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Up North
Joined January 2012
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Was reading this about the Euros '24 final, and I thought, "Why is he commenting in such depths on this last game of the tournament? Why?"
And then I realised it WASN'T Henry Winkler after all! @hwinkler4real
The years of hurt continue, now stretching towards 60 years for England’s men team. The pain this time came from Spain, more inventive, more decisive. Footballing matadors put John Bull to the sword. Spain have lit up Euro 2024, England have rather laboured through Germany. Spain make worthy winners.
So close. So frustrating for England. They fought hard but Spain were better. And so all those decades of anguish and under-achievement, a dodgy beer here, a proliferation of fear there, remain in the mind’s eye. All those dismaying decisions, divisive club cliques, imbalanced midfields, wayward penalties, and broken hearts and metatarsals stay in the national consciousness. One day they will be consigned to history. But for now they shape England's present.
“We have to get this trophy to get the respect of the rest of the football world,” Southgate had said. But they return from Germany with respect. They showed resilience, again fighting back from going a goal behind, this time from Williams, and again showing their strength in depth, this time Palmer rising from the bench and equalising. Yet Spain were too good, and also have good subs, and Oyarzabal struck at the death.
There will inevitably be talk of whether Southgate will want to continue when his contract expires in December. He has had four tournaments, two finals, and no trophy. He has a fine pool of players to draw from. But the FA want him to stay, so do the players and most of the fans. But he’s had four goes. Anyway, whatever us outsiders might think, it will be Southgate’s call.
His players play for him. Not having started a game for five months, Shaw was immense here in Berlin, standing up to Yamal. Spain had more of the ball, 70% first half, but England had the belief, they had Shaw playing so well. Over on the right, Walker largely made Williams turn inside into traffic. Saka took on Cucurella, delighting England fans who clearly don’t like the full-back. Cucurella duly confirmed his pantomime villain status by tumbling under a fair Saka challenge. Chelsea v Arsenal. Premier League stories everywhere. Foden tried to close down his club-mate, Rodri. City v City.
England fans, outnumbering the Spanish by at least 3-1, were unstinting in their support. They’ve waited so long for this, they’ve travelled so far and invested so much time, money and emotion, “Football’s coming home” rolled around the Olympiastadion
England settled. Stones slid in superbly to intercept a Williams cross.
England fans reprised the National Anthem. Their players finished the half well, not reigning but reviving. Kane’s shot was blocked by Rodri, who injured himself in the process. Foden’s volley was held by Simon. England should have been lifted by Rodri staying off at the break. Maybe they switched off, a momentary lapse of concentration costing them within 69 seconds. Yamal raced in from the right and England froze.
Walker was most culpable, taking his eye off Williams, who sped from the left on to Yamal’s pass and calmly shot past Pickford. England were cut apart by pace and precision passing. Pickford went ballistic. Trippier broke off from warming up to urge some calm.
Fans chanted for Watkins. Southgate obliged (60). It had to be Kane off and it was. He was struggling, drained physically, never looking fully fit. Watkins, the rescue service, sped on. Southgate, making earlier subs, now gambled (71), swapping Mainoo’s screening for Palmer’s creativity. Two minutes on, boom. Another magical moment: Saka down the right, Bellingham’s clever lay-off, Palmer’s unerring, low, left-footed finish. Palmer has ice in his veins and thunder in his boots. England have such strength in depth.
So do Spain: Cucurella angled a ball in from the left and Oyarzabal slid in to score (86). England refused to go quietly. Rice twice and Guehi went close with headers. But their luck had run out. The final whistle was drowned out by the sound of Spanish oles and English sighs. And so it goes on. The hurt.
#ESPENG #EURO2024
Bought this in a second hand record shop for £10!
It's a cracking album!!
@VOTB_Official
Mrs. H 💙 retweeted
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I quite liked Murder, She Wrote.
When you think about it though, she was a bit of a jinx, wasn't she? Wherever she went, somebody died!
If she came to my city, I'd be off on my holidays pronto!
Although, credit where its due, she always got the culprit!
89 days to go until #MurderSheWrote's 40th anniversary! Today's episode of the day is S9E4 "The Wind around the Tower", which marks the first time we see Jessica Fletcher travel to Ireland!
