Croatia v England

[martyn]

Really? Kahn and Ballack the only 2 for me. In addition, that "strikeforce" is absolutely dreadful.

[Alexikokopops]

I personally don't think it was a red card.

The height difference is evident there, it looked bad slowed down but it was never a swinging elbow assault like some you see in football.

You need this luck sometimes though, I often question what you can and can't do now a days in football.

I thought it wasn't a sending off. He jumped with his elbow raised and was looking at the ball. He didn't swing his elbow at Cole's head. He just happens to be a foot taller and had a bit of momentum. It looked nasty but I don't think there was the intent there.

We are rubbish. Croatia are brilliant. We will lose and play boring football.

I think you are absolutely right.

Well I don't think I could've been more wrong. Would've been interesting to see what happened if it stayed 11 vs 11 though.

[James.]

It's when everything's shit that we either 1. carry on being shit or 2. put in a performance and roger the opposition 4-0. Don't ask me to come up with examples of when we have recently rogered the opposition, apart from maybe Russia at Wembley in the Euro qualifiers, but I actually reckon we'll go and win tonight.

The fact that Croatia have NEVER lost at home in a competitive fixture makes it all the more likely.

Wow. I was right.

[Simi]

Ended up watching the game down Sports Leagues on the Common.

Capello got it spot and on and proved a lot of people wrong last night, including myself. But we must follow this result up now and not drop any stupid points away to minnow sides who put 10 behind the ball.

Walcott was a great outlet and if he stays fit, will probably mean Beckham won't start again.

Heskey was tiresome and deserved a goal, without him in the side, a lot of our moves would have broke down at the early stages.

Big result, lets build on it.

[Thracian]

:D I missed the whole lot. I'd so depaired that Capello or any other England manager would ever play in the kind of attacking football I wanted to see that I'd lost interest in him, and in England, completely.

[Dr The Singh]

:D I missed the whole lot. I'd so depaired that Capello or any other England manager would ever play in the kind of attacking football I wanted to see that I'd lost interest in him, and in England, completely.

Great result, the first half was pretty equal, England didn't really create much but nor did the croatians. First goal had changed the game, England then played with far more confidence, the pace os Walcott was always a threat and Englands link up play was far better. The second half England were in control and played some excellant counter attacking football, it shows having pace in the team definitely can help play that way!! The longer the game went on, the more the Croatians were out of sorts!!

Defensively we were ok, Terry didn't have a particularly good game, his passing etc wasn't great and he got caught a few times, Midlfield looked well balanced, Jenas played well on the left aswell. In attack, Heskey did his job well and was always available for the long ball, Rooney linked up well with the midfield well and allowed Walcott to expose the defence!!

Good result, very happy!!

[Tilley]

This morning on Sky Sports News, they were saying we should have used Theo in the World cup, ridiculous.

Sums up the media in this country.

[Thracian]

This morning on Sky Sports News, they were saying we should have used Theo in the World cup, ridiculous.

Sums up the media in this country.

Why do you say that?. Because of the wonderful alternatives we had and the possibility that we might have played with a bit of nvention and flair? Or what?

[hairy]

for those of you who missed it, like me, you can grab it at thebox.bz

[Ric Flair]

Blown away by that peformance. England at their very best, when the media are on their backs, the fans dishing out abuse and then they go and shut every single one of the fookers up, including myself.

Capello got things tactically spot on and the 10 days he's just had with them and this result, is great foundation work to build on.

Theo Walcott was devastating and has made a name for himself when we desperately needed it. We've been lacking that raw and fearless pace for several years now and it could be a massive season for Walcott.

Rooney was different class in the 2nd half as well, i've been calling for him to be dropped for ages and this sort of performance had been long overdue. His form has been woeful for 4 years now in an England shirt, but last night he was every bit as good as he often is for Man Utd and as good as he was in those first few years for England. Again, this has come at precisely the right time and let's hope it can be built upon. Capello must instruct him to stop cropping up in defence though to get the ball, it leads to naughty fouls from him in dangerous positions and it's needless.

Ivanhoe was keen, looks like he's lost about 3 stone for some reason. But he tireless work helped unlock Croatia and in a confident team, he'll propser even more so.

