England vs The Netherlands, Wed 10/7 @ 8pm (ITV)

[Zapp Brannigan]

Here we go...

The Dutch are a decent attacking team - Gakpo in good form playing from the left, Depay always a handful, and Weghorst makes an excellent sub to wreak his own peculiar brand of havok even if he's not that good a player in his own right. Dumfries is one of the standout players bombing up and down the right flank from full back, and they've got a huge selection of good centre backs to choose from - the best of the lot (van de Ven) has hardly had a look in, but he could be used as a left back to counter the pace of Saka.

As for England...

For the most part, I expect same again - back 3, wing backs pushed high up, 2 defensive & 2 attacking midfielders, and a Harry Kane who surely must contribute more at some point. He's too good not to.

Guehi probably comes back in for Konsa (who was excellent admittedly), the only other question mark being at left wing back. Saka did brilliantly on the right vs Switzerland which probably rules out switching sides to accommodate TAA; so it's either Trippier to continue with a watching brief on Denzel Dumfries, or Luke Shaw to (finally) provide more natural width.

Palmer, Eze and Toney the most likely game changers to come off the bench.

Chippy teas all round tomorrow. Come on England!

 

[hash tag]

Looks like we will be meeting Spain in the final.

 

[dessiato]

Looks like we will be meeting Spain in the final.

Assuming you get there.

 

[hash tag]

Assuming you get there.

Is it in doubt

 

[tommers]

Assuming you get there.

Somebody sounds nervous.

 

[dessiato]

Is it in doubt

It's always in doubt till the final whistle.

Somebody sounds nervous.

Not at all. If it's England, Spain will probably win. If it's Netherlands, Spain will win.

 

[Lotte]

I kind of want the Dutch to win just because I dread the thought of getting Spain in the final.

 

[Rebelda]

It's...

 

[JimW]

It's...

 

[bellaozzydog]

I didn’t watch the last match but it sounded great listening to the crowd cheering on all the pubs in town.

If I watch this one I might jinx it

 

[Steel Icarus]

It's...

...gonna be a godawful watch

 

[JimW]

Didn't make the three am kickoff for France-Spain as had a parent teacher meeting this morning but will be up in the wee smalls (not necessarily in my smalls) tonight come what may barring another power cut like the last England game. Expecting VICTORY!

 

[ElizabethofYork]

I kind of want the Dutch to win just because I dread the thought of getting Spain in the final.

A Spain/England final would be brilliant. I'll be in Spain during the final and the atmosphere will be amazing.

 

[May Kasahara]

8-0 to England. Pickford scores the final goal from his own goalmouth. The trophy ascends on ethereal wings and floats straight over to Britain. When it touches the ground, a magic money tree sprouts and instantly starts shedding notes into the NHS, school and care system

 

[MrCurry]

Have we won it yet?

 

[souljacker]

Have we won it yet?

basically, yes. We still need to play the dutch and the spaniards but they are mere formalities really

 

[tommers]

8-0 to England. Pickford scores the final goal from his own goalmouth. The trophy ascends on ethereal wings and floats straight over to Britain. When it touches the ground, a magic money tree sprouts and instantly starts shedding notes into the NHS, school and care system

Yes boss. Bowen gets the other seven (7)

 

[MrCurry]

basically, yes. We still need to play the dutch and the spaniards but they are mere formalities really

I’ve heard it said that the arrogance of England supporters can annoy fans of other countries at times, but in this matter you are simply being factually accurate so I’m sure no one could object

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Is this going to be one of those cool times when you can run out through the streets and nobody is around? Like a zombie apocalypse? I remember something like that happening when I lived in Ealing in the 90s. I couldn't understand why nobody was around anywhere, and every now and then there would be collective shouts, yelps and ooohs, coming from all the houses in every direction.

 

[hash tag]

It's work as normal for me later. Hoping to get a break to watch half the match.

 

[skyscraper101]

I'll stay in and watch at home and occasionally shout at England to 'play it forward' and 'stop passing it back to Pickford all the time' - as per usual.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I'll stay in and watch at home and occasionally shout at England to 'play it forward' and 'stop passing it back to Pickford all the time' - as per usual.

Don't forget to groan and go 'fucksake' at regular intervals.

 

[smmudge]

I want to relive my 2010 World Cup final days so gonna support Netherlands.

 

[A380]

8-0 to England. Pickford scores the final goal from his own goalmouth. The trophy ascends on ethereal wings and floats straight over to Britain. When it touches the ground, a magic money tree sprouts and instantly starts shedding notes into the NHS, school and care system

Penalties, it will be neck and neck then through the sudden death till the whole squad( including Pickford) has scored. Spain miss, then it transpires Southgate had secretly registered himself as a squad player, he comes on, in his suit, and scores the winner.

 

[Lotte]

If the Dutch win, I expect them to do the hippity-hoppity thing.

 

[Pickman's model]

Here we go...

The Dutch are a decent attacking team - Gakpo in good form playing from the left, Depay always a handful, and Weghorst makes an excellent sub to wreak his own peculiar brand of havok even if he's not that good a player in his own right. Dumfries is one of the standout players bombing up and down the right flank from full back, and they've got a huge selection of good centre backs to choose from - the best of the lot (van de Ven) has hardly had a look in, but he could be used as a left back to counter the pace of Saka.

As for England...

For the most part, I expect same again - back 3, wing backs pushed high up, 2 defensive & 2 attacking midfielders, and a Harry Kane who surely must contribute more at some point. He's too good not to.

Guehi probably comes back in for Konsa (who was excellent admittedly), the only other question mark being at left wing back. Saka did brilliantly on the right vs Switzerland which probably rules out switching sides to accommodate TAA; so it's either Trippier to continue with a watching brief on Denzel Dumfries, or Luke Shaw to (finally) provide more natural width.

Palmer, Eze and Toney the most likely game changers to come off the bench.

Chippy teas all round tomorrow. Come on England!

I think you've too much confidence in kane

 

[Lotte]

If we do penalties, can we just make Pickford take them all?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

I think you've too much confidence in kane

See, I find this baffling. Kane is, without question, one of the very best centre forwards there is in the game - 60ish goals in 70ish games under Southgate, coming off a 40+ season in Germany, and a consistent goalscorer and creator for the last decade.

Sure, he's been a bit pap this tournament (as have several other England players, we've been absolute toilet for much of it) but I genuinely don't get why Kane isn't being seen as in a temporary lull of form that he'll play his way out of; as opposed to being past it, rubbish and in need of dropping.

 

[Elpenor]

I’ll watch a film and time to finish with 10 minutes to go

Come on England let’s do it for Princess Di!

 

[skyscraper101]

Lol at ze most German guy ever turning out to be a massive England fan