England v Croatia

[Daxter]

Indeed, we may or may not have found the key to England becoming succesful, but instead of seeing how it pans out with this side for a bit you'd rather just go back to the way it was before with Stevie Me?

Highlights are free on Setanta in a bit, not that you're arsed Dax, you weren't bothered about watching England four hours ago.

Ah, don't have Setanta so will have to catch the highlights on youtube. And you're completely correct Tom, I'm not going to be fickle enough to change my view on the basis of one performance. Still, I'd like to see the goals etc, and Theo's star turn in particular.

[CAPSLOCK]

Its on free Setanta

I guess that means if you have a decoder you can see it

[hisroyalgingerness]

Some shockin scores out there tonight...

Finland 3 - 3 Germany

Portugal 2 - 2 Denmark

Switzerland 1 - 2 Luxembourg

Some German's in't bar I were in when it flashed up 3-2 Finland. No other feck* knew what I meant by "jussi, jussi, jussi"

[communistworkethic]

Not only has that snivelling tw*t Carragher played his last game, Gerrard should be nowhere near the next team, either

Can only be good news

Yes of course, we cant let a world class player such as Gerrard be in the team before people like Jermaine Jenas, David Beckham or Gareth Barry.

Only Barry started

We've set out to pick a team tonight, not a collection of the best players

Thatys why Heskey is in

The mix worked

Is it too difficult for you to grasp?

They didnt start but they played a part in the game.

Is it too difficult for me to grasp?? No i agree the mix worked, but why on earth do you not want to play your best players when they're available!!
Oh well, Capello will put him back in the team when he's back to full fitness!! And that's why he's the manager and your not!!

so what bit of us putting out our "best players" and them being unable to form a team that can win has eluded you? A team isn't about the strength of the individuals but the sum of its parts.

[BwfcDan]

Not only has that snivelling tw*t Carragher played his last game, Gerrard should be nowhere near the next team, either

Can only be good news

Yes of course, we cant let a world class player such as Gerrard be in the team before people like Jermaine Jenas, David Beckham or Gareth Barry.

Only Barry started

We've set out to pick a team tonight, not a collection of the best players

Thatys why Heskey is in

The mix worked

Is it too difficult for you to grasp?

They didnt start but they played a part in the game.

Is it too difficult for me to grasp?? No i agree the mix worked, but why on earth do you not want to play your best players when they're available!!
Oh well, Capello will put him back in the team when he's back to full fitness!! And that's why he's the manager and your not!!

Because it's all about the team

Are you completely numb?

It is about the team, but the team wont improve when your playing players such as Jermaine Jenas instead of Steven Gerrard.

[hisroyalgingerness]

Have we found the key to England's success I hear you say? Does it come in the form of a Mr Emile Heskey. I struggle to name someone else who was in that England XI in Munich and in Zagreb, but I was drunk that night.

It was a great result. The second half performance was superb, the first we definitely looked like pretenders. Far too many mistakes and failed to impose. The sending off was crucial, though their no 3 should've been off long before - his check on Rooney worthy of a second yellow.

As has been noted Rooney was outstanding for the 2nd goal, and for Theo's hat-trick goal. No wonder Capello wanted him further forward

Article by that fat get Samuel in th'Times weren't far wrong. Says players will follow owt, if it wins. Mourinho's ideas on paper sound weird, but cos he won he was followed blindly. Capello now after winning, is more likely for these numpty's to listen to him

[communistworkethic]

Yes of course, we cant let a world class player such as Gerrard be in the team before people like Jermaine Jenas, David Beckham or Gareth Barry.

Only Barry started

We've set out to pick a team tonight, not a collection of the best players

Thatys why Heskey is in

The mix worked

Is it too difficult for you to grasp?

They didnt start but they played a part in the game.

Is it too difficult for me to grasp?? No i agree the mix worked, but why on earth do you not want to play your best players when they're available!!
Oh well, Capello will put him back in the team when he's back to full fitness!! And that's why he's the manager and your not!!

Because it's all about the team

Are you completely numb?

It is about the team, but the team wont improve when your playing players such as Jermaine Jenas instead of Steven Gerrard.

or emile heskey instead of michael owen??

[minibus]

People who make comparisons with Germany '01 as if it's a bad thing baffle me, i'd be quite happy with qualifying and reaching the QF stage.

