Really? For an opening game, that was on par with most of the others. This is especially the case when the "better 2" teams of a group play each other, because as long as they avoid defeat against the other they are most likely going to go through.
You admire the fight, but realise they aren't a very good side. Maybe you should try a cheeky punt next time tewkes!
Yes Super - I've been ribbed all day at work about saying it was going to be 1-1 - I shall be in nice and early tomorrow to do some heavy duty gloating. Solid, professional performance IMO. Precious few exciting moments it has to be said, but no real scares either. My England MoM was Scotty Parker - that full-body block that left him on his knees, gasping, summed up his dedication to the cause perfectly. My MoM for France was Mexes, completely unobtrusive and quietly dominant at the back. When Hodgson has a full deck at his disposal, I'm sure this is going to be a very interesting period in the national game. Next...
The more I watch the more relieved I am that Scotland aren't playing, since most teams here would run up a cricket score against us,
Doesn't bear thinking about Bill. ROI are by far the best "home" nation (I know, I know.......) but even they looked second frate yesterday. The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish would have taken a pasting from any of the teams I've seen so far except Greece..
Shevchenko masterclass in finishing tonight, the movement for the second goal was astonishing. Thirty-five he may be, but he looks fit as a butcher's dog and twice as canny. Also hard to believe that Voronin was the same player who lumbered round the field so ineffectively for Liverpool, looks as if he's lost a lot of weight since then. Sweden collectively underachieved, but it might have been different if Wilhelmson had been brought on sooner, looked a completely different class.
Just read on the news that the England supporters band got banned from playing last night. I noticed the fact that they weren't playing on telly but assumed that they just hadn't made the trip. Without wanting to sound like Victor Meldrew, I have to say it was a positive joy to watch an Englnd game without having to listen to the f@@@@g Dambusters and all that tosh! Now where's my bovril.......
The Ukraine beating Sweden was/is a bad result for us. The Swedes will be busting a gut to get maximum points against us, whereas the Ukrainians know they qualify if they beat us. How will the team react to the white-hot atmosphere of partizan Kiev?
The result in the other game doesn't really change anything. We likely needed to win one and draw one of our games to go through regardless. You can talk about motivation and teams wanting to win more, but when it comes down to it, Sweden as the second game was always going to be meaningful, and Ukraine as the host nation would always want to win their game, if it mattered or not.
I have been watching England for more than sixty years, and am quite enjoying supporting the "no-hopers" and plucky underdogs for a change. In sixty-odd years I can never remember such a threadbare England squad. Some players over the hill or still getting over injuries. Others who have had every chance and have consistently failed to perform, some who are promising but nowhere near ready. Usually there are six or seven automatic picks and for the other places there are two, three, four or more players all with good claims. This time Hodgson must have asked "Who has an English grandparent, owns a pair of football boots and hasn't already booked the family holidays in June." Now I know what it is like supporting the other Home Nations. Many didn't want Hodgson, but he has already achieved things none of his predecessors in a generation achieved, winning in Norway and drawing with France. I expect us to scrape a win against Sweden. Ukraine will be a different matter but maybe a rested Rooney will see us through. We might only need a draw to progress.
You make good points, Ryan, but I feel the dynamics of the group have gone against us as a result of last night. A draw would have been the best outcome from Sweden/Ukraine. Ukraine now have a get-out-of-jail card to play should they lose to France. It will make winning in Kiev so much harder. Anyone watch the Greece/Czech match? A bit low on quality, methinks. I like the look of Selassie, though.
Good to see Greece lose. Makes it very hard for them to go through now, meaning the knockout stages are going to be that slight bit better. If I was a betting man, I wouldn't be against sticking a few quid on Poland to beat Russia in an upset tonight.
I thought to myself - "it's not raining, not much is going to happen in this one, I'll pick it up late second half and have a bike ride instead" - missed all three goals. Agreed Ponders, Selassie looks completely unhurried and totally unflappable, sticks very tight to his man as well - classy player.
Thread bare squad alright. All we need now is the red kit and Parky in charge and it'll be just like a pre season match at the Valley
Would that be in the football or the ruck that's been going on in Warsaw today, Ryan? Right nasty stuff, apparently. On the field, I feel it's going to be closer than Russia's first game, but still a two goal win.
Good call Ryan, and with a bit better finishing that would have been the right result. The Polish goal was right out of the top drawer.
I'm just glad I didn't put the bet on, would have felt awful right about now. Poland the better team on the whole. My dad went and put a bet on Russia despite me saying it was a bad idea >_> As for tomorrow, can see Denmark Portugal being the better match, and can once again see the Danes taking at least a point. Wouldn't like to predict Holland Germany score though.
