EdBed

I think the experience of the last final will help us tonight. The weather has been kind too. A hotter day would add to the attrition and maybe the impact of the day less recovery time.

It would be better if this were a 5pm KO, I think. I suppose the want the US market to watch.

My main takeaway from my less thorough review was that the difference may be felt when the game gets into ET and Pens. I do think that the final being shifted a further day away from the semis, so the number of rest days is 4 and 3 rather than 3 and 2 like it used to be, reduces the disadvantage quite a lot. I have often thought the difference between 2 days rest and 3 days is something that a Europa League competitor suffers from when playing in the Prem but a CL team does not.

Doesn't include Euros prior to 2020 because the 2nd semi-final was just two days rest, not the three they have for the list above and this final.

Depends on the ceiling

Met those fellas in Gelsenkirchen, one of them made me chuckle with a bit of dry wit.

I'm right behind the idea of peaking at the important time, not too early

They have been good at not conceeding more than 1 at least.

I've had no reason to deviate from my feeling that this England team are making their way through the tournament in a very Italian-esqe way. In fact the timing and style of Watkins goal has all but cemented the idea in my mind.

Exceptionally well executed sport is often boring.

England win on Sunday and Gareth gets offered a new contract on better terms. How much money is he on now? Two years on a massive wedge is something that should not be taken lightly for somebody who's occupation is famouly insecure. His is basically Roy Hodgson though, so after a spell at a "big" club where it is clear that the CL is out of reach at about Christmas he loses his job, and then goes to a bottom to mid-table side that is happy to achieve 45 points from now until eternity. Edit: oh... and the amount of talent that England will be taking to the WC, I can imagine that it's a golden time to be the England manager.

I reckon she would switch after winning the Olympics with them. Hard to imagine she would not jump at the chance.

Step son has suggested going to the Hooden-on-the-Hill to watch it which is my local, so i'll join him and his mates, and his gf, with my wife. No superstitions, I don't beleive in any of that. (used to though many years ago; I wouldn't watch a match with the TV volume set to 13)

I might put a fiver on Emma Hayes.

Considering the amount of rain that fell on the pitch during the Germany Denmark match I was surprised at how well the ball rolled by the second half. It must have excellent drainage.