Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

I desperately hope that, yet again, I am wrong.

I was promised a recession.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Nothing worth doing is easy.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

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When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

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Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

T R E 4 5 O N

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

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Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Bogus polls are all they’ve got left. Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls a year from now.

Nikki Haley, who can’t acknowledge ‘slavery’, is a pathetic shill.

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

You are here: Home / Sports / Euro 2020 Football (Soccer) Final: England v Italy

Euro 2020 Football (Soccer) Final: England v Italy

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USA Today says England is the favorite. Probably not gonna get much argument on this blog!

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232Comments

  5. 5.

    oldster

    Flying off to Italy at the end of the week for vacation. Already learned the Italian for, “we are not English.” Will come in handy no matter who wins.

  7. 7.

    Omnes Omnibus

    I have been tormenting Valdivia with Peaky Blinders based “It’s coming home” videos.  I apologize to England fans if this causes karma/fate/destiny to fuck England over.  My bad.

  8. 8.

    Tony Jay

    To be honest, though. I’m taking just the right level of pride in this bunch of young lads representing my country because, in conscious rejection of the vile, regressive, hate-filled xenophobia that a too large minority of my countrymen have filled their boots with, they’ve done it as a diverse team of modern kids who want the country they live in to be diverse and modern too.

    So whatever the result (Italy are bloody good, you know) they’ve already won my heart (collapses in snotty tears clutching a picture of ENGLAND’S HARRY KANE torn from a copy of Shoot magazine)

    No Nostradamising, let’s play some Football!

  11. 11.

    Sloane Ranger

    Wow 1-0 to us. That was a surprise after Maguire gave a corner away so easily.

  13. 13.

    Tony Jay

    @Sloane Ranger:

    I can only assume that they worked on that in training.

    “Right, Slabhead, do you think you can look like a total numpty right out of the gate?”

    “Do you know who I am?”

    “Fair point.”

  14. 14.

    Kent

    @Tony Jay: vile, regressive, hate-filled xenophobia

    Of course I’m sure Italy has none of that sort of thing whatsoever.  They would NEVER vote for a racist right-wing media creature.  Heh.

    Oh wait…

  15. 15.

    HumboldtBlue

    Today I learned the referee, Mr. Kuipers, is a multi-millionaire grocery store chain owner.

  17. 17.

    burnspbesq

    Get ready for Italy to practice ALL of the dark arts. The Diego Simeone Diving School is open for business. And there will be numerous cheap shots away from the ball.

  19. 19.

    Mo Salad

    Joined late. Saw replay of goal.  Italy D looked horrible. The Lions could run away with this.

  22. 22.

    Tony Jay

    @Mo Salad:

    We look fast and sharp and confident, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Italy will work their moments and make chances.

    Shaw is already having a hell of a game and it looks like ENGLAND’S HARRY KANE’S laudanum dealer finally ran out of product.

  24. 24.

    burnspbesq

    England won the U-17 and U-20 world championships In 2017. DCL scored the only goal in the U-20 final.

  25. 25.

    Steeplejack

    At Wembley – Nigel Farage just arrived to loud boos and people throwing bottles at him.

    — Louisa Compton (@louisa_compton) July 11, 2021

    Just always entertaining when fashy nerds fetishize hyper macho archetypes such as soccer hooligans and then run into them in real life.

    — zeddy (@Zeddary) July 11, 2021

  26. 26.

    raven

    @Tony Jay: From a dual citizenship friend

     

    So England can pack 60,000 people into Wembley stadium, but two fully vaccinated people cannot travel to England without 4 COVID tests and a quarantine of 5 days , or 3 COVID tests and a quarantine of 10 days. In addition to a US-required COVID test to return. The system at its most illogical.

  27. 27.

    HumboldtBlue

    Luke Shaw looks like every British criminal henchman in every British gangster/crime movie. I keep expecting to see Jason Statham whack him with a cricket bat. He speaks without consonants, and all the THs are effs.

  29. 29.

    cain

    Y’alls killing me – I can’t find a streaming thing to watch this – I dont have cable. Meh.

  31. 31.

    burnspbesq

    @cain:

    Go to the gym and see if they’ll put ESPN on the TVs by the treadmills instead of Fox News.

    Worth a shot.

  34. 34.

    Tony Jay

    @raven:

    You’d almost think the UK Government didn’t give a shit about protecting the country from Covid and just wanted a big old superspreader party they can blame on “People not following advice”.

