The score doesn't really reflect the state of play - Russia have been very aggressive, just god-awful at turning that into anything. 2-0 would have been misleading.
― inside, skeletons are always inside, that's obvious. (dowd), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:45 (eight years ago) link
Aggression not a problem with Russians.
― Larry 'Leg' Smith (Tom D.), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:47 (eight years ago) link
Great claim from the keeper there.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:47 (eight years ago) link
Classic skrtel
― pandemic, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:48 (eight years ago) link
Now holding in the box would be ultra classic skrtel
Yay Slovakia hold on!
― pandemic, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:50 (eight years ago) link
Russia play good last ten minutes of games but that's about it.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:51 (eight years ago) link
They looked so much better when Mamaev came on.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 14:52 (eight years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck9vCd3WsAAw0pd.jpg
― pratt truss it (dan m), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 15:58 (eight years ago) link
that's great
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 16:01 (eight years ago) link
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
― lettered and hapful (symsymsym), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 16:03 (eight years ago) link
Penalty, no yellow though. Is that a new rule?
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 16:19 (eight years ago) link
penalty has never meant an automatic booking
― The Nickelbackean Ethics (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 16:25 (eight years ago) link
This seems to indicatie it shouldve at least been a card:
"But deliberate fouls - including holding, pulling or pushing, not playing the ball, serious foul play, violent conduct or deliberate handball in order to deny a goalscoring opportunity - will still result in dismissal."
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10308834/euro-2016-triple-punishment-kick-offs-penalties-new-ifab-football-laws-on-show-in-france
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 16:29 (eight years ago) link
Kind of feel there is a weak link in this Rodriguez / Schar / Djourou / Lichtsteiner defence but haven't worked out who it is...
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:05 (eight years ago) link
Swiss are really bad and dull
― Daithi Bowsie (darraghmac), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:07 (eight years ago) link
It's like they've given up already tbh
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:10 (eight years ago) link
Or not
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:12 (eight years ago) link
Great hit.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:13 (eight years ago) link
Wish i got space like that at five a side. Very poor stuff.
― Daithi Bowsie (darraghmac), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:16 (eight years ago) link
Pogba and Griezman out, Martial and Coman in
― Number None, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:41 (eight years ago) link
with Payet moved inside to 10? awesome, that's a fiendishly fast front line. + Giroud. but then he seems to be scoring for fun for the national team rn. i'm looking forward to this
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:55 (eight years ago) link
interesting that even after pretty avg performance last week Matuidi is preferred to Pogba. cracking under the pressure of being the national "talisman"? or is it just that Matuidi is seen as a safer hand to help look after the defence?
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:57 (eight years ago) link
I'd assume they're just resting him against a team they're 90% sure to beat either way.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 17:59 (eight years ago) link
Riding for a fall there.
― Larry 'Leg' Smith (Tom D.), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:01 (eight years ago) link
Probably its that matuidi avg is better than pogba pish
― Daithi Bowsie (darraghmac), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:03 (eight years ago) link
OTM. Also to maybe jolt Pogba into being more team-minded when he comes back in.
― lilcraigyboi (Craigo Boingo), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:08 (eight years ago) link
otm or not, it is still an interesting move. i mean fancy dropping yr totemic midfield general (especially after months of media narrative building them up as the most important member of the squad) just cuz you suspected that the team might function better without them in there? what black voodoo is this
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:24 (eight years ago) link
It's not like he's bringing in a couple o'schmucks tbf.
― lilcraigyboi (Craigo Boingo), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:26 (eight years ago) link
was kidding, if more managers would consider dropping their "totemic midfield general" for the benefit of the team the world would be a better place for it. like i said, i'm really looking forward to this game
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:30 (eight years ago) link
Are you suggesting Hodgson should drop Rooney?
― Larry 'Leg' Smith (Tom D.), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:36 (eight years ago) link
Never seen Pogba play well for France tbh
― Number None, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:37 (eight years ago) link
yes that is what i am suggesting.
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 18:47 (eight years ago) link
For real The Worst Italy Team In 30 Years are probably the best side I've seen this week. Better than this lot at any rate.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 19:35 (eight years ago) link
"Worst Italy Team in 30 Years" such a misnomer tho, and theyve been playing it up themselves. that Juventus defence haven't lost more than a game or two in 6 months. cumulatively they've conceded about 10 goals in their last 25 games. if they can maintain that and snatch some goals on the break then there's no reason why they shouldn't win it
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 19:40 (eight years ago) link
Both more or less otm
― The Brexit Club (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 19:41 (eight years ago) link
In 2016 tho even yr shit cuddly underdogs do a bit more than park the bus
― The Brexit Club (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 19:42 (eight years ago) link
Martial is a disgrace.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 19:45 (eight years ago) link
Looks overawed
But he had a tendency to drift in and out of games this season and then come up with a moment of magic. Wouldn't be overly surprised if he's taken out for Griezmann though
― Number None, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:00 (eight years ago) link
Being uniteds best player doesnt necessarily mean youre good enough to beat albania
― Daithi Bowsie (darraghmac), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:18 (eight years ago) link
This is dogshit.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:20 (eight years ago) link
New low for Low: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36543498
― Position Position, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:22 (eight years ago) link
Giroud.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:26 (eight years ago) link
The longer this goes on the more I want Albania to do it
― The Brexit Club (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:26 (eight years ago) link
yeah this has not been good at all. i really was very excited for the possibilities at kick-off but it's all been p. incoherent from the French.
whole competition basically being wrecked by this "some of the 3rd place teams (tho not all of them) will qualify" rule bcuz i can never work out when rooting for the underdog exactly how important it is that they win this particular game
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:36 (eight years ago) link
seems there is greater parity between the supposedly shit teams and the "favourites" thus far, obviously this is a familiar narrative at this point except at the absolute highest Champs League sf level - is it just a case of the 4 or 5 strongest teams having ridiculously blunted attacks or is this one of the defining features of modern futbol?
― Windsor Davies, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:40 (eight years ago) link
Albania seem mentally fatigued more than anything, I'll be amazed (and delighted) if they can withstand 10 more mins of this
― reader, if you love him so much why don't you marry him? (DJ Mencap), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:42 (eight years ago) link
Trying to imagine the crowd response if England put this performance as a host nation
― imago, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:45 (eight years ago) link
Windsor, you still in Paphos btw? We are now, watching this at our flat but the English pub district is kind of amazing/horrifying and we were walking thru it like twenty minutes ago
― imago, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:47 (eight years ago) link
Oh bollocks
At least we know they're a bit shit now tho
― imago, Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:49 (eight years ago) link
Never in doubt.
― On a Raqqa tip (ShariVari), Wednesday, 15 June 2016 20:49 (eight years ago) link