BristolUK

Something you don't see often



Fantastic performances from English footballers who can pass to their own team mates and who don't repeatedly give the ball away.

magnumpi

Boys done good, first world trophy since 1966

Mr Bean

Holy shit

Before I opened this thread, I thought this WAS about the 1966 football.

Congrats boyo's

Partially discharged

Hopefully they will get games in the Premier League and teams will not just go for the quick fix multi million pound player who has no loyalty to the team.

BristolUK

Just to add to this...

A couple of weeks earlier, England under 17s were in the final of the UEFA under 17s, losing only on the penalty tie breaker.

While the under 20s were winning the under 20s world cup, there was another under 20s tournament in Toulon - it's a prestige tournament which involved 12 world teams including Brazil, Czech Republic and France. England sent basically the under 18s, what with the under 20s being a little busy with their own games. England won.

The under 21s are currently playing in the European Championship finals (you have to qualify for these things by the way) and they've just topped their group and are now in the semi finals.

The future looks bright.

Until their development stagnates as their playing opportunities are restricted. It's all very sad.

BristolUK

Tomorrow - Saturday - there is a repeat of the Under 17s Euro final when England again takes on Spain, this time in a world cup final.
Better luck this time lads.

It's on TSN

Partially discharged

and BBC2 if you prefer a more jingoistic commentary (I don't think Ian Wright has been involved yet so that is a relief.).

BristolUK

Or if you want to avoid John Helm who will probably be on TSN.
Dreadful commentator.

BristolUK

Ditto
Great game, brilliant performances after missing enough chances in the first half to put the game to bed.

World Champions x2 in the same year

BristolUK

and since the u-20s pic went missing...

Partially discharged

A number of those players could hold their own in Russia next summer...

When it was 2-0 for Spain I didn't have much hope for a 5-2 victory.

BristolUK

I wasn't surprised at 3-2. They just needed to stop getting over excited when there was a shot on or the chance to send someone clear. With cooler heads it could have been 3-0 before Spain had their first attack.

I still can't get over the passing and ball control that all these England 'age' teams have shown.

My first instinct is "no don't muck about with it there" because the senior players so often get caught out. And they confidently come away with the ball.

There was one daisy cutter pass in the first half, over 30-40 yards, that bisected two pairs of opponents to a team mate already marked and he controlled it instantly. I don't think I've seen anything close to that from England for decades, if at all.

John Helm continues to be awful. There's a foul on the half way line. He got the wrong England player involved despite there being a man-bun difference as well as the 16cm height difference. And while the replay shows the foul is by the Spanish player; the ref is lecturing the Spanish offender and the players are clearly positioned for an England free kick, he's rabbiting on about how the free kick is to Spain. Quite unbelievable.

Partially discharged

It could have been worse....Ray Hudson or Tommy Smyth

BristolUK

I'll give you Ray Hudson for worse...but then he's the "colour commentator" as I believe they say over the border, rather than the main man.

dave_j

A fantastic result.

I hope that the players'll be able to deal with the wealth that'll come their way and that they won't let the combination of fame and youth blunt their skill.