Euro 2012

[dtaai-maai]

The Hodge is gonna fluke this and get a knighthood, I can see it.

Let's hope so, eh?

Sweden did us a favour too - I'd rather be facing Italy than Spain.

[redzonerocker]

Lack of goal line technology saved England from a draw.

You do have to wonder how both the linesman & goal line assistant missed it
Then again, there was a clear offside missed in the build up to the 'phantom' goal
Fantastic clearance by Terry btw & it does make up for Lampards one against Germany in S Africa

After not being expected to even qualify from the group stage, it's a nice feeling to win it quite comfortably in the end
Gonna be a tough game v Italy but quite an evenly matched one.

[Big Boy]

Personally, I thought it was one of the worst England performances I've seen in a long time. They were winning the ball, and passing it straight back to the opposition.

Against France, they showed a lot of patience, self discipline and spirit, but this morning it seemed to be a bit like, 'it's only Ukraine, let's forget everything we've done in this tournament so far'. If we play like that against a decent team, we will be punished.

[caller]

I agree BB and I too found the constant lack of ability to make even simple passes or hold on to the ball maddening. Okay, Rooney was ring rusty, but the others? And this is an old problem, so what happens when these guys put on an England shirt?

Hodgson seems to have settled on his team, but Ashley Young???

I quite liked the alternative forward line we saw at the end - the Ox, Carroll and Walcott. Stick Rooney in behind them and that would do me. But I suspect against Italy and probably rightly, that Wellbeck will play upfront on his own with Rooney linking between midfield and attack.

[dtaai-maai]

I quite liked the alternative forward line we saw at the end - the Ox, Carroll and Walcott. Stick Rooney in behind them and that would do me.

Interesting idea, but I'd bet a fair few bob that we never see that combination of players on the pitch at kick-off in a competitive game over the next 5 years or so.

Carroll has impressed me in what he has done so far. Better than I thought.
Rooney still has it all to prove at international level in my book. How old is he now? (He looks about 35!)
Parker won't win any prizes for style, but he's an absolute gem in midfield. Tireless, unselfish team player.
Gerrard has also shown he's still got what it takes, though I had to raise an eyebrow or two at the suggestion that he was ever the best player in the world.
Hart's a cracking keeper and still learning.
Terry has proved too slow on occasions, but (and I'm not entirely comfortable saying this) he has generally been very steady. I'd love to know what his colleagues really think about him.
Cole is still the best left back we have.
Is there really no better right back than Johnson?
Downing? Works hard enough, but I don't like him.


Why do we need 3 keepers for at the most 6(?) games, and who is Butland??

[GLCQuantum]

Why do we need 3 keepers for at the most 6(?) games, and who is Butland?

You never know do you.... one gets himself sent off, the other gets himself injured and that leaves us with an outfield lad playing in goal.

Better safe than sorry.

[dtaai-maai]

Why do we need 3 keepers for at the most 6(?) games, and who is Butland?

You never know do you.... one gets himself sent off, the other gets himself injured and that leaves us with an outfield lad playing in goal.

Better safe than sorry.

... and who is Butland?

[lindosfan1]

Butland is Birmingham city's third choice goalkeeper 19 years old.

[BaaBaa.]

No, England haven't got a better rightback than Johnson and there isn't many better in the competition, massively underrated. I'd go as far as saying England have the best back 5 in the competition.

RE Gerrard, I wouldn't have swapped him for any player from 2005-2009, pretty sure Kaka won the Balloon Dior in that period, never as good as Gerrard. Only today De Rossi has has said Gerrard's his idol, Kaka and Zidane have also named him the best player in the world in the past and one of the most complete ever.

He's probably Liverpools best player of all time and we've had 1 or 2 decent players.

[redzonerocker]

No, England haven't got a better rightback than Johnson and there isn't many better in the competition, massively underrated. I'd go as far as saying England have the best back 5 in the competition.

Massively underated , massively overated imo.
Ok going forward but defensively, woeful!
Micah richards & Kyle Walker are far better right backs & even Kelly is close.

As for Gerrard, great player.
Not sure about the best in the world, but definately in the shake up at his peak

[BaaBaa.]

No, England haven't got a better rightback than Johnson and there isn't many better in the competition, massively underrated. I'd go as far as saying England have the best back 5 in the competition.

Massively underated , massively overated imo.
Ok going forward but defensively, woeful!
Micah richards & Kyle Walker are far better right backs & even Kelly is close.

As for Gerrard, great player.
Not sure about the best in the world, but definately in the shake up at his peak

Something we're never going to agree on, Glen Johnson gets highlighted for any defensive lapse, I agree Richards is a decent defensive fullback, Walker isn't in the same league as Glen, I've seen him go walk about on so many occasions its unreal.

Johnson is the best RB in the league, not his fault if England haven't got a Mascherano/Lucas to cover the space he leaves.

Kellys a decent player, don't understand the vitriol he got, he's on par with Walker imho, he's actually a CB by trade but fullback is obviously a good position to let players learn their trade. Gerrard started at Rightback, he was an awesome one too.

[redzonerocker]

Something we're never going to agree on, Glen Johnson gets highlighted for any defensive lapse, I agree Richards is a decent defensive fullback, Walker isn't in the same league as Glen, I've seen him go walk about on so many occasions its unreal.

Johnson gets highlighted because he has so many lapses!!!!!
Good going forward, scored some wonderful goals, but as a defender, which is his main function, he's below par.
That is the general opinion of the majority of fans i talk to, LFC ones included.

Johnson is the best RB in the league, . . . . . .

I do love your partisan stance, as misguided as it is
To be honest, I'm not so sure he's even the best right back at Liverpool i'd sooner have Kelly, personally

[BaaBaa.]

Name your better fullbacks. Sagna certainly isn't. Evra isn't. Only Ashley Cole is definitely better for me and Johnson offers more going forward.
I don't think a rightbacks main function is defence anymore, they offer the width.

[redzonerocker]

Name your better fullbacks. Sagna certainly isn't. Evra isn't. Only Ashley Cole is definitely better for me and Johnson offers more going forward.
I don't think a rightbacks main function is defence anymore, they offer the width.

Not even worth arguing about, to suggest you're blinkered is an understatement.

[johnnyk]

I see Goonie managed to score a meaningful goal in a meaningful game.