As someone who is pretty apathetic about the England team because time and time again, tournament after tournament they let you down I was quite impressed. At last a manager prepared to give youth a chance, a manager prepared to attack teams. We may struggle to get out the group, we may go out next round even if we do go through but the experience that Sterling, Sturridge, Llanana, Barkley, Welbeck etc are getting will be invaluable for the next two or three tournaments. Also have to remember that Baines, Jags, Cahill are playing in their first major tournament too. The future looks good.
One downside for me, Rooney. I can't see a role for him in the team. Still failed to score in a major finals. Great to say he's scored x number of England goals but he can't do it when it matters. I'd drop him personally because he's a spent force.
We did ok I thought. Was definitely a 50/50 game and unfortunately it didn't go for us this time. I'm still confident we'll qualify, even with just a draw against Uruguay.
Said pre-tournament, England would make qtrs. Somehow, always luck their way through and this year its Uruguay defeat that means England will squeeze through
Can't remember the last time I was excited watching England play. We may have lost, but it was great to see us play with heart for the first time in a long time...
Thought we played very well. Direct, energetic and not afraid to take risks. Says a lot when Italy's man of the match was their goalkeeper.
Don't understand the constant abuse Rooney gets. I suppose his peach of a cross for the goal is just ignored by the moaning masses?
Completely disagree thought we played too deep and when we got the ball were way too slow getting forward. Who the f%^k was playing left mid ? Baines was exposed 2 on 1 everytime they broke.
While we have to stop Pirlo I hope we don't focus on him too much. They have other players that can hurt us. Balloteli and Marchisio being two of them.
While we have to stop Pirlo I hope we don't focus on him too much. They have other players that can hurt us. Balloteli and Marchisio being two of them.
Thought we played very well. Direct, energetic and not afraid to take risks. Says a lot when Italy's man of the match was their goalkeeper.
Don't understand the constant abuse Rooney gets. I suppose his peach of a cross for the goal is just ignored by the moaning masses?
Agree his cross for the goal was great ,however, his shots were woeful .He should have scored when clean through in the second half on the left side of their area. The least said about his corner that went out for a goal kick straight from where he kicked it from the better .Expect him to be on the bench next match.What was Wilshere trying to do dribbling through four defenders on his own ? Moron .Pass the ball you clown .
Overall I was very impressed with that performance tonight! In fact I'd go as far as to say it was the best performance from an England team in a good few years! Ignoring the result I felt everyone on that pitch have it everything was committed and passionate! Wasn't expecting much from the tournament but wanted some good performances with the young players doing well, that's exactly what we got! I like the system we're playing, I think Henderson has been an inspired choice! Does all the unseen hard work and runs his socks off! Would have started with Lallana but welbeck proved he was the right choice!
Enjoyed the game. But you can't go to sterling every time which England tried to do. Great cross by Rooney, but for most of the game he left Baines exposed and late on in the game needed to stay wide as we had no outlet there.
Shame we hadn't played this team before as it needs time to bed in.
I would drop Gerard didn't do anything, poor corners and for a holding midfielder didn't hold very well.
He did drop back he wasn't man to man with attacking Italian bit if you look he is tracking back narrow with the intention of on the turn of play and possession he breaks wide and the Italian.defence are too far off him to give him the five yds of space to deliver the ball
It worked once and that was his role
Had Wayne tracked closer the Italian defender or winger is closer meaning rooney and his lack of pace wouldn't expose the danger area
If you have watched rooney enough like I am sure you all have you would've seen him tracking back like a full back
Tonight he done what was asked of him.and to not get in the wrong position it's a risky tactic but it worked to a degree
The problem was the system didn't suit rooney so I personally wouldn't.play him.there
More bothered by how pony Gerrard was
Not a chance Gerrard had a worse game than Rooney. And yes I realise Rooney made a wonderful assist. However, for the other 89 minutes he was comfortably the worst player on the pitch.
Totally agree about Gerrard. I'd have Henderson in Gerrards role, sit him in front of the back 4, he can do that. I think Gerrards been poor for England for a long time now
I'll get up at 6am to watch the game live. Have been looking forward to it all week. Good luck England. Hope you get a win.
What has happened to China? Seem to have been pumping money into football but have regressed?
