UEFA EURO U21 Championships

I expect a Götterdämmerung with Wagner on the pitch.

Come on Ungeheuer, throw on your striker!

Özil wrote:cant wait to humiliate the englands

Bring on Walcott he didn't even start the last game. Lets put the nail in the coffin. I havent even heard of 6 of the players in the England team.

to be fair to the germans, we were never going to lose with James Tomkins on the pitch.

Come on you English c**ts! it's still only a draw. You need to KO them.

De Guzman wrote:Come on you English c**ts! it's still only a draw. You need to KO them.

Put one final slash through that conveyor belt that Podolski, Gomez and co have already tried to ruin

2 World Wars and 3 U-21 cups!!

Humiliation

England did okay. The German team will be concerned they know England could of turned the pressure up more in second half and won the game.

Bah, what a poor game yet again by our boys.

Sammer raus!!

Where Germany were good was some of the one touch passing play though the middle and down the sides. Once it was prevented they seemed not to change to a new pattern of play this stopped them improving much during the game. imo

We were only good in losing the ball and being too slow.

Yes, I saw most of Germany's games against Finland and England, and my impression was that, whilst they at least attempted to play a few through-balls, whilst some of their more intuitive play was good, overall their passing was pretty poor - when they had the ball and a bit of time to think, too many passes were hit astray, and the team weren't as fluid as they perhaps should be given the technical ability of some of their players. I don't like to see Marin left out of the starting eleven, because from what I've seen of him, he looks like a really exciting player, and the type of player I like most of all (quick footed, reasonably two-footed, small but with decent balance, creative) - I thought he hugged the touchline too much against Finland, and wasn't fed the ball quickly enough when he did find space.

I haven't seen a few of tonight's English eleven before. Rose looked lively and with quick feet, if a little too feisty; Stearman looked a bit plodding at right-back at times, and dived into a few challenges, but then made a couple of good mazy dribbles forwards; Driver's deliveries were mostly poor, and he looked tired from an early stage of the game, though maybe he was playing on the wrong flank. I thought Gardner and Rodwell looked good in the centre of the pitch.

Fraizer Campbell didn't have a particularly impressive game tonight, but I'd really like Newcastle to sign him, even if I think that is unlikely - I doubt that we are interested in him, simply because there's nobody at the club at the moment in a position to be interested in any player; I don't think we will pay the £6 million that one or two clubs have supposedly offered for him; and even though he seems reluctant to move to Hull, when push comes to shove he may decide to stay in the Premier League. £6 million is a lot of money, but I think something approximating that amount may be worth paying for a quality forward to play in the Championship - we need a forward to complement Carroll, Ameobi and, perhaps, Nile Ranger, given that Martins, Owen and Viduka will leave during the summer, and Campbell has scored goals in the Championship before, and he's the type of player we should be looking to build with.

Bash, I see Ranger is single-handedly dragging England U19s to the euro championships. The boy is good!

My best friends cousin.

I heard him and Carroll are a good partnership in the reserves Kimbo?

I've heard that Rodwell had a really good game - anybody can confirm it?

Ray Parlour wrote:My best friends cousin.

I heard him and Carroll are a good partnership in the reserves Kimbo?

U no hiz style den blud?

Rodwell did well yes, composed on the ball... is a big strong lad, got forward well at times. Perhaps needed to move the ball forward at times better, played lots of balls to the full back or centre back 'ala Carrick'

If he could get his head up and pick out a forward pass more frequently then join in the attack he could be a very good young player.

I was impressed with his performance, however with any youngster there are areas he can improve upon... could have a big future though, naturally very composed on the ball.

I don't really know anything. Only saw this guy at a wedding like 2 years ago. You think him and Carroll will get starts in the Championship next year?

Ray Parlour wrote:I don't really know anything. Only saw this guy at a wedding like 2 years ago. You think him and Carroll will get starts in the Championship next year?

I would've thought so, can't say i'm a big fan of Carroll, there was a story about him going to West Ham for £3m, i would accept that.

I can see a number of the kids being back up players next year.

There's a group of people dedicated to stalking Nile on a Newcastle site. Check out his tattoo.

Spoiler:

He's 18 and he's done that!

Ray Parlour wrote:I don't really know anything.

Honesty

What's your problem?

Kimbo wrote:

Ray Parlour wrote:I don't really know anything. Only saw this guy at a wedding like 2 years ago. You think him and Carroll will get starts in the Championship next year?

I would've thought so, can't say i'm a big fan of Carroll, there was a story about him going to West Ham for £3m, i would accept that.

I can see a number of the kids being back up players next year.

There's a group of people dedicated to stalking Nile on a Newcastle site. Check out his tattoo.

Spoiler:

He's 18 and he's done that!

@ the tattoo.

Not sure on why people would stalk him though.

Who Were Our Last U-21 Champions?

Well,
they were captained by Dave Watson and the line was led by Mark Hately
back in 1984 (when England's boys beat Spain 3-0 on aggregate in the
two-legged final). But how many of you would recognise Kevin Brock or
Nigel Callaghan? We take a look...

