Yeah and I think the options on the bench as well. There’s only a few players that will be rested or subbed and they’re mainly in defence plus Kane and Sterling.

The drop off in quality to quite a lot of our subs in the past has been huge. Now you could actually argue some of these subs have more quality than players starting games.

I've doubted a few of Southgate's selections at this tournament but I'm not sure about this one.

We do have some absolute stains among our support. It would make me think twice about travelling to watch England if I ever had the opportunity.

Hopefully it pays off and it comes home.

Enjoy the game, lads.

Congratulashuns fourser!

Commiserations to all the England boys here. Must be tough moments for you.

I’ve never seen my team won a trophy. Ultimate nearly man.

Thought we were good first half but poor after that, it’s fine it happens, Mancini is one of the greatest tacticians I’ve ever seen. It’s sad and it sucks as fans aside there wasn’t a team more deserving. Love Southgate, love England football team (think less of the nation).

Love Southgate? I think I’d want to kill him if I were English.

Commiserations boys. Disappointed and peed off with Southgate not being able to manage the game properly yesterday. This is definitely a missed opportunity. Unfortunately, Mancini got the better of Southgate.

Oh well there is hoping England goes one step further in the World Cup.

Congrats #4za. Italians played with grit and determination and deserved to win it on merit

comment by it’sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
Love Southgate? I think I’d want to kill him if I were English.
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Of course I do. In many aspects it’s more than a game.

Love Southgate? I think I’d want to kill him if I were English.

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It's a difficult one because although he has some pretty big faults which unfortunately were on display again last night, he's done so much good with the national side and I've experienced higher and more frequent highs watching England under him than any other manager although losing to Italy is certainly the most devastating loss I've witnessed.

I do think he's taken us as far as he can tbh. We'll never have this kind of opportunity to win a major tournament under him again.

Getting rid of him could be deemed harsh but I think it's a similar situation to what we have at United with Ole, in that it may take somebody who can improve us in possession and puts more emphasis on attack to actually win something.

Even though Italy are a very good side, were deserved winners on the night and had been my favourites to win the tournament from early on, I'm still left with a massive feeling of what if.

I think Southgate's caution and lack of reaction to Italy dominating is ultimately what I won't say cost us but it reduced our chances of winning more than anything else in the end. I hate stuttered run ups at penalties but I won't lay the blame on anyone who missed. We weren't able to stem the flow and really gain any sort of control once Italy started to assert themselves in the second half and as I've said before, it can be difficult to inject tempo when you're often stuck in a defensive mindset.

Anyway, well done Italy and congrats 4za.

yeah, Southgate was rather negative in his approach.
|It certainly cost England

When England did attack with pace and numbers....at the start of the match, they caused Italy alot of problems

There were also very short spells later on when England passed the ball around a bit and looked more than competent doing so. I appreciate it’s hard to coach a passing game into a team that only meets up every so often, but without having to take it to such extremes, England most definitely have the raw materials to play waaay more assertively.

As far as Southgate’s concerned, I do think he deserves some credit for stabilising the team, but I certainly don’t think he’s got the best out of the team or anywhere near the best they can give. Again, you can only beat what’s in front of you, but England have had a couple of dream draws in the past two championships. Where I am fully behind him is in his standing by his players in their effort to make a statement against racism.

That was pretty hard to take.

Congratulations, Forza.

comment by it’sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 45 minutes ago
There were also very short spells later on when England passed the ball around a bit and looked more than competent doing so. I appreciate it’s hard to coach a passing game into a team that only meets up every so often, but without having to take it to such extremes, England most definitely have the raw materials to play waaay more assertively.

As far as Southgate’s concerned, I do think he deserves some credit for stabilising the team, but I certainly don’t think he’s got the best out of the team or anywhere near the best they can give. Again, you can only beat what’s in front of you, but England have had a couple of dream draws in the past two championships. Where I am fully behind him is in his standing by his players in their effort to make a statement against racism.
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Yeah, in my theory where a manager can make the collective talent look +/- 20% if their combined ability I think Southgate has the team at about par. As a figurehead and leader, he is a hero.

Edin is very easily impressed it seems

Southgate’s not perfect, but we were a penalty shootout away from winning the Euros against a team that are better than probably any in world football right now. I can’t complain too much.

comment by Gareth The King Southgate (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
Southgate’s not perfect, but we were a penalty shootout away from winning the Euros against a team that are better than probably any in world football right now. I can’t complain too much.
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to be fair Daz, Spain played Italy off the park in the Semi

I don't consider them a better team than Spain

Shows how fickle you are. You’ve been telling me how crap Spain are all tournament.

comment by Gareth The King Southgate (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Shows how fickle you are. You’ve been telling me how crap Spain are all tournament.
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ano
and they still outplayed italy !!

comment by peks - 1974 (U6618)
posted 36 minutes ago
Edin is very easily impressed it seems
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How?

comment by Gareth The King Southgate (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 55 minutes ago
Shows how fickle you are. You’ve been telling me how crap Spain are all tournament.
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Spain certainly gave a far better account of themselves than expected, but they still looked at every step like they’d come unstuck against the first clinical side they faced.

Ultimately, international football (and indeed elite professional sport to a greater or lesser extent) is a test of character in which the teams that have already established a winning tradition have a considerable head start.

I agree, there’s also very fine lines between winning and losing mostly. The weight of expectation can play a part, look at Argentina’s struggles over the years. England have obviously had this problem as well.

Atleti sign De Paul from Udinese
I liked the look of him at the Copa America...looked a good player

FAK!

i wanted Napoli too sign DePaul ffs

DePaul is awesome

bad-ass defensive midfielder who also scores a sheet lotta gols.