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

[kenada_blue]

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

It's all Everton 1 citeh 0 and we all love them displays

 

[micknick]

Thought on the whole not a bad performance. The Ox looked decent Milner looked poor, defence looked pretty solid apart from Johnson who defended at times like he was playing beach kick about with some chavs. Looked ok going forward and covered well a couple of times though.

Apart from Henderson substitution was impressed with Hodgson in terms of the positive changes- Defoe and Walcott coming on was a pretty bold move- bravo.

 

[chicoazul]

Hi there. Good result for England that, France will be kicking themselves.

You need a win against Sweden and then Rooney is back, you need him loads like.

 

[davek]

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

I think they did turn up. They were relentless at moving the ball and getting up the pitch. England made that difficult by having 8 behind the ball almost all of the game. Those two lines of four were disciplined enough to blunt the French attack. But that comment is as good as it gets from an England perspective. I also think you make too much about what's to come back into the team. Rooney can be the difference, yes. But Young is no mug and Wellbeck will keep his place.

Bottom line here is this: England just cant do what other top international teams can do - control the ball and work it into the last third - so they make it difficult for top opposition to do that. There's nothing wrong with that if that's all you have. Which is why I wouldn't be too critical of England today. They kept it together with an organised (if uninspiring) appraoch. I expect a different set up for Sweden and Ukraine.

 

[Cena]

Like watching Everton pre-January that

 

[chicoazul]

Like watching Everton pre-January that

Reminded me of the best bit of the Walter Smith days.

 

[micknick]

 

[icburns]

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

Who's No, lad? Dr. No?

 

[chicoazul]

Out of the boundaries that. Keep England Out of Our City.

 

[Cena]

Do ex-pats who live in other countries have to support that country coz they live and pay tax ther then?

 

[Kurt.]

Look how close you were to being blessed as a Welshman Mick...........unlucky mate :-(

 

[chicoazul]

Mick's Welsh like.

 

[ijjysmith]

I'm English.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Better than I expected actually.

 

[roydo]

Was a bit frustrating at times, like last 10 mins of 1st half when we just sat back. That being said, Roy has got them disciplined, the spine was strong, (Hart, Terry, Gerrard/Parker, )and Welbeck was effective. Full backs tried to cause problems, but thought Milner looked off it most of the time. Watching Ukraine/Sweden, not much to bother us or the French, IMO.