England v Slovenia [poll attached]

[Ian Royal]

I just don't think we were all that and there's any reason to start thinking we'll get anywhere. We were about on a par with the first match which was not bad, maybe a bit better... We were miles better than against Algeria, but then we couldn't have performed that badly again.

Like I said flashes of what we can do and an ok performance. But we hardly looked anything special and beat a team 1-0 who we shouldn't have even been worried about not beating. And whilst we were worth the win and I think had a goal incorrectly ruled out, their keeper should have saved Defoe's goal.

I'm not about to get carried away when England have done very little to suggest they can get to a semi-final, let alone win the tournament.

[TBM]

Who would have thought New Zealand would draw with the world champions?!

This wasn't a friendly so anything goes and in the next round it's a different game

[Ian Royal]

John Terry: "Game after game we are improving."

[chilipepper91]

Lolz at England going mad and believing again after beating an average team 1-0. No chance in the second round if you can't put them away.

Extra lolz at playing defensively and protecting that 1-0 lead with 15 minutes to go.

No chance.

[TBM]

watching Germany Ghana here I don't think we have much to worry about

[TBM]

John Terry: "Game after game we are improving."

Draw
Draw clean sheet
win

How is that not improving?

We're in the next round ffs, just enjoy it

[Tails]

Maybe people can now see why Joe Cole doesn't get selected.
A much improved display by England and you can see how relieved they all were at the end.
Margins of success/failure are very thin and but for Upson's marvellous tackle near the end it could have been over for England.
BTW has anybody ever seen such slow and ineffective strikers? (theirs,not ours)who would make Rasiak look quick and mobile-lol at the commentators who said that we should worry about their pace!!

Gerrard led from the front and showed his great range of passing but Rooney and Lampard will have to step up a helluva lot if we are to go any further-Rooney's clear cut effort with just the goalie to beat was as bad as Heskey's effort the other day but of course HE won't get slated. .
Also I'm not sure Milner will get the room to make crosses against anybody decent but you can see why Capello likes him because although he is a limited footballer and lacks pace he is a real trier and has now cemented the right wing spot even if it turns out to be for just one more game.

So it's Sunday afternoon going through hell again while temperatures outside hit 30 degrees-can't wait.

STOP TALKING SHIT

[PEARCEY]

I'm sorry. It was the best goal in the tournament, a fantastic strike and the 'keeper had no chance what so ever.

Ian. I only support England grudgingly in the absence of wales ever getting to finals. It wasn't a spawny goal. It was a good cross and a real strikers finish. It was a decent goal.

[PlasticRoyale]

If i knew any famous Slovenes i would start a 'Your boys took a hell of a beating' thread

[floyd__streete]

Thoroughly merited win of course, but this should have been achieved by a far more comfortable margin. Much improved performance on the dross we had seen thus far, but to be honest if we somehow sneak past a Germany team who frankly look a far better team than our lot, then the Argies should snuff us out in the quarters anyway. If only we hadn't persised with the lumbering oaf Heskey for 2 whole games we might have got the goals to secure an easier looking passage to the last four rather than the cul-de-sac of doom we find ourselves driving down now. My sense of triumphalism is therefore somewhat muted tonight.

[Ian Royal]

John Terry: "Game after game we are improving."

Draw
Draw clean sheet
win

How is that not improving?

We're in the next round ffs, just enjoy it

Did you watch the Algeria game? We were apalling. Ok... Shit...Ok.

The re-writing of history that goes on just leaves me

[floyd__streete]

really spawny goal

It was a great cross and a very good run. Don't see how it was "spawny" at all.

1st cross Milner had put past the first man, great though it was. Came off Defoe's shin, straight at the keeper who palmed it into the top of his net rather than putting something solid behind it.

I'd be fuming if it was scored against us.

Ah, a match thread and I am about to put Ian Royal right again - just like any other time during the autumn/winter/spring

Ian, it was a great cross, good play from Defoe to nudge in front of his man. The cross had good pace on it, the contact from Defoe was good and it also looked to have taken a slight nick off the defender's boot after Defoe nipped in a millisecond ahead of his marker. Six yards out, in those circumstances, the keeper has almost zero chance to react. Quality goal.

[Ian Royal]

Thoroughly merited win of course, but this should have been achieved by a far more comfortable margin. Much improved performance on the dross we had seen thus far, but to be honest if we somehow sneak past a Germany team who frankly look a far better team than our lot, then the Argies should snuff us out in the quarters anyway. If only we hadn't persised with the lumbering oaf Heskey for 2 whole games we might have got the goals to secure an easier looking passage to the last four rather than the cul-de-sac of doom we find ourselves driving down now. My sense of triumphalism is therefore somewhat muted tonight.

Heskey was one of our best players in both games he played.

[floyd__streete]

Heskey was one of our best players in both games he played.

.....and looked about as likely to score as Paul Brayson. The lump it up to the big man mentality is a very English disease isn't it; would you have seen Heskey show such speed of thought to get in front of the defender for the Defoe goal today, or even to improvise for that whisker-away chance Defoe had of clinching it within seconds of the restart? Heskey does not have the guile or skill to create a chance for himself out of nothing (let alone finish a gilt-edged one-on-one as per USA) should be consigned to the international rubbish bin and left to 'work hard' for the next underachieving Premier League side who wants to pay for his services.

[Ian Royal]

Heskey was one of our best players in both games he played.

.....and looked about as likely to score as Paul Brayson. The lump it up to the big man mentality is a very English disease isn't it; would you have seen Heskey show such speed of thought to get in front of the defender for the Defoe goal today, or even to improvise for that whisker-away chance Defoe had of clinching it within seconds of the restart? Heskey does not have the guile or skill to create a chance for himself out of nothing (let alone finish a gilt-edged one-on-one as per USA) should be consigned to the international rubbish bin and left to 'work hard' for the next underachieving Premier League side who wants to pay for his services.

Just suggesting that picking one of any number of players who were shit in both might be a better choice of scapegoat. What about Lampard, who is there to score goals, unlike Heskey... yet contributed nothing, not even retaining possession that often.

[paultheroyal]

Should have swapped Rooney for Crouch instead of Joe Cole. At least we would have had someone to hold the ball up when it gets there.

Time to embarrass a few people, what a ridiculous post this turned out to be. Cole did a fab job in holding it up and killing the game.

[paultheroyal]

He really hasn't, that's ridiculous.

When things do not go well for Rooney, he loses all shape and discipline - coming too deep, shooting from all angles and distances, reckless challenges. That is why Fabio brought him off, because he could see him slowly unravelling.

and another one.....

Rooney had a good game game, and was brought off because he was injured.

[paultheroyal]

England... doing things the hard way since forever.

We were ok. Sparks of what we are capable of and hopefully the confidence can start flowing. Good goal disallowed, really spawny goal, but we rode our luck in places. I can't think of a better time to face Germany in the World Cup if we have to, than next game.

Spawny goal?
Rode our luck?

Do you watch a different game, every time?

[Tails]

Fully behind you Paul

[Ian Royal]

England... doing things the hard way since forever.

We were ok. Sparks of what we are capable of and hopefully the confidence can start flowing. Good goal disallowed, really spawny goal, but we rode our luck in places. I can't think of a better time to face Germany in the World Cup if we have to, than next game.

Spawny goal?
Rode our luck?

Do you watch a different game, every time?

spawny perhaps not exactly the right word, but a shinned shot that didn't look that powerful straight at the keeper, in my book should be saved. As I've said already. Really, get over it.

I'd call two diving blocks and another shot just wide in 10 seconds riding our luck a little. Wouldn't you?