England v Sweden

[nath]

I'm not much of a football fan but I'm absolutely fucking GUTTED.

The last fucking couple of minutes?

GUTTED :\

 

[throdgrain]

Our goals were so much better than thiers too
Never mind, we still go through top, its all good (I suppose).

 

[nath]

Yeah, and we get to play Ecuador but still, fucking hell :\

Sick. As. A. Parrot.

 

[rynnor]

Yeah, and we get to play Ecuador but still, fucking hell :\

Sick. As. A. Parrot.

Aye - still if you look at our group place it makes you feel better - it was a very English performance - just hope Owens knees not f00ked

 

[mank!]

why are you gutted? it was essentially a meaningless game and the lack of commitment when defending was clearly indicative of that.

roll on the proper football season, this is getting dull :\

 

[nath]

Just because it would have been nice to win. It's also especially painful because of how close we were.

 

[Embattle]

We were shit......again.

 

[JingleBells]

I'm pissed off, I predicted 2-1 England in the harriers forum prediction league

Twice in 2 days my predictions have failed in the last fucking minute (Damn you tunisian bloke who conceded a penalty)

 

[throdgrain]

why are you gutted? it was essentially a meaningless game and the lack of commitment when defending was clearly indicative of that.

roll on the proper football season, this is getting dull :\

I dont really understand that "proper football season" bit. The proper football season then is about clubs who can buy and sell whoever they like, of what ever nationality, whos clubs often have hardly any british players in them, and who are only motivated by money.
The world cup is about representing your country. We cant get better players than we've got, no matter how much money we've got, and we play with what we've got. I love it.

 

[Gray]

Was listening to it on the radio

When i heard the name "Sol Campbell is replacing Rio Ferdinand, what a suprise this is?"

A cold cold chill went down my spine.

Then i heard

"Oh, looks like Campbell and Robinson was at fault for that goal deary me"

*shake head*

 

[old.user4556]

Joe Cole played very well, very strong player and best across both teams both with the goal and setting up the second goal. I did think the first one was like a pass that ended up being a very jammy good strike on goal that caught the keeper napping!

As soon as I saw Michael Owen go down, I said "yes!" inside because I had a feeling that it might open England up, and they certainly did playing quite a bit better than they had previously.

England's defending was pretty poor in the second half and Sweden were beginning to look dangerous. Larrson's goal was pure shite, purely bad defending on England's part; they need to sort that shit out pronto.

In short; Joe Cole was awesome, England played quite a bit better, Michael Owen is shite and should sit out.

I'm much happier with that performance.

 

[mank!]

I dont really understand that "proper football season" bit. The proper football season then is about clubs who can buy and sell whoever they like, of what ever nationality, whos clubs often have hardly any british players in them, and who are only motivated by money.

pop down to swindon town fc and i'll show you how wrong you are mate!

we've not got two pennies to rub together, let alone enough to buy and sell whoever we wanted. almost our entire squad last year were british, the only exception off the top of my head was one player and they certainly wouldn't be at town if they were motivated purely by money.

i just can't muster the same sort of passion for england as i do for swindon. it's the classic club v country scenario and club will always win for me.

 

[throdgrain]

pop down to swindon town fc and i'll show you how wrong you are mate!

we've not got two pennies to rub together, let alone enough to buy and sell whoever we wanted. almost our entire squad last year were british, the only exception off the top of my head was one player and they certainly wouldn't be at town if they were motivated purely by money.

i just can't muster the same sort of passion for england as i do for swindon. it's the classic club v country scenario and club will always win for me.

I understand what you're saying , but for me its the other way around. I always supported Notts Forest, I was born up there, but as they slipped in divisions I couldnt even see then on telly any more, and when I looked around , none of the local teams had many english players, or anything I could identify with.
Ive pretty much given up with club footbal, but I love the England games. Its the only time the law allows me to feel patriotic

 

[mank!]

your local teams is crawley town, went there last season, nice little set-up and the players were all british, as we had plenty of banter with the players

see, you've got no excuse

 

[JingleBells]

I don't live near Kidderminster any more, but I go and watch them play away when they play near me, and if I'm at home for uni hols I try and watch them play. Next year I should have a car so I shall be able to commute to more games too, the only thing I miss about home is the football tbh, the town sucks

Oh, and regarding the game today, this is the opinion about Owen Hargreaves from a fan on one of the forums I frequent:

I know we love to knock him because he is not 100% english through and through which let's face it...

IS JUST RACIST

We NEED a proper full time holding midfielder so that Gerrard OR Lampard can play to their 100%, without this we have 2 players playing at 70%-80% which makes them into ordinary run of the mill players.

The best thing about great players is that extra 20% above any other player they produce - look at this years FA Cup if you need help, or last year's Champions League Final. Gerrard and a holding midfielder would be so much better it is criminal that it is not being used.

