‘Chris Waddle, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes for The Boy Hotspur at the launch of their European Championships 5-a-side Bet’
- “The best advice I could give for the current squad would be to take those chances; don’t leave it to ifs and buts like in 1990. Don’t rely on the lottery of a penalty shootout. Make your moment count.”
- “I just get so frustrated with the build-up because everyone gets so excited, thinking we’ve already got our hands on the trophy. Take it one game at a time. Get over the line against Denmark and go again in the final.”
- “I do worry a little bit about England being caught on the counter-attack on Wednesday. If we play four at the back and our full-backs are high up the pitch, it leaves Harry Maguire and John Stones exposed a little because – as good as they are in every other aspect of their game – they do lack that little bit of pace.”
- “People are always going to compare squads and different England sides from years gone by. I look at the team we had in 1990, and I’ve got to say I don’t think any of the current squad would get into it.”
- “I wasn’t even on the list of penalty takers in that Germany game. Gazza was supposed to be fifth. But obviously we saw the state Gazza was in because of picking up that yellow card, so the gaffer asked us who fancied it. Not a lot of hands went up.”
- “I’m not a penalty taker; I never have been. I can honestly say I think I’ve probably taken four in my entire career – that’s including playing at school.”
- “I’d have to say Jordan Pickford has been the standout player for me so far for England in this tournament. I’ve been really impressed with him so far.”
Advice for Three Lions; don’t leave it to ‘what-ifs’ like Italia ’90
We had some great chances in that game against Germany in 1990 to win the game before the shootout. I watched the game back recently and I actually hit the post late on in the first half of extra-time. It almost bounces straight to [Gary] Lineker for a tap-in. We’d have then been defending a 2-1 lead for 15 minutes; we’d have got through that. It’s a massive what-if moment.
I just hope this time around it doesn’t come down to those what-ifs. There are going to be moments throughout the game for a number of players, and it’s all about taking your chance. Don’t leave it to what-ifs. It’s about moments in the game. It might be Harry Kane, it might be someone else. I don’t want someone hitting the bar, whiskers away from a winner, and we’re sat here a few years down the line thinking ‘imagine if that would’ve gone in’. The best advice I could give would be to take those chances; don’t leave it to ifs and buts, don’t rely on the lottery of a penalty shootout. Make your moment count.
After the game against Ukraine at the weekend, you see everyone getting excited across the country, you hear ‘it’s coming home’ and all this. But there are two hard games still left to play, assuming we make the final. Denmark are on a mission this year, and historically those Scandinavian teams have always given us problems.
But even after that, it’s Italy or Spain in the final. I just get so frustrated with the build-up because everyone gets so excited, thinking we’ve already got our hands on the trophy. Take it one game at a time. Get over the line against Denmark and go again in the final.
I’m still worried about England being caught on the counter
I do worry a little bit about England being caught on the counter-attack on Wednesday. If we play four at the back and our full-backs are high up the pitch, it leaves Harry Maguire and John Stones exposed a little because – as good as they are in every other aspect of their game – they do lack that little bit of pace.
I’d feel more comfortable playing as a back three with Kyle Walker alongside Stones and Maguire, because he’d no doubt be the quickest player on the pitch, but that Danish attack concerns me a little bit. It’s a bit old-fashioned at times, but they have no problems with playing those balls over the top, and they’ve got a lot of pace in that side.
The two sides are very similar in many ways, so this fixture might just come down to who takes their chances. I think Denmark will start with three at the back, and if England are getting a lot of joy, they’ll change things up and put Andreas Christensen further up the pitch into the middle.
I can see both teams coming out with three at the back. It’s going to be a tense game, I think there’ll be a lot of slow build-up play. I think Denmark will try and take us on a little bit, and they’ll look to exploit the pace of Stones and Maguire.
There’s going to be a lot of nerves on display, that’s for sure. It could boil down to a set-piece, and that’s always been a big strength in England’s game.
