🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇪🇸 The Battle of Benidorm

IN-THE-INBOX: A 2-MIN READ

Regional Manager

We’ve been through a lot of England managers since 1966. And they’ve almost all been rubbish...

But Gareth? He’s reached One Semi and Two Finals for The Three Lions.

For that alone, he deserves our respect. 🫡

(Even if it’s completely astonishing how bad we are with such an incredible squad.)


🗓️ 14th July 2024

1. Jordan Pickfourd… 🧤

2. Tipping Spain 🫣

3. Beers for Dec? 🍻
   
   

THE BIG FACTS

Pub Ammo

🇪🇸 Spanish teams have played non-Spanish teams in 22 major finals since 2001 – and won all 22.

🤬 Jordan Pickford has saved four shootout penalties at major tournaments, double all the other England keepers combined.

🎉 Lamine Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday yesterday.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England have averaged just 9.1 shots per 90 mins across their last 13 games Euros games, reaching two Finals. Only three Premier League sides have averaged fewer than that across a season since 97-98 (out of 540) – all three were relegated.

🌶️ Bukayo Saka has 11 MOTMs in his last 29 England games.

🧠 England have created an average of 0.88 xG and conceded an average of 0.74 xG – which would have made them the worst attack and best defence in the Premier League last season.

🥇 Dani Olmo and Harry Kane are tied for the Golden Boot – six players are currently tied and could all win, after a last-minute rule change eliminated the impact of assists.

THE BIG TIP

La Selección

BEST BET
🇪🇸 Spain to win the match (90 mins) @ 6/4

It’s an emotional hedge but also, on the back of what we’ve seen in the past month, value at the price… Win-Win, right?

🙋🏼‍♂️ Tipster’s record | begambleaware.org

BIG SIX ENERGY

Rahm it down their throats

You may have noticed a trend of US-based celebrities pledging allegiance to The Three Lions?

🎸 The Killers showing the last few mins of England’s Semi-Final at their concert.

☕️ Sabrina Carpenter serenading teenagers with an England shirt on.

✝️ Kate Beckinsale (Brit Abroad) evoking the Lord’s Prayer.

All very cheesy stuff.

But the very best of the lot… Brooks Koepka donning the England shirt as he teed off against the Spanish duo, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia earlier today.

Puto Amo 🧑‍🍳 😘

THE BIG OPINION

Match Felixing

After it was announced that the referee for the England vs The Netherlands game would be Felix Zwayer, you just knew there would be some controversy.

The German ref once received a six-month ban for ties to match fixing, albeit over 10 years ago, so it is astonishing that he should be in charge of such a high-profile game.

However – he got every important decision spot on.

Let’s just dive into Harry Kane penalty shout. These are the important questions:

1. Did Kane get to the ball first? Yes
2. Did Dumfries have his studs knee high? Yes
3. Did Dumfries connect with Kane’s foot? Yes
4. Does it matter than Kane had already kicked the ball away? No

They’re the same rules inside and outside the box.

That’s Zwayer the world, folks.

THE BIG QUOTE

THE SOFA SCHEDULE

The Battle of Benidorm

Today
20:00 England vs Spain BBC One* or ITV1*

*Coverage starts at 18:30

THE BIG REVIEW 

Speak soon.

All the best,
The Big Six