LionOfGosforth

The ref just gives decisions on what players do after contact, might as well take advantage

Not in the game for long periods but dangerous as fuck around the box with the ball

The ref appears to be basing his decisions on reactions, never a good thing in a game like this

Not sure what he's done wrong to get so little time, Phillips and Rice are auto-starts

Can't stand Pickford like, don't care where he's from, he's all wrong, exactly what you don't want at this level, a basket case.

Devon White required

Must say, I didn't like the benching of Sancho but Saka has been quality throughout

Losing the ball in tight spaces and getting countered is a big problem, these are class on the break and we've got a mental midget between the sticks but attacking-wise, we've looked good as well. Very very even game.

Huge response

Both central midfielders have been utter crap

Gonna find out a lot about these players now

Haven't been impressed with Phillips since the first game and yet he's an auto start

Good tenacious play Saka

I like Saka but I didn't like the decision to bench Sancho, think he earned another start.

Aye you don't want to see that again

Denmark are gonna be a handful with those occasional counters

Some odd opinions on this in here like. "Can't fathom his thinking" and my personal favorite "It's like Keegan to the Mackems!!". Get a grip man. He's back in the league he enjoys, he's back in a city where his family home is located, bags of cash to spend and despite the negativity coming his way, he's never given a flying fuck what anyone thinks about his choices. I like and respect the man immensely, it's grim he's gone to a club where he's not going to find the level of respect and appreciation we gave him but that's it, time to move on, we have our own problems to worry about. Namely an indestructible, gargantuan cunt of an owner and a thick patsy wanker manager we can't get rid of.

Correct and it can happen no matter how expansively (or otherwise) you play and how many chances you create and miss (or don't create at all). I honestly think some people expect us to play total football or something. GS has seemingly found a balance that works in the tournament format. It's not for the purist maybe, and there are risks to falling behind, and begs the question can we change in adversity? That's the big question that thankfully hasn't needed to be answered yet.

That was the direct result of an individual mistake, nothing at all to do with anything else, tactics, philosophy, whatever. I get it wouldn't stop the "narrative" anyway, but it's bollocks for anyone to suggest otherwise.

On the subject of Grealish, he appears to function more as a player to stretch tired defenders late in a game. You could argue any of the other attacking players could do the same thing really, though Grealish has a handy ability to win free kicks in dangerous areas as well. The personnel might change slightly (I doubt it though, GS is risk averse at his core) but the system and overall philosophy is rigid and will likely remain unless injury or game situation dictates. Honestly at this point, we are what we are, disciplined, motivated, organized and obviously very hard to score against. As mentioned by Pilko, we're everything that we've needed to be at a tournament but never were until now.

Some good debate in here, find myself agreeing with most of what is being said on both "sides". I feel like, yes, we could play objectively better stuff, but it actually really no longer matters, the stakes are too high for me to care about that anymore. Watched it last night, with no prior knowledge of anything. Felt like there were Flints (Likely Lads reference for the old timers in here) everywhere, trying to tell me the score I thought Germany absolutely bossed the first 15-20 then something changed and it became a much more even game with ebb and flow like a PL game in some ways. Couple of good chances each, great save by Pickford from Werner. Fascinating to watch at times, utterly tense throughout. About as even as i've ever seen an England/Germany game. I think we've obviously reached a stage now where this is how we're going to play and it's not going to change and that's fine with me. Many think we should be playing more "attractive" football and be playing Grealish and/or Sancho (personally would have liked to see more of Foden) but within this tactical framework that Southgate has constructed, I don't think the personnel changes will happen unless we're forced into it (losing in a game) and I think the change in perception of how we're playing would be minimal anyway. As much as the football is functional, rather than artistic, I think it's laudable we've only allowed Germany (even if they're in a bit of transition) one clear chance that they created (Werner), one long ranger (Havertz) and the Muller chance that came from a mistake. How a player of that quality and experience has missed that, I doubt even he knows. For England, there's a mental strength and togetherness wrapped tightly around a well thought out tactical plan that's yielding results in a highly competitive and exciting tournament. Despite the general misgivings about style and few chances created, I'd have settled for that 2 weeks ago.

Never seen a flatter head than that on Chiellini, looks like he got hit with a concrete slab

Crazy improvisation by the beanpole!

Never a 2-0 game this, Austria have played their bollocks off

Surprised Insigne didn't fall over on his way off there