Well, that's me off work on Sunday and Monday.

This is either going to end well or it won't ha

Wow. England is favorites on DraftKings. Might throw a couple of Benjis on Italy to win it.

Lionel Messi finally got his championship for Argentina. 1-0 over Brazil in the Copa America final.

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, footballs coming home!!!

Jul 11, 2021 11:54:38 GMT Jake said:

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, footballs coming home!!!

Good luck today. 

Nerves have well and truly set in now, I'd love to see us win, really would, it's a dream. I can be proud of them finally making a final of s tournament, in my lifetime.

AHH pass me the vodka now!!

Awesome start for England. Let’s see if they can hold off Italy who has had so much luck this tournament.

England are winning.

I didn't watch the match but I will watch penalties, the only time football is interesting.

OH NO!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Well England is about to get a whole lot more racist.

RAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEE

I've never been so pissed off over a lost game in my entire life. And I've seen them all, even Leafs losses, and the 2009 Grey Cup.  And they've all had an impact on me. But this trumps them all.

Poor Rashford.  The whole nation's gonna be after him.

I'm gutted, but not angry.

This tournament went better than I and many others had expected, did I think we'd beat the Germans (or any other team we would have faced in the round of 16)? No.. finalists, which is better than our semi final placing , well technically 4th place finish (if you count the 3rd place play off) in 2018.

The media are going to hound the ones who had their penalties saved, Sancho, your time in Manchester is going to be fun then. Saka, I feel for the most.

I am confident though in this squad, so I am sure we will one day win that prize

Congratulations to Italy though, very impressive, and a sure fire bet to lift the world cup next year.

Italy is not winning no World Cup.

Jul 11, 2021 22:30:47 GMT KING KID said:

Italy is not winning no World Cup.

Silly me.

It's England



Or Qatar.

Penalties are always a shitty way to lose but England's error was in not scoring a second goal when they were on top in the first twenty minutes. Italy really turned things around after that and dominated the remainder of the game, so from that perspective they were deserving winners. If only Maguire could have taken all five pens!

Jul 12, 2021 0:27:38 GMT @admin said:

Penalties are always a shitty way to lose but England's error was in not scoring a second goal when they were on top in the first twenty minutes. Italy really turned things around after that and dominated the remainder of the game, so from that perspective they were deserving winners. If only Maguire could have taken all five pens!

Also, if they hadn't wasted Kane on the second round.  Kane was better suited for pressure situations (i.e., being saved for a later round).  Rashford and Saka would've felt less pressure going before Kane.  And I bet their shots would've had a better chance of going in then.

Jul 12, 2021 0:38:40 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Jul 12, 2021 0:27:38 GMT @admin said:

Penalties are always a shitty way to lose but England's error was in not scoring a second goal when they were on top in the first twenty minutes. Italy really turned things around after that and dominated the remainder of the game, so from that perspective they were deserving winners. If only Maguire could have taken all five pens!

Also, if they hadn't wasted Kane on the second round.  Kane was better suited for pressure situations (i.e., being saved for a later round).  Rashford and Saka would've felt less pressure going before Kane.  And I bet their shots would've had a better chance of going in then.

I was shocked when I saw Kane going out there early. I knew England was going to lose at that moment. Even when Italy missed.

You can't backload too much because although unlikely you can potentially be in a situation where your best penalty taker doesn't even get the chance to take one. But yes Saka at 19 years old and never having taken a penalty before in his career was a very odd choice for #5.

The main issue for me was bringing Rashford and Sancho on right at the end rather than 15-20 minutes earlier. Even ignoring the fact that you would have got more value from a refreshed forward line in extra time, it's a terrible spot to be put in coming straight into a high pressure situation like that when you've barely had a chance to kick the ball.

My son: "what are you watching?"
Me: "soccer. It's the European Cup Championship."
Son: "what's that?"
Me: "every four years all the teams in Europe play for a championship."
Son: "no what is Europe?"
Me: "it's a continent."
Son: "what's that?"
Me: "ok so you know Canada is a country?"
Son: "yes."
Me: "and below us is The United States."
Son: "yes."
Me: "well add in Mexico and that's called North America. It's a continent. Europe has a bunch of countries and is also a continent."
Son: "who's playing?"
Me: "England and Italy."
Son: "who are you cheering for?"
Me: "England."
Son: "Italy is the blue team?"
Me: "yes."
Son: "GO ITALY!"

then they won.

