Our Internationals 23/24

[Bazly]

Quote

Gareth Southgate has suggested his England team lack the physical levels to execute his gameplan

At least now we know. Go Gareth, backs to the wall master.

[TonyN11]

Yunus starting against Portugal 

[davieG]

 

https://www.leicestercity.news/match/how-belgian-media-reacted-to-leicester-city-star-wout-faes-display-v-romania-at-euro-2024/

How Belgian media reacted to Leicester City star Wout Faes display v Romania at Euro 2024
Sun 23 June 2024 17:00
Fraser Spinney
Belgium got their first win of Euro 2024 on Saturday night as they beat Romania 2-0 to keep their hopes of progression to the knockout stages in their own hands.

Leicester City centre-back Wout Faes lined up alongside a 37-year-old Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the Belgium defence and kept a clean sheet against a Romania side that had beat Ukraine 3-0 in their first group game.

It was vital that Faes and his teammates won in their second game having suffered a shock defeat to Slovakia days earlier and they took the lead after just two minutes through former Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Kevin De Bruyne made sure of the points with a 79th-minute goal in a game in which Belgium were much-improved but still showed signs of weakness.

Belgian media give differing verdicts on Leicester City’s Wout Faes
Faes had started the first group game alongside 20-year-old Anderlecht centre-back Zeno Deblast.

Having suffered defeat, manager Domenico Tedesco dropped Deblast to bring in the experience of Vertonghen and his calmness certainly helped Belgium.

Faes received mixed feedback from Belgian media in the aftermath of the game for his own display, with 7Sur7 harshly giving him a five out of ten – the lowest of any Belgian on the night – but Walfoot giving him an eight.

This perhaps reflects Faes as a player, with the defender a decent player but capable of worrying observers with his laid back demeanour.

In the comments that accompanied their rating of five, 7Sur7 said (translated to English): ‘He started well. But as is often the case, a certain nonchalance has crept into his game at certain times.

His match remains quite serious. The presence of Vertonghen can take away a little pressure from him, even if it will be necessary to wait for a higher opposition to be fully conquered.’

Walfoot were much more positive about his performance, however they did also identify his tendency to lose concentration as they commented: ‘Very impressive in impact and audacity, he is certainly the Devil who struggles the most…

…Then, of course, there is always this “Wout Faes moment”, when he misses a pass or gets caught in the back… but it didn’t lend to consequence this time.’

 

How did Leicester target Arthur Theate perform v Romania?
Arthur Theate of Belgium running during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Belgium and Romania at Cologne Stadium on June 22, 2024 in Col...
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Faes’ international teammate Arthur Theate has emerged as a possible transfer target for Leicester and the 24-year-old was brought into the side against Romania having not featured in the Slovakia defeat.

The left-back played 77 minutes before being withdrawn with what looked liked a minor injury, but was solid if not spectacular in his first start in a major tournament.

Both 7Sur7 and Walfoot did agree in their assessment of the Rennes full-back, with both publications scoring Theate a six out of ten.

Walfoot’s score was backed up by the comment: ‘A sober and effective return in the eleven. Almost no offensive contribution, he left the field free for Doku and covered his rides. His exit on injury may be a new hard blow.’

Next up for Faes, Theate and Belgium is the final group game against Ukraine and, with all four teams in Group E on three points, there is still all to play for.

[RAZZAFOX]

Looks like Scotland deployed a version of Enzo ball,  mountains of possession but only 3 shots on target over the whole tournament 😂😂

[Finnegan]

16 minutes ago, RAZZAFOX said:

Looks like Scotland deployed a version of Enzo ball,  mountains of possession but only 3 shots on target over the whole tournament 😂😂

 

.... We had the highest xG in the league, scored the most goals in the league and the 4th highest shots on target in the league. 

 

[ClaphamFox]

2 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

.... We had the highest xG in the league, scored the most goals in the league and the 4th highest shots on target in the league. 

 

It's all very well quoting facts, but if you're up against somebody who's willing to make a completely baseless claim and throw in a daft phrase like 'Enzo ball', there's only going to be one winner...

[Corky]

He didn't actually say which Enzo it was. And it was only a "version" anyway.

[KingsX]

3 hours ago, davieG said:

 of course, there is always this “Wout Faes moment”

 

The Belgian media know him well.  Never will a full 90' pass without Faes switching off at least once, usually at the worst possible time.