You want to know why Ballack is worth so much? Because Hargreaves does all the dirty work and let's him do the neat stuff up front, like Frings does for Germany.

Look at how Viera was suddenly not effective after Gilberto Silva broke his back...Alonso at Liverpool, Makelele at Chelsea, all the good teams have them, they are NOT flash, they don't get into double figures each season, they may even get suspended more often, but they let the more creative players play and that is worth its weight in gold in addition to the defensive solidity they provide.

I know Gerrard and Lampard looks good on paper but THIS ISN'T PLAY-BY-MAIL!! (someone tell the pundits on TV please) They have 43 goals between them this season you say? Oh does that not suggest they play the same role for their clubs then? perhaps we should select the top 11 scorers in the Prem to go to the next tournament? Or maybe get a selection of players that can be made into a team...

Parker would be interesting in the holding role, dunno what he did to upset Sven.

BTW defending from set pieces is basic 101, we cannot master that the hell we are going to win the Kirin Cup let alone the World Cup. (reference for the scots out there )

So true I feel.

 

[Ch3tan]

Hargreaves is a good player, just doesn't seem to click for England. He did do a very good job yesterday though.

I hope Ferdinand limping off doesn't mean anything serious, I couldn't face wathcing Campbell in central defence for a whole 90 minutes.

Owen going out is very bad news, now we have to relly on Wallcott to replace Crouch or Rooney whenever they are tired.

 

[Mirari]

Being swedish I of course feel the other way around

Sweden was dominating the second half, we had at least three very nice shots being very close to scoring, so personally when I saw the 1-1 goal I sat thinking that with the play we had after that we did not have to settle for a draw but instead we had a very good opportunity to win.

Instead of just standing there letting the english players dominate and get to our goalie almost every single time they had the ball in the first half, Sweden managed to cut them off in the second half, not allowing them to come too close most of the time and retaliating with some nice opportunities

Owen being injured early on was a real shame though, on the other hand Zlatan is injured as well, hope we can see them both back and kicking soon. How serious was it by the way? Swedish commentary never really found out, just told us he probably wouldn't be playing for quite some time.

Unfortunately it ended with 2-2, but I'm looking forward to the game against Germany (even if it will be a really tough game)

Good luck against Ecuador

P.S
Not very used to english soccer-lingo, so if some expressions sound strange, you know why

Edit: change the layout a bit

 

[DaGaffer]

Was really surprised at how poor we were against set-pieces; that's been one of our strengths over the last few years. Of course it was the fact that we gave away so many free kicks and corners that caused the problem in the first place.

I really don't get England, first half we were as good as anyone I've seen in this World Cup, even Crouch was running around people, and second half, a shambles. What does Sven do to them at half-time?

 

[DaGaffer]

Hargreaves is a good player, just doesn't seem to click for England. He did do a very good job yesterday though.

I hope Ferdinand limping off doesn't mean anything serious, I couldn't face wathcing Campbell in central defence for a whole 90 minutes.

Owen going out is very bad news, now we have to relly on Wallcott to replace Crouch or Rooney whenever they are tired.

If a player is injured and unable to play for the rest of the Tournament, can't we fly out a replacement? I know Defoe isn't ideal, but unless we're going to play 3-5-1 for our remaining games, we need some striking options.

 

[throdgrain]

your local teams is crawley town, went there last season, nice little set-up and the players were all british, as we had plenty of banter with the players

see, you've got no excuse

God help me Crawley Town

 

[Calaen]

hmm what to say

devastated for Owen but typical Sven could have gave theo a shot but bottled it, then he risked Gerard again very risky tactic. Hargreaves played very well last night, Lampard might aswell not have been on the pitch, Joe Cole was awesome however, he needs to play the ball to ashley cole a bit more, AC made about 15 runs beyond cole only for him to run inside and ignore him, you are gonna score more goals from getting beyond their defenders like Cole and crossing the ball in. Good performance from Rooney shame in the second half no-one was able to pas the ball along the floor to him.

I dont blame Campbell for the second goal, Campbell was awesome when he came on, Beckham has to take the blame for both goals he let the striker get away for the first one and let it go over his head for the second one. In fairness to campbell he got up as high as he could and just failed to make contact.

Beckham should not be defending near post he never wins a header. Robinson played well!!!!

 

[Wonk]

Being swedish I of course feel the other way around

Sweden was dominating the second half, we had at least three very nice shots being very close to scoring, so personally when I saw the 1-1 goal I sat thinking that with the play we had after that we did not have to settle for a draw but instead we had a very good opportunity to win.

Instead of just standing there letting the english players dominate and get to our goalie almost every single time they had the ball in the first half, Sweden managed to cut them off in the second half, not allowing them to come too close most of the time and retaliating with some nice opportunities

Owen being injured early on was a real shame though, on the other hand Zlatan is injured as well, hope we can see them both back and kicking soon. How serious was it by the way? Swedish commentary never really found out, just told us he probably wouldn't be playing for quite some time.

