Euro 2012 - Group Stages

[Franchise FC]

That was so humiliating I actually feel sorry for the Irish. Nobody deserves to have to see their nation humbled like that.

I think you'll find this was only the football team

The nation probably finds the economic intubation more humiliating

And that's one sport where Spain and Ireland are not so far apart.

[Bumblebee]

I'm certain that Welbeck meant that. Just look at the way his head turns with the ball - he's following it all the way.

[Uke]

Welbeck's goal was absolute CLASS. What a way to notch the winner.

I've seen and indeed done those flicks with the instep but to slot it with the back of the heel? Superb.

I will now claim that any goals I scored which people thought had bounced off my arse into the goal were deliberate, due to my instinctive self awareness and confident body positioning.

I'm certain that Welbeck meant that. Just look at the way his head turns with the ball - he's following it all the way.

The fact that while scoring the above goals I was watching the ball while appearing to say "WTF" was in fact me saying "Watch That Go!"


The post goal celebrations remain the same

[Franchise FC]

I'm certain that Welbeck meant that. Just look at the way his head turns with the ball - he's following it all the way.

+1 from the Franchise jury - we all think he meant it, and it any of the 'name' players had done it, we wouldn't hear the end of it

[Zaretsky]

Welbeck definitely meant it - he aims to get as much on it as possible and manages to get it right. He certainly wasn't trying to control it.

Whilst I'd be the first to lament the lack of technical quality and the composure needed to hold onto the ball in the English game, you don't make a great team and change a whole culture of football in a tournament. It's basically a series of one-off games where surprising things happen. It's not a whole season where teams are really shown for what they are. England have a good chance to win the group and advance and it's a nice to have no expectations based on delusions of our own self-importance.

FWIW Although Spain are favourites, I really don't think they're going to win this tournament.

[pea]

If you watch these players training they're always trying to score goals like that, you get players trying it at all levels but rarely as precise as Wellbeck's last night.

[Uke]

Just watched it again,

He's trying to get his instep on it but it clips his heel

Nice goal, right place, massive importance

But deliberately off his heel? No way!

This is becoming the most famous heel since Achilles'

[Archie's penalty]

Just watched it again,

He's trying to get his instep on it but it clips his heel

Nice goal, right place, massive importance

But deliberately off his heel? No way!

This is becoming the most famous heel since Achilles'

I think Wellbeck is a pile of oxf*rd and does not deserve all the praise he is getting. Only good England players Gerrard,Hart, Parker and Walcott.

[Ian Royal]

England have the player's to justify their world ranking. Even a mediocre injury hit England side is in the pack of 5 or 6 teams behind the best couple at the tournament in terms of potential performance.

The first half an hour against France was about the best I've seen England play in years. The first half against Sweden was also good as was the 20 minutes after England went behind. If they could play like that for something approaching 90 minutes, and had a clue how to play when they were 1 goal up they'd have a fair chance of actually making the Final.

The problem is wholely mental. The reason I'm so pissed off with them is because the way both games so far were going, we should have won both comfortably and be through on 6 points already. But in both we go ahead and press the self distruct button gifting possession to the opposition and sitting deeper and deeper. Both games had been played mainly in the middle third up until England were winning. After teh goal against France and in the second half against Sweden we were suddenly playing exclusively in our third and looking absolutely clueless and desperate.

Not. Good. Enough.

I don't expect us to beat every team, or play brilliantly. I do expect us to do the basics right and force teams to play well to get through us.

[Avon Royal]

Pathetic, just pathetic. An absolute disgrace.

Some particularly over the top nonsense from Avon Royal and Ian Royal on this thread.

Er, it was pathetic and a disgrace to give away the lead like that. The players and Roy have admitted as much. They went on to redeem themselves and should be credited for doing so. Doesn't mean that the performance at the start of the 2nd half wasn't appalling.

[Tredder]

Hodgson has done very well with what he has, but one critisism, James Milner, i don't get it, i really don't get it, Adam Johnson must be scratching his head in disbelief, and Ashley Young, his form for United towards the end of the season, was dire, his England form has been similar, last nights game was crying out for pace, Walcott and the Ox should have come on earlier, that said, Walcott coming on, had the desired effect.

