-
The Fighting Cock is a forum for fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Here you can discuss Spurs latest matches, our squad, tactics and any transfer news surrounding the club. Registration gives you access to all our forums (including 'Off Topic' discussion) and removes most of the adverts (you can remove them all via an account upgrade). You're here now, you might as well...
Latest Spurs videos from Sky Sports
For the first 30 mins I think both teams will be very cautious and sit back
Any mistakes will be punished
We can’t play too deep like we did occasionally last night
I'm not sure Southgate will be tempted to freshen things up considering we will have had one day's less rest than the Italians, or whether he'll be loyal to the side that got us to the final. I've said before, what I like about this squad is that you can genuinely make 3, 4 or 5 changes all over the park and we wouldn't be weakened. Testament to this is Ben Chilwell, who's a fine left-back and hasn't even kicked a ball this tournament, and the likes of Reece James and Marcus Rashford barely featuring.
I'm not Southgate. And in Southgate we trust. But I'm sure he must be tempted to make one or two changes. I'm also 100% positive we'll go back to 5 at the back for this game. I'd like to see something like -
Pickford
Trippier
Walker
Maguire
Stones
Shaw
Rice
Phillips
Foden
Sterling
Kane
Foden can drift centrally to offer us more strength in midfield against what is a very good Italy midfield. Keep things tight. Then we have players like Sancho, Saka and Rashford who can come on if and when needed against hopefully tiring Italy defenders. It shouldn't be forgotten that Bonucci is 34 and Chiellini 36. Between them they have the combined age of fucking Mr. Miyagi.
I'm not Southgate. And in Southgate we trust. But I'm sure he must be tempted to make one or two changes. I'm also 100% positive we'll go back to 5 at the back for this game. I'd like to see something like -
Pickford
Trippier
Walker
Maguire
Stones
Shaw
Rice
Phillips
Foden
Sterling
Kane
Foden can drift centrally to offer us more strength in midfield against what is a very good Italy midfield. Keep things tight. Then we have players like Sancho, Saka and Rashford who can come on if and when needed against hopefully tiring Italy defenders. It shouldn't be forgotten that Bonucci is 34 and Chiellini 36. Between them they have the combined age of fucking Mr. Miyagi.
You're quite wrong there. I've had loads of Donnarummas in the door and I'd bet there isn't a bloke on here who hasn't.
I honestly cannot see him bringing Foden in from the start, especially at the cost of Saka who has been really good. I'm also not sure that Foden has shown enough brains to play at this level just yet. Clearly a talented player but I'd keep faith with the team that has got us this far.
Only comment about England I've made during Euros on here is people needed to calm down after the Scotland match it was fine. Didn't say that predicting they would reach the finals just that they were looking much better than people were really suggesting.
So for the finals, there's only one way they win this. Direct, dribbling at the Italian defense. The Italians will be happy to play in their own half all match and just work the counter, not groundbreaking info but it's easy to get sucked into their traps. They conserve energy and play at their own pace. Their trick is getting teams to match their pace it seems and it just seems to work so often.
So, pretty much same team, id probably play Foden or Sancho instead of Saka though. Think his inexperience will play into the hands of the Italians. He wasn't great against Denmark either.
They need to play a very direct, attacking based football IMO rather than the very cautious passing side to side. It has unlocked weaker teams but the Italians are built for defending and will sit back all game watching the ball passed from side to side with not a care in the world.
Give them the ball more, which is what will happen if you play direct football. Run at them in midfield, you will lose the ball more often but the Italians will use more energy on the ball than off it is my thinking.
So for the finals, there's only one way they win this. Direct, dribbling at the Italian defense. The Italians will be happy to play in their own half all match and just work the counter, not groundbreaking info but it's easy to get sucked into their traps. They conserve energy and play at their own pace. Their trick is getting teams to match their pace it seems and it just seems to work so often.
So, pretty much same team, id probably play Foden or Sancho instead of Saka though. Think his inexperience will play into the hands of the Italians. He wasn't great against Denmark either.
They need to play a very direct, attacking based football IMO rather than the very cautious passing side to side. It has unlocked weaker teams but the Italians are built for defending and will sit back all game watching the ball passed from side to side with not a care in the world.
Give them the ball more, which is what will happen if you play direct football. Run at them in midfield, you will lose the ball more often but the Italians will use more energy on the ball than off it is my thinking.
He was one of our brightest players against Croatia, and has barely featured since then. If he can perform regularly for City he certainly can for us. Southgate does love to have pace both sides of Kane though so you're right, Sancho or Saka will more than likely start. Perhaps Saka as he's a bit better defensively than Sancho and more intelligent with his game, though not as skillful.
Henderson and Grealish in for me. I like Rice, but a bit naive for the wily Italians and Saka....I also like but I feel like Grealish is more rounded. Saka is like a less refined Sterling for me.
Henderson adds another invaluable captain on the field. More vocal and central than Harry as well.
Pickford
Trippier
Walker
Maguire
Stones
Shaw
Henderson
Phillips
Grealish
Sterling
Kane
Rice and Sancho on at 65+
Henderson adds another invaluable captain on the field. More vocal and central than Harry as well.
Pickford
Trippier
Walker
Maguire
Stones
Shaw
Henderson
Phillips
Grealish
Sterling
Kane
Rice and Sancho on at 65+
Italy will press early to George Grahm it with a 1-0. I wouldn't start Saka. And I think Grealish with his passing is pivotal to break through their ranks.
Also, Shaw does provide width up front, but he leaves his flank too open for wide runs. Chiesa could party there.
Also, Shaw does provide width up front, but he leaves his flank too open for wide runs. Chiesa could party there.
If they always stopped play when there was a second ball on the pitch, people would just throw a ball on to the pitch whenever the other team was attacking. Didn't affect play at all
They have a better overall keeper and more quality in midfield, certainly technically, but everywhere else I think we're a touch stronger. I certainly think we have a better bench than they do, and hopefully that can be the difference.
Get Sterling and Saka (or Sancho/Rashford) running at there two fossil centre-backs. As good and intelligent as they both are, they can't handle pace if it's used correctly.
What do you mean?