International Footy

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Lennon is the X factor for you guys gave u guys a massive lift when he came on during the last WC. Would be first choice if I was Cappelo cos his not scared to have a run at you and got great pace

[Lillehamring]

Good luck Val need just a few results to go your way

[Fox92]

Watched the game.

We were ok, not awesome, not outstanding but ok. Still struggle in the World Cup though, I don't think the team is actually strong enough. There are two world class players out there, Gerrard and Rooney. The rest are average or only Premiership players.

Don't think Lennon was man of the match, he did nothing second half plus he was running at an out of position midfielder and I would like to see how he goes on against someone who is a better full back like Alves or Lahm. Did Bilic stick Srna left back in the second half? Thats most probably why we didn't see much of Lennon. He's not great Lennon and occasionally his end distribution is poor. Isn't a world cup winger though and not as good as everyone makes out, like Defoe who follows below.

Defoe scored two the other day did he? Or just one? I didn't watch it because I was at work and don't really follow England these days but against a better oposition he didn't really touch the ball, and when he was put through his first touch was poor. Again, he's another average Premiership player. There's the difference between him and Michael Owen, Owen is quality and Defoe, well, isn't. Simple as.

I think Heskey deserved a goal, not just becuase he used to play for Leicester but he put's himself everywhere and chasses lost balls and closes down and holds the ball up superbly. The Sun I think go to different games because Heskey '6' and Lennon '9'

As I said, Gerrard and Rooney are the world class players in the team. Take Lampard for example, he rippes up the Premiership and scores for fun from midfield which is great but looks average on the big stage, the same as Christiano Ronaldo did in Euro 2008.

Lennon is the X factor for you guys gave u guys a massive lift when he came on during the last WC. Would be first choice if I was Cappelo cos his not scared to have a run at you and got great pace

He's average thats it and was playing against an out of position midfielder playing full back so I would have expected that.

Did nothing second half.

[davieG]

Watched the game.

We were ok, not awesome, not outstanding but ok. Still struggle in the World Cup though, I don't think the team is actually strong enough. There are two world class players out there, Gerrard and Rooney. The rest are average or only Premiership players.

Don't think Lennon was man of the match, he did nothing second half plus he was running at an out of position midfielder and I would like to see how he goes on against someone who is a better full back like Alves or Lahm. Did Bilic stick Srna left back in the second half? Thats most probably why we didn't see much of Lennon. He's not great Lennon and occasionally his end distribution is poor. Isn't a world cup winger though and not as good as everyone makes out, like Defoe who follows below.

Defoe scored two the other day did he? Or just one? I didn't watch it because I was at work and don't really follow England these days but against a better oposition he didn't really touch the ball, and when he was put through his first touch was poor. Again, he's another average Premiership player. There's the difference between him and Michael Owen, Owen is quality and Defoe, well, isn't. Simple as.

I think Heskey deserved a goal, not just becuase he used to play for Leicester but he put's himself everywhere and chasses lost balls and closes down and holds the ball up superbly. The Sun I think go to different games because Heskey '6' and Lennon '9'

As I said, Gerrard and Rooney are the world class players in the team. Take Lampard for example, he rippes up the Premiership and scores for fun from midfield which is great but looks average on the big stage, the same as Christiano Ronaldo did in Euro 2008.

He's average thats it and was playing against an out of position midfielder playing full back so I would have expected that.

Did nothing second half.

A bit of a ramble that lot, Lennon did nothing in the 2nd half because they put 2 and sometimes 3 men on him.

No one loves Emile more than a Leicester fan but Heskey didn't deserve a goal because he missed two reasonable chances. That's not to say I don't think he should play he serves a purpose (yes Daniel) and scoring goals is not top of that list.

I'm not entirely convinced about Defoe and he didn't make much of an impact when he came on, not that it's easy when a team has started to stroll a bit but he's got to be in front of Owen at this time because Owen is so not up to it on fitness or form.

