Round of 16

[Vintage]

Prosinecki and Boban are two of my favourite players of all time. Legends

Absolutely loved Boban and that Milan side he was in

 

[Jamiednm]

When you look at the quality of the "big" international sides - there can be no question that football is witnessing a decline in players with actual ability.

I made reference to this in a previous discussion over the lack of top level strikers out there at present in Europe.

Poses the question, is it a temporary blip or has the need for footballers to now press like lunatics for 90 minutes changed how we develop players ? Seems to be ability on the ball is secondary to pace & stamina at the highest level now.

Thankfully it’s cyclical. At some point, a new system will emerge and the emphasis will shift back on to ballers over runners. Hopefully soon.

 

[Tommy Chong]

A sumptuous ball in from Yamal. Now that is how to cross a ball. Take notes, England.

Amazing cross, but the Georgian defenders were all ball watching for that header...

 

[TheBigIguana]

Do you consider the Greece 04 side good then?

No? Underdog runs happen in cups. Portugal should be appalled by losing that.

 

[miami]

Hopefully the Georgian manager takes charge of the Irish team after the euros

Ireland don’t have the required skill, athleticism or drive to play like the Georgians. Ireland as a football nation is dead.

Sad days.

 

[Drico]

Yeah but we would've had to play a decent side eventually. Southgate not changed anything there, once we come up against a decent side we lose. He's got us better at pens and group stages

Not too many decent sides on England's half of the draw this time...

I mean, if Switzerland and Austria - those titans of world football - are the best the hipsters can throw out there as "obstacles", get the Palace booked for that knighthood for Sir Phillip Foden.

 

[miami]

James Rodriguez is a good example of a player who wouldn't be at a top side now due to his lack of physical attributes.

Just looking at forwards, it wasn't so long ago the following were all around the same era or thereabouts:

Ronaldo
Messi
Rooney
Van Persie
Suarez
Aguero
David Villa
Torres
Drogba
Costa
Zlatan
Kane
Eto'o
Klose
Higuain
Cavani
Tevez
Neymar
Lukaku
Aubameyang
Muller

Plenty more but just raising the point of where have they all gone ?

Haaland, Kane, Salah, Mbappe & Lewandowski aside, not much out there at present.

You forgot maupay.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Not too many decent sides on England's half of the draw this time...

I mean, if Switzerland and Austria - those titans of world football - are the best the hipsters can throw out there as "obstacles", get the Palace booked for that knighthood for Sir Phillip Foden.

There aren't so he will probably get beat in the final as an 'accomplishment' again. Though if this tournament is anything to go by the Swiss will beat them

 

[Vintage]

Ireland don’t have the required skill, athleticism or drive to play like the Georgians. Ireland as a football nation is dead.

Sad days.

Least he might get them organised and play with some sort of a plan rather than just going out and seeing what the players can muster up as they go along but I do agree with you

 

[Littlesue]

This a much better game

 

[TheBigIguana]

When you look at the quality of the "big" international sides - there can be no question that football is witnessing a decline in players with actual ability.

I made reference to this in a previous discussion over the lack of top level strikers out there at present in Europe.

Poses the question, is it a temporary blip or has the need for footballers to now press like lunatics for 90 minutes changed how we develop players ? Seems to be ability on the ball is secondary to pace & stamina at the highest level now.

I think something like a sin bin would have a huge effect on how much teams can press. It’s overwhelmingly the best way to play and part of that is how callously you can kill counters with no real penalty.

 

[Drico]

No? Underdog runs happen in cups. Portugal should be appalled by losing that.

Yup, I thought that at the time. That was a missed opportunity if ever there was one. Did Greece deserve their win? Completely. But the onus is on the so-called top sides, those with the creative players, to beat redoubtable sides like Greece. And when they don't, the credit goes to the underdogs and the ignominy to the favourites.

 

[Runub]

Surprising that a number of the typically bigger teams are finding it difficult to put the minnows of Europe away in these finals. Maybe England have not done as badly as it seems

 

[MikeH72]

They went out in 2010 because they messed up a winnable group. They went out in 2014 because they lost a group that Costa Rica won.

I really can’t believe how many people want to fight on whether England are showing more consistency with advancing under Southgate than they did before. He’s now won more knockout ties than England did post-1966 to his taking over. This is unprecedented for England!

Tournament.

Draws.

 

[BainesontoastNEW]

How do you say "f****ing SQUARE IT' in Georgian?