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Holmes_and_Watson

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Everything posted by Holmes_and_Watson

  1. Fine margins. Kleinherne had to go off, making a last ditch tackle to prevent a one one one with the 'keeper. Her replacement, Lohmann, is just that little keener to keep possession. Despite a couple of good challenges, and looking to build from defence, she opts to pass than clear. That lets Bonmati in, with a good dummy taking her past a defender and a shot that exploits the half foot Berger had left, expecting a cross. Spain, unable to pass through Germany, continued to build on stretching the width. But even one up, Schuller had a decent strike. In the last seconds, Spain inexplicably moved up, but Brand's pass went in front of everyone. Spain will be favourites in the final. Germany sacrificed a lot of their attack, to keep them at bay. England aren't set up to do that, not does it match their strength. But Spain also have a more creative midfield, who also don't mind getting plenty of frustrating fouls in. England have to set themselves up to directly pressure Spain's high line of defence and push them back as much as possible. Spain were clearly better in the recent friendly, so hopefully Wiegman has some ideas to stop them.
  2. Germany nearly won right at the end, with a deflection and then follow up both saved. Only minutes before, also in added time, Spain got in behind on the flank, and their sub striker was an inch away from getting contact, which would have beaten Berger. Germany contained throughout thecsecond half, with little spells of pressure from Bohl and Hoffman, before she went off. Spain happy to foul Brand, knowing what a threat she is. Spain made an England like sub, in getting more of a target on. It's nearly paid off a few times, and more than their attempts to pass through have done. Into extra time.
  3. Germany keeping their shape as much as possible to limit overstretching, and allowing Spain in behind. Even then, as it approached half time, Spain hit the post and Berger had to make a number of saves. That was due to Germany not getting out of their own third, without losing possession. Germany had some joy with direct balls into the channel. Bohl's chance went just side, while a couple of others ended as offside. As the half went on, Germany struggled to sustain any momentum. A number of deliberate fouls early on set out both sides' determination not to concede ground, setting the tone as controlled from both, until the later stages of the half when Spain got in plenty of attacks.
  4. I'm still hoping to follow how Rangers are getting on with his approach this season, in the league and Europe. This would be where I'd post that.
  5. Did well dealing with the media team's story hook of her being a ball girl 4 years ago. She gave a humble reply, rather than the more honest reply of "and that first day as a ball girl, was the first time I'd ever seen a football. It's not like I was a talented youngster or anything, you clown"
  6. Crumbs! Thing are getting really heavy here, guys. Let's lighten it up. "I've got a joke... What do you get... Nothing Blame the government!" Simon Munnery as Alan Parker.
  7. Only the progressive ones. 🙂
  8. It's nonsense. But if you look for any opinion on social media, there's bound to be people saying and supporting it, I guess. I took too long making my half time tea yesterday, so missed the best football player in humanity's history ,James, going off with what I think was a knock. 🙂
  9. Hemp's output hasn't been to her usual standard. With only Russo to aim for, I thought that applied to some of the others as well. England struggled to create much. But they moved through Wiegman's gameplay until something worked. You could make an argument for the starters to be Kelly on the left, with Russo up front, James supporting and Mead out right, overlapped by Bronze. But despite the strength there, Hemp and Toone bring other things to the team too.
  10. The Spain v England friendly had really open spells, where both sides had excellent passing moves. England used to be good at this, but other sides have adjusted, not least in stopping Walsh getting time on the ball. Spain are just better at that part, and have plenty of players as capable as Walsh, making it harder to shut that down. I expect England to pretty much set up the way they always do. A bit more pressure, getting more bodies in the box, as well as accuracy in deliveries could put any opponent on the back foot. I agree it would be nice to not leave it so late this time. 🙂 Just thinking that defensively, Sweden's opener was from a defensive error, while they also had chances to clear Italy's chance, and they didn't create much more. So, fine margins would allow England a bit more room in the game, and not have to keep breaking teams down for an equaliser.
