UEFA Euro 2012 Qualifiers
 

I have started a thread for discussion on Euro 2012. Currently watching the game between England & Bulgaria and we have just scored. 3-0 :D

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make that 4-0 Great goal Defoe :D

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It is Bulgaria who have been playing poorly, nice performance by England but we should keep some perspective before everyone goes nuts again.

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France beaten at home by Belarus:shocked:

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Pretty funny really, deserved to be honest. The way they treated their players, issuing summons for them to be punished was a joke.

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I hope that Dawson is ok... :(

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Defoe too a slight knock after the 4th goal was scored, but he seemed to be ok, when he was interviewed after the match

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From the England thread..........

England 4-0 Bulgaria

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8952514.stm

Only one game, but things are looking good.
Joe Hart looks like he was born a goalkeeper.

I am pleased for the future of England football, as long as Capello continues in the same vein I won't be disappointed, this was a good start.

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He qualified fine, had a bad four games at the World Cup. The way he has been hounded by the press had been disgraceful if you ask me. I also think 'build for the future' is rather silly, we need the best 11, the youngsters will come good at their club.

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He was actually much smaller when he was born.;)

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Before we get carried away: can a kind mod please change the thread title to 'UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers'? This would avoid a lot of confusion if England don't make it to the actual tournament :)

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Some people are interested in teams other than England you know...

Anyway, Tosh by name and Tosh by nature.

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What happened with Wales your defenders was just walking around the pitch, still looking forward to England V Wales, should be a nice easy 3 points. lol sorry but a bit of banter.

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Similar to your nation's performance against Germany.

No what happened was we have a clueless manager who has the backing of an FA that knows bog all about football.

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I'll give you the Germany comment, but your team need to sort themselves out to have any chance of getting to the finals.

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Really.....I did not realise that....:spin:

It's all down to us having Chuckle Brothers style management.

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Huh ???

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Male bonding rituals..Where would we be without them? :D

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Edited to make it clearer?

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Were people seriously expecting Wales to get a result away to Montenegro? Odd. By that reckoning, i guess the Liechtenstein coach is in trouble for getting beaten 4-0 at home by Spain.

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Yes.

We have some good players who should have been able to at least get a draw.

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Rep of Ireland v Andorra, GpB, 19:45
Switzerland v England, GpG, 19:45
Scotland v Liechtenstein, GpI, 20:00
My predictions
2-0 Rep home, 1-2 Eng away, 1-1 Scotland

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I reckon we should get the win, if they perform like the team we know they can all be then I reckon at nice 3-0, Defoe too start all games, touch and go with Rooney as his personal life seems to be effecting him like any other person would be like if in his shoe's.

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added: I think we should give Own another go when he is fully fit and we can see he is ok.

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You'll get good odds on Scotland drawing. In fact you'd get good odds on Leichtenstein scoring.;)

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lol. I was swithering about whether to take Scotland to lose. A win would be too much to expect :)

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Yes.........:)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/...es/8970745.stm

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........and Montenegro don't? They boast a number of decent players who play for top clubs (Roma, Fiorentina, Spartak Moscow, Sporting Lisbon etc), and their squad is probably better than yours. A Wales draw would have been a surprise not expected result, as i expect the bookmakers also agreed.

This is the same Montenegro who also beat you 2-1 last year, by the way. They're only the bottom seed because they're a new nation, nothing else. And it wouldn't be a massive shock if they qualified from the group.

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Yes, a bit like Wales.

Riiiiight.....of course.....:nutter:

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You're beginning to sound like those deluded England fans you dislike so much.

Why exactly would you expect Wales to draw away to Montenegro? What is this based on? As other than blind faith, there's no logic to it. Please go ahead and find a bookmaker who didn't have Montenegro as favourites to win, too.

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The logic is we have enough quality in our players to assume a draw was not unrealistic. I wasn't expecting a 4-nil win but we should have managed something.