Talk of who's world class and who isn't is not the main criteria especially when we can't conjure up a team/squad full of world class players. It's a team game and more importantly you need the right pieces rather than the best players. Of course great players spread around the team makes a big difference but if they don't jell you've got less chance of winning

[dogadug]

well done to plucky little norway, still probably unlikely to qualify but runners up in their group and showing sounds of a potential return to footballing joy under the returned maestro 'drillo'

would be brilliant for me if the results allign perfectly and norway squeeze thru to the playoffs... if it's not already too late*

if nothing else, they've knocked the jocks out!

*just found this:

not sure if it's true, or if both scenarios need to occur but it says, norway will make the playoffs if:

sweden lose to albania and denmark

hungary lose to denmark

and portugal lose to hungary

irekand lose to italy and montenegro

bulgaria fail to win both their last games

interesting, and not imposible - just need the danes to do their buddies a few favours

Good luck to Norway, I wonder what odds you could get on all those results happening

Might be worth putting a quid or 2 on it!

[Asha]

There are two world class players out there, Gerrard and Rooney. The rest are average or only Premiership players.

Only Gerrard and Rooney are world class players? The rest are 'average premiership players'? So the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard are 'average premiership players?'

And you've contradicted yourself anyway, really:

Take Lampard for example, he rippes up the Premiership and scores for fun from midfield which is great

Yeah, so he rips up the premiership, scores for fun etc, but he's only an 'average premiership player'

[Uncle Albert]

If we start the World Cup with that 11 apart from Ferdinand coming in for Upson then I predict at least a semi-final place, seriously. Only Spain at the minute will be a team I will fear playing against, not really that intimidated by Brazil.

If we play with the attacking mindset like we did last night we could beat anyone.

[Tommy G]

If we start the World Cup with that 11 apart from Ferdinand coming in for Upson then I predict at least a semi-final place, seriously. Only Spain at the minute will be a team I will fear playing against, not really that intimidated by Brazil.

If we play with the attacking mindset like we did last night we could beat anyone.

Any tabloid will give you job a month before the WC Finals if you keep talking like that.

I predict same old hype, same old not living up to the hype..

[StanSP]

Any tabloid will give you job a month before the WC Finals if you keep talking like that.

I predict same old hype, same old not living up to the hype..

Can you not even string a little bit of optimism for the WC judging from last night?

[Guest Bilo]

Croatia will not roll over tonight as they did in Zagreb.

Tonight I can see a much closer game as the two teams should now have a healthy respect for one another as both have humiliated the other at some point.

2-1 England with goals from Lampard and Defoe doing the damage.

For once, I'm glad to say that I was spectacularly wrong, An absolute pleasure to watch and the moronic hoofer tags attached to the England side should be banished by anyone with functioning grey matter after the quality of that performance.

Croatia, a team rated as dark horses by some to win Euro 2008 after outclassing England in qualifiers, were completely destroyed all over the field. We moved the ball better and more quickly, Lennon had far too much pace all night and I honestly cannot think of a Croat player who looked even close to matching his English counterpart.

The only black mark is the goal conceded, a game in which we were so utterly dominant really should have ended with a clean sheet but this is nitpicking. We're there two games early and with a 100% record, deservedly so as well.

Croatia meanwhile look a shadow of the team that beat England home and away in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. True England have come a long way since those dark days, but Croatia really look as though they've gone backwards almost as quickly. If England take their foot off the gas now they're through and drop points in Ukraine, I can see Croatia having to sit out the World Cup for the first time since gaining independence.

[Tommy G]

Can you not even string a little bit of optimism for the WC judging from last night?

Yeh but when you look at teams like Spain, who are technically another level to us then you realise what were up against mate

[StanSP]

Yeh but when you look at teams like Spain, who are technically another level to us then you realise what were up against mate

Yeah, but I think we've improved a hell of a lot since Capello took charge. Only us, Spain and Holland have won all our games in the group stages. That tells you something, not a lot, but something.

I think we have a good chance of progressing further than the Quarter-finals next summer.