None of this current crop get in my World Cup 1990 squad
People are always going to compare squads and different England sides from years gone by. I look at the team we had in 1990, and I’ve got to say I don’t think any of the current squad would get into it. But then you get the mob from Euro 1996 saying the same about their squad. It always happens; you’re always going to get matched up.
I don’t think world football is as strong as it was, though. A lot of these countries have got weaker while England have got stronger; I look at some of the teams we played back in the day, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania – they were good; they were fantastic sides. We know who the big-hitters are. You’ll reel off six or seven teams in world football who are likely to win tournaments.
When I played, the weakest team we played was probably Turkey. No disrespect to the Moldovas and the San Marinos, but you’ve got to look at them and think ‘are these really international level teams?’ Don’t get me wrong, we had some games where you knew going into them we were going to score four or five, but more often than not, the games were really tight.
It’s a strange one, that Golden Generation tag from the early 2000s. I look back at the team from 1990, and we had a lot of players from different clubs within the team. That Golden Generation was very Man United heavy at the time, with a bit of Liverpool in there as well. They were the generation who were going to win everything, but they didn’t get near enough.
We were just called the Italia ’90 squad, I don’t know why we were never classed as a Golden Generation.
I was never supposed to be on the list of penalty takers in 1990
When you look back on that semi-final against Germany, obviously it’s a horrible way to lose the game. Gareth Southgate had it in Euro 1996 and we’ve seen other players experience it for England in later tournaments. You’ve not lost the football match; you’ve lost in a lottery.
You can’t let it affect you mentally though. You’ve got to think ‘it’s just a job’. You’ve got to stick your chest out and own it; you can’t go and hide away. Look at my career after that moment, I went away and won titles in France, reached cup finals with Sheffield Wednesday and won footballer of the year. I knew I wasn’t going to let it affect me.
Lionel Messi’s missed them. Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed them, even Kylian Mbappe this summer as well. No one means to miss, but that’s football.
I wasn’t even on the list of penalty takers in that Germany game. Gazza was supposed to be fifth. But obviously we saw the state Gazza was in because of picking up that yellow card, so the gaffer asked us who fancied it. Not a lot of hands went up. I’d enjoyed the game up to that point; it was a good game to be a part of, and I was feeling confident.
I’ve probably taken four penalties in my career – including my school days
I’m not a penalty taker; I never have been. I can honestly say I think I’ve probably taken four in my entire career – that’s including playing at school.
I was watching the goalkeeper for the first four penalties and he kept going to his right, so I was planning on placing it in the right-hand corner, the goalkeeper’s left. I’m watching Stuart [Pearce] step up, he missed, and I just changed my mind at that moment and went for power.
Originally I was going to just put it to the keeper’s left, just place it in the corner, but then I thought ‘if I hit it hard enough, he’s not going to get anywhere near it’. In football terms I suppose you’d say I hit it too well.
When you’re standing in front of a full stadium of fans, and two billion people watching, all of a sudden you think ‘hold on, I’m not actually a penalty taker’. It’s a long walk to that spot. You’re on your own, walking up to the spot with the ball in your hand. I just went for as much power as I could find when I took the shot.
The atmosphere’s electric for 120 minutes, and then when the shootout comes you can hear a pin drop. I do wonder whether it makes a difference if the fans keep making noise, whether it takes a bit of pressure off. But people handle it differently.
Pickford’s my standout player of the tournament so far for England
I’d have to say Jordan Pickford has been the standout player for me so far for England in this tournament.
I’ve been really impressed with him so far. I know people will say he’s not had that much to do because he’s not conceded a goal, but he’s right on his game. His concentration levels are there, his distribution has been spot on so far, and he’s done a job when he’s been called upon.
His decision-making has been brought into question over the past few years, but he really looks the part at the minute for me.
He was badly positioned, yet still could or should have saved it, he got a finger to it. Watch the danish wall shuffle towards ours, I think this was putting him off.. Watch out for dirtier tricks from free kicks from the Italians.
Michael all day
Laudrup all day…. Michael or Brian over Tintin for me.