Of course, with 'Tosh' managing us we'd never get anywhere and it'll stay that way until the WFA rids itself of its 1970s 'boyo' mentality.

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Bale and Bellamy aside the rest were little more than Championship standard, Collison and Ramsey cant come back quick enough.

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Who you calling deluded?, England have enough great players to win the group and progress quite far in the finals, as for Wales sorry Russ but you can't just blame it on the manager, your players are the ones playing football and Wales have never been good, just can't wait to see Wales at the bottom of the table lol :D

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I don't think he means deluded in this group stage, I imagine he is talking about England's chances in major tournaments or against decent opposition.

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As Damien said above, i'm not talking about this group, England are clear favourites to top it and rightly so.

I'm talking about thinking success is a birthright and that lesser known countries can't play football, let alone do so well. Montenegro beating Wales at home couldn't be any more standard or expected, and you'd be hard pressed to find an unbiased, knowledgeable European football fan who thinks otherwise.

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Another sodding injury Arsenal have to deal with. It's only the start of September, it's becoming a massive joke now.

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To prove my point further, full time: Bulgaria 0 - 1 Montenegro.

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Ok. Awesome stat of the day.

At the Scotland game, which are drawing 1 - 1 against Liechtenstein, the attendance for the game (37,050) is more than the entire population of Liechtenstein (35,800)! (Lifted from BBC Sport)

More weirdness from the Scotland game, a Liechtenstein player has received two yellows and has not been sent off.

And Scotland have scored, winning the game, 6 mins into Injury time.

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Well A good performance from England there and I hate to see it but Lampard for definate and maybe Terry must now be no longer automatically selected for England.

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Was Alex Ferguson sitting in the dugout buy any chance.:D

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I think either Lampard or Gerrard would be fine, unless he changes the way England play they don't work together. Two players who want to play in the same area. Terry should be in, can't see why that would be a problem..

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THANK GOD. It seems Walcott didn't break anything. 1 to 3 weeks out likely.

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What performance, was little worried with the Swiss breaking a couple of times, but overall England looking better and Rooney has scored, bout time really, I would say tho Adam Johnson is playing brilliant, keep it up kid.

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I think this further shows The FA were correct to keep Capello on, hopefully the scummy parts of the press (red tops) will shut up for the reminder of the qualifying campaign.

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I caught the last 15 mins of this game and it was really tense. I am not even Scottish but having worked in Aberdeen for a year and going to Euro 92 to watch Scotland with some Scottish fans, I always want them to do well.

I really thought it was going to kick off - couple of really bad tackles by the Liechtenstein players. I'm sure I saw one of the Scottish players suggest to an opponent that he would see him outside, lol.

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In all honesty though, qualifying for the Euros is not really the issue, no one expects England not to qualify - it's how England perform in the actual tournament that's the issue.

If Capello can't reach the quarters (at least) of that tournament then does he deserve to be around for the next world cup?

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Depends who the opposition is.

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Come on - in Europe, looking at the other teams, if England don't get to the quarters its a failure.

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Yes but it would depend which team we get drawn against in the last 16. Despite the seeding you can get a big team in the last 16. Spain, Germany, Holland, Portugal, maybe Italy, Russia, France if they get their act together. All teams that would prove difficult. Half of those teams are certainly better than us, the others around the same level.

Then there are loads of teams we should beat but always prove difficult, lot of Eastern European teams in that. Denmark maybe.

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Good result last night for ½ Man Ci...........oops sorry England, they actually looked like a team which had a game plan as opposed to the 11 strangers which turned up at the world cup!
If you`d have said a couple of years ago that 5 City players would be playing for England the doctor would have you on Prozac quicker than you can say sheezkabab :D

Nice to see Rooney get a goal, maybe if `the story` had broke before the world cup he might not have had such a bad showing...

Man of the Match had to be Adam Johnson, the lad is full of confidence right now and just seems to enjoy his football :)

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I thought it was 6 man city players?