I realise that Spain are a better team, and they'll be much tougher opposition if we meet them at some stage, but with a bit of luck I think we might get further than previous tournaments.

[shen]

well done to plucky little norway, still probably unlikely to qualify but runners up in their group and showing sounds of a potential return to footballing joy under the returned maestro 'drillo'

would be brilliant for me if the results allign perfectly and norway squeeze thru to the playoffs... if it's not already too late*

not sure if it's true, or if both scenarios need to occur but it says, norway will make the playoffs if:

sweden lose to albania and denmark

hungary lose to denmark

and portugal lose to hungary

irekand lose to italy and montenegro

bulgaria fail to win both their last games

interesting, and not imposible - just need the danes to do their buddies a few favours

As much as I like Norway and Norwegians, I would not want them at the World Cup (Nor would I want the terrible terrible Swedes!). It's a bit embarrassing to finish second with only 10 points after 8 games. Both those scenarios are bordering on the impossible. Portugal won't lose at home, Sweden will pick up at least a point and judging on yesterdays performance against Albania, you shouldn't count on us winning both those matches either. Group 8 scenario seems more likely, but it's still a very very long shot.

[Darkzzz_]

Any tabloid will give you job a month before the WC Finals if you keep talking like that.

I predict same old hype, same old not living up to the hype..

[Fox92]

Yeh but when you look at teams like Spain, who are technically another level to us then you realise what were up against mate

Thats one of the points that I was trying to make.

Only Gerrard and Rooney are world class players? The rest are 'average premiership players'? So the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard are 'average premiership players?'

And you've contradicted yourself anyway, really:

Yeah, so he rips up the premiership, scores for fun etc, but he's only an 'average premiership player'

I don't think I made myself clear as I am not up to it today but what I meant was if you look at players who perform at club level and dominate like Lampard and then do nothing on the big stage of the European Championship and the World Cup Finals.

I was stating that Gerrard and Rooney are most probably the world class players that we have. If you look at the likes of Brazil, Italy, France and even Spain they have players that dominate on both stages where as the likes of England and Portugal don't with the likes of Frank Lampard and Christiano Ronaldo.

Don't get me wrong though, players like Terry, Lampard and Cole are great at Chelsea and in the Prem but not as world class as Gerrard and Rooney.

[Tommy G]

Thats one of the points that I was trying to make.

Torres & Villa up front.

We have Rooney ......and Heskey

[davieG]

Yeh but when you look at teams like Spain, who are technically another level to us then you realise what were up against mate

Spain have always been technically one of the best European teams but it hasn't and doesn't guarantee success. They've failed so many times to justify their undoubted quality. It takes more than a group of talented players to win it takes a well knit organised team, you only need to look at the success of Germany to see that.

[Guest Bilo]

Spain have always been technically one of the best European teams but it hasn't and doesn't guarantee success. They've failed so many times to justify their undoubted quality. It takes more than a group of talented players to win it takes a well knit organised team, you only need to look at the success of Germany to see that.

Very true. Germany have seldom been the most talented group of players in the world but they have the winning mentality and ethic that can win through against teams that aren't as psychologically strong.

[Fox92]

Spain have always been technically one of the best European teams but it hasn't and doesn't guarantee success. They've failed so many times to justify their undoubted quality. It takes more than a group of talented players to win it takes a well knit organised team, you only need to look at the success of Germany to see that.

I think he used Spain as an example and we all know that they are the biggest underachievers but it was only an example I think. Could of said, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Holland etc who are all better than England.

Besides, I think Germany are great anyway.

[Darkzzz_]

Spain have always been technically one of the best European teams but it hasn't and doesn't guarantee success. They've failed so many times to justify their undoubted quality. It takes more than a group of talented players to win it takes a well knit organised team, you only need to look at the success of Germany to see that.

That is an excellent point, one which I always make to people. The Germans seem to have the right mentality in big tournaments, even when you think they are down and out they somehow make it all the way, or almost all the way!

