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Southgate FINALLY makes a decisive decision in taking off Foden and Kane and sure enough he is rewarded with a Watkins goal and Palmer assist.

Southgate's biggest legacy with this team is getting their to a mental state into a much better space.

20 Legend

Southgate FINALLY makes a decisive decision in taking off Foden and Kane and sure enough he is rewarded with a Watkins goal and Palmer assist.

Southgate's biggest legacy with this team is getting their to a mental state into a much better space.

And it took until the last 10 minutes to figure out.

Gotta admit I didn’t get Watkins. 

But that was an amazing piece of CF play. 

And Toney had had a couple of good runs, so to come on and do that, phhh. 

Foden should’ve scored a couple. Was his best game, but I’m glad he didn’t so we got that finish! 

Those who are old enough and think England robbed Holland today.

That’s for Graham Taylor and 1993.

Burst into tears at the end of that. Don't mean to derail the thread but my Dad has been hospital under palliative care over the last 2 weeks and I was camped on the floor next to him watching the games. He passed away 2 days ago. Feels typical that we're finally going to win after he waited all those years (he was 13 in 1966) and doesn't get to see it.  

Sorry about your dad ajc28. Deepest sympathies to you and your family.

Hopefully England can give you something to smile about on Sunday.  

Sorry to hear that ajc. Condolences to you and your family mate.

ajc28

Burst into tears at the end of that. Don't mean to derail the thread but my Dad has been hospital under palliative care over the last 2 weeks and I was camped on the floor next to him watching the games. He passed away 2 days ago. Feels typical that we're finally going to win after he waited all those years (he was 13 in 1966) and doesn't get to see it.  

Incredibly sorry to hear about your dad. I recently lost mine at the end of last year so I can understand how devastating this must be for you. This forum will be thinking of you and him during the final.

For all of the Southgate criticism, people will look back in years to come and look at his record. A World Cup QF and SF and two Euro finals.
Apart from Sir Alf Ramsey, no other England manager can probably beat his results.

Pretty much.  Back to back Euro finals, a World Cup SF and QF. Plus a Nations League SF albeit that's not really a major tournament. In the 50 years before him there were only 2 semi finals, one of them in a home tournament (as an aside he played every minute as a player in that one). Appreciate there has been some luck with draws and other teams going out early etc but there have been other favourable draws before that haven't worked out.  There must be more to it than simply playing "easy" teams when it's multiple tournaments in a row. 

Spain would be my favourite on current form and attacking flair.
However, on the basis of previous form between these two countries, it's hard to predict.
England have some good form against Spain under Southgate.
England were impressive in their last meeting with Spain in a 3-2 away win in October 2018 in Seville in a UEFA Nations League match.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11526700/spain-2-3-england-raheem-sterling-scores-twice-in-stunning-victory
They had lost 2-1 to Spain at home at Wembley the previous month though in the Nations League. Emphasizing that there has never been much between the two sides historically.
Both sides' lineups are very different these days though.
Spain 2 : 3 England  October 15 2018:

Player ratings

Spain: De Gea (5), Jonny (5), Ramos (6), Nacho (5), Marcos Alonso (5), Thiago (5), Busquets (6), Saul (5), Aspas (5), Asensio (6), Rodrigo (5).

Subs: Alcacer (6), Morata (5), Ceballos (5).

England: Pickford (6), Trippier (7), Maguire (7), Gomez (7), Chilwell (7), Dier (7), Winks (8), Barkley (7), Sterling (9), Rashford (8), Kane (7).

Subs: Walker (5), Alexander-Arnold (5), Chalobah (n/a).

Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling 

Described as "a night to remember for English football."
  

 ENGLAND'S ALL-TIME RECORD VS. SPAIN:
 https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/england-team/spanien-team/11/
                              M. | W | D | L | goals
  | at home        | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 26 | : | 11
  | Away             | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 17 | : | 19
  | Neutral Place | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | : | 2
   | Total             | 27 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 45 | : | 32

They've never met much in the finals of major tournaments (World Cups, Euros).
Euros: England have a 100% record v. Spain:
                    M. | W | D | L | goals
       | Total | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | : | 1
 England beat Spain in the quarter-final of Euro '96 on home soil (0:0 after extra-time, won 4:2 on pens)
2:1 win in Euro '80 in Italy (group stage)
World Cup:
              M. | W | D | L | goals
  | Total | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | : | 1 
0:0 draw World Cup '82 in Spain;
0:1 loss World Cup '50 in Brazil
 

I guess maybe the feeling is, with all the talent in the team, that maybe they should have won all of those tournaments well, and not just made semis, a QF etc and a final, while losing.  Imagine if the team was actually allowed to express itself.  Maybe thats harsh as well though, how often do we see the 'entertainers' and swashbuckling teams end up winning?

