Ing-Ur-Land vs Kazakhstan

[Sion]

Nearly a goal down but for a marginal offside decision

Generally playing not very well at all

Heskey and Rooney upfront, so no out and out strikers vs a team ranked 2546th in the World.

Usual case of thinking they just have to turn up to win? probably.

[anfield11]

It's sad when Heskey can get a game for England. That's the best we can produce for a striker?!

[carrafan]

Heskey's regular inclusion isnt half as bad as England not having a decent goalie, two wingers, and a rightback.

 

The difference in quality between England and some of the other highly ranked country is tremendous.

[Sion]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS GET IN, COME ON, Barry you legend*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*joking

[Sion]

Gerrard sets up another goal after a great long range chip effort, Heskey taps in a rebound

[Hassony]

  Sion said:

YESSSSSSSSSSSS GET IN, COME ON, Barry you legend*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*joking

 

haha

[Dee]

rooooooooooooooooooooooney

[Rimbeux]

Serious concers about Barry in that role, he needs to be further up the pitch with protection behind, he will miss games through suspension during a WC finals. Johnson has all the tools but no brain, Pompey have pulled a blinder getting him to sign a new deal and talking up some nonesense about Chelsea taking him for nearly £20m, if they can get half that they wil be delighted, he's nowhwere near the finished article

[Sion]

Is it just me that feels sick hearing England fans chant 'Super Frank' or 'Roooooneh'?

How can fans of club football ever chant such things unless you support the club they play for? I can only hope they're all lower league fans using it to fill their unfullfilled top flight football desire.

[muleskinner]

Was Gerrard stuck out on the left again?

[Dominus Maximus]

Zlatan just smashed his elbow in Aggers face.

Riley is the ref, gives Sweden a cheap penalty.

Stoke keeper Sørensen saves.

New Wolfsburg signing and former nr. 10 at Brøndby - Kahlenberg scores after 25 minutes.

 

Sweden Denmark, 30 minutes: 0-1

Edited June 6, 2009 by Jallow

[surf]

iceland - holland 0-1 after 9 minutes

i expect to be making frequent updates

[surf]

0-2 van bommel

[Hassony]

  surf said:

0-2 van bommel

 

Thats why bommel goes to Icelands

[Tosh]

I sat watching that England game and doing a compare and contrast. England's finest (let's face it, other than a couple of them, it was about as strong a team as Capello has at his disposal)

vs

 

the team that won in Rome two weeks ago. And no, it was not the silky skillz and the pass and move. It was basics like being able to control a football. Instantly. I was shocked at the number of times the ball was played to a player in space and by the time it was under control, the player no longer had space.... and the sheer volume of misplaced passes. Sure, some were first time flicks but ball to feet? No!

 

Take Gerrard, Lampard, Barry and compare with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Or even Pique, Puyol and Silvinho and compare with Upson, Terry and whoever was filling in at right back. And oddly, I though Cashley was one of the worst at controlling the ball.... Heskey and E'too.....

 

really shocking and you can clearly see the gulf in technical skills. Add in the lesser lights off the bench - and I include his nibs from LA - it got worse, far worse.

[surf]

Finished 2-1 after a late consolation goal. The Dutch rattled the woodwork a couple of times and Robben should have had a hatful, but at least qualification is assured.

[Logic]

  surf said:

Finished 2-1 after a late consolation goal. The Dutch rattled the woodwork a couple of times and Robben should have had a hatful, but at least qualification is assured.

The Dutch were so much better. But they were helped by a stupid Icelandic manager. The Icelandic team was set up completely wrong. Eiður was isolated up front for the first 30 min until he was told to drop back into midfield. The Icelandic team was then set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation in the first half with the defensive midfielder either overcrowded by the Dutch wide-forwards going central or dragged out of position by VDV going wide or dropping deep which then created a huge gap for RVP, the c*nt Robben and Kuyt to work in.

