Fair result in the end. France had the bulk of possession but we looked dangerous on the break and restricted their chances. I am encouraged - baby steps and all that. Losing the first game in a major tournament is a no, no so I will take a point. Still going to be tough to get out but I am confident of getting enough points to qualify.
I was pleased to see the England players playing as a team - they may not be the highest class, but it looks to me like Roy has managed to get them to leave their egos at home. The way they acted after the game showed this. At the last world cup, the team played like a bunch of disinterested individuals who all thought they were better than they were, desperate to get back to their club teams.
Great result. My expectations have risen but knowing England they'll be back at rock bottom in no time.
Defensively we were very solid but we lacked creativity in attack and generally going forward. To be fair to Welbeck he did alot better than I thought he would and had a good game.
Went down to Ladbrokes on my road to go and collect the £180 and they realised there was something wrong with their print out. It was meant to be 8/1. Thought it was too good to be true.
Went down to Ladbrokes on my road to go and collect the £180 and they realised there was something wrong with their print out. It was meant to be 8/1. Thought it was too good to be true.
Don't they have to honour it, if it's there in B&W?
We have very little ability at this level, with shocking attempts to keep the ball. I watched the same poor English attempt as everyone else. This may be another tournament where, after the event, we question our technic and ourvtraining methods. Everyone on here had their fingers crossed for most of the second half that we wouldn 't let one in and we wouldn't keep giving the ball away? The one plus was we had some young players out there. I suppose we maybalso be fortunate with the Swedes and Ukraninas being in our group.
They probably do but I am not the type of person to ask for money. I just took the £80 and left smiling. I am a student so I am happy with every penny I get.
The Taylor team that tried to qualify for USA 94 was easily worse than this one. I was only about 9 and even I knew they were shite. Carlton Palmer or Scott Parker?
The Taylor team that tried to qualify fell SA 94 was easily worse than this one. I was only about 9 and even I knew they were shite. Carlton Palmer or Scott Parker?
Remember the documentary well "Faaackin ell, do I not believe that.....!"
Thought the team did well. We were organised, had a game plan, had experience in the key areas and legs elsewhere. I agree that we don't have the ability of the top sides and anybody arguing still arguing that we do needs to take a look at the fact that we are not one of the usual suspects who nearly always finish in the quarters, semi's and beyond - in Europe that would be Germany, Italy, France and Holland and now Spain. I'd say that we are in the second tier with the likes of Portugal, Russia, the Cechs etc. That's not crticism , thats facing facts. If we could buy in the bits we don't have (the creativity, penetration and flair) like we do in the prem, then we'd be at the top table as well but we can't so i'm happy that as a nation we seem to have come to terms with that and we have a manager who is cutting his cloth to suit. It reminded me of a battling Curbishley side - doing a job! And that's good enough for me and gives us a chance.
I also strongly suspect that neither Barry or Lampard are injured and Woy has (once Parker proved his fitness) offered them a get out rather than expecting them to sit around for weeks.
Comments
Defensively we were very solid but we lacked creativity in attack and generally going forward. To be fair to Welbeck he did alot better than I thought he would and had a good game.
Bring on the Swedes!!!!!!!
205/1 lescott 1-0
18/1 still seems very long!
Johnson 0
Terry 0
Lescott 1
Cole 0
Ox C 0
Parker 0
Gerrard 0
Milner 0
Young 0
Welbeck 0
He might not be as flash as other central midfieders, but I reckon he would be picked for a German or even French midfield.
all he did was score a goal. and even that just hit him in the face and went in.