Holmes_and_Watson

I clicked it so that I could not be remotely surprised about who would be the main participant of it. 🙂

Politician

At least having an Austrian manager, who mucks about with the balance on full backs is something we don't have to worry ab...oh.... 🙂

Austria hunted across the midfield in packs at the start of the second half. Interesting to see Germany on the receiving end of it. They didn't like it. Austria nearly had a one on one, they hit the crossbar and then the post. The end of their attacking spell came when Germany took a booking to stop the Austrian speed merchant, Hickelsberger-Fuller, on a good run. Germany started to get back in control. Popp and later Dallmann had nearly moments. As the half went on, and possibly as a result of the energy they'd spent, Austria's passing and decision making started to go downhill. Giving it away cheaply in the final third became hospital passes in the midfield before trying to play out from the back. Buhl hit the bar, and showed an anguished look at the miss. It might have been on her mind not long after that, when she missed a sitter. In the end Austria were punished playing it out from the back. They'd had plenty of warnings. Their keeper hit in onto the rushing in Popp and it went in. England will have learned a bit about Germany tonight. Austria had a good 10 minute spell on top and they are more limited in options than England.

Tax

I missed the first 15mins, when Austria were apparently giving Germany some problems. They had half a dozen attempts obyn goal by half time and I think I saw 1 of them. A physical encounter by two squads that know each other fairly well. But Germany's energy levels, tactics and teamwork are a bit above Austria's. They were putting more and more pressure on as the half went on. Blocking Austria's passing, closing them down and pushing in numbers where they found space. It was a poor goalkick and a defence caught out, that gave Germany the chance to nick the ball, go down the side of the box, cut it back for a shot and a one goal lead. Austria didn't offer much, even after that as Germany didn't drop off the pace of the game. But a good instinctive play nearly worked. A good first time pass opened up a little space on the right flank. A first time pass into the middle was nearly picked up an Austrian player who was a real speed merchant, outrunning the defender from deep, only for the German keeper to get there first.

Value

And kids options on the menus. 🙂

Calculated

Thanks to listening to the Beeb yesterday, I will invest in a space rocket to cooler Mars as the Earth combusts around me. 🙂

What a finish. Daly was having some torrid moments at left back. Fine margins,. So when she missed an interception, it was a pass across and with the markers not in place a straight forward finish. Even Bright getting back on the line couldn't keep it out. The England manager doesn't muck about, when it comes to subs. White, Mead and Daly all off. But even then it looked like Spain were going to see it out. Shifting Bright up front put more pressure on Spain. Despite Spain's moaning, it was a good header down by Russo, to allow Toone to level. England pushed back Spain in extra time. They were always the stronger of the two teams. Kelly made a real difference. But it was Hemp who had stayed on who diverted the Spanish defence, to allow Stanway to blast in the winner. She capitalised on Hemp's run, just moving the centre half a foot or two out of position to open up the angle. Smart play. Having made some changes that seemed to suit England, Spain brought on a striker. But despite some nervous moments, particularly from one corner that the keeper couldn't clear, Spain weren't creating too many out and out chances. England had to work really hard for this win, and there will be lots to learn from the match. But there some excellent performances.

Cracking game. Tense stuff. Both started slowly, which suited Spain's possession based game. They stifled Williamson in the midfield. When England got past the press, Spain countered using the gaps behind the full backs. Plenty of crosses coming in, and Spain looked by far the most likely to score the opener. But, in being pushed back England finally played from deep, with Bright delivering a couple of great passes. That pushed Spain back, and suddenly Williamson was free. She could then pass out wide and England were on the front foot. White had one disallowed. Could easily go either way. Let's hope England can take their momentum into the second half.

'course they will. The sooner they play, the sooner we can cash in. Madness to wait until they're ready. #praisethepathway 🙂

Ditch this place as I could afford to subscribe to a better class of forum. 🙂

We're all finishing off our face paining. No time for posting. 🙂 C'mon England!

I'm glad you were im-pretzel-ed. 🙂 While pleaded to get to watch the preseason games, I'm trying not to read too much into what I see. There's plenty of sharpness to get back (or find considering the end of last season), and further personnel changes will alter the squad dynamics. As someone posted, great pre seasons can be followed by dismal seasons and vice versa.

Nice of you to say. While I might think of myself as a comedy ein-stein, others think my alpine puns are the wurst. Are they home yet? 🙂

If we get a kit that good, it will be a real feather in our cap. 🙂

Saints extend tour, but fear scoring will remain an issue against resolute defences.

We'll, one of them had the nickname of flash, and the other... 🙂

At least it will be easier to detect in people, as they will all have hooves. 🙂

Spain dominated possession for the whole game. Again, they struggled to convert against a structured defence. Denmark pushing up towards the end opened up even more space for a late winner. If they get the room, and they don't need much, Spain will create. It's going to be interesting to see how much of that England give them. England will have seen how Germany punished them, and it's well within them to do the same. Looking forward to it on Wednesday.

It can be difficult to get back on the road after a carrillo crash. 🙂 There may be that higher quality available for less now , due to contracts etc. As you say plenty of time left, and I'd not complain if they splurged in a way that wouldn't hamstring us going forward. Hopefully with fewer gaps to plug in future windows, they may be able to focus the funds on a couple of higher outlay signings too.

As those temperatures increase over the next couple of days, remember that disorientation and confusion are symptoms of heat stroke. 🙂

Rack