Euro 2020 (21)

[Gingerfinch]

England - Germany now.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can't write off the Germans.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bound to be a late goal somewhere.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Germany play England. England play the ghosts of Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, Mattheus and Oliver Kahn.

[Gingerfinch]

Germany play England. England play the ghosts of Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, Mattheus and Oliver Kahn.

And Kuntz!

[Arthur Crabtree]

The lot of them.

[bigfluffylemon]

Had to be missing Germany, didn't it?

[Gingerfinch]

Win that and not a bad route to the final.

[Durhamfootman]

Can't write off the Germans.

never write off the Germans

[Durhamfootman]

Germany play England. England play the ghosts of Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, Mattheus and Oliver Kahn.

And Kuntz!

Carsten Jancker?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Obviously they have had the odd bad apple (Klinsmann, Andreas Möller, Schumacher) but I've always liked Germany for their alliance of industry and technique and their relentlessness and seeming ability to get the best out of themselves.

[sussexpob]

Obviously they have had the odd bad apple (Klinsmann, Andreas Möller, Schumacher) but I've always liked Germany for their alliance of industry and technique and their relentlessness and seeming ability to get the best out of themselves.

What did Andreas do? Cant remember him being a bad apple, it was always Steffan Effenberg in that generation of Germans who was the idiot. Klinsmann loved a dive, but I dont think you can single him out for that. And things like the 1990 WC final probably show why Klinsmann might have dived; people loved to kick ten bells of sh*te out of him all the time he got the ball.

Agreed with the sentiment. When England get knocked out a tournament, I always want the Germans to do well. Always had a soft spot for them and the Italians for the way they play the game.

[sussexpob]

Guess Yuppie will be happy with the Sweden victory. Not sure how they managed it though, Poland seemed to dominate the parts of the match I saw (last 60 minutes), but Sweden picked them off at the back.

Going to be very interesting here with Portugal v Belgium. I live about 15 minutes away from a massive Portuguese/Brazilian community in Brussels, went for a walk last night after their fans were out in huge numbers in the streets partying. Cars with Portugal flags driving by honking horns well past 1-2 am I could still hear them.

St Gilles will be rocking on Sunday night, but which set of fans will be the ones leading the dancing? When Brazil lost in 2018, there was no trouble, the Brazilian fans joined the street party in the end with their samba drummers.

Hoping for the same vibe this time. Be a shame if it ends with trouble.

[Arthur Crabtree]

At the time, Möller rubbed me up a bit because of the Gascoigne celebration imitation after he had knocked England out on penalties (1996?) which now I think was quite humorous. But he was a legendary diver. Unpopular with his team mates, but being Germany they just got on with it. Jurgen's charm offensive at Spurs was exemplary, and I quite liked him, but he was nevertheless one of the all time great cheats.

Watching France v Portugal last night reminded me that I can't stand Ronaldo and I started watching the other game after half time. But the speed and skill with which Portugal moved the ball around was pretty impressive. Even if they didn't create many chances. I think Belgium are among the favourites, so that would be one for me to watch, if I could bear it. Maybe Portugal will rest CR...

[Durhamfootman]

It was the first half of the Germany game that I watchd, because I already knew that England would end up with Germany and I wanted to have a look. I confess that Hungary impressed me somewhat, they tackled like demons, they hassled the Germans until they got the ball off them and then sent Billy Whizz wingers into full on attack mode. Gave Germany a torrid time. By comparison Germany looked as ponderous going forward as England have looked. No urgency at all