Group B - England, Russia, Slovakia, Wales

[Librarian]

Hodgson said post-match that he replaced Rooney because he was tiring.

He didn't look tired to me, he looked a bit annoyed to be coming off.

Seems strange, bringing off your most experienced, successful player (also the captain) when you're defending a slim league in the biggest international game for two years.

The game hinged on that, it was an excellent performance in general and they bossed the game, should have been about 3 up. Rooney was terrific in running the game (as he was in a similar role in the cup final). Lots of players try to extend their career at the top level by dropping deep but few have the quality and footballing brain to do it, looks like Rooney has. the only downside in Rooney playing a bit deeper was that the players further forward, for all the domination, didn't have the subtlety to produce a winning pass or finish.

 

[Donald Twain]

Loved that moment when he was free in the box as a high ball came down to him. Being naive I expected a 50 million pound player to be able to control it.

I was actually laughing when that happened .

 

[Albertini78]

Hopefully Sterling gets injured in training what a terrible footballer

 

[1966efc]

Before the tournament, there was a lot of talk about security at the stadiums being the tightest ever in view of the tense terrorist situation. How on earth could any of the fans have smuggled in flares and small weapons? Must have been interesting to would be terrorists.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Not necessarily.

Without checking and just off the top of my head.

The Euros have only been played in tournament from since either 1976 or 1980.

England failed to qualify for at least two of those tournaments.....and of those we have gone to, I can recall quite a few bad results in the first game.

What about Euro 96?

Did we win our first game then?

In 8 finals appearances (counting this one) our record in the opening match is 4 defeats and 4 draws. since 1980. We failed to qualify in 84 and 08

 

[Yid4life]

What's the difference?, still English aren't they?.....

Thousands of fans from other countries travelling to France with and without tickets, and no reports of any trouble....

Really? Those reports of French firms running riot and Russian ultras must be wrong. Probably England fans in disguise.

Read on the BBC this morning there was some bother involving N.Ireland fans and locals.

Not making excuses,they are moronic but anyone that thinks it is only England fans causing the aggro are mistaken.

 

[zzebra]

Hopefully Sterling gets injured in training what a terrible footballer

Indeed.He offers absolutely nothing.

How the RS managed to not only off-load him but also get almost £50 million is one of life's great mysteries

 

[Abraders]

Kane has been taking all the corners and free kicks in friendlies did nobody notice that? Ridiculous to say the least.

Sterling, lol. As another poster said, Lennon genuinely would've been a better option.

England are bad.

 

[bizzaro]

Really? Those reports of French firms running riot and Russian ultras must be wrong. Probably England fans in disguise.

Read on the BBC this morning there was some bother involving N.Ireland fans and locals.

Not making excuses,they are moronic but anyone that thinks it is only England fans causing the aggro are mistaken.

If you look at the photos of the black clad attackers one or two are wearing CSKA Moscow symbols on.

Think it's been a mixture of local French thugs causing isolated incidents. But very much organised Russian hooligans.

The English were all in one corner of the square. Corralled in by police. No problems until the hooded group dispersed the England group. Which then prompted running battles .

The stadium footage is even more clear on this. With the attackers with face masks clearly wearing Russian language tshirts



There's certainly a minority of English idiots. But it's clear in the available footage they are neither organised nor masked. Nor in the area of the Russian fans. Therefore not organised.

 

[bizzaro]

Before the tournament, there was a lot of talk about security at the stadiums being the tightest ever in view of the tense terrorist situation. How on earth could any of the fans have smuggled in flares and small weapons? Must have been interesting to would be terrorists.

Agree.

There's more security at Goodison for a friendly match.

Pathetic.

French rely on tear gas and pepper spray far far too much. Rather than actually controlling crowds. French police treating it like their weekly strikes and immigrant protests than a major sporting event.

 

[Toffeelover]

Kane has been taking all the corners and free kicks in friendlies did nobody notice that? Ridiculous to say the least.

Sterling, lol. As another poster said, Lennon genuinely would've been a better option.

England are bad.

Not great corners either!

 

[Toffeelover]

England are now facing a difficult task. Have to beat Wales and Slovakia to be sure of qualifying. does not look good.

Watching the game yesterday, Milner was put on and I thought heck that is a bad sub. If Roy had wanted to hold out should have put on a proper CM. IMO though should have put Vardy to pressure the Russki's defence. But putting Milner on gave them the space they wanted and able to push up.

You might have guessed I am not a fan of Milner.

 

[N.S.N.O.]

Really? Those reports of French firms running riot and Russian ultras must be wrong. Probably England fans in disguise.

Read on the BBC this morning there was some bother involving N.Ireland fans and locals.

Not making excuses,they are moronic but anyone that thinks it is only England fans causing the aggro are mistaken.

Yep fair enough, things have changed over there since I posted....Russian fans seem to be the aggressors last night....and the French Ultras have got in on the craic attacking Polish and Northern Irish fans last night......
It's all a bit of a mess really....

Still doesn't excuse England fans of blame though.....can't see Russian fans or French Ultras attacking the Republic of Ireland fans over there for no reason.....

 

[bring the ghost on]

What baffles me is that Hodgson insists on playing players who have had poor domestic seasons (Miller, Sterling, Lallana) or who have played about 3 games all season (Wilshire), whilst playing leaving premier league winners like Vardy sat on the bench.

He's got to go with his in form players surely? He's making the kind of substitutions Martinez would be proud of.

 

[bring the ghost on]

It's not just the England fans, the Russian fans are clearly aggressors too, but the English fans have been all over the news for several days before the Russia game, and we are the country who come out worst from the whole ordeal.