England - the future....

[NathStPaul]

jeez

Get a fukkin’ life

Then please tell me why he started the game with 7 defensive players in his starting line up? it`s a major final for christ sakes, why not go out to try and win instead of trying not to lose?

We did try to win. Like the Germany game, Southgate judged that the best formation with which to start the game. And we were ahead for two-thirds of it. Get a fcuking grip, for god's sake. Southgate is demonstrably our second most successful manager ever, behind Ramsay. Suck it up, because he's probably got the job now for as long as he wants it.

For 66 minutes Southgate got it spot on, if we won the game Windermere and the few others blasting Southgate would be calling him a tactical genius.
Would Southgate have done things differently after we conceded given the chance? Maybe. Is that worthy of criticsm? Absolutely not. We are a different team now, a team that step on to the field of play and look like they care and want to win for their country. We have been crying out for this for years and it all comes from Southgate IMO, he has installed a new culture in the English national team. None of our players go missing in the big games like they used to in the past, they all stand up and are counted.

I would guess the FA will want to have Southgate at the helm for a very long time, pretty similar to Joachim Low with Germany. I fully support that if its the case.

[Hendo]

Gutted. Absolutely gutted.

On the balance of the game, the best team probably won, just.

Needed that 2nd goal at 1-0 but they just couldn't get it. Touch of fortune for their goal as well, Pickford makes a wonderful save, but if he's just able to push past the post the danger goes.

Thought Henderson had a pretty poor game when he came on.

If Rashford's penalty goes in, I think we win it - presses home the advantage and relaxes the next guy - but it wasn't to be. Out of all of the penalty dramas I have seen, from '98 onwards, this one hurts the most, for sure, but it is also the one I am the least angry about, probably because it was in a final. Harry Maguire's penalty might be the best penalty I have ever seen in my life, given the circumstances of the game.

I don't fear anyone with this England team, I really think we'll be able to make a run at the WC in 18 months time, I don't think the squad will be too different and the players will have learned a lot from this.

[Sanguine]

If the net wasn't there I think Maguire's penalty would still be travelling.

Shades of our Huddersfield shoot-out defeat last night, in us being (it felt) nearly there, and then it just all went to shit.

[Sanguine]

I don't fear anyone with this England team, I really think we'll be able to make a run at the WC in 18 months time, I don't think the squad will be too different and the players will have learned a lot from this.

Agree on the squad too. Henderson the only attacking player older than Kane's 27. Maybe he'll miss out if Bellingham has another good season at Dortmund and Southgate wants a different option. And maybe we find another back 4/5 solution that doesn't involve Kyle Walker, but otherwise it is difficult to see who misses out, except players on the periphery like DCL or Ben White. Mason Greenwood is probably one good season from making the squad.

[Hendo]

I don't fear anyone with this England team, I really think we'll be able to make a run at the WC in 18 months time, I don't think the squad will be too different and the players will have learned a lot from this.

Agree on the squad too. Henderson the only attacking player older than Kane's 27. Maybe he'll miss out if Bellingham has another good season at Dortmund and Southgate wants a different option. And maybe we find another back 4/5 solution that doesn't involve Kyle Walker, but otherwise it is difficult to see who misses out, except players on the periphery like DCL or Ben White. Mason Greenwood is probably one good season from making the squad.

Yeah, I'll agree with that.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Walker will still be around for the World Cup given its only 18 months away and I would expect Alexander-Arnold to be first choice right back with Walker coming in if we go with a back three. The midfield will be fine but we really need another Vardy-esque pacey striker to emerge to give Kane a bit more competition and the option of a different tactic.

[NathStPaul]

Walker will still be around for the World Cup given its only 18 months away and I would expect Alexander-Arnold to be first choice right back with Walker coming in if we go with a back three. The midfield will be fine but we really need another Vardy-esque pacey striker to emerge to give Kane a bit more competition and the option of a different tactic.

I think Tammy Abraham will be a decent option once he has moved from Chelsea. Think West Ham are after him. would do well there I reckon.

[Hendo]

If Greenwood has a strong season for Utd, I think he'll be the one to push for that position. But yeah I could also see Abraham become a better player if he leaves Chelsea.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Also think Foden missing out with injury last night was key, he looked so good when he came on in the semi and could've made the difference towards the end of normal time and extra time.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I don't fear anyone with this England team, I really think we'll be able to make a run at the WC in 18 months time, I don't think the squad will be too different and the players will have learned a lot from this.

