Good lord 😆

This is the first time in a long time I’m actually looking forward to supporting England. The kids are alright and mostly likeable.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Leaving out Ramos for Eric Garcia is somewhat of a joke, and you especially question the integrity of the decision when Enrique is the person making it.

Leaving our Ramos is one thing, not calling up Nacho? Clearly something is wrong with Enrique and Madrid players

Here's England provisional squad

Yeah, Nacho has been great this season and can literally play across the entire back four without problems.

Iago Aspas deserved to be there imo.

Probably the best performing Spanish attacker and has pretty much single handedly kept Celta Vigo in the premier division for a few seasons.

Yeah him and Moreno are easily Spain's best attackers. You can understand Ferran and Oyarzabal but no idea why Morata and Sarabia have been picked ahead of him.

Luis Alberto is another notable omission. He has been consistently producing the numbers for Lazio.

Netherlands have named their final 26 man squad. A far cry from the glory days of 90s and 2000s.

Goalkeepers - Cilissen, Krul, Stekelenburg

Defenders - de Ligt, de Vrij, van Aanholt, Blind, Ake, Dumfries, Veltman, Timber, Wijndal

Midfielders - Wijnaldum, Frenkie de Jong, de Roon, van de Beek, Gravenberch, Koopmeiners, Klaassen

Forwards - Depay, Weghorst, Luuk de Jong, Malen, Gapko, Promes, Berghuis

Veltman, van Aanholt, Klaassen, Berghuis... wow those quality.

Surprised Hateboer, Botman, Bergwijn, Boadu not called up.

mentalvortex wrote:

Netherlands have named their final 26 man squad. A far cry from the glory days of 90s and 2000s.

yeah but they're not exactly shit either. Certainly have players to work with there.

There’s enough talent there. Especially when managers like Southgate actively seek to neutralize their own assets

5 days later

Italy final 26 man squad.

Goalkeepers - Donnarumma, Sirigu, Meret

Defenders - Chiellini, Bonucci, Acerbi, Bastoni, Di Lorenzo, Toloi, Spinazzola, Emerson Palmieri

Midfielders - Jorginho, Verratti, Florenzi, Barella, Pellegrini, Locatelli, Sensi, Cristante

Forwards - Immobile, Belotti, Berardi, Chiesa, Insigne, Bernardeschi, Raspadori

Why is Bellingham so highly rated? Technically good and tidy but I don’t see anything remotely special in his game but I’ve only seen him 4 or 5 times.

He’s 17 or so and each time I’ve seen him in the champions league he’s gone out and played really composed game against grown men. And he can score. He just looks like a quality player. There is a a chance that he’s a physical specimen and he’s just fully developed early, but he looks good already. He would’ve improved us a lot of games this season next to Partey

I've mainly noticed him in the CL and thought he looked great there. Can't say I've really paid attention to him while watching their league games.

I think there’s a temptation to overrate players who make a breakthrough at a really young age because the assumption is they’ll get a lot better which isn’t always the case. I remember Henderson was really highly rated because he was 18, composed and could pass 15 yards. There’s Douzi and Denilson too. Could be wrong though, as I say I’ve not seen him enough.

Grealish having a poor game too, makes you wonder how well he would do in a side that would come up against deep defences regularly.

Saka doing us proud.

Sakaaaaa

Good finish from a tight angle from our lad.

Bellingham has won the ball about 4 times since I wrong the post above. Maybe I’m doing him a disservice.

He looks good tonight. But Grealish is another level.
If Saka hadn’t run central on the last cross from Grealish, he might’ve been open at the far pIdt

Grealish is not fit. You can see him still limping with the ice pack.

Bellingham has everything to be a great CM. Tackles well, great on the ball and could thread a pass. Like a young Vieira. Whether he develops to that level remains to be seen but you can see why he has such a high price tag now

goon wrote:

Why is Bellingham so highly rated? Technically good and tidy but I don’t see anything remotely special in his game but I’ve only seen him 4 or 5 times.

Seen this opinion a bunch of times now here. He's easily England's biggest CM talent, Clrnc says it he has basically no weakness in his game. Athleticism skill on the ball and understanding of the game, it's ridiculous how far he is in all aspects for a 17 year old.

Are people really that vexxed by people taking the knee to boo that much? Fucking hell, talk about being triggered. Guess not having fans around during last year's run in and thus season allowed the players to show their solidarity against racism and discrimination without that kind of nonsense. Some people really are cunts.

Big Willie wrote:

Are people really that vexxed by people taking the knee to boo that much? 

something as tribal as football would absolutely draw the dickheads in.

banduan wrote:
Big Willie wrote:

Are people really that vexxed by people taking the knee to boo that much? 

something as tribal as football would absolutely draw the dickheads in.

It's just so bullshit man. Seeing shit like that makes you feel like people have no intention of accepting change that fosters inclusivity and discourages the type of intolerance that's surprisingly still prevalent in this day and age.

We live in such a zero sum world

Anyone feel there's absolutely zero hype for this ? Feels like nobody is talking about the euros

Really enjoyed seeing Saka score, haven't been able to celebrate many England goals scored by Arsenal players.

Irish gunner wrote:

Anyone feel there's absolutely zero hype for this ? Feels like nobody is talking about the euros

I suspect Arsenal fans are exhausted.
The Euros also don’t have a great fixture list other than Group F. I’m basically waiting for Last 16

Pretty much. It's difficult to face yet more football after this season plus Arsenal are barely involved.

I can't believe we have only two starters in Xhaka and Tierney. Part of me was hoping Saka wouldn't be picked so then I could root against England without feeling bad. Now it will be a mixed feeling, especially if he plays.

Gone were the days we have over 10 players called up and a few are team captains

Irish gunner wrote:

Anyone feel there's absolutely zero hype for this ? Feels like nobody is talking about the euros

nah it's the pandemic mate. Such a massive dampener.

4 days later

I'll definitely join up tomorrow once I'm back to work.

Pretty incredible Euro 2021 absentees XI 

Pretty ridiculous that Theo Hernandez missed out. The French are stacked.

How the hell did Theo miss out?

Kulusevski out for Sweden due to covid. Terrible news for the Swedes given that he is one of their only creative player

Clrnc wrote:

How the hell did Theo miss out?

Kulusevski out for Sweden due to covid. Terrible news for the Swedes given that he is one of their only creative player

Deschamps clearly doesn't rate him higher than Lucas or Ferland Mendy.

Very much a defensive safety first manager like his mentors Aime Jaquet or Lippi.

Calling up Digne instead of Theo Hernandez is as retarded as it can get.

I can't believe Theo don't even have a single cap yet.

EDIT: Just realised Ferland isn't even injured.