Milner, barry, wright-philips, hart, lescott and johnson

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an apt quote from The Fiver

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Heh:

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Well tonights match was boring, and that hand ball by Montenegro in the penalty area should have given England a chance

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I had an accumulator on the following teams: Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Portugal to win and England to draw. Pretty annoyed the Italy game was called off!

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1 - 0 to England :)

Did you notice the ignorant Wales fans booing the national anthem.

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Well 2 - 0 in 15 mins will be a start :D

I see England giving Wales a thrashing.

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Yes and I saw the equally ignorant English returning the favour.

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Funny I didn't hear that but hey, 2 - 0 so happy wales are getting thrashed, come ENGLAND, plus I don't agree with anyone booing any teams national athem even if it is wales lol

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You didn't? What a surprise hey?

Anyway if it helps restore some national pride for England by beating a team as small as Wales then good on them :tu:

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Well its the first England match were I couldn't hear the fans sining.

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The shameful Wales booing would have been louder as we have more fans in there. But it's a total lack of respect on both sides.

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I was been funny Russ, come on its a national rival, its not about size it about national pride, Wales have some class players compared to some years ago, so you do have a chance, no need to be bitter Russ, you might win a game soon, I hear Scotland are too good lol.

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Just giving a balance :)

My comment was inspired by the English people on my Facebook, one of whom has put their status as "2-nil up after 15 minutes!! Bring on the World Cup!!"

:rofl:

But seriously, our defending is non-existent :spin:

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England and the world cup............ LMFAO

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Of course I'm going to be accused of being bitter but....anyone else think England aren't exactly playing well? They just seem like they're playing normal football against a side who are gifting them with opportunity and after opportunity and they're taking each one.

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For the Welsh fans, read it and weep.

England's Record against Wales - P99 W64-D21-L14 F242-A90 Record: 75.25%

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/England_v_Wales.html

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Right, and you expected Wales to win this time hey?

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Well on that 1st half performance it's clear that the first man substituted needs to be Gary Speed. Wrong man for the job entirely.

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tbh after the world cup performance we are playing well, Wales was never really going to win but they are atleast trying to fight back.

You can't expect the manager to chance things after one game.

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No, the laws of Welsh football state we have a slight come-back that then gets completely killed off by another England goal.

Anyway that penalty, anyone else think it looked like Young just waited for the defender to clatter in to him?

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As a Villa fan I can admit that was a dive, tho glad when he is gone from Villa, and the younger players can shine.

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I don't think it was a dive, it's just the defender seemed to slip and accidentally catch him as he went down. I'll have another look on the replay but it certainly looked like Young set him up for it.

Doesn't change the match though.

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England have relaxed more now and Wales are countering well.

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he went dwn a bit easy.

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Well deserved win, nice one England just stay on focus for the next match.

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Which was to be expected after wales started it.

Pity we didnt score more, but 2 - 0 will do.

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England fans have been doing it for years, "they started it" means very little these days.

Didn't or couldn't? Remember this was Wales not Brazil.

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One question isn't god save the queen a national athem seem a bit backwards to boo it, tho England fans shouldn't of boo wales national athem

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We've had this discussion before, England shouldn't be using GSTQ.

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When have we, its the national athem and should be used by any team that want to use it, how often is there a mixture of scots, welsh, irish and english on the same pitch on the same side

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GSTQ is the British anthem, not the English. It's used for the UK at the Olympics etc.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Save_the_Queen

IMHO Land of hope and glory should be used.

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The Welsh anthem is rousing and patriotic, I think Land of Hope and Glory would sound better for a nation that didn't have an anthem.

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England is part of Brition so have as much right to use as do other nations who are part of the UK.

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If Britain was playing then yes it should be used however England should use one of its own instead of the UK's anthem. There were no Scots playing so why use the UK theme? There are plenty of alternatives.

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Back on topic please.

Didn't.

