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Who Are Going To Be Euro 2024 Champions ?

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "You seem to have a real problem with Hamman calling out obvious poor performances. Both Ronaldo and M'bappe have had below par performances this tournament, that is undeniable. Hamman calling what he sees is not 'whinging' it's his opinion and it reflects the opinion of many others too. I'm sure if Portugal won the Euros you would be on here waxing lyrical about the greatness of Ronaldo, not his teammates, like you were pre tournament. So you can't have all the praise and zero criticism when both have their rightful place in sport."
No I don't have a problem with Hamman per se, I consider myself to be a very fair minded critic so I just call it as I see it, also I didn't coin the phrase "Whinging" here on this forum, with regards to his critism of Ronaldo in my own opinion I didn't take too kindly to the amount of minutes he took to describe the emotional breakdown of Ronaldo when his penalty was saved, no matter what Ronaldo is he is only human, no more and no less than any of us.

As for M'bappe of course he has played below par but only by his own standard set by himself never the less no matter who played below par France reached the semifinal. With the greatest of respect to France, I explained in a previous post why they lost out to Spain, most of the blame for that blame fell on M'bappe which I thought was grossly unfair, please refer to my previous post on that game.

The Netherlands performance tonight was to say the least embarrassing and that is not a word I use easily to be descriptive, but yes embarrassing and not too much about that performance got a mention.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2978 - 10/07/2024 22:46:33    2558289

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I must say I'm buzzing for England to lose two consecutive European championship finals

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3042 - 10/07/2024 22:52:09    2558292

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This may sound silly considering he has won a world cup, but has deschamps underachieved with france in his time as manager? Surely should have won at least another tournament

MLR (Carlow) - Posts: 76 - 10/07/2024 22:52:56    2558293

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Replying To hughieferm:  "May ask Mbappe, he will be deciding!!"
Too busy telling French people who they should vote for to be doing his actual job it seems.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2959 - 11/07/2024 07:30:53    2558314

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I feel England are in for a rude awakening in Sunday evening. Getting carried away (as only they can do) having limped passed some pretty poor sides so far. Holland last night (referee decisions aside) were very poor and did not deserve to win the game.

Spain will be a step up and a step too far for this English team.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 965 - 11/07/2024 09:18:55    2558323

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Replying To supersub15:  "No I don't have a problem with Hamman per se, I consider myself to be a very fair minded critic so I just call it as I see it, also I didn't coin the phrase "Whinging" here on this forum, with regards to his critism of Ronaldo in my own opinion I didn't take too kindly to the amount of minutes he took to describe the emotional breakdown of Ronaldo when his penalty was saved, no matter what Ronaldo is he is only human, no more and no less than any of us.

As for M'bappe of course he has played below par but only by his own standard set by himself never the less no matter who played below par France reached the semifinal. With the greatest of respect to France, I explained in a previous post why they lost out to Spain, most of the blame for that blame fell on M'bappe which I thought was grossly unfair, please refer to my previous post on that game.

The Netherlands performance tonight was to say the least embarrassing and that is not a word I use easily to be descriptive, but yes embarrassing and not too much about that performance got a mention."
In what way embarrassing? Ireland were quite competitive recently v Netherlands, and if Ireland are competitive with you, you're not a particularly great side.

England have a far more talented squad than Netherlands have. It wasn't in the slightest bit embarrassing. In fact they did very well after HT imo, when they found parity in the game by tightening up and getting more physical. They'd have gotten to extra time too, only the centre back seemed to think he was still marking Kane in the final moments, and Watkins presented a fresher problem, and the ko blow.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3829 - 11/07/2024 09:33:08    2558326

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Too busy telling French people who they should vote for to be doing his actual job it seems."
He was dead right using his status and platform to show his disdain for Le Pen's mob.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 11/07/2024 09:37:43    2558327

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "I feel England are in for a rude awakening in Sunday evening. Getting carried away (as only they can do) having limped passed some pretty poor sides so far. Holland last night (referee decisions aside) were very poor and did not deserve to win the game.

Spain will be a step up and a step too far for this English team."
Limped into the last final as well of course, plus the semi and quarter of the last two world cups. It's a burgeoning cv, but we can keep saying they're ***** if we like, and a lot of us do like.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3829 - 11/07/2024 09:42:44    2558328

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A bit harsh on Holland no? They are not of the same vintage as previous Dutch teams and were missing their first choice midfield (de Jong and Koopmeiners). The referee was very sore on them I thought. After a pretty open first half where England dominated, Koeman adjusted tactically and I thought Holland played a lot of the second half on their terms. They just do not have elite quality up front anymore, no Van Basten, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Van Nistelrooy or Van Persie.

