Was it a good all round performance? Absolutely not. Did we do exactly what was needed eg win the game? Yes. Before Southgate we were terrible at opening group games... 4/4 for Gareth so far. I agree with the comments about shoe-horning players in and I'm not sure Foden fits this "style" with the players around him. I think last night gave us more questions than answers but I also think it was a dogged display, a reasonably comfortable clean sheet (they had one shot from range didnt they?) and but for a great save it's 2-0 and games over. Do I think we win the tournament based on that performance? No course not (but I dont think we win it anyway) Do I think we'll grow into it and improve? Yes definitely Were there positives? Several. Bellingham is class and he's ready, Guehi answered some critics, Rice was immense - if not largely under the radar in his work, and we showed a lot of experience to see out the game (except that quick free kick) We've drawn that in previous years, 2016 for example against Russia.

I was also there, I'm interested what bit you mean Only because my memory is a bit foggy on what was reported and I was lucky enough to avoid everything. I was down on the waterfront moments before the trouble happened but must have got away at the right time after collecting my ticket - and then the trouble in the ground was in the opposite corner from me. I could see it happening but wasn't involved. Afterwards was fine, we were stood outside the ground waiting for mates as all the Russians poured out and there was no trouble whatsoever.

Funny the media only shares negatives - what about the videos of England and Serbia fans all getting along fine? Anyone who thinks the English are only an embarrasment abroad should try getting out there amongst the 95% that are absolutely great.

Couldn’t believe he’s got away without a red card there! Slightly wrong, it’s not “no possibility of playing the ball” it’s no attempt to play the ball. Rodri very clearly made no attempt to play the ball - but it was our lads in the VAR room and we know how shit they are.

Funny how the whole flag issue has just been forgotten now the shirts can be bought cheaper though

They aren’t even UK betting sites, these companies are literally just using the appeal in Asia of the Premier League to advertise to their Asian market

There's a difference between saying Manning is the reason he wants to leave, and thinking that our style of play under Manning has not suited Conway or played to his strengths. Someone posted the shot conversion stats and his are pretty good, the difference is he gets far less chances than most decent strikers. Put him in a better team, he'll score goals IMO.

Tbf I sit in both camps. I love collecting real shirts - but I also like wearing shirts to games and playing 5 a side / football training etc. The fake shirts let me wear some cool shirts to play in, but I still buy some real shirts if it's something I like. eBay is actually quite good for this, because it's illegal to sell counterfeit goods the fake sellers have to be very careful what they put in their descriptions. eBay off buyer guarentee so if it turns up and it's fake you can return it and get a refund. I had this recently with a 2001 England shirt I thought I was buying the original and it was priced high enough that it may be real - fortunately there's a really obvious "tell" on the fakes compared to the originals so I knew straight away it was fake. Sent it straight back and got my money returned no questions asked. My order from soccer03 also arrived yesterday, and agree very good quality. A couple of them are retro style shirts and it's impossible to tell the difference from looking at them - I've got a mate whos got an original of one of them, so going to have a real inspection to compare

I didn’t mind it but we’ve well over done the pin stripe retro in recent years. Prefer something new

Manning's had long enough to find a way to play that gets a return from Conway I like him, but it isn't working now for whatever reason so I'd rather we take the money and get someone in that "fits" the system - and then we judge Manning on it

I'm thinking further back, may it have even been the title winning season and the purple? We didn't see the kit until we faced Sheff Utd away? I hope I'm not making this up, I'm too tired to go check for myself

I think you're probably right, I bought both but I wouldn't have bought either for full price Even out of those 2 games one was Ukraine which we could have worn white! I'm not sure, DHGate usually takes 4-5 weeks I think. Thats where I got mine from and it took that long

Wasn't there one year that we didn't release the kit until the first game of the season? Or am I getting confused with the season we didn;t announce our away kit until the first time we needed to wear it?

I placed an order for a couple of other shirts on 24th and still waiting, they have sent tracking but it's not showing any information yet. Guess it's just luck of the drawer on getting it couriered into the country. Enough people getting their orders that I wont panic

I dont know, and nor do you... although his Dad's a Scotland supporter so perhaps he did? Point is, it's a personal decision and people link to their heritage in various ways (and some reject it) So Mainoo should play for Ghana, but you just liked a comment that said "Because if you were born in, raised, educated and worked in England, but play for Wales because of a Gran, you are no representation of how good Wales are at football " Swap gran for Parent and Wales for Ghana and by your own "like" Mainoo shouldn't play for Ghana? You're entitled to your opinion, and I think you're trying to make it more black and white then it will ever be - but even your opinion seems inconsistent. What happens to people who's country doesn't exist any more? Or didn't and now does?

True, I think it would be Bowen v Watkins though as a "play in behind" style. Toney was a bit more "involved" against Belgium in getting on the ball

Topps got the license / authorisation for the official tournament stickerbook, but Panini still hold licenses for some of the top teams, including England

Forgot to address that bit, I'd agree I don't think Bowen's good enough though he's not a direct replacement for Grealish. Bowen does offer something different because he looks to get down the line and play wide, but he's way behind Saka there - however, should Saka get injured (when isn't he?) then he's a similar replacement. It looks to me like Southgate has settled more on a style of play and characteristics and looked to fill depth with those same styles. I think it's more Grealish vs Foden vs Eze (and maybe even Palmer) on the left, and I'd have probably still gone Grealish over Eze at this stage.

Maybe not me, I'm giving a view point - and I'm chill But there are people on this thread trying to dictate who players should represent, I personally think it's a little unfair and more nuanced than just one factor eg birthplace, bloodline etc

It's not really for you to say how people should feel about their "heritage" though or which family members they connect most with. Semenyo's father was a professional footballer in Ghana so there's more football "heritage" and link back to Ghana there. Mainoo may have never even been to Ghana for all you know? And I notice @ExiledAjax liked this post - yet is questioning Mainoo, born in England, raised in England, educated and trained in England turning out for... England My partner was born in England, educated in England, lived in England all her life (except 3 years at uni in Cardiff). Both her Parents are Welsh - what nationality is she? It's not for anyone else to judge how she feels - and as far as she's concerned she's both. As I said on the other thread, I have a foreign Grandmother, and therefore my Mum inherited a lot of that culture and so did I. I love that aspect of my descendency and no one can try and take that away from me because it's "just a grandmother". Even more important to me to explore that culture since she passed away in Covid times and didn't really get the last bit of time with her.