That was supposed to mark the coming of age of the golden generation. In the end, they only ever flattered to deceive. For instance, limping out of the World Cup in the style they did, even if it was against Brazil in the QF (who were a man down for over half an hour, mind), was unacceptable. Maybe the fact that's acceptable to some is why England aren't ever winners?

That said, tonight's result was cracking! Hopefully they can keep up the good work.

Going out to the eventual winners via a fluke goal is unacceptable? Christ. Maybe it's the hugely unrealistic expectations that are the reason behind our underperformance?

Ronaldinho's free kick aside (which I personally reckon was intentional), it was the manner of losing that was unacceptable. Over half an hour against ten men after Brazil's key man got sent off, and England never once looked like pulling that goal back, they just whimpered out of the tournament.

When it mattered, they weren't good enough: didn't have the technique, didn't have the invention, didn't have the winning mentality. Hopefully, this result could be the start of something good for England, but we've seen it all before.

The day winning the World Cup is considered a hugely unrealistic expectation for England, we might as well pack up the national team and all go home.

[Prufrock]

People who make comparisons with Germany '01 as if it's a bad thing baffle me, i'd be quite happy with qualifying and reaching the QF stage.

That was supposed to mark the coming of age of the golden generation. In the end, they only ever flattered to deceive. For instance, limping out of the World Cup in the style they did, even if it was against Brazil in the QF (who were a man down for over half an hour, mind), was unacceptable. Maybe the fact that's acceptable to some is why England aren't ever winners?

That said, tonight's result was cracking! Hopefully they can keep up the good work.

Going out to the eventual winners via a fluke goal is unacceptable? Christ. Maybe it's the hugely unrealistic expectations that are the reason behind our underperformance?

Ronaldinho's free kick aside (which I personally reckon was intentional), it was the manner of losing that was unacceptable. Over half an hour against ten men after Brazil's key man got sent off, and England never once looked like pulling that goal back, they just whimpered out of the tournament.

When it mattered, they weren't good enough: didn't have the technique, didn't have the invention, didn't have the winning mentality. Hopefully, this result could be the start of something good for England, but we've seen it all before.

The day winning the World Cup is considered a hugely unrealistic expectation for England, we might as well pack up the national team and all go home.

I agree entirely. Surely if we REALLY REALLY want to win, we will???

[Soldier_Of_The_White_Army]

Only Barry started

We've set out to pick a team tonight, not a collection of the best players

Thatys why Heskey is in

The mix worked

Is it too difficult for you to grasp?

They didnt start but they played a part in the game.

Is it too difficult for me to grasp?? No i agree the mix worked, but why on earth do you not want to play your best players when they're available!!
Oh well, Capello will put him back in the team when he's back to full fitness!! And that's why he's the manager and your not!!

Because it's all about the team

Are you completely numb?

It is about the team, but the team wont improve when your playing players such as Jermaine Jenas instead of Steven Gerrard.

or emile heskey instead of michael owen??

I'm no fan of Jenus, but was happy to see the 'Downing must ALWAYS play on the left after Cole, no matter what' plan take a nose dive. His face must have been a picture when he saw Jenus getting ready to replace Cole instead of him.

Actually thought Jenus did a fair job on the flank too. Nicely setting up Rooney for Englands third.

[bw@bw]

Not only has that snivelling tw*t Carragher played his last game, Gerrard should be nowhere near the next team, either

Can only be good news

Yes of course, we cant let a world class player such as Gerrard be in the team before people like Jermaine Jenas, David Beckham or Gareth Barry.

Only Barry started

We've set out to pick a team tonight, not a collection of the best players

Thatys why Heskey is in

The mix worked

Is it too difficult for you to grasp?

They didnt start but they played a part in the game.

Is it too difficult for me to grasp?? No i agree the mix worked, but why on earth do you not want to play your best players when they're available!!
Oh well, Capello will put him back in the team when he's back to full fitness!! And that's why he's the manager and your not!!

Because they are too big headed to do the job that the team requires- and too jealous to let other players have their moments of glory.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

People who make comparisons with Germany '01 as if it's a bad thing baffle me, i'd be quite happy with qualifying and reaching the QF stage.