Indeed
Impeded with contact is exactly that… Minimal contact can take you out if running at top speed but Sterling was nowhere near. He wasn’t impeded, he was looking for the dive. Felt for the softest touch and went down.. Worst kind of cheating for me.
Because they would have all the advantages today’s players have with better nutrition, greater scientific knowledge of how the body works etc. Yesterday’s players didn’t do so badly considering clubs had much smaller squads so less rotation to enable players to have a rest; they weren’t all taken off at half time in friendly internationals either as was the case with modern players until recently. Also they didn’t consistently play on the fine manicured lawns they play on nowadays, some of the pitches being an absolute bog. And there were destroyers in the game years ago who would dish out some pretty meaty treatment to any clever ball player.
I think Laudrup was the better competitor, so I’d pick him before Eriksen. Our Dane was a talented player but he also somehow annoyed the s..t out of me at times. He had a tendency to go missing on the bigger occasions.
Hugo woulda tipped that over. Jennings woulda caught it🌚
Tottenhams best ever keeper. R Clemence my bottom
Richard. Who dya think is/was the more talented dane eriksen or laudrup?
“More yellow than a lemon farmer🌚
What is exactly ‘marginal’ contact? Minimal contact is marginal or minimal?
Thats why I say it should be the same as free kicks etc. An actual and obvious impediment that’s clearly stops the players progress or nothing for me. The players aren’t to blame but 20 years ago that would probably be seen as a dive and a yellow for Sterling. They all do it but it’s encouraged by these bonkers rules just to create mor freedom for attackers in the box.
With replays and VAR they can actually see what the level of contact was to make a clear decision, doing it that way or even under the current rules, that’s not a pen. If I was Denmark I’d feel cheated by a ‘homer’ ref…
England deserved to get to the final but that does not therefore make that a penalty when it wasn’t.
Based on? Today’s players cover far more miles than yesteryears. 10 miles a game some run.
If they were around today they’d be fitter and stronger and if today’s players had been around then they’d have been less fit and less strong.
I can see both sides of the argument. If you’re running full tilt, even marginal contact is going to impede you, in the sense that you will be knocked off balance or unable to continue as you otherwise would have. Everyone is looking for it these days though, they feel the wind blow on them and fall over as if they’d been shot with a cannon, screaming and flailing. I’m a poor judge of these things though, in my playing days I saw more yellow than a lemon farmer. Screaming “It’s a contact sport, ref!!” didn’t seem to sway them.
Well, they give loads of pens for contact that doesn’t actually ‘impede’ the attacker whatsoever and the contact is completely insignificant. The slightest brush of the side of one’s calf against another’s should never be a penalty in my book. Players go over because of insignificant contact, not through being impeded whatsoever. Hanging legs out etc, you can’t blame them but it’s turned into something bordering on comedic.
If it ain’t a free kick outside the box then it ain’t a pen Inside. That’s how it should be done, in my humble…
A laughable nonsense. Players today are significantly fitter and stronger. They’d run rings around those guys. The only sports you can really compare across generations are things like weighlifting, running, throwing – things with an objective measurement. Even running can be difficult because of surfaces and tailwinds, and swimming because of advances in suits, different pools. Weights are weights, a shotput weighs the same, but those old guys in team sports pretending they were the equal or better than todays players are just sad and pathetic.
Can’t believe Pickford didn’t save that. I’d like to see it from behind the goal, maybe it had some wicked movement to it, because it looked saveable.
It was iffy, but it looked to me that #24 Jensen nudged Sterling’s left knee. “It wasn’t enough for pen” has come out of many a pundit’s mouth, which is ridiculous – the rule isn’t that it “has to be enough”. The rules is impeding an opponent with contact. He made contact, Sterling was impeded, penalty.
Mert Muldur, Wout Weghorst – apparently we’re going for the alliteration eleven. Fire up the Google machine Danny Rose, who the #@% are these players?
It was an iffy pen, had it been given the other way the whole nation would be up in arms over it. England got the run tonight but they’re creating a fair amount of that luck themselves, the more you create the more chance you have of getting the rub…
4-1 to us would have been a fairer reflection of the game.