@Absurdistan Thanks for your concern. There's indeed a lot of money involved in football these days but most of it is at the club level. Rich people invest in a couple of top professional clubs with only one objective: to make more money. The Chinese football association is responsible for the development of this sport in China but I think it's only when it stops being such a corrupt, bureaucratic organisation that we will see real progress in Chinese football. But it's hardly going to happen in the forseeable future.
To get back on topic, I watched the England v Italy game. Disappointed that England lost BUT, in my honest opinion, both teams did very well and apart from the result I enjoyed the whole game more than the Holland v Spain one which was constantly interrupted by fouls from Holland. I just hope England can improve on corners. You had almost 10 corners but I can't remember any one with a real threat. That was a big shame.
The next game against Uruguay will be crucial. They'll surely be coming all guns-blazing after the shocking defeat. Does anyone know if Suarez will be fit? I hope not?
Thought we played very well. Direct, energetic and not afraid to take risks. Says a lot when Italy's man of the match was their goalkeeper.
Don't understand the constant abuse Rooney gets. I suppose his peach of a cross for the goal is just ignored by the moaning masses?
Totally agree Tom. Result was a bad one but strangley I am more confidrnt of progressing out of the group than i was yesterday. It would not surprise me if we still top the group with 6 points and Italy don't win another game.
England had a real go and imho think they done enough to win the game.
I was impressed with the bravery to make mistakes. Rooney got in the ball and the front four looked dangerous.
I watched it in the fan fest in sao paulo and the italian fans seemed less up beat than the english.
As long as we keep having a go then i have no problem. Looking towards 2016/18 these games will be crucial to our younger and obviously talented players.
The kids ran at Italy and were tricky but our finishing and final killer ball were poor
Lots of shots from distance, I assume because they had 2nd choice keeper in but he did well
I was expecting a bore fest. Agree our final ball at times was poor however i was surprised we didn't score in the second half. Just my opinion of course.
I don't think we were bossed by the italians like the 2012 game. It wasn't great but our possesion play has improved. Or maybe i am just being too positive but the fans from other countries were impressed with the pace and guts of our youth which is nice to hear considering we have been awful in that department for years.
There is no alternative right back. Its just a weakness we have to deaol with.
We all know Italy pass the ball better than us - mind you, they do it better than most. What you have to do is let them play it around in the areas that don't hurt you, but be on your toes defensively in the areas that do. I thought both Italy's goals were poor defensively although well created. England matched them in the game and a draw would have been a fair result. Turns the Costa Rica win into a good result and Uraguay need to show another dimension if they are going to avoid defeat against us.
The difference overall is that Italy were sharper. But part of this was the fact that they defended better. If we can get out of the group, England could have a say in this tournament though.
Rooney played left midfield as if Italy had Johnson at right back. Thought Welbeck and Stetling both did best work out widespread might as well had Rooney in centre.
Gerard pants.
Thought Mario was gonna throw a wobbly when taken off.
While we have to stop Pirlo I hope we don't focus on him too much. They have other players that can hurt us. Balloteli and Marchisio being two of them.
Watched it in the smartly refurbished Station Hotel at Hither Green amid a raucous and good-humoured throng; surprisingly, about half the crowd were women. I hardly ever watch TV, so the high standard of technical skill was a revelation to me - it's a different game from the rubbish we watch in the Championship.
In the first half I thought Italy's cautious approach, safely retaining possession, was effective and unexciting; England, Sturridge especially, looked bright and sharp up front - the whole pub erupted in third minute, deceived by the side netting. The game opened out a bit after the break, and England's crosses and finishes became wayward. I was hugely impressed by the way Italy neatly extricated themselves from tight defensive positions by quick passing moves - no hoofed clearances to Row Z.
Poor Gary Lewin, leaping off the bench to celebrate England's goal, landing on a water bottle and breaking his ankle. Physio, heal thyself.
Just a shame we seemed to lack energy and composure right when we needed it near the end because generally we played pretty well against a decent Italy side.
Missed some really good chances and the 2 goals given away were pretty soft which surprised me actually.
Sterling was very impressive butt hey certainly targeted the full backs and Rooney should have scored (albeit created the goal too)
A promising performance but have to covert those chances and make sure we tighten up at the back.
A final worry would be the way we did lose fitness at the end when chasing the game.
Having slept on it and with the proviso that I'm normally fairly apathetic about England like Large I am greatly encouraged by last night's performance. A bit patchy in parts and certainly some room for improvement from some but on the whole a pretty good performance.