Wes Brown is England's best right back right now as well, glad he's back in.

Overall, stunning performance and well worth the wait.

[Manwell Pablo]

:D I missed the whole lot. I'd so depaired that Capello or any other England manager would ever play in the kind of attacking football I wanted to see that I'd lost interest in him, and in England, completely.

That will ****ing teach you then wont it!

[fox123]

Blown away by that peformance. England at their very best, when the media are on their backs, the fans dishing out abuse and then they go and shut every single one of the fookers up, including myself.

Capello got things tactically spot on and the 10 days he's just had with them and this result, is great foundation work to build on.

Theo Walcott was devastating and has made a name for himself when we desperately needed it. We've been lacking that raw and fearless pace for several years now and it could be a massive season for Walcott.

Rooney was different class in the 2nd half as well, i've been calling for him to be dropped for ages and this sort of performance had been long overdue. His form has been woeful for 4 years now in an England shirt, but last night he was every bit as good as he often is for Man Utd and as good as he was in those first few years for England. Again, this has come at precisely the right time and let's hope it can be built upon. Capello must instruct him to stop cropping up in defence though to get the ball, it leads to naughty fouls from him in dangerous positions and it's needless.

Ivanhoe was keen, looks like he's lost about 3 stone for some reason. But he tireless work helped unlock Croatia and in a confident team, he'll propser even more so.

Wes Brown is England's best right back right now as well, glad he's back in.

Overall, stunning performance and well worth the wait.

Good post!

Im wondering if that has now paved the way for Bilic to go to West Ham!

[Manwell Pablo]

Why do you say that?. Because of the wonderful alternatives we had and the possibility that we might have played with a bit of nvention and flair? Or what?

It would of ment dropping Beckham who had a hand in alot of the goals we scored.

[Joe.]

Good post!

Im wondering if that has now paved the way for Bilic to go to West Ham!

Nah I doubt it, Zola seems as good as a done deal now.

[Thracian]

It would of ment dropping Beckham who had a hand in alot of the goals we scored.

Of course, all those goals!

[fox123]

Nah I doubt it, Zola seems as good as a done deal now.

With odds of 1/100 on Betfair, you could be right!!

[Ashley]

Great win for us last night.

[Manwell Pablo]

Of course, all those goals!

....Having a hand in about 6 goals in 6 games more than justifies your position in the team over a barley 17 year old who was yet to play for his club.

Theo Walcott has learnt alot since the 2006 World Cup.

[General Smuts]

Come on then, what sort of shit will be served up tonight from the lads?

I hope Capello has the bollocks to drop Rooney if he continues to play like he has done in the past 3-4 years for England.

I am embarassed by our team right now.

Poor squad selection yet again as well.

There's no options at all.

Croatia to win 2-0

Your not singing anymore.

[Ric Flair]

Your not singing anymore.

I most certainly am not. Well and truelly put in my place. Good.

[Uncle Albert]

Everyone player had a good game last night, the only let down was conceding the goal in that fashion. Hospital pass by Barry.

That shold be the eleven, with Gerrard coming in for Barry.

[purpleronnie]

Everyone player had a good game last night, the only let down was conceding the goal in that fashion. Hospital pass by Barry.

That shold be the eleven, with Gerrard coming in for Barry.

Gerrard + Lampard = Nope

[Uncle Albert]

Gerrard + Lampard = Nope

Why? Because one of them will have to sit I am guessing?

[The Reverend]

I dont think they work together either. I think last night proved it. You cant talk about Andorra, because they didnt play any sort of football, just had 11 men behind it. We need balance, and i think Barry and one of Gerrard/Lampard gives us that balance.

[Uncle Albert]

I dont think they work together either. I think last night proved it. You cant talk about Andorra, because they didnt play any sort of football, just had 11 men behind it. We need balance, and i think Barry and one of Gerrard/Lampard gives us that balance.

So you are saying we need to have a holding midfielder? We are playing very easy teams, I dont see why we cant have Gerrard and Lampard playing a free role.

Wasting a player of Gerrard or Lampard's quality for Gareth Barry to sit in front of Terry and Ferdinand is a waste.