England v Italy 2300BST

Of course Rooney isn't **** [and I don't have my swear filter on, so ta for keeping it sweet], but we really do have to stop expecting him to be an automatic choice. Granted Rooney has immense tournament experience, which I think is why Hodgson left him on. But he hasn't learned much from his experience, so don't be afraid to leave him out. There are other players who will step up.

And yes, Lambert could have had at least 15 minutes, I feel. If Pirlo can stroll through a game, Rickie can too.

 

I watch a lot of Man U games (unfortunately.... my step dad is a Man U fan) and it's clear that he is ridiculously inconsistent. When he's good, he's very good but when he's not good, he's absolutely terrible. He goes through a patch of scoring three or four goals in consecutive games then he's terrible for weeks afterwards, before going through another patch of scoring. I agree he shouldn't be an automatic choice. No-one in the England team should be, except possibly the goalkeeper. The fact is though, if he's not suspended or injured he is 100% certain to start. There is not even the slightest bit of doubt about that. It is an indisputable fact.

 

And that's where England go wrong with Rooney. It would actually do him good if he was dropped occasionally. He wouldn't feel like he is the talisman then, which is something he is not capable of being.

 

I think it's time to drop Rooney. If Sterling continues at 10 (as he should judging by today), Lallana, Ox and even Barkley all offer more from the wide position.

 

I didn't think y'all did that bad. You lacked a finishing touch and Italy perhaps controlled more of the game, but then... no offense but Italy's a better team. You could have snuck a draw and I've seen teams get dominated much worse and still win.

A win would have been fantastic, but Uruguay lost and looked absolutely terrible, so you can win the next two and get in.

 

I disagree, I don't think Italy are the better team. I think the two teams are very even. We lacked killer instinct in front of goal and defended poorly.

 

That's what makes Italy the better team! I thought Italy in the end edged it and deserved the win but agree that the match was fairly even.

 

We just werent clinical enough. You have to take your chances.

 

Italy shaded it, but it wouldn't have been a bad reflection on the game if it had ended up as a draw. With the exception of the pass that made the goal, Rooney was largely anonymous. Sturridge was far better. Also a bit disappointed that Lala didn't start. I got a bit annoyed with the Oles coming from the crowd when Italy were passing it around. Were the "neutral" supporters cheering for Italy?

With Costa Rica beating Uruguay, our next match is going to be a blood-and-thunder affair with two teams attacking each other. If we lose and Italy and Costa Rica draw, we're back on the plane home!

Here's another question for you: If J-Rod hadn't been injured, would he have gotten into the squad, and if so, who would have been dropped for him?

 

Neutrals def favoured the Italians.

 

I'm strangely buoyed by what I saw last night. It was a pretty fine all round performance, only lacking a more clinical edge to our finishing. It would be wrong to nit-pick other than one crucial area; Rooney does not have what it takes to do a job for the team (any team) and continues to drift to wherever he perceives is the right place for him. On that basis alone, he isn't worthy of a starting berth for me.

 

Im more positive then I have been after watching us yesterday. If we had been more clinical and taken the number of good chances we had we would have won. Uruguay and Costa Rica won't be as strong defensively and I think we will get the wins in both now. Uruguay have to attack us which will suit our style and I personally think Costa Rica just exposed a truly poor Uruguay performance in the second half rather than showing a statement of intent.

 

I thought Rooney had a decent goal. I thought gerrard was anonymous. Italy were able to pass through us with ease. Too much space between our midfield and defence.

 

Agree with it all

In my eyes Rooney has always been a selfish player. It was acceptable when he put in those performances where he covered every blade of grass and looked to make England tick. Now he doesn't do that and the moments of genuine quality are becoming fewer and fewer in games.

It won't happen but Lambert has to start because he makes everyone else around him better players and earns them the space to be able open up defences. Yes Rooney is a more talented player, but he is dangerously out of form and low on confidence.

 

The highest score I'd give any England player would be 7, for both Sterling & Jagielka. The rest 6 and 5.

Even Sterling faded badly in the 2nd half.

Skimmed through a couple of Italian reports and I think they are reporting it more accurately than the British Media. Generally a comfortable win for Italy against an England team that ran out of steam & ideas.

 

As the England cricket team have demonstrated, this can be a really good motivator. Rooney coming back with a point to prove would be very different from Rooney playing knowing he'll be in the team next match no matter what.

Also, why when I drink vodka do I always wake up early. S'not fair or logical.

 

Not sure why that would be. Since Pereira got suspended they are left with no threat whatsoever on the flanks. They were playing Stuani, who is a 6 ft 1 striker, on the right yesterday and he was no threat at all. All the pace on that side came from Pereira. Now they can either play a centre back there, like they did with Caceres at left-back yesterday, or they have a couple of midfielders who are capable of playing there but who can't defend properly.

We'll throw all our pace down the flanks and destroy them.

If Rooney was going to be dropped for any game it would have been the Italy one. The next two games are much more suited to him.

 

I still believe we will qualify. Italy have been the best defensively so far this World Cup. Uruguay Costa Rica both looked dodgy in defence like England. I can see some high scoring games coming.

 

Thought that this was amusing: https://twitter.com/UnivisionSports/status/477993943330594817/photo/1

 

Got rid of your red for you!