Alex

Yes. The super over was in that World Cup final. But it was Stokes’ innings prior to that which got England there (84 not out) and he also batted in the super over. The absolutely ridiculous match winning century against Australia in Ashes test at Headingley was only a few weeks after that though

I bet Ray can

Him and Francois definitely bonded whilst reminiscing about dressing up as soldiers, coppers, etc

He must’ve been trying to get him to run it off

Aye, you can’t use his fitness as an excuse when you’re the fucking manager picking him over better options what a tool

Speaking of which, has anyone checked on Ross Kemp?

I’m not even sure they were tika-taka. That gets unfair stick as a way of playing but the Barcelona team where Guardiola developed it were often great to watch. They kept it with short passing but used that to open teams up. Del Bosque with Spain played an ultra safe version with Busquets and Alonso sitting in front of the defence. You’re absolutely right that it could be dull as fuck though

I disagree. I don’t think it’s an interesting topic

England should’ve to gone out to Slovakia and were incredibly lucky not to do so. That’s the legacy he deserved for his tactics and selections in this tournament

That’s quite the take

Poch maybe? I honestly don’t really care though. I had a slightly weird experience about 30 minutes into the match last night. It was an almost blissful realisation that I didn’t give a fuck. It’s not something you can force, because even as a ‘neutral’ when I watch a game I almost always end up wanting one team to win. I didn’t want England to get beat. And I quite like the squad. I just had next to no emotional investment in the result.

Eamonn to all of that. Bar maybe a send-off fixture, Kane and Southgate should both be put out to pasture. It’s right that a lot of players didn’t perform but a lot of the way the team played was restricted by having Kane upfront. Not so much a cart horse. More an overladen one running through treacle. And persisting with him is 100% on Southgate. Also, and apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere - isn’t Pickford in the side for his ability with the ball at his feet? I might be being unduly harsh but I thought that almost every time he had the ball he played it long to the centre forward. Which is Sunday morning stuff

Palma Nova actually

I tell you what like, I felt for Luke Shaw. He was out on his feet with about 35 minutes to go and Southgate hung the poor cunt out to dry. Even more so as he could’ve done a straight swap for TAA or TrIppier or put either of them on and shifted Saka over.

Basically played well in the first half v Holland 😂

Lucky as fuck to get this far and Southgate cements his legacy by being ultra conservative / utterly dull in the final. Spain weren’t great by their standards but they didn’t have to be. He’s a nice bloke but he’s an absolutely bang average manager. And if you think that’s an overreaction, honestly tell me how you’d feel if him and Howe swapped jobs tomorrow. Spain were comfortably the best (and most entertaining) team in the tournament though so well deserved and definitely the right result

The Marriage Portrait/Maggie O’Farrell. No idea what it’s like but it’s for this online book club

Obviously impacts everything going forward too. In the modern era of one upfront through the middle he’s a passenger now. Toney or Watkins are better options. Like I’ve said before, start with him if you must, but he’s lucky if he gets 60 mins going off his performance tonight.

Shite game.

Please don’t boo the Spanish national anthem. You pig-ignorant cunts

It’s exactly 5 years to the day since Stokes dragged England to that World Cup final win. There’s a lot happened since but it feels like yesterday.

In the interests of balance and because it tastes nice, I’m having the odd Estrella Galicia. @PaddockLad not sure if you knew, as I believe you’re a fan, they stock it in LIdl now. Which reminds me, as I believe you’re also a fan of Cuban Ron, they do their own 7 yo Cuban Rum now. I’ve had better but it’s very decent. Especially for the price

I was reading there had been a lot of people who had put their names forward to commentate on the Surfing events. Which are taking place in….Tahiti

Incredible achievement by Djokovic to make the final only a few weeks after knee surgery. I think he’ll keep going as long as he thinks he has a chance of winning majors. But bar the bit at the end of the third set, when his first serve went missing, Alcaraz was on a different plane. It wasn’t even close until that point