2-1 Sturridge. Wales can't say it wasn't coming, but there weren't that many good chances. Sickener for the losing side, but they can still go through or even win the group.
Woy has got out of jail. I don't think there is enough creative/incisive MF talent in the squad for the KO stage.
Sort of a reverse of what happened in the first games, in many ways. England made positive subs and Wales tried to protect a result.
IMHO Sterling is out of the starting XI for whatever games remain now. He is nowhere near his form of 2013-14.
Pundits giving all the praise to Sturridge but it was Alli's flick to him under great pressure that made the goal. He hasn't had a single mention.
England won an upper mid table PL clash effectively. We didn't learn much from that, but the second half did perhaps highlight how England should play to the players' strengths - pace, energy, running. We are never going to outplay teams with superior skill and technical ability, but we can put them under pressure by playing at a high tempo, running at them directly with pace and by getting numbers in the box. The defence is certain to concede at least one goal per game so place the focus on attacking.
Deserved victory and delighted that Vardy and Sturridge both scored as it hopefully means Harry will get a well-deserved rest for the Slovakia game and perhaps beyond that too. He doesn't strike me as the type whose confidence will be affected by being hooked at half time so the less he plays the better as far as I'm concerned. Bottom line is the lack of true quality or any semblance of tactics/strategy/playing style is painfully obvious for all and sundry to see. That second half relied on the fact that Wales have got a good front line and solid defence but very little in between other than a decent Joe Allen and a tw@t with yellow hair. The reality is that England would be an excellent team in a school playground but when we come up against a team with true talent we will be picked off as per usual.
Yes, absolutely right, we must play to our strengths. It's not like we're playing in 100 degrees with 90% humidity as is the case in some tournaments.
The only consistent good thing to date has been the attacking threat of Rose and Walker. CM really must raise its game if the usual KO stage exit is not to come.