[surf]

Portugal on the edge of missing the world cup yesterday, but they scored an injury time winner versus Romania. They're still 4 points behind 2nd place, qualifying would have been very very difficult had they dropped 2 points yesterday. Table:

 

Denmark 6 games - 16 points

Hungary 6 games - 13 points

Portugal 6 games - 9 points

Sweden 5 games - 6 points

Albania 8 games - 6 points

Malta 7 games - 1 points

 

Their next 2 games are away to Denmark and away to Hungary. How funny would it be if Placcy missed the World Cup!

 

Edited June 7, 2009 by surf

[John am Rhein]

  Tosh said:

Take Gerrard, Lampard, Barry and compare with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Or even Pique, Puyol and Silvinho and compare with Upson, Terry and whoever was filling in at right back. And oddly, I though Cashley was one of the worst at controlling the ball.... Heskey and E'too.....

 

Barcelona would beat England with ease, but then the top club sides have been better than the top international sides for years, if not decades.

[Rimbeux]

  surf said:

Portugal on the edge of missing the world cup yesterday, but they scored an injury time winner versus Romania. They're still 4 points behind 2nd place, qualifying would have been very very difficult had they dropped 2 points yesterday. Table:

 

Denmark 6 games - 16 points

Hungary 6 games - 13 points

Portugal 6 games - 9 points

Sweden 5 games - 6 points

Albania 8 games - 6 points

Malta 7 games - 1 points

 

Their next 2 games are away to Denmark and away to Hungary. How funny would it be if Placcy missed the World Cup!

 

 

Funny, but Utd will be delighted if he's still there

[Tosh]

  John am Rhein said:

Barcelona would beat England with ease, but then the top club sides have been better than the top international sides for years, if not decades.

I know that as a team they would but comparing either individuals or "units", the basic levels of skill, passing, controlling etc and comfort ON the ball were in a different league and as that was the last football I watched until yesterday the difference was really striking.

 

Yesterday was played at a snails pace and so the "rough and tumble of the premiership" excuse cannot be applied. Hell, Bulgaria looked so much more comfortable with the ball than any of the England players. I guess it's back to what Rafa calls "technical players".

 

In reality, I think he means players who are not afraid of that round thing they kick around.

[Rimbeux]

  Tosh said:

I know that as a team they would but comparing either individuals or "units", the basic levels of skill, passing, controlling etc and comfort ON the ball were in a different league and as that was the last football I watched until yesterday the difference was really striking.

 

Yesterday was played at a snails pace and so the "rough and tumble of the premiership" excuse cannot be applied. Hell, Bulgaria looked so much more comfortable with the ball than any of the England players. I guess it's back to what Rafa calls "technical players".

 

In reality, I think he means players who are not afraid of that round thing they kick around.

 

 

The whole ethos of English football is based around quick transition from defence to attack and players who excel in English football reflect that. Torres is far more dangerous for Liverpool and in the PL than he was in Spain or is for Spain because he thrives on getting the ball early with space to attack behind the defence.

 

Players like Xavi excel in Spain and at International level because the game, the teams and the climate majors are generally played in are more geared to patient build up play. Both styles are effective in the CL.

 

The problem England have is being caught between what they are built for and good at and what it generally takes to win majors in the Summer. It's counter-intuitive to the players to ignore the early or risky ball forward and not all the team will be able to turn off that instinct despite the skill level being there. The gamble is whether to say f*** it and go for a high octane pressing game with quick transitions or try and learn to play with patience, sit off, keep shape and keep the ball for the sheer sake of it, whilst trying to tease openings.

[John am Rhein]

Well Benitez/Wenger/Ferguson/Mourinho can bring in what 'technical' players they can from abroad.

 

The England manager has to make to with what he's got. If England try and base their game on being comfortable on the ball then the're always going to be at a disadvantage.

[fyds]

I missed this game completely - forgot it was on - well happy!

[John am Rhein]

  fyds said:

I missed this game completely - forgot it was on - well happy!

 

did you see Ukraine-Croatia?