MATCH THREAD: France Vs. England - Euro 2012 Group D - 5PM KO

[davek]

Fairly obvious what he means really.

So obvious you couldn't explain it.

 

[davek]

It means France have a far far better team on paper, so we did well to get a draw & not look ****.

I agree with that.

 

[Hibbosculturedrightboot]

defend defend defend, hope for a set piece and hammer it towards big Joleon. Tactics in a nutshell!

*awaits howls of protest*

 

[Brennan]

So obvious you couldn't explain it.

If you're too dense to understand i see no reason why i should have to.

Jelavic is gash.

 

[Steveo]

From a neutral perspective, the referee was fine. He let the lads play, which was much better than watching the Spanish referee make a farce of the Greece/Poland match.

letting the lads play is ok if there's some kind of consistency, however there wasn't. England were penalised for everything and got two bookings into the bargain.

The french were constantly ankle tapping, pulling shirts, giving sly nudges etc. The foul on Gerrard on the edge of the box was one of the most blatant fouls you'll ever see.

 

[kenada_blue]

There was only one team there capable of moving the ball up the field to the box on a regular basis. Doesn't that count as attacking play? They took the game to England and England got bodies in and around the box to get a toe on the ball at the right moment. As an attacking force they were almost useless apart from set pieces.

Have a read of Blanc's prematch prediction: it panned out almost exactly as he said it would...and we all knew it would.

It wasn't a hopeless England performance: lots of concentration and perspiration, but **** me in no way can you say it was satisfactory as a performance that went out to win the match.

Outside the box more like...world class talent going sideways unable to make a break through and resorted to long shots.

Then take the England squad with less talent, who broke round their defence, hardly hoofed to the front man for breaks (mainly channel play), with 2 inexperienced players in the attack.

You couldn't expect anything more apart from that they now look like a team. The attacking play will get better when those options come back into the game down the line

 

[Jib in lad]

Really? missed an open net, got round the back a few times, this is with a young strike force and no creativity or attacking flair playing. France shot from outside the box with world class players.

Yes France shot from outside the box because England had two banks of four and did defend well .

 

[icburns]

letting the lads play is ok if there's some kind of consistency, however there wasn't. England were penalised for everything and got two bookings into the bargain.

The french were constantly ankle tapping, pulling shirts, giving sly nudges etc. The foul on Gerrard on the edge of the box was one of the most blatant fouls you'll ever see.

The ref probably did his research on Gerrard.

Honestly, I've seen some lopsided and just generally poor officiating (Greece vs Poland), but this was alright this. It's ridiculous to blame the ref for the draw, it was a very much deserved point for each side. England missed some chances, France missed some chances.

 

[Brennan]

Outside the box more like...world class talent going sideways unable to make a break through and resorted to long shots.

Then take the England squad with less talent, who broke round their defence, hardly hoofed to the front man for breaks (mainly channel play), with 2 inexperienced players in the attack.

You couldn't expect anything more apart from that they now look like a team. The attacking play will get better when those options come back into the game down the line

If we'd had Rooney/Walcott on the pitch from the start we would have won that. Nothing special about France at all and a decent English performance from a team most people had written off.

 

[kenada_blue]

Yes France shot from outside the box because England had two banks of four and did defend well .

I'm my view, France's attack was far worse. Ribery, Benzema, Nasri, Cabeye...should be peppering and creating chance after chance with all their possession. Did nothing. Ribery was ineffectual, Benzema dropped deep. Their only real threat was Diarra from set pieces.

We missed an open goal and minus a few offside calls, split their defence plenty

 

[Allezfan]

The ref probably did his research on Gerrard.

Honestly, I've seen some lopsided and just generally poor officiating (Greece vs Poland), but this was alright this. It's ridiculous to blame the ref for the draw, it was a very much deserved point for each side. England missed some chances, France missed some chances.

This, pretty much.

 

[icburns]

If we'd had Rooney/Walcott on the pitch from the start we would have won that. Nothing special about France at all and a decent English performance from a team most people had written off.

Fair assessment.

 

[Jib in lad]

I'm my view, France's attack was far worse. Ribery, Benzema, Nasri, Cabeye...should be peppering and creating chance after chance with all their possession. Did nothing. Ribery was ineffectual, Benzema dropped deep. Their only real threat was Diarra from set pieces.

We missed an open goal and minus a few offside calls, split their defence plenty

Unless you play like Barcelona its very hard to break down them two banks of four mate .

 

[Deloodid]

The ref probably did his research on Gerrard.

Honestly, I've seen some lopsided and just generally poor officiating (Greece vs Poland), but this was alright this. It's ridiculous to blame the ref for the draw, it was a very much deserved point for each side. England missed some chances, France missed some chances.

No is blaming the ref for the draw. he missed a lot of French tackles but not the English ones.

 

[kenada_blue]

If we'd had Rooney/Walcott on the pitch from the start we would have won that. Nothing special about France at all and a decent English performance from a team most people had written off.

Rooney would make a big difference and add a lot. Young drifts in and out and welbecks still a kid. Rooneys intelligence would make a difference, if he's on form.

Walcott can do damage but its a decision to either start or have him come on against tired defenders.

But yeah, the France that bummed us the last time we played em either didn't turn up or were cautious themselves today