    It’s going to be a really bad summer.

  35. 35.

    Tony Jay

    @Steeplejack:

     Nigel Farage just arrived to loud boos and people throwing bottles at him.

    Sometimes the most surprising people surprise you. #notallenglandfans

  39. 39.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Tony Jay:

    So far he’s the only danger, no other Italian has done anything offensively so far.

    What a play from Shaw and that was close!

  40. 40.

    Steeplejack

    @cain:

    VeniceRiley had success on earlier matches with the PrendeTV app. Listened to the English call on UK TalkSport on phone via Radio.Garden. A kluge, but it worked.

  41. 41.

    Tony Jay

    Italy getting a tiny bit frustrated here. Everything they do isn’t quite working, and when it does England have the defensive answers and come right back at them. They haven’t been in this situation so far this tournament. Even against Spain they looked comfortable enough most of the time.

  42. 42.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Tony Jay:

    They are at their most dangerous attacking through the middle at pace, they are struggling to find a way through the England defense in the final third when the attack slows down.

  43. 43.

    Tony Jay

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Yup. When they come at us we’re outnumbering the man with the ball and blocking the passing routes, then bursting out of our half at pace to give the Italian defence kittens. It’s a good strategy and it’s working.

  47. 47.

    Morzer

    Well, England were the better side and deserve their lead. Italy appear to have decided that defending a 1-0 loss is the way to go.  Neither side can claim to be in control, but so far Italy haven’t really found anything resembling an attacking strategy, while England are occasionally threatening to score before Signor Chiellini The Antique Defender intervenes.

  48. 48.

    Montanareddog

    I am lying in a sedentary position and my watch tells me that the extended spell of Italian possession at the end of the half bumped my heart rate to 96bpm

  49. 49.

    Mo Salad

    Current feed is using ITV. English commercials! Roy Keane! Ian Wright! The ugly Neville brother!

  53. 53.

    burnspbesq

    Italy went to school on the Damsgaard goal, but not enough bend. You’ll see three offensive players on the end of the wall all over English football this season.

  61. 61.

    JML

    England is winning and yet I feel super nervous.

    Mason Mount has been bloody invisible on the left and the whole team seems to be parking the bus already. Shaw and Walker (shaw and walker?!?) have been the best players for England so far.

    If England doesn’t start putting together quality attacking again, Italy will equalize. (although, maybe Pickford will stand on his head and save the day)

  62. 62.

    Another Scott

    @Steeplejack:

    Be interesting to see the viewing figures on ITV given the same match is on BBC without adverts. Could be a useful count of how many people in England who shouldn’t be allowed scissors.

    — Rob Manuel ? (@robmanuel) July 11, 2021

    Heh.

    (via IamHappyToast)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  63. 63.

    guachi

    Italy is doing a lot of things well but none of which have gotten a ball in the net.

  69. 69.

    JML

    Sigh. Maybe southgate will actually try to win the game now, rather than trying not to lose it?

    (Grealish time? No, that would make too much sense.)

  71. 71.

    HumboldtBlue

    Maguire gets that concrete block in the way,

    GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL Italy!

    So now who does Gareth bring on?

    And yes, it’s Gary Neville, an outstanding analyst.

  72. 72.

    Tony Jay

    Right. Defending on the edge of the 18 yard box is not a super tactic. We need possession and we need movement. The Italians have sussed out that they need to get bodies around the box and pull the England defenders around with quick passing and running at them.

    Here’s Saka to inject pace and threat up front.

  73. 73.

    Steeplejack

    Well, hell. Stepped to the kitchen for just a moment and missed Italy’s equalizer.

  76. 76.

    Amir Khalid

    Italy equalise. 1-1. Let’s see who scores the next goal. This match does not deserve to go to penalties.

  77. 77.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Tony Jay:

    That means a switch in formation, most likely 4-2-3-1

    I expect Hendo soon.

    Sweet mother of Clive Tyldsley, Sam Matterface is absolutely dreadful as a ply by play man.

  78. 78.

    Tony Jay

    Here comes Hendo to get a grip on the midfield.

    Rice looks exhausted, unsurprising because he hasn’t stopped.

  82. 82.

    Tony Jay

    @Amir Khalid:

    We were dominant enough in the first half he wasn’t needed. What we need now that Italy have woken up is someone to shield the defence when needed and keep the midfield tight while also providing incisive forward passes.

