Reply to: Italy Vs England

[minestrone]

Uruguay are going be booting the crap out of your players from the first minute, don't think that will be a surprise.

Italy also allowed England to play football, I think Thursday will be very much different. All depends on if Suarez is on and if fit.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

According to the Opta Joe twitter feed...

91% - England's pass completion tonight was the highest they've ever recorded in a World Cup game (1966-2014)

And of this, pass completion in the opposing half was 89.5% (the highest of any team in this World Cup so far).

We're not going to win the World Cup, but it's definitely progress.

I suspect Uruguay and Costa Rica are working out ways to stop England from playing. 4 years ago, I doubt our opponents thought there was any need.

I was a major opponent to Roy Hodgson before this world cup started but after the Italy game I feel he has proven me wrong. He has got England playing in the best style I have ever seen and I am sure many around the world would have been impressed by it. It's all you can really ask. For the first time in my life I will say:

C'mon England!

[TheBigD]

According to the Opta Joe twitter feed...

91% - England's pass completion tonight was the highest they've ever recorded in a World Cup game (1966-2014)

And of this, pass completion in the opposing half was 89.5% (the highest of any team in this World Cup so far).

We're not going to win the World Cup, but it's definitely progress.

I suspect Uruguay and Costa Rica are working out ways to stop England from playing. 4 years ago, I doubt our opponents thought there was any need.

[original PM]

I would say that if England continue to play like they did against Italy then they have an outside chance of getting to the final which is a better chance than they have had in a long time....

Even if they go out at least the style of play is worthy of praise and for once I enjoyed watching an England team. Can't ask more from them than to play to their ability and give it their all and they certainly did that against Italy. Pirlo and co are just too high class and that is not England's fault.

Indeed it was one of the most entertaining attacking performances I have seen in a long while!!!

Roll on Thursday

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

They played well and got beaten by a better team. Losing to Italy isn't a crisis - it's not like they started their tournament losing to Costa Rica

Never been a fan of Gerrard though.

Gerrard had an amazing season for Liverpool. He wasn't absolutely amazing against Italy but still very solid.

[d000hg]

They played well and got beaten by a better team. Losing to Italy isn't a crisis - it's not like they started their tournament losing to Costa Rica

Never been a fan of Gerrard though.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

just to redress the balance England is actually full of players who have maybe played in the most recent Euro's but beyond that have no major tournament experience.

Has to be said that Rooney and Gerrard look out of sorts - if they can get it together we could be quite good...

But we are not even in the race of challenging to win it.

I would say that if England continue to play like they did against Italy then they have an outside chance of getting to the final which is a better chance than they have had in a long time....

Even if they go out at least the style of play is worthy of praise and for once I enjoyed watching an England team. Can't ask more from them than to play to their ability and give it their all and they certainly did that against Italy. Pirlo and co are just too high class and that is not England's fault.

[original PM]

just to redress the balance England is actually full of players who have maybe played in the most recent Euro's but beyond that have no major tournament experience.

Has to be said that Rooney and Gerrard look out of sorts - if they can get it together we could be quite good...

But we are not even in the race of challenging to win it.

[Unix]

England simply aren't good enough, they always fail to deliver on the world stage.

[suityou01]

Years ago people would get on David Beckham's case. You can't fault his work rate, and he puts in the occasional good cross but it's not enough.

Remind you of anyone? Hint, think of a potato faced c***.

[minestrone]

The problem is not with Rooney, Gerrard was completely lost last night, just seen again his 'penalty chance' again, he drags his foot toe in over the ground before hitting the player. If that was an Italian doing that there would be uproar, completely ignored though. At least Rooney created a few things. Pirlo completely outplayed England's midfield.

[scooterscot]

Rooney needs to be dropped as both Barclay and Sterling play better behind the striker.

Agreed.

Watching Sterling he 10 times more energy & enthusiasm.

England needs to drop some of the old farts.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

A lot of guns out for Rooney.

Bad miss but great assist for the Sturbridge goal so I'm still with Wayne for the time being.

Rooney needs to be dropped as both Barclay and Sterling play better behind the striker. Rooney was awful defensively against Italy on the left, so you are better off putting Milner in there and dropping Rooney completely.

[mudskipper]

(although I suspect that shouting from downstairs will wake me up if England score)

And it did.

[Gittins Gal]

A lot of guns out for Rooney.

Bad miss but great assist for the Sturbridge goal so I'm still with Wayne for the time being.