England - the future....

[Hendo]

Sterling was brilliant last night. So much direct running and acceleration, much like Saka. They contributed to exhausting Denmark.

Actually thought though that our best player was Maguire. He was absolutely immense, everywhere in defence with crucial headers and blocks, and got on the end of three attacking corners too.

Agree on Maguire, absolute rock at the back along with the other 3 as well, tbh.

No idea how Maguire got his booking though, probably a free kick but a booking is a bit much.

Contrastingly I've no idea how Delaney didn't get a yellow, felt like he was popping up with fouls all over the pitch. Thought this ref was great in the Germany game, but no so good last night. Their first foul, after about 10 seconds, was strictly a yellow, pulling back Sterling as he broke away, but he bottled it.

Yeah agree with this. There was one on Maguire in ET, I think, where he had his shirt pulled back which is a yellow all day.

Alternatively there was a foul on Grealish I think, that a Danish player got booked for, he had only just come on, which I thought was very harsh.

Was some odd decisions.

Think it'll be the German dude, who did the Italy v Spain game for the final.

[NathStPaul]

Agree on Maguire, absolute rock at the back along with the other 3 as well, tbh.

No idea how Maguire got his booking though, probably a free kick but a booking is a bit much.

Contrastingly I've no idea how Delaney didn't get a yellow, felt like he was popping up with fouls all over the pitch. Thought this ref was great in the Germany game, but no so good last night. Their first foul, after about 10 seconds, was strictly a yellow, pulling back Sterling as he broke away, but he bottled it.

Yeah agree with this. There was one on Maguire in ET, I think, where he had his shirt pulled back which is a yellow all day.

Alternatively there was a foul on Grealish I think, that a Danish player got booked for, he had only just come on, which I thought was very harsh.

Was some odd decisions.

Think it'll be the German dude, who did the Italy v Spain game for the final.

They don't normally give a ref from the semis a final.

I would be happy if it was the Argentinian referee. He has been the best official I have seen.

[Winston Biscuit]

Loved it. feels surreal to think we are now building towards being in the final. i am fearful of Italy and see them as favourites (maybe that is the pessimistic football fan coming out) I think No matter what happens (aside from getting absolutely d*cked) its going to feel like something special has happened, and i think the excitement for WC 2022 will be there earlier than it is for most other tournaments

side notes:

It was never, ever a penalty and no one will convince me otherwise. I like to think I have integrity and want football to have it too having argued that point in the past, but here I am only really caring about us being in the final, so maybe I don't have the integrity I thought I do!

I don't see Pickford as being at fault for the Denmark goal and thought the pundits were harsh on him. I thought the free kick was hit as well it could be hit. It was inch perfect over the wall and was hit with real power too.

Declan Rice is so good that, even in my 40's, I want to put posters of him up on my bedroom wall

Please for the love of God can Harry Kane stop flopping to the floor like a sack of potatoes every 10 minutes, its cringe worthy and he is much better than that.

Southgate has got a load of stuff right that I, and many others, thought he was getting wrong. fair play to Gareth for that. And he has got performances out of 1 or 2 who I was suspect of before this tournament. He is doing exactly what he is meant to do, and more. What a man. Might put a waistcoat on today in tribute.

ICH

[6ft Kerplunk]

Sterling was brilliant last night. So much direct running and acceleration, much like Saka. They contributed to exhausting Denmark.

Actually thought though that our best player was Maguire. He was absolutely immense, everywhere in defence with crucial headers and blocks, and got on the end of three attacking corners too.

Agree on Maguire, absolute rock at the back along with the other 3 as well, tbh.

No idea how Maguire got his booking though, probably a free kick but a booking is a bit much.

Always thought Maguire was a decent player but prone to making mistakes and as a result, not quite worth the £75 United paid for him

But he’s been absolutely phenomenal every game this Euros. As said, it’s not just his defending which has been solid, he’s a massive thorn to the opposition with attacking set pieces and he’s very good at bringing the ball forward from defence which gives the attacking players more confidence in maintaining better positions up the pitch rather than constantly dropping deep to the take the ball off the CB’s

There was a 20 min spell in the first half where Maguire and Stones were looking very exposed. Not all their fault but I felt it needed Maguire (as the leader of the defence) to tell Shaw to sit back a little bit for 10mins whilst they weathered the storm as Maguire kept getting pulled to the left hand side.

[NathStPaul]

Loved it. feels surreal to think we are now building towards being in the final. i am fearful of Italy and see them as favourites (maybe that is the pessimistic football fan coming out) I think No matter what happens (aside from getting absolutely d*cked) its going to feel like something special has happened, and i think the excitement for WC 2022 will be there earlier than it is for most other tournaments

I'm already there. Cannot wait to get in from doing my Christmas shopping and watching England.

[Sanguine]

I don't see Pickford as being at fault for the Denmark goal and thought the pundits were harsh on him. I thought the free kick was hit as well it could be hit. It was inch perfect over the wall and was hit with real power too.

The view from behind the scorer told the story, the late banana bend on it took it past Pickford. On it's initial path the ball was going straight at the keeper.

I don't mind Kane's flopping around so much. It's a dark art that other teams have perfected. Can't beat 'em, join 'em, etc.

[PieEater]

Well apparently Denmark's goal shouldn't have stood, as "Where three or more defending team players form a 'wall,' all attacking team players must remain at least 1 metre (1 yard) from the 'wall' until the ball is in play."

Spot on, their wall at the side shuffled to our wall and obscured Pickfords view.