Hopefully Hodgson will hold his nerve and stick with an attacking formation and ethos. Stirling has the ability to frighten the life out of defences with his pace and dribbling and in Sturridge we have a pretty good finisher. But he can't do it all on his own and needs someone like Llanana to get forward from midfield and utilise the space he can create by dragging defenders out of position.
Comments
One downside for me, Rooney. I can't see a role for him in the team. Still failed to score in a major finals. Great to say he's scored x number of England goals but he can't do it when it matters. I'd drop him personally because he's a spent force.
Don't understand the constant abuse Rooney gets. I suppose his peach of a cross for the goal is just ignored by the moaning masses?
Completely disagree thought we played too deep and when we got the ball were way too slow getting forward. Who the f%^k was playing left mid ? Baines was exposed 2 on 1 everytime they broke.
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/477980977961373696/photo/1
Great cross by Rooney, but for most of the game he left Baines exposed and late on in the game needed to stay wide as we had no outlet there.
Shame we hadn't played this team before as it needs time to bed in.
I would drop Gerard didn't do anything, poor corners and for a holding midfielder didn't hold very well.
Don't get me started on Johnson though
Gerrard done nothing all game on his natural position
I don't think rooney played well enough far from it But he had an impact in the.game
Didn't Owen say that Pirlo should be grateful to be on the same pitch as Gerrard and should look up to him?
To get back on topic, I watched the England v Italy game. Disappointed that England lost BUT, in my honest opinion, both teams did very well and apart from the result I enjoyed the whole game more than the Holland v Spain one which was constantly interrupted by fouls from Holland. I just hope England can improve on corners. You had almost 10 corners but I can't remember any one with a real threat. That was a big shame.
The next game against Uruguay will be crucial. They'll surely be coming all guns-blazing after the shocking defeat. Does anyone know if Suarez will be fit? I hope not?
England had a real go and imho think they done enough to win the game.
I was impressed with the bravery to make mistakes. Rooney got in the ball and the front four looked dangerous.
I watched it in the fan fest in sao paulo and the italian fans seemed less up beat than the english.
As long as we keep having a go then i have no problem. Looking towards 2016/18 these games will be crucial to our younger and obviously talented players.
We will beat uruguay.
Gerard anonymous
Rooney refuses to do what he is instructed
The kids ran at Italy and were tricky but our finishing and final killer ball were poor
Lots of shots from distance, I assume because they had 2nd choice keeper in but he did well
Honestly think you go with best players in best positions, especially against top level opposition.
I don't think we were bossed by the italians like the 2012 game. It wasn't great but our possesion play has improved. Or maybe i am just being too positive but the fans from other countries were impressed with the pace and guts of our youth which is nice to hear considering we have been awful in that department for years.
There is no alternative right back. Its just a weakness we have to deaol with.
We will beat uruguay.
The difference overall is that Italy were sharper. But part of this was the fact that they defended better. If we can get out of the group, England could have a say in this tournament though.
Gerard pants.
Thought Mario was gonna throw a wobbly when taken off.
In the first half I thought Italy's cautious approach, safely retaining possession, was effective and unexciting; England, Sturridge especially, looked bright and sharp up front - the whole pub erupted in third minute, deceived by the side netting. The game opened out a bit after the break, and England's crosses and finishes became wayward. I was hugely impressed by the way Italy neatly extricated themselves from tight defensive positions by quick passing moves - no hoofed clearances to Row Z.
Poor Gary Lewin, leaping off the bench to celebrate England's goal, landing on a water bottle and breaking his ankle. Physio, heal thyself.
Missed some really good chances and the 2 goals given away were pretty soft which surprised me actually.
Sterling was very impressive butt hey certainly targeted the full backs and Rooney should have scored (albeit created the goal too)
A promising performance but have to covert those chances and make sure we tighten up at the back.
A final worry would be the way we did lose fitness at the end when chasing the game.
Hopefully Hodgson will hold his nerve and stick with an attacking formation and ethos. Stirling has the ability to frighten the life out of defences with his pace and dribbling and in Sturridge we have a pretty good finisher. But he can't do it all on his own and needs someone like Llanana to get forward from midfield and utilise the space he can create by dragging defenders out of position.
Stick with it Roy, plenty still to play for.