Yorkie

Was very curious to see what the fuss was about, having watched no La Liga. A couple of glistening moments aside he's been poor, stroppy and made a tit of himself after Slovakia.

Denmark too? He scored. Slovakia too. Canny observation other than that, though.

Yep, just back to the issues we had from day one, just with a different square peg.

Wtf is Saka doing not sending Walker, then, man.

Please no, man.

I haven't been bowled over by the Adidas kits but the red tops look banging.

Got injured.

Sold the cones to pay for Harvey Barnes so no training this year.

I'm not much different tbh. I'm a bit sad about it; I was quite emotional after we beat Denmark in the last semis and felt very much like a fan. I was gutted when Italy beat us, too. But I felt next to nothing against Switzerland and last night, while I enjoyed it, I didn't truly feel it. The circumstances are very different, I guess. Euro 2020 was during COVID and the whole tournament was seemingly giving everyone a massive lift, and there was still a sense of surprise that we did so well. Meanwhile, Newcastle didn't exist and I was desperate to find any team to cling to. Now: the expectations are different; we're three international tournaments in four years; the sense of England games being national events is a bit desensitised with sheer amount of football on; the novelty of being a team that - for instance - can win penalty shootouts - has gone; and we've not been an inspiring team to watch 95% of the time. I'm looking forward to Sunday and expect to feel pretty up for it cos it's a huge deal, but thus far I've felt somewhat neutral.

As if often the case with incidents like that, the real stupidity is the inference that not giving the pen was a clear and obvious error. I think it's incredibly harsh because the contact is initiated as much (if not moreso) by Kane's follow-through than, say, the defender taking a swipe and being late... but even if you disagree with that, it's hardly a howler from the ref, is it?

Southgate says Trippier came off because of a 'problem' (I.e. an injury). So expect to see him back in for the final if fit.

BTW how the fuck did I miss Hasselbaink being on the coaching staff? Am I seeing things? Was he on the wrong bench or something?

I think I've always been fair. My defence of him has always tended to be in response to criticism which has been unjustly harsh, and/or if his achievements have been unfairly downplayed. Recently I've actually considered some of the harsh criticism to be warranted, and have even dabbled myself. Turns out I was talking shit like the rest of us. I do get the 'nicer Pardew' thing, in that we're not set up to take the game to the opposition, and instead rely heavily on staying in it and relying on individual brilliance. That's hideous in a 38 game season but it's not lunacy in a tournament setting imo.

I'm beating a well-worn drum here, so apologies if it's repetitive, but Southgate's most impactful and impressive contribution to the national team has massively come to the fore this tournament: the cultural change. Credit to the players too, of course, but fostering an England camp that actually wants to die for each other remains its biggest strength and the manager is central to that. We're a 'moments' team, arguably because we lack the tactical aptitude or boldness to create a team that blows others away. But the moments thing can only work when someone like Watkins can come on - without getting a sniff all tournament - and be in a fit state to win the semi for us in injury time. See Toney's contribution against Slovakia; Trent's pen against Switzerland; Mainoo coming in from the cold and owning the position. This is why it's unfair to say we've progressed in spite of Southgate. You've only got to look at the failures in eras gone by to dismiss that claim; failures accountable - to some extent - to broken camps who weren't in a fit state to go the distance. I get why people don't like him, but he's been a revelation for the national team. I don't see how you can say otherwise.

I don't love any manager crowing about getting criticism but (as usual) the comparison to Bruce is daft. Bruce was a piece of shit who did fucking nothing, ever for NUFC. He was crysrsing about criticism within a week or two. Southgate, meanwhile, has consistently delivered over a prolonged prod l period and you might have some sympathy for him for getting bottles lobbed at him etc.

Tbh if that was at the start of the tournament I'd say it was vintage Southgate; wound everyone up but ultimately totally vindicated in his decisions. I appreciate that's been a harder sell this time given how shit we've been, but there was nowt wrong with tonight.

Won't be a popular opinion but the manager got his decisions spot on there. There's an argument that the subs could've been made earlier but I understand the care taken when it looks like ET could be on the cards. Ultimately though, it was proactive and effective.

Really is a wonderful finish from Watkins. Absolute bullseye, picking out that exact hexagon on the net. Wonderful, wonderful goal; sort of thing you'd see from Isak.

Well done to all of them, deserved win. Netherlands stifled them but barely tested us really. Ridiculous fortune with the pen but I think we were always winning that.

That is an absolutely world class finish.

Wow

Tekkers, Cole. Absolutely nithered after that one, son.

@Unbelievable is your typical Dutch crowd a bit more like an English one, where the noise relates to events on the pitch - as opposed to say France where you've just got that endless baseline droan/chant/drum?

Enjoyed that rare 7/10 performance from Foden for 45 minutes. Reverted back to doing absolutely fuck all after HT.

Very close...