I think Shaw replaced Trippier.
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Because some of us on the forum dare to express a different view?
Continuing the āIāll have the last wordā game, I will say it was a valid penalty. Now Iām just going to stick me fingers in me ears and sing ting-a-ling-a-loo!
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Tbf a lot of this does now seem a bit āletās have a debate about the debate, while debating the merits of having a debate. Or not.ā
Letās perhaps just look forward to the final now. I do predict a cracking match.
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Heyā¦ pssstā¦ an English hand touched the ball just before the non penalty 
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Letās all just get behind the team it will be an excellent and exciting final.
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Whichever side of the decision youāre on (of most decisions), a still that seems to support your view can be found.
Probably most people, but not me.
Sorry about my earlier reply to you. It was rude.
Thatās brill. Two pictures literally showing two players with full attention on the ball; both going for the ball; minimal impact seconds later. Under the current interpretation of the rules that cannot have been a penalty. Notably, the VAR explanation provided failed to address the rules at all bit of weāre looking for consistency, good or bad, this certainly hasnāt been the tournament for it.
Butā¦ it was a penaltyā¦ and for once the final will be something to genuinely look forward to.
Every Welsh bone in my body wants an English loss BUT, from a footballing perspective, I genuinely hope they win.
The Spanish are fun but not as good as the hype. Yamal has produced arguably the moment of the tournament but notably under performed outside of that. Kid can barely pass straight and his elbows are out of control. Williams has made poor choices repeatedly when one on one and is begging to be exposed. Others get worked up about Kane dives. Have you watched Rodri? Hardly needs to swap shirts post match as heās had a chunk of shirt or short from every player heās been within touching distance of. Indeed his tackling technique is to grab the shirt; pull the player in and then use his feet. This apparently is all to be admired. Morata has been running on empty for months. People have criticised England for only having āmomentsā but the Spanish have about six runners and pressure carrying the rest of them. Only Olmo and Cucurella emerge with credit for consistency and brilliance so itās amusing the latter has become a German boo boy for a decision which was clearly correct.
Ultimately though I hope England win for Southgate. He was learning as a club manager and quietly learned even more as under 21 manager when he got this job. Heās taken a job that the fans and media have made close to impossible and shown that it can be done. Heās the most successful England manager now by some distance and one only has to read back on the reaction to those group games on this thread to see how wholly misunderstood and under appreciated that is. The reality is that England have just played a tournament exactly as you should. They started slowly; did what they needed to do and performed when the need arose. Itās textbook stuff and if people canāt see that then I genuinely think theyāre watching the wrong sport.
Those people wetting themselves over Germany putting a few goals past Scotland turned out to have no idea. Spain have beaten an ageing Croatian team; struggled to beat the worst Italian team of the last two decades and ditto that magnificent, er, 1-0 win against Albania. Their biggest win? Against Georgia. Flat track bullies perhaps? Still people purr away.
If they thrash England then good on them. Canāt help thinking theyāre not actually good enough to do so.
No problem at all.
My point is that 4 years ago and more, that wouldnāt have been a penalty. The Euro 2024 has seen a big change from the first 20 mins of the first match with Scotland. People were getting booked left, right and centre. Thereās the standard, deal with it.
Official UEFAās rule suggests that it is a clear case of foul if a player prevents their opponent from playing the ball for āfear of getting injuredā. Playing recklessly and in a dangerous manner, even without any physical contact between players is still a punishable offense, that will see a free kick or penalty kick being awarded.
The whole tournament has seen players with their arms behind their backs in the penalty area. As soon as that high kick with the studs went in, it was pretty clear a penalty was going to be given. If it was the other way round, Iād be criticising our English player for being a prat and getting us knocked out.
It was a 2024 penalty and Iām glad. Itās going to be great Sunday.
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When I see coaches and managers on the sidelines talking to their assistants and players they always seem to cover their mouths with their handā¦? Is it because there is this fear that someone on the opposing side or any one else may be able to translate and lip read what they are saying; sort of the spy game in footballā¦?
I think itās so the cameras canāt show their lips so people / media canāt lip read what is being said
Astute article on Southgate by Nick Ames in todays Graun is worth a read.
Gareth in cosplay shocker
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Success is ultimately measured by trophies in football. Southgate is NOT the most successful England manager since Ramsey. He is, arguably, the best of all of Englands unsuccessful managers since 1966.
Like all of the others he has won nothing. That may, of course, all change on Sundayā¦
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It could be argued that Gareth Southgate come Sunday could in fact be Englandās most infamous manager ever with two lost European Championship finals and one lost World Cup semi-final to his name.
Iām just hoping all sharp objects are securely locked away and pubs and councillors are on standby. 
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Yes, but you will be able to go round the M25 without seeing a single car 
(well maybe a few)
Ian
Is it on free to air?
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Yes the whole competition is on free to air throughout Europe.
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