England vs Belgium

[purpleronnie]

Just to put things into perspective:

Germany lost 5-3 to non-qualified Switzerland;

Netherlands lost 1-2 at home against non-qualified Bulgaria;

Portugal could only draw 0-0 against non-qualified Macedonia at home;

France narrowly escaped embarrassment against non-qualified Iceland;

the Czechs lost 1-2 at home to non-qualified Hungary;

while Italy got trounced 0-3 by Russia.

In light of those results, England's games don't seem too bad

Problem is a lot of the top sides always seem to improve in tournaments we seem to play at the same standard.

[shen]

Problem is a lot of the top sides always seem to improve in tournaments we seem to play at the same standard.

Hmm, so only when England play good friendlies prior to big tournaments there is reason to believe?

[purpleronnie]

Hmm, so only when England play good friendlies prior to big tournaments there is reason to believe?

I have no idea what sentence means.

[Daggers]

My hovercraft is full of eels.

[purpleronnie]

My hovercraft is full of eels.

My nipples explode with delight

[ADK]

Football friendlies are about as meaningful as free practice in formula 1 or a sparring session in boxing.

[whoareyaaa]

Defoe / Welbeck up front.. Young for Milner and the rest stay.

Adam Johnson should be starting on the left which is pretty cluess how he isn't even on the bench ahead of a woeful disgrace of a player in Downing.

and Micah Richards should be in for Glen Johnson. and Carrick should be in for Henderson, no Lennon? Are these people picking the team blind or clueless

[shen]

I have no idea what sentence means.

You were dismissing the form of major countries in friendlies, arguing they improve in tournaments, while saying England play the same level in tournaments and friendlies. The consequential logic being that England only perform well in tournaments when they also perform well in friendlies. You have idea now, yes?

[kingfox]

I fell sleep during the game, yet again while watching England.

They are well and truly boring too watch, and Hodgson has picked loads of wrong players.

The right side in the first half was awful, Johnson and Milner offered nothing, especially Johnson who in my opinion was well and truly shocking.

Crouch, Richards and Johnson are three players who should definitely be on the plane, instead of flaming Johnson, Carroll and Henderson.

[Milton Keynes Fox]

Typical international friendly, don't expect anything more than a 1-0 win otherwise you're getting yourselfs too worked up

[stix]

I fell sleep during the game, yet again while watching England.

They are well and truly boring too watch, and Hodgson has picked loads of wrong players.

The right side in the first half was awful, Johnson and Milner offered nothing, especially Johnson who in my opinion was well and truly shocking.

Crouch, Richards and Johnson are three players who should definitely be on the plane, instead of flaming Johnson, Carroll and Henderson.

I know who you mean, but Johnson Johnson & Johnson?

[Corky]

Great firm of solicitors that.

[kingfox]

I know who you mean, but Johnson Johnson & Johnson?

Yep sorry Andy Johnson I meant

Nah Richards for Glen

Adam for Henderson

Crouch for Fookin Carroll

[Guest DavidJCW]

ITV'S commentary is terrible.

Also is HAZARD not AZZAR

As someone who's lived in Belgium for the vast majority of my life, I think you'll find 'azzar' is the correct pronunciation. Aside from that, any match with Townsend as a commentator is always going to be shit coverage.

[Guest DavidJCW]

Feel very sorry for Belgium. They came up against a very defensive and boring England team who showed no interest in trying to attack. It could have been a really good match as Belgium are a very good team, as I think at times, was clear from yesterday's match.

We certainly deserved something from the game as let's face it, Belgium were better in pretty much every department... bar sticking one in the back of the net. Shame.

[Dan]

There is surely no international side in Europe as boring to watch as we are.

Literally can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching England.

Friendlies are more about the performance than result IMO and we looked largely second best against a, whilst up-and-coming team, a team that has not even qualified for the Euros.

Group stages will be the end for us and I can't even see us scoring until the Ukraine game when Rooney's back. So poor going forward (although I blame service more, the goal was good), weak in midfield, the defence is good but that's about it.

[Dan]

Yep sorry Andy Johnson I meant

Nah Richards for Glen

Adam for Henderson

Crouch for Fookin Carroll

[Mack]

I was at the game yesterday.

I've been to a few England games down the years, but yesterday's was particularly depressing from a fans point of view.

So many of the 'fans' in the crowd were more preoccupied with making paper planes out of the cards given out to hold up to make the flag and generally, talking, going to the bogs / kiosk... In fact pretty much anything apart from watching the game.

In fact you wouldn't have even realised the second half had started with half of the crowd still out of their seats and most of the rest looking at their mobiles... chatting... etc etc.

OK I know the game wasn't the most fascinating in our national team's history but surely show some interest?

On a game front personally I think Hodgson may be onto something.

I know it's not expansive attacking football, but we are not good enough to go toe to toe with Europe's finest, so he's looking to create a system and style that will give us a chance of reaching the latter stages of the tournament.

I hope it works out for him because if we play like this and dont do well he is in for a hell of a lot of stick.

[Fox92]

Just to put things into perspective:

Germany lost 5-3 to non-qualified Switzerland;

Netherlands lost 1-2 at home against non-qualified Bulgaria;

Portugal could only draw 0-0 against non-qualified Macedonia at home;

France narrowly escaped embarrassment against non-qualified Iceland;

the Czechs lost 1-2 at home to non-qualified Hungary;

while Italy got trounced 0-3 by Russia.

In light of those results, England's games don't seem too bad

These results don't change anything for me. England were still poor. I find no motivation to watch them, and I really do think we will struggle to get out of the group stages. I can't see us beating France next week. And if you look at some of those results anyway, the full teams were not on show, for example, the Germany team that lost to Switzerland didn't include 8 Munich players, the Holland team that lost to Bulgria had players like Robben on the bench, and players that did play such as Van Der Vaart came off.

We'll struggle.

[FoxesFan123]

They haven't been mentioned much (as much as lampard, Barry) but I think the two players we are massively missing and could take us to the next level are Kyle Walker and Jack Wilshere

[Matt]

So many of the 'fans' in the crowd were more preoccupied with making paper planes out of the cards given out to hold up to make the flag and generally, talking, going to the bogs / kiosk... In fact pretty much anything apart from watching the game.

In fact you wouldn't have even realised the second half had started with half of the crowd still out of their seats and most of the rest looking at their mobiles... chatting... etc etc.

Welcome to the modern day fan, the family atmosphere, I all for getting familys in, I all for getting kids involved, aslong as they are interested - They are the future fans and although I am seeming to blame kids and families in what i've just said no doubt there were adults on there own doing these things aswell, but the amount of the stuff you have decribes goes on a Leicester games does my head in, I forget how many times I have to get up and down during a game for people going toilet - And it's the same people, who can't hold their ale or their kids have had too much pop, or the kids are just simply bored, There is even a girl who sits near me who has a season ticket with her parents who takes a bloody book to the games and reads it throughout the match, every match.

The modern fan

[Turtles Head]

Adam Johnson, not Charlie Adam

[Milton Keynes Fox]

Simple rules in football:

If you don't concede..you don't lose; have we conceded? no.

If you don't take your chances...you don't win; have we taken our chances? yes.

Whether its boring or swansea football; we have a strong defence and we take our chances, this is the way to leading to a good tournament.

[Tielemans63]

Skysports are reporting that Cahill might well have broken his jaw.

[Webbo]

Under the circumstances, short preparation time, lots of injuries, no easy games, negative tactics are probably the best idea.

I'd be more worried in the next qualifying competition when we need big wins against minnows.