I used to think that could surely be coached out of him.  I was wrong.

Premier League athlete, but with a Sunday league brain.

 

Cooper the pragmatist will simply end up setting our line a lot deeper than Enzo did.  It's not like he will even have a choice.

[don_danbury]

On 24/06/2024 at 10:13, ClaphamFox said:

It's all very well quoting facts, but if you're up against somebody who's willing to make a completely baseless claim and throw in a daft phrase like 'Enzo ball', there's only going to be one winner...

Most of what he said isnt facts 

[ClaphamFox]

1 hour ago, don_danbury said:

Most of what he said isnt facts 

I checked and you're right: we actually had the second-highest XG and scored the second-highest number of goals, although it is true we had the highest number of shots on target. I'm not convinced that this substantially undermines the point that @Finnegan was trying to make, though.

[Finnegan]

2 hours ago, don_danbury said:

Most of what he said isnt facts 

 

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

I checked and you're right: we actually had the second-highest XG and scored the second-highest number of goals, although it is true we had the highest number of shots on target. I'm not convinced that this substantially undermines the point that @Finnegan was trying to make, though.

 

You are correct, Ipswich scored more. Yeah. Fair ****s. Although, yes, that doesn't undermine my point. 

 

As for xG, see below.

 

[st albans fox]

Viktor dropped by Denmark 

[Lambert09]

commentator saying vesty was motm and labeled him a colossus at the back 

[Aus Fox]

Vestergaard man of the match v Serbia, a colossus at the back. 

[The whole world smiles]

13 minutes ago, Aus Fox said:

Vestergaard man of the match v Serbia, a colossus at the back. 

Yeah? Having a good tournament.

[shen]

On 24/06/2024 at 11:13, ClaphamFox said:

It's all very well quoting facts, but if you're up against somebody who's willing to make a completely baseless claim and throw in a daft phrase like 'Enzo ball', there's only going to be one winner...

[Lambert09]

5 hours ago, Lambert09 said:

commentator saying vesty was motm and labeled him a colossus at the back 

 

5 hours ago, Aus Fox said:

Vestergaard man of the match v Serbia, a colossus at the back. 

You’re such a commentator 

[Aus Fox]

4 hours ago, Lambert09 said:

 

You’re such a commentator 

I’m no Chris Sutton, but I do chat a lot of shite in my spare time.

[K789]

Watched a lot as was bored of England. Literally a man mountain and matched Mitrovic physically 

[cambridgefox]

I’m not his biggest fan by any means and the guy frightens me when playing,although not as much as Faes.

i can’t help thinking though, that there are a lot of disappointed FTers that he won MOTM, rather than made a clanger.Just saying.

Edited 26 June by cambridgefox

[Big_Nige]

Big Jannik is a defender who has one glaring weakness, pace in behind. Every other part of his game is at a very good level. It doesn’t surprise me one bit he kept Mitrovic quiet. His kind of striker to deal with, physical rather than fast

[FoxinNotts]

Big Jan Lestergaard is fine when playing in a three, with a low block. All other scenarios, he gets rinsed for pace. It's that simple.

If SC deploys him, in a three with the intention of a low block, I'll get behind that decision. 

[Lambert09]

3 hours ago, FoxinNotts said:

Big Jan Lestergaard is fine when playing in a three, with a low block. All other scenarios, he gets rinsed for pace. It's that simple.

If SC deploys him, in a three with the intention of a low block, I'll get behind that decision. 

People may not want to admit it, but presently he is the best defender we have. 
 

We may as well design a system that works for him imo. 

[Chelmofox]

3 hours ago, FoxinNotts said:

Big Jan Lestergaard is fine when playing in a three, with a low block. All other scenarios, he gets rinsed for pace. It's that simple.

If SC deploys him, in a three with the intention of a low block, I'll get behind that decision. 

Have Denmark really played low block in the 3 euro games? Even against us Denmark had more shots / corners etc.

 

Just seems to me they aren't playing a very high line.

[Dahnsouff]

1 minute ago, Chelmofox said:

Have Denmark really played low block in the 3 euro games? Even against us Denmark had more shots / corners etc.

 

Just seems to me they aren't playing a very high line.

Low block or not low block is way to simplistic, there is a massive sliding scale to any defensive plan including tactical, personnel, situational, etc.