That was me during penalty kicks while trying not to have a stroke.

Don't have kids.

Sounds like you need to explain "It's coming Rome" to him next. :lol:

The "There is a racist problem in football" narrative needs to stop, because it's not just football it is happening in, look at the wider spectrum, we have a leader that endorsed people booing those taking the knee, and fighting against racial inequality.

This is fucking awful, I want to hold Saka and tell him everything is going to be okay.

Jul 12, 2021 10:57:52 GMT Jake said:

The "There is a racist problem in football" narrative needs to stop, because it's not just football it is happening in, look at the wider spectrum, we have a leader that endorsed people booing those taking the knee, and fighting against racial inequality.

This is fucking awful, I want to hold Saka and tell him everything is going to be okay.

I called it. When all 3 people of color missed their kicks after the 2 white players scored, it was obvious what the aftermath was going to be for England.

I’m such a realist with this kind of shit and I knew this would happen.

Jul 12, 2021 21:34:34 GMT KING KID said:

Jul 12, 2021 10:57:52 GMT Jake said:

The "There is a racist problem in football" narrative needs to stop, because it's not just football it is happening in, look at the wider spectrum, we have a leader that endorsed people booing those taking the knee, and fighting against racial inequality.

This is fucking awful, I want to hold Saka and tell him everything is going to be okay.

I called it. When all 3 people of color missed their kicks after the 2 white players scored, it was obvious what the aftermath was going to be for England.

I’m such a realist with this kind of shit and I knew this would happen.

Ok.

RT, CM Punk'd, are you watching the GOld Cup? Been paying attention to World Cup qualifying? Canada is the best it's been in years. We're in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, and for the first time in 20 years in the last round of World Cup Qualifying. We don't suck any more.

Jul 19, 2021 11:20:51 GMT nazzer said:

RT , CM Punk'd , are you watching the GOld Cup? Been paying attention to World Cup qualifying? Canada is the best it's been in years. We're in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, and for the first time in 20 years in the last round of World Cup Qualifying. We don't suck any more.

Didn't get to see the game yesterday but I heard Canada outplayed USA last night but they gave up the 20 second goal and could not muster an equalizer. Will take it, I think Costa Rica is better than Jamaica given their track record(Costa Rica are missing few of their top talents IIRC) so it helps to finish 1st in the group stage. Canada has gotten much better over the past few years, I think you guys can one up Honduras for one of those CONCACAF representing spots for the next world cup for sure. Mexico is a lock pretty much and I hope USA after the debacle last time have a fire lit to not let that happen again. Costa Rica should be good too. Comes down to Canada or Honduras I think. I think the 5th place side plays one of Africa(Or was it Asia?) side for a spot in the world cup too.

I have been watching much of the Gold Cup, Qatar is really fun to watch, didn't know what to expect from the World Cup hosts and Asian confederation side. A lot of good precision passes.

Canada is without Davies and a few others so fair to say you guys are putting our a B team, USA is without McKinnie, Pulisic and a few others as well, might be the C side. 

Jul 19, 2021 11:20:51 GMT nazzer said:

RT , CM Punk'd , are you watching the GOld Cup? Been paying attention to World Cup qualifying? Canada is the best it's been in years. We're in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, and for the first time in 20 years in the last round of World Cup Qualifying. We don't suck any more.

I watched the last game.  Even though they lost to the U.S. yesterday, it was still a good game for them.  Especially without Alphonso Davies.  Imagine when we have him back for World Cup qualifying.

Jul 19, 2021 15:52:01 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Jul 19, 2021 11:20:51 GMT nazzer said:

RT , CM Punk'd , are you watching the GOld Cup? Been paying attention to World Cup qualifying? Canada is the best it's been in years. We're in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, and for the first time in 20 years in the last round of World Cup Qualifying. We don't suck any more.

I watched the last game.  Even though they lost to the U.S. yesterday, it was still a good game for them.  Especially without Alphonso Davies.  Imagine when we have him back for World Cup qualifying.

I think having Eustaqiuo out on yellow cards doe the USA match was a really big deal. He is such a difference maker and the drop in class in terms of offensive creativity from him to Piette is big.

Missing Davies, David, and Borjan for the Gold Cup misses a lot for us. Im so pumped for the 14 game final round of world cup qualifying. Every game is a tough game watching Canada beat up minnows in the first round is amusing and all, but watching against top teams is gonna be fun