    Hence Hendo!

    Oh no, Chiesa has been murdered! Seal the stadium, no one leaves until everyone has been checked for powder residue.

  84. 84.

    Tony Jay

    We’ve got our foot on the ball and have possession at last. Already there’s a substantial improvement.

  86. 86.

    billcinsd

    @Tony Jay: Of course Chiesa went off injured and many of the English squad have gone down under nothing, but you haven’t mention that. Shades of how England fans used to claim English players never dived. Well until Michael Owen went to Spain

  87. 87.

    Mo Salad

    Am I a bad person for thinking that MacGuire’s hairstyle should be called Kennedy Headshot?

  88. 88.

    JML

    I’m glad to see Sterling showing some forward momentum. I’d like to see him spot someone else to play on, rather than dribble into every wall of Italians…

  92. 92.

    Leto

    Italy hasn’t quite looked the same since Chiesa went off. And Chiellini somehow avoided a red. Good lord that was bad.

  93. 93.

    Tony Jay

    @billcinsd:

    I’m sorry, are we having some sort of issue here? I’ve got to warn you in advance, I’ve got a lot of experience in not caring that much.

    That said, Chiesa’s injury seemed to come from an accidental step on his foot while his colleagues have been nipping and kicking and leaving the knee in for much of the game, much of which the referee has let them get away with.

    Happy now? Or are you going to tell me how Saka faked that collar grab to make poor old signor Chi-Chi look bad?

  95. 95.

    Mo Salad

    Why wasn’t that a red? Reckless disregard, pulling somebody down like that. Head could have hit ground first.

  96. 96.

    Tony Jay

    We were coming back into it after a torrid first 30 of that half. Time for Grealish and Sancho to freshen up the front line and take advantage of the Italian back line’s advanced age.

    ETA – And yes, that looked like a very possible red for dangerous play.

  97. 97.

    Morzer

    I am amazed that Chiellini didn’t get a red for that.  Still, let’s see what the younger, stronger England bench can do.

  99. 99.

    Tony Jay

    Can I just point out that Hendo’s arrival in the middle has given England the leader they needed to get their heads back together. The guy just has that authority about him and does not shut up, at all, ever.

  105. 105.

    Tony Jay

     

    @JML:

    More than anything Southgate fears getting the blame for a defeat. As that looks likelier he’ll start to see those tabloid headlines asking why Dancing Jack Twinkletoes was kept on the bench and feel his seat getting hotter and hotter.

    Told Ya!

  108. 108.

    JML

    @Leto: as a Villa supporter since I was 10, I have no apologies for my relentless cheerleading for Jack Grealish.

  109. 109.

    Tony Jay

    @Leto:

    He brings joy

    He brings fun

    He’s a favourite of your Mum

    He’s got calves

    Out to there

    You can’t foul him

    That’s not fair.

  110. 110.

    Nutmeg again

    Sorry, folks. Rooting for Italy because

    (1) The England fans have been just appalling! abusing Danish fans, including children–I mean, come on–that’s just gross; and,

    (2) die Mannschaft are out on their collective asses so~~ eh

  114. 114.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Mo Salad: I’ve done it playing rugby.  If I was beaten…  Take the penalty or give up a try?  Easy choice.

    ETA:  You just can’t whine if someone returns the favor.

  116. 116.

    Tony Jay

    @Nutmeg again:

    Those vile thugs aren’t England fans, they’re just wearing the shirt because they think it gives them licence to do what they want to do under colour of ‘patriotism’.

    I’d imagine they’re not exactly fans of what this overtly diverse and ‘woke’ team proudly stand (and kneel) for.

  117. 117.

    Another Scott

    In other news, re the Virginia governor’s race this fall…

    Ha! Glenn Youngkin wants to re-criminalize marijuana. BRILLIANT electoral strategy in a state where 68% of voters (and a majority of both parties) believe pot should be legal for recreational use. https://t.co/VEZxEwH4hm

    — Brad Haywood (@BradleyRHaywood) July 11, 2021

    Crush him Terry Mac! No mercy!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  119. 119.

    JML

    I don’t want this to go to PKs. both teams deserve to have this decided in the run of play. Italy is really playing physical and I think it’s throwing England off.

  120. 120.

    Tony Jay

    @A:

    You haven’t noticed how much better England have been playing since Hendo came on to get a grip on that midfield?

  122. 122.

