Dark Munster

Yes, that should work too. But still go to extra time if tied (ignoring penalties) after 90, and pre-match penalty winner wins if tied after 120.

Most boring matches occur when both teams are afraid of losing. As long as one team is desperate for the win, it's usually exciting. With that in mind, here are my suggestions: 1) No more 3rd placed teams in a group advancing. Ever. 2) No more penalties in knockout matches. After extra time, the "highest seeded" (defined below) team advances. That way, at least one team will be going all out for the win. Probably both (see below). Seeding: First round of knockout, easy: Each match is 1st vs. 2nd from group play, so 1st is the higher seed. Bonus here: big incentive to finish first in group stage: more excitement there already. Subsequent rounds: team with highest points from previous matches is the higher seed. The points are the ones got from the group stage (again incentive to win as many as possible there), plus 6 points for each win in 90 minutes in a knockout, or 3 points for each win in extra time. ZERO points for a previously drawn match and going through as higher seed. In the event of two teams having the same number of points, goal difference followed by goals scored in all previous matches is used as a tie-breaker. If still tied, penalties (with zero points for that win). Again, incentive to win as many matches as possible, and to score as many goals as possible. For the final itself maybe use penalties instead of seeding; it wouldn't be satisfying crowning a champion after a draw. Argument against: the seeding is an artificial way of separating teams. Rebuttal: it's done in the group stage anyway, when teams are tied on points. Argument against: the higher seeded team may park the bus. Rebuttal: better to have one team park the bus, and the other go all out in attack, than both parking the bus. Besides, there's a strong incentive to maintain a high seed to win, so unlikely a team will park the bus. Anyway, call me mad, but I think it might work. As a bonus, England won't lose on bloody penalties again.

Two giant egos on display coming up, Ronaldo and Clattenburg. One of them, though, does at least have talent to back it up.

Exactly. I'm going to make a wild guess that the club actually does intend to buy quality replacements for Mane and VW, but is doing its best to avoid overpaying.

I wonder if there's a cement factory next door to the Lazio stadium? If so, maybe that's what drove him away.

If that happens I'm on the next plane back home to England.

"Black is a well respected coach." From what I hear that seems a bit debatable.

[video=youtube;a5nlrSVi5-A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5nlrSVi5-A Next up, a video of English players celebrating Wales' loss today.

Good job it wasn't this one. Along with the cement factory and the not so Nice weather, it could be too much for him.

vs

Venables partially learnt from past mistakes by having 5 players well-drilled and prepared for penalties. It worked against Spain. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to anticipate preparing more than 5 penalty takers. In fairness, he had more players prepared than previous English managers, and some after too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N4jeSJg7uA

Since their loss to Czechoslovakia, Germany have won 6 out of 6 shootouts, with only two misses prior to yesterday. We all know England's record, 6 losses out of 7, in some cases not practicing because "you can't recreate the pressure during practice." But that's ok, penalty taking is a lottery, and England are just unlucky.

Indeed. Unlike us, they actually learn from their mistakes. Having said that, they were lucky today that Italy were even worse than them at taking the pks.

Difficult without Ramsey. IMO yellows should be expunged from the group stages.

Fifty, to be precise.

Annual salaries: Hodgson €5,000,000 Coleman: €260,000

Amazing they did it without Bale doing that much in the match. It was a great team performance.

Go back over the last 50 years and we have a grand total of 6 knockout wins. Beyond pathetic.

Contrast Wales' performance with England's. Talking of England, Belgium are doing their best emulate them now.

Yes they are. The goal was no more than they deserved. A performance that puts England to shame.

Wow. Belgium look pure class.

Robin.

Good shout. Definitely could do worse than Guus.

Maybe Puel can control him, since he managed him previously and knows him well. Just like Pochettino with Osvaldo. Oh.