Luck as a massive factor in any teams success, Italy got it in 2006 and not many of us could see them winning it that year.

[Jon the Hat]

Good performance, always good to make the opposition look ordinary. For the next two games I want to see some limited changes to simulate what might happen if we have players out injured in the finals. Not wholesale changes, they are pointless. What we need to know is:

Can Defoe play with Heskey.

Can Rooney play with C Cole.

How does the back four look with Bridge OR Brown in instead of A Cole and Johnson. Does the reduction in pace stifle the width?

Etc.

[TrickyTrev]

To people wanting Argentina out......

A tournament without Messi, Aguero, Maxi, Tevez et. all? Come off it....yes we all want England to do well but I want the tournament to be full of the best teams and a truely great event.

Pretty sure the Argies will ge their act together.

After they sack Maradonna.

[lildave3]

Barry and Heskey didnt impress me at all last night, Barry was wasteful with the ball and Heskey was on his arse for most of the night. Carrick should be given a run out in the 'Barry role'.

I love Barry, he's such a simple but classy player. He's like Hargreaves but without the clumsy fouls.

And well, there's another advantage to Heskey. He will win you free kicks and take the pressure away. Both of the players you named are doing the most underrated jobs in the team.

If we start the World Cup with that 11 apart from Ferdinand coming in for Upson then I predict at least a semi-final place, seriously. Only Spain at the minute will be a team I will fear playing against, not really that intimidated by Brazil.

If we play with the attacking mindset like we did last night we could beat anyone.

Not intimidated by Brazil

Imo, Spain and Brazil are the favourites, with Holland lurking behind. I don't see why - with a bit of luck helping - we can't go and do something.

[Tommy G]

Don't get me wrong. Im English and I would love them to win the WC. But I just can't see it happening at all. We won easily last night but there is still enough for Capello to worry about.

1) We conceded again, we knew the game was won yet another lapse of concentration and they scored (same as saturday)

2) Glen Johnson - great going forward but can he defend? Against better teams with a decent left winger then we will struggle. Terry is often left to cover at RB. The solution, I don't know. Brown is better defensively but going forward nowhere near as good. i think the threat of the opposition will depend upon him starting.

3) GK - who will his first choie be? Green made a decent double save last night but should of held onto the second one which gave them the goal.

4) I am happy with Rio, Cole and Terry as the rest of the defence, it picks itself really.

5) Gerrard on the left? He is our second best player. He should be playing down the middle. Capello is trying to accomodate Barry for some reason who is Mr ''I pass 12 yards'' kind of player. Assuming joe cole is fit and playing well by then, then stick him on the left and play Gerrard off Rooney.

This won't give us a target man, but Capello is trying to eradicate hoofball anyway. It would give us more balance and allow Barry to do the cleaning up in midfield.

I would still take Hargreaves over Barry anyday, but its unlikely he will be fit/have form.

6) Then there is the problematic RM role. We have Beckham, Milner, Young, Lennon, Walcott, SWP. Guess it just depends on form.

If I could pick my WC XI (based on everyon being fit) it would be

-----------------------James

Johnson/Brown----Terry----Ferdinand----Cole

Lennon----Hargreaves----Lampard----J.Cole

---------------------Gerrard

----------------------Rooney

[Fox92]

I love Barry, he's such a simple but classy player. He's like Hargreaves but without the clumsy fouls.

And well, there's another advantage to Heskey. He will win you free kicks and take the pressure away. Both of the players you named are doing the most underrated jobs in the team.

Agreed, Barry does what a defensive midfielder needs to do with no fuss. He sits in front of the back four lovely covering, sweeping up balls and allowing 'x' whether it be Lampard or Gerrard or whoever to go forward.

I don't think Heskey was on his 'arse' all day. Heskey put himself around and held the ball up superbly, he is the best big man we have. To be honest, he is never going to be a prolific goalscorer and thats most probably why Martin O'Neill played him on the left during days at Leicester. I don't think I can name a big man who scores for fun, apart from Adebayor and nobody say Crouch please <_<