    James E Powell

    I don’t have a favorite, but I am hoping this isn’t settled with PKs

    ETA –  I know the NBA is famous for flopping, but these guys make Vlade Divac look like an amateur.

  129. 129.

    There are those who call me...tim... (Still posh)

    @Nutmeg again: Yes, I do not follow the sports-balls. They frighten and confuse me. But if I cared to take an interest,  the sight of England fans being absolute dicks all the way just sours me on England, athletics events, the whole concept of “competition”, and my fellow man in general. Oi, I guess.

  131. 131.

    dexwood

    Before this ends, let me say thanks for the Reddit link and for the running commentary here.

  132. 132.

    Tony Jay

    @A:

    He’s that kind of player, he makes things happen.

    Sad to say, I don’t think he’ll be first eleven until he signs for City or United. That’s just the way England selection seems to work.

  138. 138.

    A

    @Tony Jay: I just think he should’ve come on before saka.  Mount was already winded and they needed a game changer in regular time.

  140. 140.

    JML

    @Leto: so funny watching Rashford have to play right back. good effort by him, playing completely out of position.

  142. 142.

    James E Powell

    Just saw a guy in the stands with mitre. Is he the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury?

  145. 145.

    Tony Jay

    @A:

    Grealish? Oh I agree he should have been on, but he plays on the opposite wing to Saka, doesn’t he?

  146. 146.

    Mo Salad

    Well, if England wins after eight kicks, Southgate will look like a genius for saving his subs and getting two more shooters in.

  157. 157.

    Paul in St. Augustine

    I guess Rashford’s minute on the pitch wasn’t enough to get him into the flow of the match

  163. 163.

    billcinsd

    Ian Darke “Donnarumma makes the save” when Rashford puts it the other way and hits the post. It’s too bad ESPN think that an English accent makes you a soccer expert.

    Then, on Sancho’s miss “Donnarumma saves again”

  165. 165.

    Leto

    So what the hell am I watching here; the fact it didn’t bounce off Pickford back into the goal… jeebus.

  171. 171.

    JML

    Oof. tough beat for England, but a worthy win for Italy.

    Italy played so well the whole tournament.

  172. 172.

    Leto

    And there we have it; oh man, that poor kid. He has such a bright future but man will this burn for a long time.

  175. 175.

    HumboldtBlue

    That’s dreadful, absolutely dreadful. So much for all of that work at the training center on penalty kicks,

  178. 178.

    Sloane Ranger

    Aaand the story of our life, England lose on penalties.  Oh well, there’s always the World Cup. But then we’ll be facing Argentina and Brazil as well as Italy.

  183. 183.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    Mamma mia, here I go again
    My my, how can I resist you

  184. 184.

    JML

    Italy deserved it. England spent too much time trying not to lose and Italy played to win. Good for them.

    Ah, England. No one knows how to break a heart like you…

  185. 185.

    Amir Khalid

    Look on the bright side, England supporters: at least BoJo has been denied the cheap jingoistic celebration he had no doubt been planning.

  188. 188.

    Steeplejack

    Not sure England deserved to win, but, man, it feels awful that Italy won. They played an unsubtle, thuggish game.

  190. 190.

    otmar

    PK are always depressing.

    According to the sound coming through my windows, there are more Italian fans in the vicinity. And their TV is ahead of my stream. That kinda ruins the suspense.

  191. 191.

    Mike E

    • @HumboldtBlue: my favorite pk play is what I like to call, “Float down Main Street” where you aim at the keeper’s head while he conveniently dives out of the way…the kicker rarely goes there though
  192. 192.

    Tony Jay

    @Baud:

    Ah, it’s okay. They did fantastic, and penalties are a different sport to actual football. The balls to actually get up there, no matter what happens, I couldn’t do that.

    It was a great game and we more than matched the best team in the tournament. They’ll dust themselves off, put ENGLAND’S HARRY KANE to sleep, and go and win the big one the next year.

    I’ll cope. It’s not like it’s Liverpool.

  196. 196.

    Leto

    @Amir Khalid: Waiting for the front page of the fish rags to show the  sad, depressed royals in the stands on their cover tomorrow. “England: HOW COULD YOU LET POOR GEORGE DOWN LIKE THAT???”

  197. 197.

    HumboldtBlue

    Elton John’s Saturday night is all right for fighting is gonna happen on a Sunday night this year. They’re already brawling.