Unfortunately it ended with 2-2, but I'm looking forward to the game against Germany (even if it will be a really tough game)

Good luck against Ecuador

P.S
Not very used to english soccer-lingo, so if some expressions sound strange, you know why

Edit: change the layout a bit

Owen is injured for like 5 months :\

btw, when do you want Zlatan back, now that you've got Allbäck? he's much better atm.

 

[Bodhi]

Was gutted when Owen got injured, and also when Sweden got that last minute equaliser. Both crushed me to my very soul, I don't know I can go on. Now I might not be a Celtic fan but I only got one thing to say.....



There's only one King Henrik.

 

[Nedo]

Owen is injured for like 5 months :\

btw, when do you want Zlatan back, now that you've got Allbäck? he's much better atm.

Zlatan still have the skill to kill of matches with a individual move. Agree Allbäck has been good 2 matches though.

Wtf happened to for example Joe Cole yesterday? 45 mins awsome...focken awsome (partly because Swe gave him the room he wanted in the initial touches) but....2nd half....where was he? Next question is...how can a team with Terry + Ferdinand/Cambell + Crouch be so horrible in defending in corners?

 

[Mordenaar]

Next question is...how can a team with Terry + Ferdinand/Cambell + Crouch be so horrible in defending in corners?

No dreadlocks for Crouch to climb with, well...except Ferdinand's, but you don't wanna mess Sven's hairdressing techniques hehe. Nah, Crouch should'nt have to come back- he should be on the knock-on header with a clrearence on a counter. Think Ferdinand and Carragher should swap places also, Dont rate Ferdinand at the back with nobody behind him, atleast on the right wing he can be covered by either Terry or Carra, credit to the defence, they only conseeded 2 ( yes, shouldn't have, but everyone makes mistakes ) during the whole grp stages, and Sweeden are no weak side. End of the day, it didn't make any difference. It was gutting, yes, We should have won- perhaps. But Bring on Ecuador!!!

:england: To win!!! Come on England!

 

[Carnalito]

Wtf happened to for example Joe Cole yesterday? 45 mins awsome...focken awsome (partly because Swe gave him the room he wanted in the initial touches) but....2nd half....where was he?

Because the Swedish manager thought it would be a good idea to let Jonsson play instead of Wilhelmsson, Jonsson couldnt do shit vs Cole, because he's so slow...

If you see the game again, Jonsson and Alexandersson are really no match for Cole with the other Cole as backup.
(Reason for the backup thing is that there was no real threat on that side, so Cole2 could just step up and play offensive, which presented MAJOR problems for the Swedes). I'm Swedish myself and i consider us very lucky, first half could easily ended 4-0 or something. When Wilhelmsson arrived Cole2 had to play more defensive which kind of killed Englands play on that side, and the English leftside was well guarded by the Swedes.

Anyway, a GG in my mind.

 

[Mirari]

Owen is injured for like 5 months :\

btw, when do you want Zlatan back, now that you've got Allbäck? he's much better atm.

Ouch.... Must suck something extreme to be off for 5 months just when he has recovered...

And yes, Allbäck has been great the last two games, however, if Zlatan gets his arse in gear he can be astounding. Think it's gonna be a hard decision for Lagerbäck to decide which one of them will play vs Germany. I am fully confident that whatever choice he makes will be a good one however.

It's true that Zlatan has had a kind of bad period, and I really hope that vs Paraguay it was because of his injuries. Being aware of Zlatan's ego though I am sure that IF he will play vs Germany he will give them a good run for their money to assure that he will become one of the cup's heroes. I sure as hell hope so at least

 

[Calaen]

No dreadlocks for Crouch to climb with, well...except Ferdinand's, but you don't wanna mess Sven's hairdressing techniques hehe. Nah, Crouch should'nt have to come back- he should be on the knock-on header with a clrearence on a counter. Think Ferdinand and Carragher should swap places also, Dont rate Ferdinand at the back with nobody behind him, atleast on the right wing he can be covered by either Terry or Carra, credit to the defence, they only conseeded 2 ( yes, shouldn't have, but everyone makes mistakes ) during the whole grp stages, and Sweeden are no weak side. End of the day, it didn't make any difference. It was gutting, yes, We should have won- perhaps. But Bring on Ecuador!!!

:england: To win!!! Come on England!

Carragher is shit for England, he offers nothing going forward at right back givf G Neville!!!!! Ferdinand has been solid and is a good mix with Terry, Terry does the dirty stuff and Rio can actually play football, he is a good passer of the ball and good at reading the game.

 

[mank!]

i think zlatan's one of the best strikers in the world. he's got strength, skill, talent, flair - he just lacks the work rate and effort at times.