  11. Sure Agyemang could have come on earlier, as could Kelly. Yes, the midfield is not at it's best. However, Wiegman has put out a very balanced side. She does use a load of different options during the game. All the players know how to adjust. Despite any natural disappointment in not starting, the squad know the approach, and not one of the subs fails to have an impact. Agyemang is so far a great impact player, but Russo offers much more. Toone was quiet. For me, she along with Carter were the Euro 22 players, I thought would not start by now. But Toone links up well when it's Russo and Mead on. She was first to that late pen, apart from the taker. Carter came on late. Italy offered a different challenge, and Carter is trusted to fill in anywhere across the back, and helps cover for Bronze being forward. Kelly is excellent, as is Mead. But Hemp is rightfully the starter on one flank. Having two wider players messes with that balance, although both can and do cut in. James is versatile and a match winner, and is just ahead of Mead. You can see changes each game, based on things they work on. For an international side, with limited time together, there's a really strong club togetherness from the squad.
  12. European football always seems too quickly upon Rangers and Celtic. If they've already adapted to his style significantly, then it's been a quick turnaround. If they get through any preliminary rounds, then Martin's style will be an asset for Rangers. A limited budget side, controlling games against good opponents. It's in the league, he's going to have to be able to turn possession into goals. And against far more defensive sides than he faced with us. The gap in quality even between Rangers and the other Scottish sides will help. But there may be plenty of frustration along the way.
  13. She's always been a really good player. Wiegman like the balance of James/ Mead.on one side, complimented by Bronze overlaps with Hemp/Kelly on the other. And Hemp can work that whole left flank. Terrific sub to bring on.
  14. Another tireless performance from England. We've seen enough missed penalties, so Kelly's kick wasn't a certainty. Credit to her for getting the rebound first. And to Toone, who would have put it in, had Kelly not got there. It was a foul for the pen, and Mead made sure the ref was aware of it, by falling. Agyemang offered that photo ysical threat again, that unerves defences. The versatility of the others to adjust to changing situations is a credit. Hemp dropped back, with Bronze overlapping Kelly on the other side, as Mead moved in centrally to support with Toone. Getting the ball through defences centrally remains a problem. Defences are looking to close off Walsh. England normally then switch to Hemp or Mead. Tonight, the delivery in from Hemp and others, wasn't their usual standard, leaving Russo wasted. And Mead is now on the bench for James. James is the better all round player, but Mead, Russo and Toone link up really well together. In the past England have created very good passing moves. Their opponents have adapted. Wiegman switches to other tactics, and it would be nice if that could be solved too. Italy didn't create much, other than their goal. After that, they were looking for counters. England could have been caught out a couple of times. Morgan is a bit more mobile than Carter, which has more importance as the until moves to support a forward playing Bronze. However, Italy didn't offer the same threat level that Sweden did. So, you can see games where Carter could get the nod again. Thrilled for yet another final appearance. Have to say, I'm rather hoping it's against Germany.
  15. Agyemang comes on late, so doesn't get many minutes. Perhaps it's getting up to speed, but a few first touches aren't great. But she doesn't miss a beat, and when it's under her power you get finishes like that. Walsh off. Hemp tired, but with the threat wide from both her and Kelly, hopefully a winner is on the way.
  16. A little surprised James went off, unless injured. But Mead a normal sub, just I thought it would have been for Toone. England still slow to get the ball into the box. When they do, there aren't numbers. Russo asked to take on 2 or 3 defenders all the time. Need to push. Girelli has now gone off, so Italy without their best attacker now.
  17. It seemed like he'd go on forever. A rock legend.
  18. England were the better side after the game's opening minutes. But, despite lots of attacking options, Russo looked isolated in the middle. The deliveries were mostly from Hemp into a lone attacker. James was a little deeper, and wider and did have a decent effort saved. Bronze got in an overlap, but England didn't get bodies in the box to capitalise on it. Toone has been pretty much nullified by Italy. They shut her support out almost completely. This gave Walsh a bit of early space, but that became less as the half went on. The result of England not putting pressure on the Italian defence was that the pace of the game slowed. That suited Italy, who started to pass forward well. Their goal came from a combination of good skill, down their right. But England had chances to clear it, as the ball came across, bounced off Bronze, before being controlled well, and blasted home. England responded immediately, but briefly. The end of the half saw more Italy possession in England's third. The second half may well see Italy naturally drop back. England will have to commit more players into the box, which they should have been doing anyway. But Italy have a very experienced front line. You can see them positioning to take advantage, with balls behind the defence. Girelli, as usual, is leading their line really well.
  19. It's those caring touches that will be why SOG said the hostages were safer with Hamas.
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