We need to let our kids try things and not be afraid to fail and teach them how to read where people are on the pitch. He plays a bit like Sherlock Holmes would, where he is looking where everybody is all the time, constantly analyising - so when he gets the ball he pretty much instantly knows what he is going to do with it, and what he does with it can be very damaging. A great example to us.
The full backs were poor all night. Yes, Baines got little protection, but I don't remember him stopping a cross at all. Johnson is just pony.
I agree with others who have said Gerrard was poor - struggling to recall a worthwhile contribution.
The Rooney situation needs addressing. He clearly isn't happy out wide and imo if you aren't playing him up top or behind then you might as well not play him.
One thing you can be sure of, Sterling will now be a marked man and Uruguay will kick the crap out of him.
I've had a feeling for weeks that we wouldn't get out of the group and to be honest that hasn't changed.
Sterling is comfortable out wide. Mind you that ball to Sturridge was the best I have seen in the tournament - any of us would have scored too. We need to get out of this group - and that is going to be tough- but I think Rooney could be a big star in this tournament and people need to get off his back.
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.
Baines had a stinker, sadly for him. Half the player you'll see week in week out at Goodison.
There was one moment in the second half which summed up his attacking play. Rooney had the ball centrally and had a look out wide hoping to see his full back hugging the touchline ready for a pass. Baines was stuck on his heels on the halfway line. But the time he realised where he should be and sprinted to get there, the opportunity had closed.
Best first group game performance by an England team that I can remember. Players were clearly up for it. It was light years better than four years ago.
Defensively we were exposed down the left. A draw would not have flattered us.
Mountain to climb but we can do it.
Italy are a class team and we matched them.
Sterling was the standout player for me. Caused them all kinds of problems.
Hudson got most things right but tactically the Italians found a way to expose us down the left.
All to play for. The group is wide open.
Uruguay will have to come out against us and we are more than capable of counter - attacking.
Baines with Rooney got ripped to shreds all,night and can't continue. Not sure it was too much of Baines fault. Rooney just isn't good enough for that role.
I was encouraged by performance on the whole but I think it's very much 50/50 if we can get out of group. Uruguay will be very cynical.
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.
Stick with it Roy, plenty still to play for.
Just rewatched it on the highlights and we actually played pretty well. Even Rooney.
Has the commentator crawled out of Pirlos arse yet??
Decent effort, marginally the better side imo. We would have won if we.scored first twice as well, good effort. Feel better.than i normally do.after a.defeat.
First time for some years I have felt any empathy with an England team. Thought the performance had many positives. What a shame our defence is for once lacking any real world class players.
Has the commentator crawled out of Pirlos arse yet??
Decent effort, marginally the better side imo. We would have won if we.scored first twice as well, good effort. Feel better.than i normally do.after a.defeat.
I don't agree that Italy were marginally better. I'd say we were marginally better if anything, sure Italy had a lot of possession but they didn't create much. Well done England, enjoyed that.
Not saying pirlo didnt have a good game.but ffs.its so.typically british to frickin go on about how good the opposition is for.90mins, does my head in. Imo Beckham could have done a similar job for us without much effort like Pirlo. Its not a hard roll to.play if your a baller.
Not saying pirlo didnt have a good game.but ffs.its so.typically british to frickin go on about how good the opposition is for.90mins, does my head in. Imo Beckham could have done a similar job for us without much effort like Pirlo. Its not a hard roll to.play if your a baller.
That's a joke right ? Every team would like one but an effective midfield lynchpin at the highest level is a rare beast. Pirlo is a perfect example of the craft.
If it was so easy where is our Pirlo ? Gerard ? Give me a break.
It's not just Pirlo's passing though is it. Watch his movement off the ball, same for Xavi and Iniesta. This could be the last time we see some of these players at a tournament. Make the most of it and enjoy.
I thought we played well for the first 65 mins odd, just ran out of ideas in the final third toward the end. Personally I can't criticise them as I thought we were positive and went for it, just lacked that guile when it mattered. You can ask questions about the defending as it was shaky at times, but overall I hope the team and us get right up for Uruguay and Costa Rica, we could/should have a good shout of winning both. One player who certainly was out of his depth was Wilshere. This level is above him. He's had a couple of shit years, playing for a club that are massively over hyped as to how good they actually are. I believe he gave the ball away every serious touch he had. There was one when he passed the ball behind Johnson and it went off for a throw, and another when he just ran into 3 players. He's lucky to even be in Brazil IMO. Barkley has so much more about him.
...oh and Pirlo, man alive can that fella play football the way it should be played! Could watch him all day.
Couldn't agree more. Makes the game look so easy it's ridiculous. Great comment from Thierry Henry when discussing Pirlo's free kick, "Pirlo is so good, I think he hit the bar deliberately".
Talking about pundits. Been surprised by Rio Ferdinand. He's been worth listening to and makes some interesting comments. More than I can say for Alan Shearer. BBC must have such a low opinion of their viewers to persist with his banal rhetoric.
