Football

[pawnshop-guitars]

Got to agree with those ratings. Although as for England not working as a unit, this is the first England side since about 1996/8 that seems to work as a unit. Maybe they can't string passes together all that well, but I'll be damned if they don't work hard. Just watch them doubling up on players and covering each other. Obviously, because this is England, they manage to fuck it up frequently. Still, this tournament was supposed to be a write-off, one to get Roy off and running before the World Cup and to bleed in some new players. But we won the group - I would never have called that. I didn't even think we would qualify.

[jplpool]

I don't recall using the word "unit"

anyway, yeah, the effort has been admirable, but I expect that anyway. i'd like to see them having confidence on the ball and having the confidence to take it and give it to a team-mate without panicking and trying to get it forward ASAP(and that doesn't include some of the ridiculous interplay on show last night.

This guy  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsl88qjFKeQ can't even get a  cap for Spain, ffs. Seriously, study his technique, then you will know what technique is.

[chainsmoker]

Perfect ratings jplpool 

Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain were in ineffectvie from the bench, maybe one of them should take
Milners place from KO, start off attacking.

I think one on one, JT is going to get skinned, even against the slower strikers, it's just a matter of time.

Hopefully England will just try and play further up the pitch against Italy, they drop far too deep for way too
long, we're going to get punished for that.

[jplpool]

England could do a lot worse than pushing Gerrard out wide on the right. He showed what he is capable of out there the other night and he was only there because he had just taken a corner.

He had probably his best (personal) season wide-right a few seasons back under Rafa.

The problem is though, who would/could England replace him with in the middle?

It's a shame Lampard got injured, because it would have been a no-brainer for me. We've all heard it asked - "how do you play Lampard and Gerrard together?"....Errr, maybe by playing Gerrard on the right?

[Coma16]

Portugal should get through today but I don't see it being an easy game.

Greece tomorrow! Watch...

[jplpool]

Portugal should get through today but I don't see it being an easy game.

Greece tomorrow! Watch...

The Germans will knock you into tomorrow (spot the Rocky reference.)

[chezequerz]

Italy will beat England. I suppose we could get another fluke victory but i imagine 3 in a row would be asking for a lot especially against a team like Italy. Hell even drawing against the French didn't look convincing. Nor were the 2 friendly's we played prior.

I suppose my point is that i think Roy Hodgson is a shocking manager who plays shit football with very predictable tactics whilst leaving out obvious good players for his squads (or at least players better than some of the shittier ones he picks most of whom seem to come from Liverpool). I don't understand the idiot logic that an English manager is the only one who could manage England but even following that logic he's still not a manager most sane people would have picked for the job and he's showing it daily. We won't win this competition and i think we can only fake our way so far before the failures of our current management are exposed.

[Kusksu]

^^Mehh i think we've done good enough so far, we had some luck for a change but we haven't been that bad. We were great (okayish really but by england standards) against Sweden and acceptable vs France. We sucked vs Ukraine though.

I'm hoping we take a more attacking approach for the next game, drop welbeck and start defoe or walcott. We will not keep Italy out for 90s mins so might aswell attack a bit, we have the players to score a goal or two.

[jplpool]

We are shite. END OF STORY.

[jplpool]

Good to see that 2 out of the 3 teams I suggested would win it are now in the semi's.

Portugal seem to have found some shape in defence.

[chezequerz]

Good to see that 2 out of the 3 teams I suggested would win it are now in the semi's.

Portugal seem to have found some shape in defence.

3 teams? Germany and i assume Spain and Italy? But they're not through yet...and your previous comments don't suggest you ever had much faith in the Portugese either.

[rds.06]

Looking forward to the Spain v France match today.

[jplpool]

3 teams? Germany and i assume Spain and Italy? But they're not through yet...and your previous comments don't suggest you ever had much faith in the Portugese either.

No, you bell. I said "the krauts or one of the Iberian teams."

Yes, I expressed my doubts about the spic's defensive shape, after watching them in the first match, but didn't say much else about them.

Are you calling me a liar? Quote me, you fuckwit.

[chezequerz]

No, you bell. I said "the krauts or one of the Iberian teams."

Yes, I expressed my doubts about the spic's defensive shape, after watching them in the first match, but didn't say much else about them.

Are you calling me a liar? Quote me, you fuckwit.

What the fuck's wrong with you today. At what point did i call you a liar i asked you a question chill the fuck out.

[jplpool]

What the fuck's wrong with you today. At what point did i call you a liar i asked you a question chill the fuck out.

Haha, soz chez. just woke up with the laptop beside me.

Grumpy-head and all that.