To call them very poor and an embarrassment is unfair though I think. They had some chances from set pieces which England were lucky to escape from, and they also put together one fantastic move, playing out from the back, they cut England open down the left. But again their lack of real quality in the final third let them down.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 11/07/2024 09:52:37    2558333

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Replying To supersub15:  "No I don't have a problem with Hamman per se, I consider myself to be a very fair minded critic so I just call it as I see it, also I didn't coin the phrase "Whinging" here on this forum, with regards to his critism of Ronaldo in my own opinion I didn't take too kindly to the amount of minutes he took to describe the emotional breakdown of Ronaldo when his penalty was saved, no matter what Ronaldo is he is only human, no more and no less than any of us.

As for M'bappe of course he has played below par but only by his own standard set by himself never the less no matter who played below par France reached the semifinal. With the greatest of respect to France, I explained in a previous post why they lost out to Spain, most of the blame for that blame fell on M'bappe which I thought was grossly unfair, please refer to my previous post on that game.

The Netherlands performance tonight was to say the least embarrassing and that is not a word I use easily to be descriptive, but yes embarrassing and not too much about that performance got a mention."
"last week Hamman was whinging about Ronaldo, this week he is whining about M'bappe" if that's not coining the phrase 'whinge' then what is?

You don't have a problem with the amount of time spent on Ronaldo when it comes to heaping praise on him as we've seen on this thread alone. But you obviously can't handle when the other shoe falls either. You obviously recognise that he is a household name, so why is it so difficult to figure that he will receive more air time than the others? This goes for M'Bappe too. But when a 40 year old captain of a big footballing nation decides to start sobbing like a child during a match that's still in play, it is bizarre behaviour, rarely, if ever, seen at elite level, then it's a talking point whether you like it or not. Even his teammates seemed perplexed by his actions and had to have words with him.

France definitely have issues beyond just M'bappe as do Portugal beyond Ronaldo. But when both teams are built around those two players, both were odds on top scorers pre tournament and both being touted pre tournament to be the type of players to lead their country to success or as you claimed, it was going to springboard the career of 40 year old Ronaldo, then there will obviously be criticism coming their way when they are missing chances they'd usually put away in their sleep.

You have no problem coining a newly formed Dutch side as 'embarrassing' for reaching a semi but you're defending M'bappe for doing the same thing. Would it not be better to just admit what you've already demonstrated. That some players are more equal than other players because of the levels they can reach, therefore, like the endless praise they receive more often than not, they sometimes have to take on board the same amount of airtime for criticism?

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2470 - 11/07/2024 10:42:10    2558343

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "I feel England are in for a rude awakening in Sunday evening. Getting carried away (as only they can do) having limped passed some pretty poor sides so far. Holland last night (referee decisions aside) were very poor and did not deserve to win the game.

Spain will be a step up and a step too far for this English team."
i hope you are correct but i don't think it'll be as cut and dried or a walk in the park for Spain, i wouldn't be shocked one bit if England won

ModernMaharaja (Donegal) - Posts: 76 - 11/07/2024 11:41:12    2558352

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Replying To ModernMaharaja:  "i hope you are correct but i don't think it'll be as cut and dried or a walk in the park for Spain, i wouldn't be shocked one bit if England won"
Yes the best teams don't always win these tournaments. Look at Greece 2004, Portugal in 2016.
England seem to have that intangible ingredient on their side. Call it luck, fate, whatever - they haven't played well all tournament bar the first half against Holland last night. Injury time bicycle kick equalisers, penalty shootouts, last minute winners - could it just be their time?

Obviosuly I hope not. Spain have been brilliant to watch and would eb worthy winners. Doedn't always work out like that though.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 11/07/2024 12:17:33    2558358

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Replying To ModernMaharaja:  "i hope you are correct but i don't think it'll be as cut and dried or a walk in the park for Spain, i wouldn't be shocked one bit if England won"
Yup, they were very impressive last night and easily deserved their win, best performance of the tournament so far..

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 11/07/2024 12:21:53    2558360

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "I feel England are in for a rude awakening in Sunday evening. Getting carried away (as only they can do) having limped passed some pretty poor sides so far. Holland last night (referee decisions aside) were very poor and did not deserve to win the game.