I agree with RR to a degree, you wouldn't have put money on either England or Sweden winning, based on last night, but England have a bit of guile about them at the moment, at 2-1 down, it was very easy to let your heads go down and fade away, which is what has happened in the past, but they showed a great deal of resilliance and that will increase your chances of winning games, the Ukraine team aren't going to roll over, they are a better side than the Swedes, should we get a result, it looks like Spain in the quarters, and there it ends.

[Simon's Church]

Hodgson has done very well with what he has, but one critisism, James Milner, i don't get it, i really don't get it, Adam Johnson must be scratching his head in disbelief

Why? They're both pretty shit on the wing but Milner has the advantage of being able to cover centrally as well.

[Ups and Downs]

Well beck definitely meant it. A classy finish. And Carrolls was as good a header as you will ever see. He put his whole body into it and kept his eyes open, which is very rare. Walcotts deserves a mention to. Lovely goal and he deserves to start ahead of Milner.

[Silver Fox]

Pathetic, just pathetic. An absolute disgrace.

Some particularly over the top nonsense from Avon Royal and Ian Royal on this thread.

A pair of absolute fvcking spastics

FWIW I now think Wellbeck meant it, having been convinced it was a fluke at the time. I'd also like to apologise to James Milner, having watched the highlights this morning he did actual complete a pass. Cracking game and the Nags booze marquee worked well

[Tredder]

Hodgson has done very well with what he has, but one critisism, James Milner, i don't get it, i really don't get it, Adam Johnson must be scratching his head in disbelief

Why? They're both pretty shit on the wing but Milner has the advantage of being able to cover centrally as well.

it's a shame he doesn't do it then.

[Royal Rother]

his passing was woeful but he's so strong on the ball. One of those players that needs other good players around him to shine otherwise he looks a bit clueless

The problem for ZI is that he is so much better than the rest of the team (well, BOTH teams last night) that he finds it difficult to link up with them. They aren't on his wavelength.

Some of his passes went astray but he was head and shoulders the best player last night. Class. Still a Grade A cnut though.

[TBM]

I think Wellbeck is a pile of oxf*rd and does not deserve all the praise he is getting.

lolwut

[Avon Royal]

Pathetic, just pathetic. An absolute disgrace.

Some particularly over the top nonsense from Avon Royal and Ian Royal on this thread.

A pair of absolute fvcking spastics

Wow, I didn't realise that some people still use the word "spastic" as an insult. Nice.

[cmonurz]

Whilst I agree, it doesn't mean much coming from someone so ridiculously averse to Irishness.

[Hoop Blah]

Hodgson has done very well with what he has, but one critisism, James Milner, i don't get it, i really don't get it, Adam Johnson must be scratching his head in disbelief, and Ashley Young, his form for United towards the end of the season, was dire, his England form has been similar, last nights game was crying out for pace, Walcott and the Ox should have come on earlier, that said, Walcott coming on, had the desired effect.

Milner is a player who the manager knows what he's going to get, and he does a job all the other wingers just can't do. I'd rather watch Johnson or Young running at defenders and attacking, but I'd know that they're not going to be doing as much donkey (no pun) work that Milner will which is crucial to the way Hodgson has us playing at the moment.

Walcott is a great sub, but would I really trust him from the off in a game I didn't want to lose? Probably not as he's too hit and miss. Johnson and Lennon, the other real options on the right, are more of the same really.

Milner is consistent, responsible in when he attacks and defends, can tuck in and help out in the middle and can also get in a pretty decent supply of crosses in(something that Hodgson obviously had in mind for this game - so much so I was half expecting Downing to come on down the left at one point!).

Milner is almost the 2012 equivalent of Bobby Robson liking Trever Stevens on the right instead of someone like Chris Waddle. We just don't have the players to play two out and out wingers.

I do like the way this team is developing though. It took a bit of balls to come back from that awful 20 minutes and you have to remember that the Swedish keeper pulled off 3 top draw saves to keep the score down. Hart didn't have much to trouble him really, apart from the two shocking bits of defending for the goals.