I enjoy many of your posts Gazza but I can’t see why that’s political. It’s seems purely tactical to me and Southgate has been making pretty much the right calls. He’s been setting them up as solid and hard to get past for the first half of the game and then bringing attacking freshness off the bench. It’s working well, so far anyway.
Exactly what are you agreeing with?? Please share your pearls of wisdom.
As you say it’s a decent ish Denmark team – without their best player – but not a big hitter and we’re at home.
No
Yes, he’s a good pundit.
I’ve felt all along that we could well win this tournament and with the draw we’ve had, the home advantage in most games and the minimum of travel, I was rather EXPECTING us to reach the final. The final itself? Not quite so sure.
Unless one team is in a different class from the others, it usually comes down to which team carries that little bit of extra luck and in this tournament, too, I feel everything is falling in place for us.
I said we’d win and I wasn’t especially worried when we went behind because I had told people and perhaps this website, too, that I had a hunch the Danes would score first,perhaps even in the first couple of minutes, so I wasn’t that fazed when they did so. I always thought we were going to win, though they did carry a bit of a threat, particularly through the Poulson (don’t know how its spelled) chap and there was the slight concern they might sneak it. I thought we were the fitter team and that was the clincher; I felt certain we’d win in ET, thought we might even get a few.
Is that the name of the bloke doing the VAR reviews?
Who’s they? Why can’t sterling be a hero?
Raheem sterling bigup yourself “OUT OF MANY ONE PEOPLE” JA
Agreed. I’ve always wondered why they weren’t featuring more.
What political agenda is that then?
If Foden and Grealish started this would av been done by halftime. Such a disgrace they’ve been benched all tournament for political agenda.
Wouldn’t surprise me. Nothing surprises me anymore.
Yardman saves the day again🌚👍
All’s fair in love and war
Cos Sterling was involved.
So that was a pen and the one in normal time wasn’t??! Joke. Why? Cos they have to make Sterling the hero. Was never a penalty.
How did VAR give that penalty?!
Why, don’t we want it to be fair?
I agree. Plus I’ve got a few quid on them.
The pasta eaters will win.
Poor Denmark? Fck’m🌚
Poor Denmark stitched up. Not a pen, in my opinion.
Yessssssss🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚
Yes, they were better than Argentina that night. Robbed again by refs.
Once again VAR proves to be a pointless nothing. Kane toe pokes the ball past the defender…is clattered into in the box….they give no pen even after check. Stone wall, nailed on….Kane would have popped in the pen and I’d av won my bet. But no….
I prefer him to the obnoxious Lineker. He speaks a lot of sense as a pundit.
I thought England ’98 was a very good team, let down by Beckham’s stupid kick.
Without doubt.
Preferred Peter Taylor myself
Higher than Levy will pay…
Correct. He’s been shocking that first half. Sterling too….
We have been linked with Damsgaard. I wonder how much his value has gone up after that free kick.
I agree regarding the players, with the exception being our Harry.
Hope our man for the Danes notches one.
Zero against
En ger land. Alfred the great🌚
Nice bit of Waddler.👍
He’s right, there’s no comparison to the 90/96 sides. None of this lot would get near it. Denmark are being talked up but this ain’t Matthaus’s Germany giants in Turin…it’s a decent ish Denmark team at home. It should be comfortable. Different world.
Pickford has the potential to be England’s undoing. He gets over excited and as a result makes rash decisions.
He came out of his area to clear a ball against Ukraine and completely sliced it. He was like an over active 5 year old in the last 15 of that game.
Hopefully he can keep a cool head and England will prevail.
I hope if we win, Glenn and Chris get together for Diamond Lights to serenade the lads on the open bus tour.
Celly. Love how you’re moving. Bring all that back to tottenham. Big season for yourself and ndom I’m sensing. YIDZ
I loved Waddle when he played for us, I don’t give a stuff about him as an ex Spurs player.
I don’t know what Waddle has done wrong in my own mind, but he would definitely be in the Steve Hodge category and not one that tugs on the heart strings.