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England. The gift that keeps on giving. Woeful stuff. They are very lucky they avoided some of the mid ranked teams that have a half decent forward line otherwise they would be out already. And Carragher and Terry are going to have real problems with the Slovnian front line.
Hard to see them beating Slovenia on that performance, they would need a considerable improvement, and it's hard to
see where that is coming from,
Carragher won't play after collecting his second booking against Algeria. Dawson will make his international debut, and England will play their third central defensive partnership in three games, in a must win game against what looks like the strongest team in that group, or at least the only team that has won.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
My prediction was only out by 8 goals. On such fine margins...
Fair play Noely, I just couldn't see a team that lost 4-0 to Mali doing that, and so comfortably. Only one team tonight was comfortable with the ball. That game for them was probably what our 0-0 with Egypt felt like. Shameful...throws pencil :)
and certainly the team that likes having the ball best.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Jesus England were poor, no player apart from James impressed. I was impressed with the number 2 for Algeria, read everything in defence and was first to every ball - brilliant. Still think Algeria are muck so what are England!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will be very hard for them today as I cant see them scoring if they persist with that system. Must start Cole and Defoe.
And Rooney is a disgrace mouthing off to the fans. They have travelled half way round the world and have a right to boo them off in the end. Not as if the English fans were not singing their hearts out for most of the game. I would be really peed off with him if I was an English fan
Christ - he plays for rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!lolQuote:
Originally Posted by bennocelt
Just like the point out my prediction, the lads in work have spent the last week laughing at me telling the England would only draw with Algeria, I can see the last game ending in a draw too and the USA beating Algeria to top the group.Quote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
I'd say your disappointment is matched only by Sir David and the two princes who were in attendance. You don't waste the time of knights and royalty with such displays.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Never. Christ is Celtic through and through. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bennocelt
It's easy to crow about beating the same team that England struggled to make an impression against, but the simple truth is that there is very little comparison between the two Algerian sides that lined out three weeks apart.
(note that I've ordered these players so they line up beside each other, other than the keeper I've no idea who played where against Ireland)Code:VS Ireland VS England
Chaouchi (M'Bohli 66) M'Bolhi
Guedioura Bougherra
Belhadj (Boudebouz 66) Belhadj
Bellaid Yahia
Mansouri (Kadir 66) Kadir
Mesbah Yebda (Mesbah 88)
Lacen Lacen
Halliche Halliche
Ghezzal (Abdoun 77) Boudebouz(Abdoun 74)
Ziani Ziani (Guedioura 81)
Djebour (Saifi 58) Matmour
First of all, there were only 4 starters in common. It's entirely possible that the Ireland game was an audition the rest of the starters, and of those only Guedioura played any part as a late sub. The fact that a defensive midfielder/right full was brought on for an attacking midfielder with nine minutes to go tells you what his role was expected to be.
From the five subs at the RDS, only Saifi played no part against England (he was an unused sub). M'Bohli, Kadir and Boudebouz all played a little under a half hour in Dublin and started against the three lions. Two of the three introduced players VS England started against Ireland.
M'Bohli actually made his debut VS Ireland, and only conceded Robbie Keane's penalty. The game was all but over at that stage, and I honestly don't remember him doing much else except pick the ball out of the net. Tonight's game was his second international cap. Despite this he only had one shot to save
Algeria managed 6 shots VS England, and I'm pretty sure Westwood only had to make one save at the RDS, but this may have been due to an inferior team playing in Ballsbridge.
The Irish goals came from a set piece (Doyle earlier had a certain goal saved from a set play), a finish from Keane following some work from Duff on the left, and a penalty. Having conceded twice from poor tackling, I thought Algeria tightened up on their tackling against England, certainly I don't remember any free kicks for England around their box.
Duff gave their full back plenty to think about all night beside the Dodder, and Lawrence on the other wing complemented this attacking style, pulling the 3 man defence out of the middle. By comparison, the closest Capello has to a natural left winger in the 23 man squad is Joe Cole, and he didn't make it off the bench in Cape town. Gerrard was playing inside left, and I forgot he was on the pitch until he took a corner.
One of the hallmarks of Ireland in Trapattoni's reign is two sitting central midfielders. Against the Desert Foxes, Glen Whelan and Paul Green frequently broke up attacks in front of the centre half pairing, and spread the ball wide to play on the counter. England only played with one defensive midfielder, Gareth Barry, with Lampard playing ahead og him. Against this, the Algerians had 4 players, two defensive and two attacking, always with at least one option to pass to. This did limit their options in the final third of the pitch, but with only one shot on target all night, I don't think they were looking for the win.
In short, Algeria made full use of their warm up game against Ireland to learn how a team with English-based players would play against them, learned their mistakes well, and used this to full effect against England in South Africa.
(all game stats taken from here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statist...464/index.html )
You're right, it is. We won 3-0 na na na na na.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I know the friendlies only carry a lesser weighting, but our recentn results will probably do our rankings a bit of good.
According to latest reports from the "currant bun" this bloke has turned up for England in the last few games.
http://www.stylelookalikes.co.uk/ima...nerooney02.jpg
Dwayne Rooney
Games a bit boring today. Hope Japan are knocked out next week, BORING. Holland havent impressed either in two games.