That was supposed to mark the coming of age of the golden generation. In the end, they only ever flattered to deceive. For instance, limping out of the World Cup in the style they did, even if it was against Brazil in the QF (who were a man down for over half an hour, mind), was unacceptable. Maybe the fact that's acceptable to some is why England aren't ever winners?

That said, tonight's result was cracking! Hopefully they can keep up the good work.

Going out to the eventual winners via a fluke goal is unacceptable? Christ. Maybe it's the hugely unrealistic expectations that are the reason behind our underperformance?

We stopped playing after five minutes, thinking we'd already won the tournament. Even after Ronaldinho was sent off there was a distinct lack of tempo and even less belief. How much you can attribute that to the humidity is open to debate (I was in Osaka for the Nigeria match and knew how stifling that was, and it was even hotter and more humid in Shizuoka). But suggesting that we didn't perform against a disappointing Brazil side there to beat is a "hugely unrealistic expectation" is a bit far on the fan bashing stakes. And I love a bit of England fan bashing (metophorically, of course).

[BWFC_Wyles]

They were fantastic last night! After the 20minute pressure that Croatia were always going to put us under from the start, we were brilliant!

Walcott & Rooney especially! Lampard's goal was proof that they can actually play football and it was a great goal....shame it was disallowed!

[BWFC_Insane]

Not only has that snivelling tw*t Carragher played his last game, Gerrard should be nowhere near the next team, either

Can only be good news

Yes of course, we cant let a world class player such as Gerrard be in the team before people like Jermaine Jenas, David Beckham or Gareth Barry.

Only Barry started

We've set out to pick a team tonight, not a collection of the best players

Thatys why Heskey is in

The mix worked

Is it too difficult for you to grasp?

They didnt start but they played a part in the game.

Is it too difficult for me to grasp?? No i agree the mix worked, but why on earth do you not want to play your best players when they're available!!
Oh well, Capello will put him back in the team when he's back to full fitness!! And that's why he's the manager and your not!!

Caps is spot on, for once we had a balanced team.

The midfield worked with Lampard and Barry and pace on the right.

Heskey provided a target.

For once we had a TEAM rather than a collection of individuals.

Anyone who wants to put Gerrard back in is either blind, stupid or both!

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

I'd take Gerrard over Lampard. This was Lampard's first good performance for England since Euro 2004.

[BWFC_Wyles]

Just because Gerrard puts in 100% effort for his beloved Reds, I've not seen him do that for England for God knows how long!!! He definitely does not deserve to go straight back in after the performance of our midfield last night!

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

You can only pick teams on form, I know. But it's inevitable that Lampard is going to become as anonymous in an England shirt as he has been for the past four years. Lampard's got to prove that last night wasn't just a temporary response to stick he's been getting.

And I don't prefer Gerrard because of his effort. That's kid's stuff. I prefer him because he looks more likely to create and score for England than Lampard, and he is more versatile.

[BWFC_Insane]

You can only pick teams on form, I know. But it's inevitable that Lampard is going to become as anonymous in an England shirt as he has been for the past four years. Lampard's got to prove that last night wasn't just a temporary response to stick he's been getting.

And I don't prefer Gerrard because of his effort. That's kid's stuff. I prefer him because he looks more likely to create and score for England than Lampard, and he is more versatile.

How many good games has Gerrard had?

When was Englands last good performance with Gerrard in midfield?

[BWFC_Wyles]

You can only pick teams on form, I know. But it's inevitable that Lampard is going to become as anonymous in an England shirt as he has been for the past four years. Lampard's got to prove that last night wasn't just a temporary response to stick he's been getting.

And I don't prefer Gerrard because of his effort. That's kid's stuff. I prefer him because he looks more likely to create and score for England than Lampard, and he is more versatile.

How many good games has Gerrard had?

When was Englands last good performance with Gerrard in midfield?

My point exactly BWFCI!! I'd like someone to find this info!

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

You can only pick teams on form, I know. But it's inevitable that Lampard is going to become as anonymous in an England shirt as he has been for the past four years. Lampard's got to prove that last night wasn't just a temporary response to stick he's been getting.

And I don't prefer Gerrard because of his effort. That's kid's stuff. I prefer him because he looks more likely to create and score for England than Lampard, and he is more versatile.

How many good games has Gerrard had?

When was Englands last good performance with Gerrard in midfield?

Beating Russia 3-0 last September. Beating Isreal 3-0 four days earlier.