Match Day Thread England vs Russia 8pm 11th June

So will the FA be punished because of this? Whenever croatian hooligans do something anywhere, UEFA jumps at a chance to dock us points, give us a fine or a crowd ban, like the two match ban we got for the next qualifying cycle.

 

Quote from the Russian Sports Minister...

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Why should the FA be punished for the behaviour of Russian hooligans and French police? I expect they will though.

 

Only if he is on the list. Les said that we know who we want and won't be swayed by good/bad performances at this tournament. Mind you all plans are in the air at the moment.

 

Pretty much my thoughts. England played really well overall and were very unlucky not to win. As above i didnt agree with Roy taking Rooney off as he was running the game + Vardy for Kane after 70 mins would ahae been my choice. If they play this well on Thurs we should beat Wales but ........ !

 

Horrible stuff.

 

We were very good apart from first few minutes in each half. Once settled, only one team in it. It was a bit like Saints at times, all the play but just not the right bounce, deflection or whatever for it to hit the back of the net, followed by a sucker punch.

 

I've often said that watching England is like watching saints for those very reasons.

 

We need someone - Kane, Vardy, Sturridge? - to step up and be our Michael Owen or Alan Shearer.

 

Have no problem with Rooney coming off. He played well in the first half but Russia were starting to close him down in the second instead of giving all the time he could ever need. Our slick passing and fast moving of the ball faded away. Overall it was a good performance, and if it wasn't for the sucker punch, we'd all be happy today. On another day we win that 3-0 and I remain confident.

 

I'm sure these were just local pro-Russian rebels.

 

Right, I've thought about it, I know you've all said this already. The team selection was about right and although it took a while to get the goal, things had gone ok. Then the tactical naivety from someone who has been a manager for 120 years was amazing, as if he'd never played against a deep lying defensive team before. There were about 5 possible subs (I'd have done Vardy and Rashford/Sturridge for Kane and Sterling, but whatever), and he did the worst possible one. Obvious in hindsight maybe, but that's what he's paid to work out. Sunday sports papers rightly not happy. Anyway, it probably won't matter too much.

 

Just glad those on here who were saying he shouldn't be in the team aren't football team selectors!

 

I have always been a Rooney apologist. He is 100% England, but has had to do too much....he can't be all things, all the time. His misfortune was to be in a rather weak England team...he was our best player for years, but was rarely allowed to shine because he was doing the hod carrying.

 

Security is being stepped up for the Wales/England game because the Russia game precedes it and is only 30 mins away.

At first I thought the extra security was to stop those wild Welshies from attacking us with their tuneful singing....but apparently not.

 

And a big plus is when the Welsh are singing, we don't have a clue what they are singing about so its just a nice tune

 

Quite right, too (on both tweets).

 

Sterling really frustrates me. So many times he gets into a good position and feels the need to try to beat one more defender... resulting in either losing the ball, or losing the good oppourtunity becuase Russian defence got back in position.

 

In Sterling's defence, he never hid, or disappeared from the game. He just wasn't good enough.
Lallana, on the other hand, had a good first 45 minutes, but just didn't get involved throughout the second half. I think this also impacted on Walker's game. First half he was playing more as a winger, than a full back, and looked good, but because Lallana wasn't getting on the ball, as much in the second half as he was in the first, Walker's attacking threat diminished, making us more narrow to defend against.