And what can I say about Australia. Had high hopes for them at start of comp, since they have a good few players with experience in European leagues. But then I didnt bank on them having an idiot of a manager. Jesus play football on the ground, and preferbly forward!!!! A carbon copy of England!!!
And Ghana were there for the taking. Ghana play exactly as they always play - all heart, big guys running, bossing midfield, and shooting from impossible angles. So Australia were poorly organised,, cycnical, and always throwing themselves to the ground. And it was so GREAT to see that Pr**k kewell get sent off.
Anyway woud be nice if somehow Ghana got through but doubt it - pity
That's an interesting group all the same. Serbia will fancy their chances, and Germany will have a real test of their nerves / ability, especially as they're a young side.
This Denmark V Cameroon game is a cracker. Watched both teams first games and wasnt gonna bother with this one, but its nearly and half time and has had almost everything. 1-1, should be 3-3 at this stage.
Bill O'Herlihy does my head in he is a prat! Talks Rubbish,reading quotes from people who dont count to start a debate,
Brady is well able for him.Also said Japan just need a draw against Denmark to qualify because they have superior goal
difference.WHAT???? Time to retire Bill !
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuyahoga
Is that not true?
Good game, that young fella Kjaer is some player, basically hoovering up all the mistakes Poulsen and Agger do in defence (and they make a shed load of them!)
ok. my mistake Japan have 1 more goal than Denmark so a draw would get them through.Sorry Bill!
England were woeful. What is the point of Frank Lampard?
I thought they'd struggle but drawing with Algeria?! :) looking forward to the banter in the office tomorrow.
Terry's gone public about a player's meeting with Capello tonight. Surely bringing this to the attention of the press will only make things worse for the manager?
Beat Slovenia and qualify for the second round and the win will be assigned to the players
Fail to qualify and the lack of faith of the player in Capello's management (underlined by the need for this meeting) will be front page news.
Either way, it will be painted as the manager's fault England are not playing as well as they can.
Come on new zealand !
I'd say the stone-faced Italian will absolutely love the sense of squad democracy that this projects. Doesn't undermine his authority at all. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
In other news, Joe Cole was earlier spotted walking on water in preparation for his much anticipated role of messiah.
Italians held by NZ today and to be honest they deserved the draw. Bucketloads of possession but very few real chances created. So far this WC has been a disaster for me in the betting stakes.
Tell me about it!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Italy cheated a peno, was obvious the ref was going to gift them one, a bit bad that the World Champs have to cheat to beat a team as lowly ranked as NZ.
MON performance from R Neslon, brilliant
NZ goal was a mile offside and came from a push in the back too, in fairness.
Fairness is not falling to the ground every ten minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Offside, very hard to spot for the linesman me thinks
Italy always play like this...................
I thought he was onside because the ball came off Cannavaro?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Tell ya one thing, i wont miss any of the diving and rolling around when we get back into the league of ireland :D
Its time to pick your quarter finalists. Mine are
Uruguay(after beating SK) v England(after beating Serbia)
Italy(after beating Holland)v Brazil(after beating Spain)
Germany(after beating US) v Argentina (after beating Mexico)
Paraguay(after beating Denmark) v Portugal (after beating Chile)
According to the Guardian R Herbert of NZ earns about 26,000 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Contrast to Capello, isnt he on 6 million.................?
The commentray said it was headed on by a NZ player and got a deflection from Cannavaro, the deflection not counting as a pass. The NZ guy only won the header because of a clear 2 handed push in the back. That's how I saw it anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
But Stutt did you see it in real time, thats the point (mine anyway)?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Looked a perfectly good goal to me, not offside because of the deflection and if you blew every physical contact like that the ref would be out of breath in 5 minutes. It was less contentious than the penalty imo.
I missed the push, but if the deflection had rolled to the keeper, wouldn't it have been counted as a pass then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Splitting hairs I know, but I genuinely didn't see anything wrong with the goal
Either way, New Zealand were good value for the draw. Italy badly missing Pirlo, and more questions about why Totti and Cassano were left behind.
I didn't see it real time - I only started watching after about 20 minutes and first saw the goal in the HT review. It looked a clear push, not even marginal, and I thought he looked a mile off. I'd have been suprised if I hadn't thought the same about the offside (not necessarily the push) in real time, but who can tell?
My gut reaction when I saw the Italy penalty in real time was "the ref won't buy that one". It turns out he did. The Yanks must be fuming - by the same standards they had 3 separate claims for a penalty against Slovenia, yet got penalised.
anyone got any thoughts on why the South American teams are doing so well thus far, and the higher ranking European and African nations have been poor?
For the South Americans, they're used to being in winter at this time of year, Europeans are not. That'd be the best I can come up with.
As for the Africans, I have no idea whatsoever.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/a...zealand-franceQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
They give 5 good reasons................
1- The shorter football season in S America
2- The equator
3- 3/4 games at altitude every year
4- attacking style
5- .................mmmm cant remeber . sorry
They are just better?