Jimmy_D

I’d imagine because it doesn’t imply that being black makes them worse at something, and there’s far less historic bias against white people that can be inferred by it. Doesn’t mean that it’s not a stupid chant, just that there’s less perception that it’s racially motivated.

It’s equally ignorant either way.

Like I said, you’re never going to change everyone’s opinion. None of all of this is aimed at changing their mind, it’s being done to oppose them.

I don’t think it’s about changing anyone’s mind, or at least not everyones, but more about giving future generations a choice and a chance to do better. People growing up with racist people in the past would grow up in a near vacuum, where the only opinion they heard would be unopposed and they’d have formed a mindset like that before they ever had a chance to figure it out themselves. It tended to be ignored rather than actively opposed. Now, at every turn people can see people with influence fighting back against it. That’s the reason ‘empty’ gestures like taking the knee should continue, because the opposing viewpoint needs to be there as constantly as the racists’. I think it’s actually making a difference. Look at the response to the Rashford mural. Would the vandalism have even been reported a few years ago? It certainly wouldn’t have been a main news item, and hundreds of people have come out and done something to counter it, instead of just ignoring it.

People might complain about our tactics, but we’ve just gone through an entire tournament conceding two goals and only lost in the final on penalties. One was a bullet of a free kick that probably shouldn’t have been a free kick in the first place, and the other came after an extremely unlucky ricochet off the post. That’s a bloody incredible platform to have a chance to win games. It’s gutting that it’s the final where it’s just come up short by the tiniest margin, but in my book Southgate has managed us brilliantly. In tournament football, where one loss literally ends it all, being difficult to beat is far more valuable than league football where a draw means dropping two points. Despite the claims of Italy having all the game, and us not doing anything to them, Italy didn’t really lay a glove on us either. For all their possession it didn’t feel like we were in much danger. Add in the number of fouls Italy had to commit to disrupt us, not to mention they were extremely lucky to keep 11 on the pitch, and in the end it just wasn’t our night. After a game that close it’ll always feel like we could have done something differently and got a different result.

The point I was making was just how finely balanced that final was. We really were incredibly incredibly close.

All pointless hindsight and speculation now, but can’t help but feel like we win that if Rashford turns his foot a fraction more and scores. Massively more pressure on the Italian penalties and far less pressure on ours.

Really not sure how those ****s kept eleven players on the pitch

Hell of a tournament for England. Hopefully we can carry this into the World Cup.

Damn.

It had to be I guess...

I reckon we’ll have enough to get past them in extra time. We’ve kept subs back, now we can take advantage of that.

Come on then England... Everything into this... leave nothing on the pitch!

That’ll do at half time...

Bloody Hell.

Here we are! England in a major final! COME ON ENGLAND! Time to try and take it in... suspect it’ll just seem a blur at the end.

Normally I’d be a nervous wreck before a game this big, but I’m actually looking forward to this Feels like we have the edge going into this game. Italy are dangerous of course, especially if they manage to take the lead, but our defence, tournament management, and squad depth, as well as the pace we’ll have against their defence, I reckon it gives us an excellent chance of coming out on top tonight.

I must be due another one being wrong? 😬

https://streamable.com/ry3cnc Still think it was a soft penalty, but I can certainly see why VAR didn’t overturn it.

They know the exact time and they have security cameras covering the whole crowd. Virtually guaranteed the idiot has a stadium ban coming their way. It’ll be a meaningless fine anyway.

Excellent to kill the game there... Wow. We’re in the final! WE’RE IN THE FINAL!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

On that last angle looks like there’s just enough for it to be a penalty. Still very soft though.

Five in normal time, in three blocks, plus one in extra time.

Soft penalty... Holy feckin’ excrement.

Damn. Getting closer.