Am going to take my time to carefully consider my prediction for the final now I'm on a roll, since I have been asked... #humblebrag
Having previously said Italy would be 'favoured' in a final against England I have to decide whether to stick with this, their victory over Spain somewhat less comfortable than it might have been.
To get to a major final you really have to be good at not losing, and England and Italy are the two teams who deserve to be in the final. On that basis you can't expect anything other than a tough, pretty even game.
Main concerns about England, only Sterling and Kane score, Southgate too reluctant to sub all but one player, centre of midfield still looks weak. But Italy have lost one of their best players, Jorginho in midfield can be crowded out, and that defence could be vulnerable to pace.
Really looking forward to the final* to be honest. No nerves, this should be a great occasion.

(*I'll watch on TV. But it anyone wants to send a ticket my way...)

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More from @DavidHenigUK

9 Jul
Good article. Those of us who didn't just discover going to football this week know that @david_conn has been one of our best writers on the subject for some years. theguardian.com/football/2021/…
More good reading ahead of Sunday. This time making the important point of English football improving as a result of greater international competition. Well, of course I had to get a trade point in there... ft.com/content/a626d7…
Not that it will make any difference to the long term politics, but of course this England team is on the open, generous, tolerant, internationally competitive side of the culture war, rather than the closed, outraged, blustering nostalgia which this government rides.
Read 4 tweets
8 Jul
From this thread it is more of the same of the UK government turning the passive-aggressive on the Northern Ireland protocol up to 11 only partially aware (as do most who do this) of what they are doing
From an informal translation of Barnier's negotiation diaries...
I guess needing to sign a treaty to win an election and hoping to renounce it later counts as "extraordinary circumstances" though others might simply call it naivety or lying
Read 13 tweets
7 Jul
Still not over 1990 to be honest.
Not quite the quality of the other semi final if we're being honest. Still think England will shade this.
Well, did say Denmark were a good side, but plenty of time yet.
Read 11 tweets
7 Jul
My review of Brexit and UK trade policy six months in is summed up in two contradictory statements:

- Global Britain does not require the EU
- Nissan need an EU deal otherwise they won't stay

Which given Brexit must be a 'success' means problems...

ecipe.org/blog/unresolve…
It becomes increasingly clear that difficult stakeholder relationships and lack of innovation in UK trade policy is a feature not a bug of this government. Because it cannot be honest about Brexit, about the fact the pure Brexit it wants is not actually deliverable.
Similarly there is no detailed trade strategy, because that would open up questions about the EU relationship which the government doesn't want. Similarly no impact assessment of freeports, which would be rather inconvenient. The government doesn't want to get over Brexit.
Read 8 tweets
6 Jul
Spain starting better than I expected, still think if England get to the final I'd rather play them than Italy though.
Spain did to Italy what Italy did to Belgium, except for scoring. Two good teams, fancy Italy to improve second half.
Absolutely this, think the Italians shaded the facial hurt when a decision went against them
Read 8 tweets
6 Jul
Sorry, a UK-EU 'Swiss style' veterinary agreement isn't happening any time soon, and it doesn't help the EU to keep mentioning this, just as it doesn't help the UK to deny what they signed up for.
The EU should equally be aware that 'legal action' over the Northern Ireland protocol is not quite the threat it might seem short of suspending tariff preferences. rte.ie/news/brexit/20…
The stalemate over the Northern Ireland protocol is a factor of UK and EU both refusing to do what the other wants, unable to threaten much apart from a trade war neither actually want, and nervous of going too far to stir up other side. We are truly, properly stuck.
Read 4 tweets

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