Spain will be a step up and a step too far for this English team."
I hope and pray that what you say is correct but what i fear is that Spain could be due a bad game as they have had a string of big performances so far and they could have a bad game against England

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 739 - 11/07/2024 12:29:04    2558362

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "In what way embarrassing? Ireland were quite competitive recently v Netherlands, and if Ireland are competitive with you, you're not a particularly great side.

England have a far more talented squad than Netherlands have. It wasn't in the slightest bit embarrassing. In fact they did very well after HT imo, when they found parity in the game by tightening up and getting more physical. They'd have gotten to extra time too, only the centre back seemed to think he was still marking Kane in the final moments, and Watkins presented a fresher problem, and the ko blow."
A class finish from Watkins. Southgate gets a lot of criticism at times but his switches worked.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7571 - 11/07/2024 12:30:53    2558363

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Looks to me like England's name is on it, if that was a penalty last night then soccer is finished, how can a defender stop a shot? arms tucked round his back and not allowed to raise your foot, I was just waiting for someone in commentary to say it was a penalty because of a foot block lol.
Soccer is a game of diving and cheating now anyway, it was never good but it's sunk to a new level altogether.
Hopefully Spain will hold possession and have the English running round in circles before beating them 5.0. hopefully.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2937 - 11/07/2024 14:07:27    2558388

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Looks to me like England's name is on it, if that was a penalty last night then soccer is finished, how can a defender stop a shot? arms tucked round his back and not allowed to raise your foot, I was just waiting for someone in commentary to say it was a penalty because of a foot block lol.
Soccer is a game of diving and cheating now anyway, it was never good but it's sunk to a new level altogether.
Hopefully Spain will hold possession and have the English running round in circles before beating them 5.0. hopefully."
I wouldn't have given a penalty myself, but when you go into a player with your studs showing youre walking a tightrope.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 11/07/2024 15:59:28    2558414

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Also, I don't follow the tactical side of the game much, but it seems to me that for all the stick kane is getting, Bellingham has been kinda useless over the tournament too, goal v Slovakia aside.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 11/07/2024 16:34:15    2558417

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Replying To Redhot:  "I hope and pray that what you say is correct but what i fear is that Spain could be due a bad game as they have had a string of big performances so far and they could have a bad game against England"
Don't panic, we seen Holland last night cutting this england team to shreds. Spain will pass their way to glory, fingers, feet, legs and everything crossed.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2130 - 11/07/2024 17:25:50    2558424

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Replying To SaffronDon:  ""last week Hamman was whinging about Ronaldo, this week he is whining about M'bappe" if that's not coining the phrase 'whinge' then what is?

You don't have a problem with the amount of time spent on Ronaldo when it comes to heaping praise on him as we've seen on this thread alone. But you obviously can't handle when the other shoe falls either. You obviously recognise that he is a household name, so why is it so difficult to figure that he will receive more air time than the others? This goes for M'Bappe too. But when a 40 year old captain of a big footballing nation decides to start sobbing like a child during a match that's still in play, it is bizarre behaviour, rarely, if ever, seen at elite level, then it's a talking point whether you like it or not. Even his teammates seemed perplexed by his actions and had to have words with him.

France definitely have issues beyond just M'bappe as do Portugal beyond Ronaldo. But when both teams are built around those two players, both were odds on top scorers pre tournament and both being touted pre tournament to be the type of players to lead their country to success or as you claimed, it was going to springboard the career of 40 year old Ronaldo, then there will obviously be criticism coming their way when they are missing chances they'd usually put away in their sleep.

You have no problem coining a newly formed Dutch side as 'embarrassing' for reaching a semi but you're defending M'bappe for doing the same thing. Would it not be better to just admit what you've already demonstrated. That some players are more equal than other players because of the levels they can reach, therefore, like the endless praise they receive more often than not, they sometimes have to take on board the same amount of airtime for criticism?"
SaffronDon, I don't want to appear as if I'm nit picking but if you refer back to and read supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2946 - 10/07/2024 22:46:33 you will clearly read I have already answered in full and with clarity all your questions/concerns/doubts, with one exception which was the word "Embarrassing" I used that word simply because I couldn't find a more appropriate or fairer one to describe the issue I was referring to, like where did their chance go in reaching the final as soon as England scored their equalizer.? Now I put that question back to you, and I would really appreciate an honest and air tight answer with some clarity.
I'll give you a bit of help to get you started, like, where did their structured game go, why did their short passing go askew, why was their long passes way off target, why was saka given acres of space to create first touch chances and create opportunities almost at will, now that is a good start for you.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2978 - 11/07/2024 18:17:48    2558428

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