European Finals.

[The_Gun]

It looks like the article got edited after it was first published and now only says that Saka will start. If Saka plays at LWB that's fine with me - he is primarily an offensive player and didn't deserve dropping after his performance vs the Czechs.

[Worthy4England]

England team tonight has supposedly leaked and is a 343

Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire
Trippier Rice Phillips Shaw
Foden Sterling
Kane

If that is the team then Rice needs to look at what Xhaka did and recreate it. We can’t have a static midfield in that system they need to be all over the pitch up and down and getting forwards. It needs all action international midfield displays. Certainly no room for a static midfield holder in there. Or we will get absolutely pegged.

That's really not a very adventurous lineup, is it? Essentially playing seven defensive players and three offensive. I can't see us scoring with that team on the pitch - the best I'd hope for would be to keep it at 0-0 and then get more adventurous towards the end of the game.

My thoughts exactly - we're going for the counter attack with that set-up, and with a currently out-of-sorts CF up top.

I mean, if it works then fine, I'm sure none of us will mind us providing a sobering antidote to all the exhilaration of yesterday's games, but I think we could well be in for a long, frustrating evening.

It's interesting how people draw the picture - to me, in the games where Shaw and Tripper played, they spent a lot more time defending than overlapping/attacking which in practice makes it look more like a back 4/5 with two in front of them - 7 primarily defensive roles...

If they manage to combine getting forwards with defending then we could score...

I'm not convinced that another combination would actually deliver (theoretically there's an argument that it would) anything much more attacking - dropping Sterling for example.

All in all, we'll shit 'em.

[BWFC_Insane]

England team tonight has supposedly leaked and is a 343

Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire
Trippier Rice Phillips Shaw
Foden Sterling
Kane

If that is the team then Rice needs to look at what Xhaka did and recreate it. We can’t have a static midfield in that system they need to be all over the pitch up and down and getting forwards. It needs all action international midfield displays. Certainly no room for a static midfield holder in there. Or we will get absolutely pegged.

That's really not a very adventurous lineup, is it? Essentially playing seven defensive players and three offensive. I can't see us scoring with that team on the pitch - the best I'd hope for would be to keep it at 0-0 and then get more adventurous towards the end of the game.

My thoughts exactly - we're going for the counter attack with that set-up, and with a currently out-of-sorts CF up top.

I mean, if it works then fine, I'm sure none of us will mind us providing a sobering antidote to all the exhilaration of yesterday's games, but I think we could well be in for a long, frustrating evening.

It's interesting how people draw the picture - to me, in the games where Shaw and Tripper played, they spent a lot more time defending than overlapping/attacking which in practice makes it look more like a back 4/5 with two in front of them - 7 primarily defensive roles...

If they manage to combine getting forwards with defending then we could score...

I'm not convinced that another combination would actually deliver (theoretically there's an argument that it would) anything much more attacking - dropping Sterling for example.

All in all, we'll shit 'em.

My problem with the system is that as I see it the primary advantage of 3 at the back is to get 2 strikers on the pitch with still the 3 in midfield. We are doing neither. It looks like 7 defenders. I’d be happier with Saka as a wing back but that’s a risk isn’t it defensively?

I fear our midfield looks very very weak. If you get the ball to Sterling or Foden or whoever plays there what options do they have? Cut it and hope their wing back can cross for…Kane and nobody else.

I find it hard to see this team playing on the front foot and inviting a team with Germany’s quality on in this shape is a risk. I’d rather play a 4231 and play on the break personally. Perhaps I’m wrong.

[Prufrock]

I think it would be mistake. Surrendering the ball. Without pure pace on the break. Hopefully it's not true but let's see. I said I thought he'd go 343.

[Worthy4England]

My problem with the system is that as I see it the primary advantage of 3 at the back is to get 2 strikers on the pitch with still the 3 in midfield. We are doing neither. It looks like 7 defenders. I’d be happier with Saka as a wing back but that’s a risk isn’t it defensively?

I fear our midfield looks very very weak. If you get the ball to Sterling or Foden or whoever plays there what options do they have? Cut it and hope their wing back can cross for…Kane and nobody else.

I find it hard to see this team playing on the front foot and inviting a team with Germany’s quality on in this shape is a risk. I’d rather play a 4231 and play on the break personally. Perhaps I’m wrong.

Agree mate.

[BWFC_Insane]

Pickford, Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Walker, Trippier, Phillips, Rice, Saka, Kane, Sterling.

Is the team most thinks starts. Apparently.