Gooner 4 Life

For all of the Southgate criticism, people will look back in years to come and look at his record. A World Cup QF and SF and two Euro finals.
Apart from Sir Alf Ramsey, no other England manager can probably beat his results.

ajc28

Pretty much.  Back to back Euro finals, a World Cup SF and QF. Plus a Nations League SF albeit that's not really a major tournament. In the 50 years before him there were only 2 semi finals, one of them in a home tournament (as an aside he played every minute as a player in that one). Appreciate there has been some luck with draws and other teams going out early etc but there have been other favourable draws before that haven't worked out.  There must be more to it than simply playing "easy" teams when it's multiple tournaments in a row. 

Last time England met Spain featured one of my favourite ever tackles. Somehow given a foul and yellow by the ref.

Kane a bit of a black hole so far. Not jumped for anything or made a run in behind. Otherwise very even? 

martinb

Kane a bit of a black hole so far. Not jumped for anything or made a run in behind. Otherwise very even? 

Got a yellow for crunching a guys ankle

Typically tense first 45, neither keeper really tested.

That's the Spain we've seen so far, Pickford you have been tested and found wanting.

Palmer with the goal from nowhere! 1-1

2-1 Spain, football has a new home lol

Congratulations Spain. 

best team in the tournament by a long way, and possibly for a good number of years with the youth they have in the first team already.

Cucurella on the ground from the 92 to 94th minute, and the game ends on the dot of 94?

20 Legend

Cucurella on the ground from the 92 to 94th minute, and the game ends on the dot of 94?

An extra 2 minutes wasnt gonna help England in any way.

Devastating to get so close again. Sport is cruel. 

For the last two games each time he got the ball he was booed.

Does anyone know why?

Spain - 7 games - 7 wins, You can't argue with that.

Thought Shaw and Walker did a great job on the wingers first half. Though Walker had a good game, is it too harsh to say both goals came from him switching off?

AucklandPhoenix

For the last two games each time he got the ball he was booed.

Does anyone know why?

AucklandPhoenix

For the last two games each time he got the ball he was booed.

Does anyone know why?

German fans still pisseed for his NOT handball, definitely not his fault, rules are murky.

Congrats to Spain best team of the EURO 2024.

ajc28

Devastating to get so close again. Sport is cruel. 

And so say the French and the Dutch, let alone the Portuguese and the Belgians.
The Georgians, in contrast, were celebrating in Tbilisi as if their team won the title.

Mainland FC

ajc28

Devastating to get so close again. Sport is cruel. 

And so say the French and the Dutch, let alone the Portuguese and the Belgians.
The Georgians, in contrast, were celebrating in Tbilisi as if their team won the title.

Belgium who were knocked out in the round of 16? Portugal who were knocked out in the quarters?

Care to tell me how they were remotely close?

Third tournament in a row where England has had a really favorable draw and then can’t get it going when they get to a big important match against quality opponents. 
The reality is that Spain were several levels better. England were just holding on in the hope of nicking a late goal or going to penalties. But the luck that got them this far ran out.
Somewhere in there is a decent team, they have good players but the continually fail to deliver as a team. Maybe collectively they are just not that good.
As a neutral I am pleased Spain won. They were the really bright light in this tournament where so many top teams played really dull conservative football. Their youngsters are a joy to watch. There is a rumor that Chelsea are trying to sign Williams…..that is so depressing.

Pleased the team that played attractive football and had the nous to put a 16 year old in their starting line up, won.

Unbelievable that guy and well done Spain.

I guess it went "home" to a warmer climate??

I don't know what the fans are complaining about, England won the Euros just two years ago

Mainland FC

ajc28

Devastating to get so close again. Sport is cruel. 

And so say the French and the Dutch, let alone the Portuguese and the Belgians.
The Georgians, in contrast, were celebrating in Tbilisi as if their team won the title.

 Won the golden boot too!

Mainland FC

ajc28

Devastating to get so close again. Sport is cruel. 

And so say the French and the Dutch, let alone the Portuguese and the Belgians.
The Georgians, in contrast, were celebrating in Tbilisi as if their team won the title.

The Irish are also celebrating, even though they didn't even qualify