Agree on the squad too. Henderson the only attacking player older than Kane's 27. Maybe he'll miss out if Bellingham has another good season at Dortmund and Southgate wants a different option. And maybe we find another back 4/5 solution that doesn't involve Kyle Walker, but otherwise it is difficult to see who misses out, except players on the periphery like DCL or Ben White. Mason Greenwood is probably one good season from making the squad.

Yeah, I'll agree with that.

I think we'll have more depth at CB in 2022. I'm expecting White and Godfrey to develop, while we also have Gomez coming back from injury.

Rashford was out of sorts and probably not fit this tournament; in better times he's a pacey 2nd option up front, while Greenwood has also been mentioned. We'll be in the mix in 2022, but tournament football is tough and the margins fine, so I'm not going to make bold predictions about winning.

[NathStPaul]

We could have a few players come out of nowhere too, bit like Saka did. Lots of great young talent out there, just hope they get chances at their club sides. Future is very bright.

[Sanguine]

Harvey Elliott might be a wildcard.

[URZZZZ]

Agree with a fair few of the reviews here

In hindsight, I think we scored our opening goal too soon. Retreated back into our shell after that. Whether that was the intention or not is a different matter. Difficult to hold out for so long against a very good team - one that hasn’t lost for 33 games

Southgate has got pretty much everything spot on so far this tournament but his subs left a fair amount to be desired last night. Think there was the opportunity as WYR said to push three into midfield, to match up the Italians, rather than changing to the 4-2-3-1. Mount lasting 100 minutes was dubious too, who didn’t seem to be at it. Declan Rice was superb so was surprised to see him off, really missed his driving runs forward after he went off and unfortunately both Henderson and Saka were poor

Personally find it odd that Sterling and Grealish didn’t step up for pens but it’s easy to say from the outside that X, Y or Z should have taken it. Could Rashford and Sancho have come on earlier to get more of a feel for the game? Perhaps but Rashford was playing RB in his short stint on the pitch so would have been a huge risk

Need to build on this tournament. Keep heads high as very few would have predicted us to get this far

[URZZZZ]

We could have a few players come out of nowhere too, bit like Saka did. Lots of great young talent out there, just hope they get chances at their club sides. Future is very bright.

Can see Smith Rowe not being too far off although it is a position fairly stocked already

[NathStPaul]

Personally find it odd that Sterling and Grealish didn’t step up for pens but it’s easy to say from the outside that X, Y or Z should have taken it. Could Rashford and Sancho have come on earlier to get more of a feel for the game? Perhaps but Rashford was playing RB in his short stint on the pitch so would have been a huge risk

To be fair to them both they probably would have stepped forward, Southgate said the penalty takers were decided in training. I don't agree with that approach in all honesty. Big difference between Saka taking one in front of his mates to the 5th penalty in a European Championship final. Always been an advocate of the players who are up for it and confident putting themselves forward at the time.

[NathStPaul]

We could have a few players come out of nowhere too, bit like Saka did. Lots of great young talent out there, just hope they get chances at their club sides. Future is very bright.

Can see Smith Rowe not being too far off although it is a position fairly stocked already

Yeah he is going to struggle to get past Grealish, Mount and Foden.

I do question how much Southgate actually trusts Grealish though, from the outside he doesn't look overly sold on him.

[NathStPaul]

Getting a bit sick of Allardyce and Steve McLaren turning up offering their advice on where England go from here. It's like Harold Shipman offering health and wellbeing advice to the over 80's.

[Zip]

Also think Foden missing out with injury last night was key, he looked so good when he came on in the semi and could've made the difference towards the end of normal time and extra time.

Very much this. Foden was a big miss last night.

[Zip]

We could have a few players come out of nowhere too, bit like Saka did. Lots of great young talent out there, just hope they get chances at their club sides. Future is very bright.

Can see Smith Rowe not being too far off although it is a position fairly stocked already

Yeah he is going to struggle to get past Grealish, Mount and Foden.

I do question how much Southgate actually trusts Grealish though, from the outside he doesn't look overly sold on him.

He clearly trusts Mount more than Grealish. I thought Grealish should have come on for Mount considerably earlier.

[NathStPaul]

Also think Foden missing out with injury last night was key, he looked so good when he came on in the semi and could've made the difference towards the end of normal time and extra time.

Very much this. Foden was a big miss last night.

Reckon he may have started instead of Mount. Mount is a great little player but you know what you get from him, Foden has that x-factor that helps when up against the likes of Bonucci and Chiellini.