Boltman

I've managed it with Dundee, but Scottish clubs are a bit of a cheat because the game has always had them produce far more high quality regens than they do in reality anyway. It's not unusual to see Scotland winning the European Championship or World Cup in FM when being managed by the AI, and not that far in the future either. I've seen a Gordon Strachan managed Scotland win the 2018 World Cup a couple of editions ago. In the game Scotland suffers from the exact same bias as England, i.e, mature players hugely overrated by researchers, and ridiculously unrealistic numbers of world class regens.

Cheers. Looks like swallowing my pride, parking the bus, and hoofing it/them...

Ok, how to mount some sort of resistance to this? I'll be cruising along, dominating opponents, then I run into an AI team, any team, that uses a base formation with three central strikers. They can be bottom of the league with garbage players, it doesn't matter, they run riot and make my previously rock solid defence look stupid. Tried, 3,4, & 5 man defences, 2 holding players, played wide, narrow, high, deep, tight marking, loose marking, high closing, no closing,...... nothing makes any difference. That AI team which hasn't won in months suddenly look like Brazil 1970. If I push up they punt it over the top, and my defenders stand and watch the AI strikers run onto it. If I drop deep, those AI players with single digit passing and technique start knocking it around like the tiki-taka Barca sides, and cut right through me without fail. Tips?

If this had been for keeps could easily see it being 4 or 5 to Belgium. Different level altogether when they bother.

Wee reminder there for the four people on the entire planet who will actually watch the final on ITV

Impossible for England to score from open play. Magic ball or something.

Commentator - 'surely it's not going to stay 1-0?' Well maybe if they play for a month England might score one from open play

Thierry Henry looks like he's just walked off the set of a 70's Blaxploitation movie

I have no idea, but I'm not having a go about the validity of that claim, I'm asking a genuine question. If you're genuinely in the position where those are the only two options, and both are a waste of time, why are you even persisting with the concept.

Surely the team hailing from the nation which boasts 'the greatest league in the world' has more options than having to choose between two wholly ineffectual players for one position?

Belgium having a sly dig at England's hoofball by wearing an 80's style Watford kit

Well every team needs a player to frustrate and break down attacks

Shilts with the obligatory once-per-tournament English goalkeeping brainfart there. Today is obviously Pickford's turn.

That makes it even more bizarre