[Worthy4England]

Pickford, Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Walker, Trippier, Phillips, Rice, Saka, Kane, Sterling.

Is the team most thinks starts. Apparently.

Shouldn't they be announcing about now? Germany team already announced 30 minutes ago...

[Worthy4England]

Pickford, Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Walker, Trippier, Phillips, Rice, Saka, Kane, Sterling.

Is the team most thinks starts. Apparently.

Shouldn't they be announcing about now? Germany team already announced 30 minutes ago...

The team most thinks starts, is the answer...

[BWFC_Insane]

Predictions? I think sadly it’s 3-1 Germany.

[Worthy4England]

Predictions? I think sadly it’s 3-1 Germany.

This side, whatever we think about its faults, is capable of beating Germany. We'll shit 'em.

[BWFC_Insane]

Predictions? I think sadly it’s 3-1 Germany.

This side, whatever we think about its faults, is capable of beating Germany. We'll shit 'em.

Germany have more attacking intent in their team. For me to win needs Kane to be on fire and bang in two chances early on. I think the Germans are beatable but fear our midfield will be swamped.

[Worthy4England]

Predictions? I think sadly it’s 3-1 Germany.

This side, whatever we think about its faults, is capable of beating Germany. We'll shit 'em.

Germany have more attacking intent in their team. For me to win needs Kane to be on fire and bang in two chances early on. I think the Germans are beatable but fear our midfield will be swamped.

Now is not the time for doubt!

Kane will be on fire.
Stirling will just add his one.
Saka will rip 'em and
they won't score against our watertight defence...


C'mon you whites!

[Mar]

Looks like Southgate's gone to nullify any attacking threat from Germany and with the unfortunate side effect of nullifying our attacking threat too. Wouldn't be surprised if this ended a draw and Southgate getting the chance to relive a bit of history against the Germans with a new penalty shootout.

Personally I think England are better attacking than we have shown and 7 defenders doesn't seem like its going to get any better.

Would've like to have seen the likes of Sancho and Calvert Lewin getting a run out by now. Feels like they're going to be an unknown quantity going into this game today. Maybe Foden will come on for Saka.

Don't really like the idea of Rashford coming on for Kane, maybe for Sterling, but either way it's not filling me with much confidence. Grealish on the other hand I reckon could do something for us.

[BWFC_Insane]

Mats Hummels is outstanding as a defender. England have been poor for me. Germany will pick us off as their game is just easier. Kane has been shocking.

[Mar]

Mats Hummels is outstanding as a defender. England have been poor for me. Germany will pick us off as their game is just easier. Kane has been shocking.

Kane is being bypassed. We don't look like we want to give him the ball. So frustrating and he's offering nothing. In that first half I only remember seeing one pass from him. Terrible. Think it's the system that's not helping and his seeming disinterest

[Worthy4England]

England, better team for me over the 45. I rate Kane, but he's a passenger up until last 10 minutes when he showed a bit. Playing with 10 until then.

[BWFC_Insane]

Mats Hummels is outstanding as a defender. England have been poor for me. Germany will pick us off as their game is just easier. Kane has been shocking.

Kane is being bypassed. We don't look like we want to give him the ball. So frustrating and he's offering nothing. In that first half I only remember seeing one pass from him. Terrible. Think it's the system that's not helping and his seeming disinterest

Oh the way we play is so slow and laboured and that doesn’t help. But this is England Germany and your striker can’t be arsed. Lineker and Shearer in the studio can’t believe their eyes.

[Bruce Rioja]

We've actually been a little more adventurous than I thought we would be, but without looking even remotely convincing. Miladdo from Everton must be wondering what he has to do to get a half an hour?!

[GhostoftheBok]

Germany have playmakers in their midfield. Their midfield lends itself to their system.

We've had a couple of chances, but they've been in through the middle a few times due to sharp passing and we can't do that unless Kane drops deep.

Either they will make a forced mistake, Kane will do something insane or they will win. Unless we change it.

[Mar]

England, better team for me over the 45. I rate Kane, but he's a passenger up until last 10 minutes when he showed a bit. Playing with 10 until then.

For Southgate it seems Kane is undroppable. How long do we persist with it. Perhaps Kane is distracted by the transfer rumours and doesn't want to get injured. Maybe he lowers in value if he performs badly and makes it more likely for him to be signed. Either way I'm finding it hard to watch Kane at the moment.


Regarding the slow and laborious i suspect that is a game plan to dictate the play. I think it's working so far as Germany haven't really had much to shout about. Sad thing is I would've thought that this German team would've been the most susceptible to a decent attack