Euro 2012

[Undisputedtruth]

The Irish were pretty poor and I can't see them progressing. I suspect Italy and Spain will aim to improve their goal difference when playing against them though.

[red devil]

MrBen Wrote:

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> England tonight - a reminder that Scotland beat

> France twice (home and away) in the Euro 2008

> qualifiers. If we can do it against the odds

> you'll find it a walk over right?

That's the sprit MrBen, England will have no problem replicating Scotland's performances...cue 80F heat and running around aimlessly with very red faces

[woodrot]

France showed more promise, but wre slighly off form I think.

Lucky for INGERLAND to draw them early on

I think Ukraine vs INGERLAND will be a stonker

Sweden will draw with INGERLAND btw

Scotland beat the France twice, but I had to admit that the Scots were on the defence for most of the game

[El Pibe]

I can't believe an England tournament game has garnered such little response, and even that from a foreigner ;)

England were better than I expected them to be. No standouts but a good team performance, though clearly we were set up to stymie the French we created chances and had some incisive breaks.

It's hard to tell with the French, they seemed a little disorganised, but whether they will improve or implode is anyone's guess.

[Mick Mac]

Undisputedtruth Wrote:

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> The Irish were pretty poor and I can't see them

> progressing. I suspect Italy and Spain will aim to

> improve their goal difference when playing against

> them though.

Ireland Spain is a disaster waiting to happen. Early goal from Spain and they might as well go home. I'm sure Ireland would love to hold out for a Nil Nil. If they lose to Spain, then I do feel for the fans who spent money to go for such a disappointing display. But it was a tough draw from the start and its always a tough tournament to get out of the group, as England know themselves.

[MrBen]

I thought England played in a very English way last night. Both decent goals though. And I liked the Kid. Oxbridge- chambertin or whatever - more from that chap please!

[Jah Lush]

The most important thing is not to lose the first game and England didn't. Basically, we parked the bus and hoped to get them on the break. On paper that was our toughest game in the group but I also think we'll draw against the Swedes and playing the Ukraine on their home turf after such a good win last night won't be easy.

[Otta]

England band stopped from playing.

Thank God for that! If I was sat near them trying to watch the match, I'd want to kill myself!

[Otta]

Keep seeing comments along the lines of "why are they happy with a draw"? To be fair to England, France only managed a draw with them, Spain and Italy drew. Holland lost!!! One win and two draws would probably see them through, so not sure what the problem is.

I think they did quite well, especially given that France are unbeaten in 21 or something like that. Had Milner scored that early chance, it could have been a win... Or they could have gotten over confident and lost it.

[MrBen]

Prepare for Polish spirits to be damper than a brick layers overalls (in mid June, SE22) as the Russians get another convincing win tonight. I have a fiver on 3-0 to Russia.

[murphy]

England were as expected, dull and unadventurous, but played the way they had to. If they had opened up - like they did against Germany - they would have got beaten. I am hoping to see slow improvement each game and at least Roy has got us organised. How many times have you watched England before and not really known what the team and the players were trying to do? The hope is Rooney adds the strardust and links well with Young and Welbeck.

[Jah Lush]

If Rooney plays as poorly as he did in the last tournament where he was absolutely useless we've got no chance of progressing to the next round.

[Otta]

Exactly! Everyone talks like Rooney will come in and be amazing, but he doesn't always, sometimes he's anonymous.

[Alan Medic]

Its occured to me that he might not just walk back into the 1st 11 teamsheet if the others do the business.

[Otta]

Motty reckons Young will move to the left and Rooney will play behind Welbeck...

[Undisputedtruth]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Its occured to me that he might not just walk back

> into the 1st 11 teamsheet if the others do the

> business.

It has also occurred to me that I may have spotted another Alan Medic spelling error.

[Undisputedtruth]

Otta Wrote:

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> Motty reckons Young will move to the left and

> Rooney will play behind Welbeck...

Makes sense. Young will give England more width. I'd like to see Andy Carroll replace Welbeck due to the number of headed goals in the tournament.

[maxxi]

Otta Wrote:

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> England band stopped from playing.

>

> Thank God for that! If I was sat near them trying

> to watch the match, I'd want to kill myself!

Abso-bleedin-lutely. Let's hope others follow suit and ban the annoying little sods totally.

On the match I thought the Ox did well and showed he didn't mind fluffing it a little, wasn't scared to take a chance - hope this rubs off on neurotics like Gerrard et al and we see a less fearful England in future. He and Young have to stay in the team or they will probably revert to the long ball.

[Undisputedtruth]

I thought the Ox played well considering his lack of England experience and first major tournament game. He showed glimpses of brilliance at times.

My main criticism of England is that they didn't stretch the French defence enough to allow the likes of Ox to go through with consummate ease.

Lots of positives. The French restricted to shooting from outside the box. England had enough clear cut chances to win the game. Milner should have put his chance away. Four points should be enough to go through to the knock out stages and it's likely England will beat Ukraine and Sweden.

To see the best of the Ox then I'd like to see Walcott play as well. The injection of pace will put fear to the opposition.

[Chippy Minton]

Are there any pubs in the area that don't normally have TVs that have brought them in to show the tournament?

[El Pibe]

The Gowlett used to, I don't know if it's even still open these days though.

[Rolo Tomasi]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> The Gowlett used to, I don't know if it's even

> still open these days though.

Gowlett is still open and they have done just that.

[Undisputedtruth]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> It's hard to tell with the French, they seemed a

> little disorganised, but whether they will improve

> or implode is anyone's guess.

France had the greater possession so I'm not quite sure why you thought they were a little disorganised. Perhaps you're confusing disorganisation with their lack of ideas in the final third. Defensively, France looked weak but I thought they looked organised overall.

[El Pibe]

Maybe I'm confusing organisation with liquidity.

** or less flippantly

I think you're confusing possession for organisation.

Ceding possession and hitting them on the break in expectation of facing a more clinical side was clearly part of the gameplan.

France's lack of ideas in the final third isn't to be confused with a lack of oraganisation, it's utterly symptomatic of it.

[Undisputedtruth]

No confusion on my part, El Pibe. Just understand the game far better than someone who get their analysis from journalists.