RAYTH

Five Liverpool players who could struggle with Iraola’s off-the-ball press (based on last season): 🔴👀 1️⃣ Gravenberch - a weakness he CAN fix under Iraola. Needs to be stronger in duels as a deep midfielder 👀 2️⃣ Gakpo - his goalscoring is there, but the off-ball intensity wasn’t last season. Didn’t press his man or cover his LB enough. Big area to improve. 3️⃣ Rio Ngumoha - hear me out, it’s his age. Defensive side wasn’t strong when he came on, but he’ll grow into it under Iraola’s coaching 🔴 4️⃣ Frimpong - more about his body than his effort. He’s had muscle injuries, and a harder press could risk more of them 🫣 5️⃣ Wataru Endo - barely played, bad injury, and I’m not sure he’s suited to this press. Could be one who leaves this summer 🥲 Who else? 👇🏽

Two goals in nine minutes for Bukayo Saka 💫

I think in this tournament, English media and fans expectations have been relatively low, definitely compared to 30 years ago and enough definitely to allow some freedom and enjoyment of games and tournament ( out and about, actually indulging in the experience) for players. Even the first 10 mins of this game shows a familiar English international team trait. When we are underdogs and zero expectation( or friendlies, our speciality when beating top 10 teams) we can play. Really play. Expressive, technical. Fun. The higher the expectation( not that players aren't good enough) I think the weight of being the home of football is the single biggest problem. I honestly believe that and my ( brief) England experiences were that. Home of the game Bobby Moore Wembley World Cup's "natural" home Queen and Country Duty Service ( English football has always had a bootcamp, work hard, be serious mentality, forever) Etc etc etc. As a fan I had zero expectation of this team for the first time in my life. None. Not because I don't believe on them, I absolutely do, and I'm there saying COME ON ENGLAND when most reading this are "fuck international breaks, inject my club ". But thanks to Gareth, the FA and this group of players ( semi's, finals) we're replicating mostly what they do for their clubs. A first time for decades. Tonight? France favourites, everyone at home has bailed on them, pressure totally off, guaranteed holiday in the morning, it's not coming home, a perfect environment to just enjoy themselves. And they mostly are as we speak. That's the glass ceiling. Not getting to semi's or finals, St George's and Prem almost guarantee that in the future. It's the genuinely not giving a fuck, playing like 11 year olds, seeing the 3 Lions as only as heavy as a club shirt, where they all feel comfy, happy and expressive. An English national disease. Fear of failure instead of just expressing ourselves, having fun and not giving a fuck about what Press, fans, family or friends think.

Jude Bellingham has transformed so much that he was speaking Spanish to the entire Argentina team. From the very first second of the game, it was him against the whole Argentina team.