England vs Italy

[BREWSTERS]

I've got a feeling we'll win tonight, 2-1 - the media have played it fairly low key so far which has got to help as it means there isn't the wrong sort of pressure on the team. Also, if they play with the kind of heart they showed against Sweden they can demoralise the Italians.

.

LOL, if anyone ever needs a tipster with a great record, I'm your man! Just do the opposite of what I predict and you won't go far wrong good job I'm not a betting man.

 

[tifosi]

Don't think I've ever been so embarassed, depressed, angry or sad about what our National sport has become.

Don't get me wrong. Full of passion, commitment & stalwart defence. But 2d predictable skill-less faire it was.

I was wondering through the game just how many would get into the Italian side. Answer was not many.

Oh, and a top stat for you... Englands top pass completer last night. Joe Hart. Enough said!

 

[retired_member27]

I think Alan Hansen summed it up perfect last night "England are about seventh best in the world and will probably never get higher than that".

 

[websaway]

Young's penalty was unfortunate, hard and high, could have been in the roof of the net.
Hodgson's biggest mistake and his last of the tournament was putting Ashley Cole fourth to take a penalty. Big Mistake !

Otherwise well done England, beaten by a much better team but more good times ahead.

 

[TinkyWinky]

Full of passion, commitment & stalwart defence

Hmmm I'd challenge that...

Full of passion, commitment and able to pass the ball to each other in 60% of the FIRST half.

Lack of commitment, fitness and technical ability in the SECOND half and all of extra time.

I honestly thought they had turned a bit of a corner on about 30 mins of their first half but one of the commentators (Lee Dixon?) towards end of the second half summed it up brilliantly when he said he couldn't remember the last time England actually put together 90 minutes of decent football! I can't remember the last time we did 45 mins to be honest.

WTF is the issue? Maybe it's when you are paid £200k a week for 38 games a season, the incentive to get Beckham-esque FIT may is not exactly the be all end all - provided you can do 90 once a week then where is the need?

Glad we're not getting stuffed 4 or 5-0 by the Germans to be honest.

 

[tifosi]

One thing I noticed was that in the first 20mins Rooney & Wellback shadow marked Pirlo. Whenever the Italians got the ball (most of the time!) they drifted towards him to give him no space. Worked for a while...

After 20 mins Rooney was totally f*&cked!! I'd love to see what Sam Allardyce and his sports science gurus would do for him. As it his he's a fat bloater whos good for a last 20mins appearance and no more.

 

[websaway]

Hmmm I'd challenge that...

Full of passion, commitment and able to pass the ball to each other in 60% of the FIRST half.

Lack of commitment, fitness and technical ability in the SECOND half and all of extra time.

I honestly thought they had turned a bit of a corner on about 30 mins of their first half but one of the commentators (Lee Dixon?) towards end of the second half summed it up brilliantly when he said he couldn't remember the last time England actually put together 90 minutes of decent football! I can't remember the last time we did 45 mins to be honest.

WTF is the issue? Maybe it's when you are paid £200k a week for 38 games a season, the incentive to get Beckham-esque FIT may is not exactly the be all end all - provided you can do 90 once a week then where is the need?

Glad we're not getting stuffed 4 or 5-0 by the Germans to be honest.

I agree, a few of them thought they were already on their holidays. Looked like they had been drinking on the lunch time.

 

[cc976a]

Frustration is the majority of the England team are not bad players. Typically English players do not have the flair and speed of their European counterparts (but that's the English game from the roots up - always has been)

The England team looked knackered from the outset. Everyone just looked so tired. They don't speak or play with English passion. We have got ourselves on to a terrible rut where Premiership and European trophies (club level) dominate the passion and energy - playing for England appears to be a burden for English players rather than the pride it should carry (like it does for other nations).

I know many ardent club supporters who hate England being in the Euros or World Cup because they feel it impacts on their players when it comes to season start.

Damn shame really......

 

[Marcoose]

We never would have beaten Germany anyway so at least we don't have to suffer that shame. The other good news is that I can start detoxing my liver!

 

[retired_member32]

well at least we got this far...we have an average league with average players...europe don't fight over buying our players and rightfully so...overpaid load of tosh and Mr Hodgson done a great job with them