Although the England Under 21 team lost out to Holland by penalty kicks 13-12, I was quite cheered that at last our penalty taking has seemed to improve somewhat, perhaps when this "lot" are playing for the full team in about five years we will have more confidence when matches are decided in this way.

Although the England Under 21 team lost out to Holland by penalty kicks 13-12, I was quite cheered that at last our penalty taking has seemed to improve somewhat, perhaps when this "lot" are playing for the full team in about five years we will have more confidence when matches are decided in this way.

Don't be lulled into thinking they were that good. The closeness of the score was because the Dutch seemed to miss on a tit-for-tat basis.
England missed four with the culprits being: Hoyte, Reo-Coker, Derbyshire and Anton Ferdinand. Both goalkeepers scored their penalty each, with ease!

Oh thank you for that Chairboy, have no fear - I refuse to be lulled (that way anyway!!)

Another 'glorious' failure.

Couldn't close out a 1-0 lead because they couldn't keep the ball.

Reo-Coker and Noble worked hard and credit to them for that. But...

When will we learn to produce players who can hold on to the ball and control it in tight areas with one touch to keep possession and dictate a tempo?

Almost every other nation in the WORLD impresses such vital skills into its youngsters, yet despite the obscene money sloshing around in the Premiership it is beyond us to do the same.

It was painful to watch at times last night. Where is the class? Will it ever arrive?

Absolutely. The Dutch weren't too impressive but deserved that equaliser as they'd had England on the ropes from 55 minutes onwards. How many efforts on goal did England have - very few? Lita's goal ought to have been saved - weak hands by the goalkeeper.
Wilkins later described the performance as "not easy on the eye" and despite Pearce's usual up-beat bullishness and the 'bonding', the bottom line is that they lost.
I want the Dutch to win the final but I rather think that a focused, hard-nosed Serbia will be too strong.

I hope so. Stuck a fiver on Serbia at 18-1!

I hope so. Stuck a fiver on Serbia at 18-1!

I can quite easily see Serbia spoiling the party. The Dutch crowd, lively before the game v England soon were subdued and the Serbs seem unfazed by anyone.
The best advice with your bet - to win outright ? - is to lay someone an 'even £10' the Dutch and then you are sure to win either way. If you get yourself in this position, this is the way to do it! Dutch win you £5, Serbs win you £80 - NO LOSS.
I hear this, "if this" "if that", something could go against the Serbs, a man sent off, a bad decision and then they blow it! Insure.

I can quite easily see Serbia spoiling the party. The Dutch crowd, lively before the game v England soon were subdued and the Serbs seem unfazed by anyone.
The best advice with your bet - to win outright ? - is to lay someone an 'even £10' the Dutch and then you are sure to win either way. If you get yourself in this position, this is the way to do it! Dutch win you £5, Serbs win you £80 - NO LOSS.
I hear this, "if this" "if that", something could go against the Serbs, a man sent off, a bad decision and then they blow it! Insure.

I was going to do that anyway, and worship at the altar that is BetFair....

I was going to do that anyway, and worship at the altar that is BetFair....

You know the game!:thumbsup:

I'm still not a fan of Leeroy Lita..............................

I'm still not a fan of Leeroy Lita..............................

I don't think he'd by my choice of a mate but that's by the by. I said that because you don't know what you are going to get with him both on and off the field. He's too erratic for my liking.
However, as I said earlier, the rest of the attack looked impotent and he scored three goals that I saw and had pace that a few teams couldn't cope with notably, the Italians who looked ragged at the back; unsure of how to deal with him.
Balance that against his missed penalty and that right-footed (wrong foot to use) miss with an open goal beckoning and that is Lita. I think I'll have my beer and post-match chat with Mr.Coppell or Wexford's Doyle as far as company goes!

I was going to do that anyway, and worship at the altar that is BetFair....

Just as well as it's gone pear-shaped as was always likely. Now 3-0 Netherlands at 70 minutes, Serbs with 10 men! This is certainly the best the Dutch have played but their goalkeeper is suspect. I noted before the kick-off that both Wilkins and Peter Taylor fancied the Serbs. Talented team, suspect temperaments but conceding an early goal is always a set-back.