GARY BAILEY
Ipswich born and South African-bred
goalkeeper who paid for his own airfare to go to Manchester for a trial
with United back in 1978. Stayed with United almost ten years and
already had one FA Cup winner's medal when he won the European Under-21
Championship with England in 1984 (at the age of 25, as it happens -
the rules have changed since then). Known as 'Dracula' because of his
vulnerability to crosses, he was at fault for the Alan Sunderland goal
in the 1979 cup final, but made amends with his '...and Smith must
score...' save in the 1983 final against Brighton. Was picked by
England to go to the 1986 World Cup along with Peter Shilton and Chris
Woods but an injury sustained in training in Mexico more or less ended
his career. He's now back in SA and is a familiar face on TV coverage
of Premier League football.
Full England caps: 2.

MEL STERLAND
Right-back known as Zico (he could
hit a cracking free-kick and scored the only goal in the first leg of
the final v Spain) who spent ten years at Sheffield Wednesday and can
still be seen at Hillsborough on most match days. Won a Scottish title
with Rangers and an English title with Leeds United before being forced
into early retirement because of a troublesome ankle injury.
Contemplated suicide as he faced a future without football and still
struggles with serious health issues. Released the aptly-titled
autobiography Boozing, Betting and Brawling last year in which he talks
of his pride at his one England cap v Saudi Arabia.
Full England cap: 1.

NICK PICKERING
Born and bred in Sunderland, he
joined his hometown club and made his debut in 1981 at the age of just
18. Two years later he made his full England debut against Australia,
and the following year he helped the Under-21s win the European
Championship, playing at left-back rather than in his favoured midfield
position. In January 1986 he left Sunderland for Coventry City, and in
1987 was part of the Sky Blues side that beat Spurs in the FA Cup
final. Went on to play for various lower-league sides before a foot
injury ended his career. Can often still be heard on local radio on
Wearside in his status as a club 'legend'.
Full England cap: 1.

PAUL BRACEWELL
Holds the 'honour' of being the
only player to feature in four FA Cup finals without winning a single
one - three times with Everton and once with Sunderland. But two league
titles and the Cup Winners' Cup probably dulled the pain. Enjoyed three
stints with the Black Cats and became one of the fewer players to move
directly from Sunderland to Newcastle, and probably the only player
ever to move back again three years later. A year after helping the
Under-21s to victory, he was in the senior side facing West Germany,
the USA and then Northern Ireland, but he was discarded before the 1986
World Cup and would never be recalled. Had a short spell as manager of
Fulham and then Halifax Town, but now believed to be running a
five-a-side centre in Newcastle.
Full England caps: 3

DAVE WATSON
The answer to an obscure quiz question
which asks the identity of the one player who has played for and
against England, and played and managed in the Premier League. A born
captain, he was skipper of this England Under-21 side while skipper of
Norwich City, where he played over 200 games before leaving for Everton
in 1986 for a club record £900,000. Played well over 400 times for
Everton (only Neville Southall and Brian Labone have played more),
helping them to a league title as well as the FA Cup. Finally hung up
his boots at the age of 39 and managed Tranmere Rovers for a short
spell. Has since turned up at Wigan as coach and is expected to follow
Steve Bruce to Sunderland.
Full England caps: 12.

DEREK MOUNTFIELD
At just £30,000, Mountfield
turned out to be something of a bargain when he joined Everton from
Tranmere for just £30,000 in 1982. Six years later he was sold on for
£450,000, having won two league titles, a Cup Winners' Cup medal and an
FA Cup winner's medal. The sporter of a fantastic moustache,
Mountfield's only England Under-21 appearance came in the match that
won the European Championship, and he never got close to full honours.
Fell down the leagues - bowing out at Scarborough in 1999 - and now
works as a PE teacher and occasional pundit on Merseyside.
Full England caps: None.

NIGEL CALLAGHAN
Something of workshy winger who
splits Watford fans, Callaghan scored some of the greatest goals ever
scored by a Hornet, including one which was MOTD's Goal of the Season
back in 1985. He'd had quite a year in 1984 - not only winning the
European Under-21 Championship but also reaching the FA Cup final,
where he lost to an Everton team featuring several of his international
teammates. Left Watford for Derby and then Aston Villa but hung up his
boots early to pursue a career in DJ-ing. He was last seen on Channel
Four's 'Sun, Sea and Sex' programme trying to put a condom on his head.
The wag.
Full England caps: None.

HOWARD GAYLE
Famous as the first black player to
play for Liverpool, but he actually only donned the famous red shirt
five times - though that was enough to earn him a European Cup medal.
He will always be remembered by Liverpool fans of a certain age for his
performance against Bayern Munich in the 1981 semi-final against Bayern
Munich, when he ran the Germans ragged with his blistering pace. That
was three years before he added the Under-21 winner's medal to a decent
collection while an over-age Birmingham player. From there, he dropped
down the divisions before hanging up his boots at Halifax. Now coaches
in the Merseyside area and does sterling charity work.
Full England caps: None.

