When The Post Mortem Is Finished Over England V Italy Game

[Bobbisox1]

The English nation can still be proud of their national team who lifted their spirits and gave us all a feeling of pride during this pandemic ,I’ve been away for the weekend and the patriotism was everywhere with the St George Cross flags and red and white balloons arched at entrances , bunting adorned the log cabins , the weather today coming back is torrential rain but I’d say we’re all still on a high with pride

[jno]

and why not. Not English myself, and perturbed as ever by the accompanying violence and racial abuse, but that's very much in the minority. England did well and the team seem to be a nice bunch.

[Bobbisox1]

Those people who went on the rampage and those who were racially abusive weren’t fans, they are thugs who will never amount to anything

[Ken4155]

I agree, Bobbi. Using one of the newspaper's free charts, i mapped out our possible progress and had us going out at maybe the QF stage, or the SF stage. And i, for one, was surprised - but definitely delighted - we reached the final where, for a good period of the first half, i thought we would win it. Then the Italians began to control the game and show why they are unbeaten since Noah built the Ark. At the end, we were just found wanting and we should be (and indeed are) proud of all those who represented us.
As an aside, this experience will also serve to boost the confidence of the players going forward into the WC qualifiers and the WC itself.

[jno]

could be but I suspect they're still "football fans": most people in the country seem to be, to some degree, and these are just at the sleazier end of the spectrum.

[ichkeria]

The worst thing England did, on reflection, was score after 2 minutes and take the game by storm. Mancini had lots of time to analyse the situation and repair it. And it’s v difficult to respond back to.
England’s manager it seems to me was a bit too negative and should have made changes earlier.
But fundamentally England lost to a better team. On the plus side, you’d feel the tournament tho a year late was still a year too early for these players. Then again, sport rarely is that conveniently timed ..

[jim360]

Seems odd to argue that going up early was a mistake, and seems odd to argue that the strategy of solid football that had served England well through the tournament was also the issue.

[ichkeria]

Well I wasn’t wholly serious, as of course it wasn’t a “mistake” as such, but partially serious nonetheless. For the reasons given.

In the end tho it came down of course to who could take penalties better and I am with those who think it was unwise to use players who had not been on the field very long and who in one case I don’t think had even touched the ball. Especially very young ones

[pixie374]

Penalties (whoever wins) does seem an odd decider for a team sport. With all the stats they give, couldn't they decide on lack of fouls, saved goals or something that shows "better playing" anyway?

[ichkeria]

Hmm I think a game has to be decided on the field of play.
In the 60s one team reached the final on the toss of a coin!

[ichkeria]

… and that team was, of course, Italy, who then also drew the final but won a replay :-)

[rowanwitch]

Runners up is first losers, success comes from a climate where failure isn't acceptable, calls for awards are premature. Only when they win something. Watching the tennis was an example of this. What gets players like Jokavic to titles was knowing that failure wasn't an option and having put in the work to ensure it didnt happen

[Sqad]

Good post by rowanwitch.......I agree entirely....there are just winners and lovers, no other category exists.

[Sqad]

LOL lol.....I mean "losers".........or do I ?.......-;)

[dannyk13]

Sqad //I agree entirely....there are just winners and lovers//
Freudian slip?

[ichkeria]

I don’t agree actually.
They would be the case if all other things were equal, but they aren’t.
England and Berrettini lost because they weren’t good enough.

[tamborine]

I counted seven yellow cards to Italy and one to England.

If yc were accountable to overall score, it would set fair & safer play.

[roopower]

Listening and watching the many, many people interviewed on various news programmes last night most were disappointed, heartbroken (yes,well) but were looking to the future. The best was a young lad who talked about the team being young and would have more to offer. Many adult idiots would do well to listen to him.

[gulliver1]

No doubt the English fans will still be talking about how they were robbed of this cup in 55 years time. Just like we will never hear the last of 1966.

[Bobbisox1]

You’ll put em right though Gully from your sun drenched island in the sun ( :0))))))))

[gness]

So you said yesterday, Gulliver...and perhaps other posts I didn't see.

You going to keep on for the next fifty five years too?