[Silver Fox]

It was still in front of the wall though, there might be a case for Kjaer running through as the kick was taken breaking the law mentioned

[Zammo]

Didn't agree with Southgate going to a back five in extra time. Just invited pressure. Strange decision, especially if the Danes had kept 11 on the pitch. Also, taking Rice off and keeping Phillips on ?! Rice was EVERYWHERE in extra time. Feel for Grealish, but has he really lived up to the hype ?!

[URZZZZ]

Agree on Maguire, absolute rock at the back along with the other 3 as well, tbh.

No idea how Maguire got his booking though, probably a free kick but a booking is a bit much.

Always thought Maguire was a decent player but prone to making mistakes and as a result, not quite worth the £75 United paid for him

But he’s been absolutely phenomenal every game this Euros. As said, it’s not just his defending which has been solid, he’s a massive thorn to the opposition with attacking set pieces and he’s very good at bringing the ball forward from defence which gives the attacking players more confidence in maintaining better positions up the pitch rather than constantly dropping deep to the take the ball off the CB’s

There was a 20 min spell in the first half where Maguire and Stones were looking very exposed. Not all their fault but I felt it needed Maguire (as the leader of the defence) to tell Shaw to sit back a little bit for 10mins whilst they weathered the storm as Maguire kept getting pulled to the left hand side.

May be wrong but I thought their period of domination was all coming through the middle of the park rather than from our left

Either way, I think their goal indirectly helped. (A) as a wake up call and (B) showed we have the ability to chase games rather than just holding onto them

[URZZZZ]

I don't see Pickford as being at fault for the Denmark goal and thought the pundits were harsh on him. I thought the free kick was hit as well it could be hit. It was inch perfect over the wall and was hit with real power too.

The view from behind the scorer told the story, the late banana bend on it took it past Pickford. On it's initial path the ball was going straight at the keeper.

I don't mind Kane's flopping around so much. It's a dark art that other teams have perfected. Can't beat 'em, join 'em, etc.

His diving is pretty embarrassing but yeah, he’s far from the only one to do it

And he has just had Mourinho in charge for over a year!

[NathStPaul]

Didn't agree with Southgate going to a back five in extra time. Just invited pressure. Strange decision, especially if the Danes had kept 11 on the pitch. Also, taking Rice off and keeping Phillips on ?! Rice was EVERYWHERE in extra time. Feel for Grealish, but has he really lived up to the hype ?!

The Danes put literally no pressure on us, we kept the ball for 15 minutes in the 2nd half of extra time.

Grealish has been excellent, wins free kicks for us and holds the ball well.

Henderson had fresh legs and has a lot of experience. Phillips had more energy than Rice at that stage.

Everything else you are spot on.

[Zammo]

No one better in world football at drawing at foul than Kane. Also, his vision is second to none. Folk moan about him dropping deep but he sees passes that mere mortals can only dream of.

[Hendo]

What I will say re: Denmark, I was very surprised/pleased they took both Dolberg and Damsgaard off after less than 70 minutes, they were by far in away the Danes best outfield players. That Damsgaard looks like he is quite a talent, might be getting a move away from Sampdoria after this.

[Hendo]

No one better in world football at drawing at foul than Kane. Also, his vision is second to none. Folk moan about him dropping deep but he sees passes that mere mortals can only dream of.

+1, his pass to set up the goal was beautiful and there was a cross quite early on which was inches away from being absolutely perfect for Sterling.

[NathStPaul]

What I will say re: Denmark, I was very surprised/pleased they took both Dolberg and Damsgaard off after less than 70 minutes, they were by far in away the Danes best outfield players. That Damsgaard looks like he is quite a talent, might be getting a move away from Sampdoria after this.

Denmark seemed to get tired all of a sudden at around the hour mark, intesity dropped right off.

[Zammo]

Didn't agree with Southgate going to a back five in extra time. Just invited pressure. Strange decision, especially if the Danes had kept 11 on the pitch. Also, taking Rice off and keeping Phillips on ?! Rice was EVERYWHERE in extra time. Feel for Grealish, but has he really lived up to the hype ?!

The Danes put literally no pressure on us, we kept the ball for 15 minutes in the 2nd half of extra time.

Grealish has been excellent, wins free kicks for us and holds the ball well.

Henderson had fresh legs and has a lot of experience. Phillips had more energy than Rice at that stage.

Everything else you are spot on.

The Danes literally had the ball in our half for the first five mins of the second period of extra time. Even Lee Dixon spotted that we were sitting back..

Grealish got taken off cos he did nothing other than fall over a couple of times.

Rice was EVERYWHERE.

[Zammo]

I'm not knocking Grealish at all. Just hasn't quite worked out for him, despite a couple of assists earlier in the tournament.

[NathStPaul]

Grealish won us around 7-10 free kicks after coming on, some in dangerous positions. What more did you want?

[Greatwesternline]

Sterling was brilliant last night. So much direct running and acceleration, much like Saka. They contributed to exhausting Denmark.

Actually thought though that our best player was Maguire. He was absolutely immense, everywhere in defence with crucial headers and blocks, and got on the end of three attacking corners too.

Agree on Maguire, absolute rock at the back along with the other 3 as well, tbh.

No idea how Maguire got his booking though, probably a free kick but a booking is a bit much.

Always thought Maguire was a decent player but prone to making mistakes and as a result, not quite worth the £75 United paid for him

But he’s been absolutely phenomenal every game this Euros. As said, it’s not just his defending which has been solid, he’s a massive thorn to the opposition with attacking set pieces and he’s very good at bringing the ball forward from defence which gives the attacking players more confidence in maintaining better positions up the pitch rather than constantly dropping deep to the take the ball off the CB’s

It didnt matter but he got his positioning all wrong for the Muller one on one, got completely caught in tow minds and just ended up neither challenging Goretzka or cutting off the pass to Muller. But it didnt matter.