That's fair. I love Rash, he's on my team after all. But I do think he is a bit overrated, and has had a lot of issues with being overplayed that hasn't helped. What annoys me about England is, that with all that attacking talent, Southgate refused to use the best pairings for the best situations to often imo. When you have the luxury of different types of players, you got to use that. Like with Trippier today.
Damn, the more you want things to change the more they stay the same. Thought it was meant to be for us this time but its back to missed pens, dodgy tactics, bad behavior by English "fans" and no doubt online racism for some players in the morning. *sigh*
Ah well it was fun again for a while at least and we got closer than we ever have but it feels like a missed opportunity and just going round in a big circle. Glad its over now though, it was a poor game in honesty sadly, as finals often are, and Italy deserved it for the way they have played most of the tournament and in this game mostly so congrats to them anyway. Still a few deflated feeling for a few days ahead with no doubt depressing stories to be told. Its the hope that kill's.
The point of it is what it means to the players, especially those of color. I also think how it exposes the problem in and of itself, matters a lot to these players. They are told they are crazy, that there isn't racism, even as stuff like this happens all the time. Even as coaches of color can't get jobs. Even as stuff like the Griezmann and Dembele happens. Even as MPs attack them for simply showing their solidarity.I still think the whole taking the knee thing is silly because it's not accomplishing anything. I want racism gone in football as much as anyone but it feels like every team has been doing it for 2 years now and you still have what's happening to Saka/Rashford/Sancho happening even with all that knee bending. This really should be the time for something bigger to kick off so we can identify the people responsible and punish them. I don't mind them taking the knee but it's also not helping to solve the problem sadly.
Regarding the penalties, whether it's on the players themselves or Southgate, I fully agree with Keane. It's pretty weak IMO when you have ~100m Jack Grealish and Sterling both in their prime years not stepping up to take a penalty each letting the younger and far less experienced players take that burden. I think Rashford and Sancho will be fine but I feel the most for Saka being the youngest and this really being his tournament overall. Before this game I felt he had been the big surprise of the England team getting as much gametime as he did, doing it so well. But ending it with that penalty miss will unfairly taint what people remember and that's a heavy burden to carry with you.
Overall I don't think it was unfair that Italy won (they seemed more determined and slightly better) but I do get the disappointment from the England side with the home advantage, having taken the lead after 3 minutes and then just the underwhelming way it played out. At least on a positive England is looking better and better going into the next World Cup.
Look good