MARK HATELEY
Current Liberia coach (you didn't
know that, did you?), he was definitely the only member of this 1984
team who was about to join a true giant of football in AC Milan. After
three years in Italy, he played for Monaco before returning to Britain
to play with Rangers, where he played over 200 league games and scored
over 100 goals in a phenomenal five-year spell. His eight senior
England goals were the highlight of an international career that took
him to major tournaments in 1986 and 1988. Finally hung up his boots in
1999 after a player/manager spell with Hull and since worked for
Setanta as a pundit before receiving that big call from Liberia.
Full England caps: 32.

STEVE HODGE
The proud owner of Diego Maradona's
'Hand Of God' shirt, it was Hodge's miskick/backpass that left Maradona
and Peter Shilton battling for the ball in that famous 1986 World Cup
quarter-final. England lost but Hodge walked away with the valuable
shirt, now on long-term loan to the National Football Museum in
Preston. Hodge had been established in the Forest side when he helped
England win the U-21 title in 1984 and it was a surprise when he was
sold to Aston Villa a year later. He would never settle at Villa or
Spurs and returned to Forest to win two League Cups with Brian Clough's
side. Joined Leeds for £900,000 but was forced to play a lowly fiddle
to the likes of Gary McAllister and Gordon Strachan as they won the
title in 1992. Last seen working at Forest's Academy.
Full England caps: 24.

KEVIN BROCK
Has a place in Everton history as the
Oxford player whose backpass was intercepted by Adrian Heath, whose
goal in that 1984 League Cup tie apparently saved Howard Kendall's job
and began a renaissance at Goodison. Brock would probably rather be
remembered for this U-21 win or the League Cup winner's medal he won
with Oxford in 1986. Had later spells at QPR and Newcastle but returned
to Oxfordshire to manage first Banbury United and then Ardley United in
the Hellenic League Premier Division. To be fair, we wouldn't recognise
him if he wandered in the office wearing a 1984 England shirt and
saying 'hello, my name is Kevin Brock'.
Full England caps: None.
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8750_5396021,00.html

De Guzman wrote:Pearce want to keep momentum going, so he intends to play a strong team (bar suspended Milner) v Germany & wants to go for it (hope he keeps yellow cards in mind). Good news for Spain.

So what do you guys expect? Can England's U21's trash Germany's again, or will the Germans get revenge? Can Spain do a USA?

my predictions:

Spain, 4+ goals, Bojan
Germany, 2-3, no goals
Draw, 0-1, Aquafresca
Serbia, 0-1, Berg (joker)

my team:
Brkic
Vukovic, Criscito, Andreolli, Motta
Javi Martinez, Jurado (c), Ozil, Howedes
Bojan, Sulejmani

Don't see how you can leave Giovinco out of the team.... he has been the best player in this championship so far IMO.

Also, even tho I like Andreolli for his Inter roots, Bocchetti >> Andreolli. Motta is a RB, while Criscito has played LB so far...

Do rate Giovinco, but Italy started v Serbia & I selected 3 of your defenders for that match. Which made sense they kept a clean sheet & Italy didn't score. And Sweden only managed to socre v you in the 89th minute (helped by Balotelli's sending off)

Already decided before matchday 1 I'ld stick with 3 Italian defenders during the group stages & play 442 all along (2 points for midfield clean sheet, most intersting players on midfield, poor strikers to pick from). Planned to use my subs for other more important changes (other group required more rotation, Swedes needed to be replaced by Serbs).

Wasn't sure which CD to pick (hardly know them), so picked Andreolli because of his shirt number 3. If you say Bocchetti is better I believe you.

De Guzman wrote:Do rate Giovinco, but Italy started v Serbia & I selected 3 of your defenders for that match. Which made sense they kept a clean sheet & Italy didn't score. And Sweden only managed to socre v you in the 89th minute (helped by Balotelli's sending off)

Already decided before matchday 1 I'ld stick with 3 Italian defenders during the group stages & play 442 all along (2 points for midfield clean sheet, most intersting players on midfield, poor strikers to pick from). Planned to use my subs for other more important changes (other group required more rotation, Swedes needed to be replaced by Serbs).

Wasn't sure which CD to pick (hardly know them), so picked Andreolli because of his shirt number 3. If you say Bocchetti is better I believe you.

Oh, this is your fantasy team? I thought this was your selection of the team of the championship so far... my bad

No problem. Hard to pick a team of the U21 so far. Would probably play 1 striker, Berg, because none of the others impressed me.

----------DEFENCE------------
-------Kacar*---Khedira-------
Milner------Giovinco-------Ozil
-------------Berg-------------


* know he played more attacking.

De Guzman wrote:No problem. Hard to pick a team of the U21 so far. Would probably play 1 striker, Berg, because none of the others impressed me.

----------DEFENCE------------
-------Kacar*---Khedira-------
Milner------Giovinco-------Ozil
-------------Berg-------------


* know he played more attacking.

Sounds about right... the defence will probably be a mix of Italy and Serbia.

Yep something like that. Rate Italy & Serbia's defence highest this tourney, but find it hard to judge which players to pick. Usually need less matches to decide on attackers, who you mainly judge on what they do (can) they right, than defenders, who you have to judge on reliability.