  199. 199.

    hilts

    @Amir Khalid:

    Look on the bright side, England supporters: at least BoJo has been denied the cheap jingoistic celebration he had no doubt been planning.

    Sorry, that’s not a  good enough reason for me.

  200. 200.

    Tony Jay

    @Amir Khalid:

    That oily tub of drain-grease will be stripping off his too small England top right now and pretending to care while in another room CCHQ’s online vermin will start pointing out that all the… uh… the ‘proper’ English players scored their penalties. It was ‘those people’ who let us down.

    Because that’s just who they are.

  201. 201.

    Leto

    @Amir Khalid:  Golden goal is fine, but you also have to end the game. It’s not like the NBA, or MLB, where you’ll just have endless overtime. You couldn’t do it in 90, so here’s an extra 30. Still can’t do it? Fine, short/quick get this shit done and move on with our lives.

  202. 202.

    Steeplejack

    Well, it was a good run. Time to make another drink and head over to Love It or List It to discharge my anger on the demanding, entitled clients there.

  203. 203.

    Mike E

    For a tournament that broke the record for own goals, the defense/keepers for this game afforded themselves well…a well matched final if not so elegant, the effort was greatly appreciated

  207. 207.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    Now it’s on to Tokyo, where Olympic football begins in 9 days and 10 hours

  208. 208.

    Mike E

    @Leto: NHL does 3 on 3 match play in OT during the regular season so maybe, spitballing here, 7 on 7 during golden ball?

  210. 210.

    Omnes Omnibus

    I remember everyone bitching about how unfair golden goal was back when they did that.  There is no perfect way to break a tie.  Best thing is to try to win before it gets to that point.

  211. 211.

    billcinsd

    I can hardly imagine the racist animus on Rashford’s, Sancho’s and especially Saka’s social media. Many of the England “fan” base has shown themselves to be extremely racist and those missed PKs will only exacerbate the racism

  215. 215.

    Leto

    @Baud: I’m talking about during the regular season. Every sports league has a “finish this game” style OT post season rule. PKs are the best solution to an endless match. They’ve already had 120+ mins of play to decide the match. At some point you have to decide it and move on with your life.

     

    @Mike E: we’ve had “Golden Goal” before, which is a sudden death style OT. But again, at some point you have to end the game. Like I said to Baud above, and Omnes says at 210, you’ve had 120+ mins of play to win it. At this point, we’re collectively moving on.

  216. 216.

    burnspbesq

    Somehow the English punditocracy will make this out to be Pickford’s fault.

    what does the poor guy have to do to be evaluated fairly?

  217. 217.

    Tony Jay

    @Leto:

    They should think outside the box and move to deciding the winner with a mass session of keepy-uppy in the centre-circle. All 22 players on at the end with 2 balls, one per team, each player can only touch the ball once until its gone through the whole team.

    It would be bonkers, but it would be a lot less nerve-wracking.

  218. 218.

    Nutmeg again

    @Tony Jay: Yep– I feel like all the players at that level deserve to win. But the fans! phew!!

    Anyhoo, another big circus down, need moar bread.

  219. 219.

    Tony Jay

    @burnspbesq:

    Nah, not this time. He’s done his job in the last two high-pressure penalty shoot-outs and all the faff in the world can’t change that.

    Southgate should have used the bench and yanked both Kane and Sterling after 70 mins, giving Sancho and Rashford time to get into the game. If he was really going for it then take Phillips off, let Hendo shield the defence and give Bellingham the middle of the park. Italy were worn out and had lost their most dangerous striker, the game was there to be won in 90.

    Still. Water, Bridge. Never mind.

  220. 220.

    Tony Jay

    @Nutmeg again:

    Uh Hu. There’ll be lots of acting out tonight as the ‘patriotic’ losers go looking for fights they can win. It’s what comes from stirring up the worst elements and giving them licence to ‘express their love of country’ in aggressive ways.

    But of course, it’ll all be someone else’s fault.

  230. 230.

    matt the somewhat reasonable

    I have to root against England because I’m in the middle of a savage war against their ivy in my yard.

  231. 231.

    PsiFighter37

    Not a huge soccer fan, but I will always root against England if they continue to be in the Euro tournament, simply because of the ridiculousness of their population voting for Brexit but believing they should have a right to contest the championship of the continent.

    Forza Italia!

  232. 232.

    marklar

    Late to the party here, but my suggestion to replace penalty kicks is to toss a second ball on the field.

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