Think we'll beat Uruguay, especially given that it now appears Suarez may not be fit. However, hadn't reckoned on Costa Rica going into the final game with a chance of qualifying and they might only need a draw. That raises the stakes in Belo Horizonte big time.
Very encouraging performance tbh. Sterling looks quality, oxlade chamberlain in the same side and we'll be dangerous. Rooney has got to be dropped, not the best in any of his positions IMO, would rather have Sturridge, lallana and sterling ahead of him, even welbeck on last nights performance! Rooneys cross for the goal was sublime though, the guy has quality just tries too hard, enjoy it Rooney!!
Baines had two players to mark at the same time all game because of Rooney, could've done more for the second but he's still our best left back.
Last 10 our heads went and we started to play like old England, misplacing passes and overshooting them. Lack of experience I'll point to for that but very encouraging. The reason there's 3 games in a group is you can afford to lose or draw one.
Will we see The Ox in this tournament though? How fit is he going to be? Sterling and Barkley have to start. Wilshere was disappointing when he came on but we need get forward more with him.
This group is now set up for that rare beast - a team loses the first two games and still goes through. Just needs: Uruguay to beat England by 1, Italy win their 2 remaining games, England beat Costa Rica by 2
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
I was impressed with how we played. Rooney is not a winger and unfortunately for him had a great chance to level and didn't take it.
Thought both keepers played well, The back four did ok and if we continue to approach games with the same verve I will be happy and the pieces will fit a bit more comfortably as players grow into their roles
Fantastic cross but despite defending him as a must starter before the World Cup, i think we really do have to drop Rooney as a starter, we can't keep holding on for him to turn up & produce the magic more regular, when we have younger players like Barkley, Lallana & hopefully The Ox sitting on the bench.
Welbeck was unlucky to be subbed last night too, our best player after Sterling, he might not be the best player for Man Utd but he really does the job for England, which could be huge in the next two games.
Comments
I agree with others who have said Gerrard was poor - struggling to recall a worthwhile contribution.
The Rooney situation needs addressing. He clearly isn't happy out wide and imo if you aren't playing him up top or behind then you might as well not play him.
One thing you can be sure of, Sterling will now be a marked man and Uruguay will kick the crap out of him.
I've had a feeling for weeks that we wouldn't get out of the group and to be honest that hasn't changed.
There was one moment in the second half which summed up his attacking play. Rooney had the ball centrally and had a look out wide hoping to see his full back hugging the touchline ready for a pass. Baines was stuck on his heels on the halfway line. But the time he realised where he should be and sprinted to get there, the opportunity had closed.
Defensively we were exposed down the left. A draw would not have flattered us.
Mountain to climb but we can do it.
Italy are a class team and we matched them.
Sterling was the standout player for me. Caused them all kinds of problems.
Hudson got most things right but tactically the Italians found a way to expose us down the left.
All to play for. The group is wide open.
Uruguay will have to come out against us and we are more than capable of counter - attacking.
We always had to beat Costa Rica.
I was encouraged by performance on the whole but I think it's very much 50/50 if we can get out of group. Uruguay will be very cynical.
Decent effort, marginally the better side imo. We would have won if we.scored first twice as well, good effort. Feel better.than i normally do.after a.defeat.
Imo Beckham could have done a similar job for us without much effort like Pirlo.
Its not a hard roll to.play if your a baller.
If it was so easy where is our Pirlo ? Gerard ? Give me a break.
18 Total shots 12
8 Shots on target 5
8 Fouls 12
48% Possession (%)52%
9. Corners. 2
3. Saves. 7
0. Offsides. 7
Again, well played England.
But I am now very up for Thursday
Talking about pundits. Been surprised by Rio Ferdinand. He's been worth listening to and makes some interesting comments. More than I can say for Alan Shearer. BBC must have such a low opinion of their viewers to persist with his banal rhetoric.
Think we'll beat Uruguay, especially given that it now appears Suarez may not be fit. However, hadn't reckoned on Costa Rica going into the final game with a chance of qualifying and they might only need a draw. That raises the stakes in Belo Horizonte big time.
Baines had two players to mark at the same time all game because of Rooney, could've done more for the second but he's still our best left back.
Last 10 our heads went and we started to play like old England, misplacing passes and overshooting them. Lack of experience I'll point to for that but very encouraging. The reason there's 3 games in a group is you can afford to lose or draw one.
Just needs:
Uruguay to beat England by 1,
Italy win their 2 remaining games,
England beat Costa Rica by 2
Not beyond the realms of possibility. Sorted.
:-)
Thought both keepers played well, The back four did ok and if we continue to approach games with the same verve I will be happy and the pieces will fit a bit more comfortably as players grow into their roles
Welbeck was unlucky to be subbed last night too, our best player after Sterling, he might not be the best player for Man Utd but he really does the job for England, which could be huge in the next two games.