stealthpapes This is a masterclass in goalpost shifting.

Some of the WUMs from AE need to take notes. It's a superb effort on your part.

I take a bow. I am genuinely pleased that you saw and appreciated the effort made.

I'm all for laughing at the French cocking up. But the fact is their recent 'miserable failure' is as good our typical achievement. They've won the Euros more than us. They've won the World Cup more than us. Lets not get too cocky, because really, the joke's on us. More recently than us, yeah. And ...

Right. France are indubitably better at converting quarter-final appearances into wins than England over time, but that's about it. In every other measure, England has the best of it. Getting to the tournament in the first place: England Getting out of their group: England Beating and scoring more g...

agreed on the clubs, but that wasn't your point. look at the tournament wins, finals and semi finals. It really is no contest. You have to take the whole thing holistically. The tournament appearances as a whole (that's a shocking number of times the French have been knocked out early and not quali...

If it was today? With England already through and France facing a tricky play-off to even make the tournament? The smart money would all be on England. Really? You see, I can imagine France winning a major competition. I don't think they will win the next World Cup, but I would not be totally shock...

England vs France, overall record: Head-to-Head Record Played 29, England won 16 , 5 draws, France won 8. England 58 goals, France 34 World Cups England 13 appearances since 1950 France 13 appearances since 1930 England 1 win France 1 win France 1 runners-up England 0 runners-up England 3 first stag...

They've failed to get out of their group in two of the last three tournaments, and they may not even qualify for this one (they certainly made a big pigs ear of the last time they were in the play-offs). England have failed to get out of their group only three times in their history - The 2000 and ...

They've failed to get out of their group in two of the last three tournaments, and they may not even qualify for this one (they certainly made a big pigs ear of the last time they were in the play-offs). England have failed to get out of their group only three times in their history - The 2000 and 1...

I would love it, love it if Ukraine beat France. +1 For all the criticism England get, it would be good to see England benchmarked against France a little more. For a supposedly big player on the international stage they've been pretty woeful in recent years. They got knocked out of Euro 2012 after...

Green Will be cracking open the Brennivín big time if Iceland make it.

I for one would encourage Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson to give his countrymen a national holiday in celebration if they make it.

I would love it, love it if Ukraine beat France. +1 For all the criticism England get, it would be good to see England benchmarked against France a little more. For a supposedly big player on the international stage they've been pretty woeful in recent years. They got knocked out of Euro 2012 after...

soggy biscuit Sweden, Romania, France, Croatia

Head: Portugal, Greece, France, Croatia

Heart: Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, Iceland

Came a cropper? You make it sound like we were under cooked and outplayed by them. The reality is of course that we probably should've beat them with 10 men for 60 minutes and then yet again went out on penalties. The point I'm making -- which should be rather obvious -- is that if we'd have faced ...

Reading all the silliness over the Roy Hodgson 'monkey-gate' drama today, it occurred to me that, despite being actively interested in football since around 1982, I have never seen or heard an actual half-time talk that was delivered in any professional game. I've never seen or heard a video or audi...

I think a harder draw is possibly a good thing. I'd argue the 2010 EASY group, itself after an incredibly easy ride to finals, was not the best preparation for a second round match-up against Germany. Similarly in 2006, when we had a ludicrously easy route to the quarter finals, we came a cropper as...

So far its: Brazil Belgium Germany Italy Netherlands Switzerland England Spain Russia Bosnia-Hercegovina Argentina Colombia Ecuador Chile Australia Iran Japan South Korea Costa Rica United States Honduras 21 teams through. To follow we have four more from Europe, five more from Africa, and two from ...

Two late goals for the USA, and Mexico are off to New Zealand

late goal for Panama against the USA puts them 2-1. Mexico LOSING YET AGAIN means as it stands they are going out without even a trip to New Zealand for the play-offs, on goals scored.

genome Competitive results under Hodgson:

DWWLWDWDWDWDW

Look at the pattern. Omen's not good for 3 points on Tuesday.

Because football results always follow trivial little patterns