Football : Euro 2016 thread

[Russ]

http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...-above-england

Pfft, what a non-story. We're used to it now

But seriously, I don't see the need to point out we're above England or any other team. The fact is we are surprising people by being on such an upward spiral and I'd rather we focus on that. OK we'll always have national sporting rivalries but cultivating those won't bring success.

I'd rather all the home nations stick together and show the rest of the world what the UK can do. I confess to getting a kick out of hearing some non-Brits saying things like "I hadn't heard of Wales before" or "I didn't know Wales had a team" as a passive-aggressive petty dig - fine by me, they'll be hearing about us now

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by Russ

Are you serious?!

We've been written off for almost 60 years, been constantly told we're a small and insignificant footballing nation but came within 2 games of winning a major international tournament.

THAT is worth any such country celebrating.

For me coming 3rd/4th isnt worthy of celebrating so much. Yes be proud of your country/team but lining the streets and having a parade? Not for me. If Andy Murray wins Wimbledon today he won't get an open top bus parade, the same if Lewis Hamilton win the British GP, both much bigger achievements than finishing 3rd/4th at the euros.

[denphone]

Sorry Shadow but l am with Russ on this as why should they not celebrate as its pretty rare until now for Wales to qualify for a major football tournament and to reach the semi finals for a country which usually excels at rugby union that is a major achievement in my book and one that should be celebrated in my opinion.

[iadom]

Nasty unpunished challenge from Payet to try and take out Ronaldo.

[denphone]

[iadom]

Why put Martial on with only ten minutes left, Gignac is a carthorse who makes Emile Heskey look skilful. No matter what the ' pundits' say I still think Payet intended to hurt Ronaldo so karma in the end.

[Julian]

What is all the fuss about pogba?

A very ordinary performance followed by a petulant disply at the presentation.

Someone should tell him he ain't as good as he thinks he is.

Great to see our two players in the winning team

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

For me coming 3rd/4th isnt worthy of celebrating so much. Yes be proud of your country/team but lining the streets and having a parade? Not for me.

That's because you're not from a country that hadn't qualified for anything in almost 60 years and in all that time were told they'd never amount to anything.

In all seriousness I wouldn't expect England to understand - your national team qualifies for the Euro and World Cup almost every time.

[denphone]

Well another very average team wins the European Championship but then average teams with a decent grasp of tactics can take you a long way as Greece and Denmark spring to mind before as you can have egoistic talented individuals but the fact remains is that they will win you diddly squat as we have seen yet again.

Originally Posted by Russ

In all seriousness I wouldn't expect England to understand - your national team qualifies for the Euro and World Cup almost every time.

.... and then manages to spectaularly screw it up almost every time.

[Hom3r]

I got bored watching the final and turned over to Dave to watch QI XL.

If the news alert to my phone hadn't told me the resultI would still not know who won.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I got bored watching the final and turned over to Dave to watch QI XL.

If the news alert to my phone hadn't told me the resultI would still not know who won.

It was dire wasn't it?

Game of the Tournament: Wales 3 v Belgium 1;
Goal of the Tournament: Hal Robson-Kanu-Cruyff (Wales v Belgium);
Homecoming of the Tournament: Wales - Sunny Cardiff, open top buses; Manic Street Preachers
Dancer of the Tournament: Joe Snakehips Ledley (Wales); AND
Referee of the Tournament: Mark Handball Clattenberg (England) Doh .

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by denphone

Sorry Shadow but l am with Russ on this as why should they not celebrate as its pretty rare until now for Wales to qualify for a major football tournament and to reach the semi finals for a country which usually excels at rugby union that is a major achievement in my book and one that should be celebrated in my opinion.

No one said they shouldn't celebrate their achievements, they said don't have an open top bus parade as that's normally reserved for winners who take the cup with them and in ramos iirc case drop it under the wheels of the bus. I am sure I remember England having one after italia 90 when the nation got caught up in gazza mania and I was pretty unimpressed then to.

---------- Post added at 08:33 ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 ----------

Originally Posted by iadom

Why put Martial on with only ten minutes left, Gignac is a carthorse who makes Emile Heskey look skilful. No matter what the ' pundits' say I still think Payet intended to hurt Ronaldo so karma in the end.

Only seen it once but it looked to me like ronaldo was expecting it and trying to draw the foul so it was karma indeed that he had to go of because of his cheating ways if so. That said he has actually gone up in my estimations due to his behaviour after coming of.

[iadom]

Payet has previous as I have witnessed first hand, in the FA Cup quarter final at Old Trafford he put in a filthy challenge on a United defender who eventually had to be subbed. He only got a yellow for that when it would have been a red card if it was defender who had put in that 'assault'. Then to rub salt in he possibly should have had another yellow as he was judged ( possibly harshly ) to have dived in the box and minutes later scores with a stunning free kick.

That United equalised with a dodgy goal in extra time then won the replay could also be karma..

[TheDaddy]

What you're really saying is that you're prejudiced