Such a shame we couldn't win but a draw should be OK, but we need to play good against the Sweden and Ukraine and win both.
I think it was because of the way that France put pressure on us that Young could not play as well, Welbeck and Ox did struggle a bit but played well, Gerrard was man of the match, I think Parker done well to get behind the ball. The way France marked Ox made it so tough for him but he tried so hard and should start the next game, I think Welbeck would have scored if it was not against France is was frustrating for them.
Yeah but how we played we showed we can be strong and we look harder to beat as France threw a lot at us but did not get much out of it, Hart deserves a lot of credit for his work. I also think Johnson worked really hard at the back and going forward.
Decent team performance, pretty much even but we got nothing from a ****ing woeful referee. Either we're better than people think (likely) or France are nothing special based on that game.
Have the English journalists got over excited now and are telling you England will win the tournament with no real opposition?
roy got his starting 11 wrong and his subs, the ref was utter ****, and to be fair so was englands performance going forward,good defensive performance but going forward we were awful one shot on target actually at one point the french keeper was sitting playing a game of boogle, certain england players were struggling, after 60 mins, ox,young,parker - but he made his subs 9 mins from the end and 2 mins from the end.
We will have to step up greatly on that poor effort even to qualify - we had very little ambition to go forward against a French team that looked quite weak defensively when we did get down their end. English players do not like to play at a snail's pace - better to die with your boots on than play like timid mice.
Defensively ok but always looked like if France could be arsed they would get through easy. In attack we were erm.......well theres nothing to say, never created **** all bar the one Milner chance. Scored from a freekick that was retaken, something we wont get often. Toothless attack. Players were expecting fouls instead of playing on just incase nothing was given and we gave the ball away constantly. 4/10 for England 6/10 France, poor game overall.
England about what you might expect, maybe even worse, at least in the second half--still, got the point they needed. France very good at closing England down,hardly let England keep the ball for a moment the second half. But England so negatively solid and France so dodgy defensively that the good chances were about even. Both sides will be figuring they can get the win and draw they need to go through.
Guys Come on!! Playing a France team that havent lost in god knows how long, with god knows how many players injured, and god knows how little preparation, and coming away with a draw is a good result! Its not for this thread for me to mention that they couldnt go near a french player without them falling over and the ref giving a free kick, and that france knew they could do pretty much anything short of karate kicking somebody in the face without getting a yellow card, and a draw is a damn good result! This is a team nobody expects to get out of the group, playing a very good team in top form. In the words of Mike Bassett - Cant you say something positive for a change?!
Exactly, I think for some people England can do no right. They go on about how they expect nothing before the game and then we put in a commendable performance, one where you couldn't say we didn't deserve it if we'd won, and get a result and they still moan.
We were far too scared of the French. Yes they are good going forward, but Diarra and Cabaye are hardly world class, Malouda hasn't been top quality for ages and they were all over the place at the back. A more attacking line up and a quality passer in midfield (Carrick?!) and we could have matched them. Instead we have to make it as difficult as possible for ourselves by refusing to attempt to control possession, something we were capable of (maybe not with that line up).