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Given England's flatulent performance in the World Cup they should be taking each chance they can get and had no reason not to try for more goals. I think you'll find it was "couldn't".

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have to agree with Russ as much as it pains me but England couldnt get a goal.

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England's performance in that match shows they can control the pace of the game and 4 3 3 seems to be working for them, mainly due our wingers pace, come young, lennon, walcott we could start to see England improve for the euro and hopefully advance further than the quarter finals.

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You can't read to much into the game. England did ok against relatively poor opponents.

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You can look at the performace of the players and see how they play

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The performances against poorer teams don't count for much. There are all sorts of factors which will give a false impression, for example a teams ability to hit teams with pace is affected by the pace of the other team, a pressing games against players who are poor at keeping the ball will give a false impression of the teams ability to use pressure.

England often appear good against lesser teams. They struggle against moderate teams and get roundly beaten by good teams.

It's only a few months after France walked all over England at Wembley. In that game England did what they did against Wales, tried to deny them space and time, it doesn't work against decent sides. France simply passed England to death taking advantage of the space conceded in the name of pressing.

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England v Switzerland. ITV1 4:15PM

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England: Hart, Glen Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, Cole, Parker, Lampard, Wilshere, Walcott, Milner, Bent. Subs: Green, Jagielka, Baines, Barry, Young, Downing, Zamora.

For me that side looks really weak but more than capable of dispatching the Swiss, I assume Capello is just trying players out with each other and taking a look at some of the younger boys.

Walcott should have been at the world cup and taking Heskey was one of the worst managerial decisions in recent history.

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I have no interest in whether England win or lose but I get the feeling they'll take this.

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good performance from England. strong at the back and fast paced quick passing in midfield. Joe Hart filled everyone with confidence today - he's looking on top of his game. good movement from all and nice to see a lot of space-finding upfront.


no, wait - the other one.... England were crap.

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Good performances from Young and Wilshere. Pretty poor or average from the rest. Wouldn't read much into it given it's on the backend of a long season.

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Yep maybe if they got rid of the players instead of blaming the manager all the time we could actually put a good show on.

I have said it before granted on another forum, but get rid of all the premier league players and get players from the amateur and league 1 etc and work with them, have them train all week all be it if we don't qualify for major comp's for a while and play for there country instead, then they will be great.

What we have at the moment is a bunch of over paid pre madonna's who would rather play for club than country when, in fact it should be the other way round.

Yes I am English and I support England although ashamed to at times, considering I am at the moment hoping that England loose there next 20 or so games and then maybe they will look at the players rather than the manager all the time.

I don't care what people think if we were to use lower division players and have them train as a team, rather than the way thing's are at the moment we might actually stand a chance of winning somet, instead what we have is people who do not give a flying 2 hoots about there national team but would rather play and, try and get there next club move.

Apologies if it was hard to follow I have had a few drinks :)

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Well Capello has made his excuses and this time he says it was fatigue affecting Englands performance.

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LOL. Don't see that working somehow ;)...

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Capello has no experience of Premierleague football. Another flop at a competition will see him removed so bring on a disastrous EURO 2012.

The golden boy team most people wanted rid of.. Would have blown the Swiss away but now we are worse off and it really cant get much better at all. The team fielded today simply cannot compete with any Major team which we already have evidence for (World Cup 2010)

With a few minor adjustments seeing the addition of Rooney and Gerrard it is still not exactly brilliant.

As for the fatigue excuse and the game being on the back end of a season. What a load of crap! On average one game a week over a 38 game season? A better answer would have been. They all got hammered off a two week binge and couldn't be arsed to show up for training.

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Individually the players are good enough to play in almost any league in the world but as a team....England are simply not a world class side and haven't been for decades.

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Players do get fatigued. The games they play are very high in intensity, it's why collections of injuries seem to happen around about the same time. A lot of the players actually play an average of two games a week when you factor in European competition and cup competitions. At one point in the winter Arsenal played 5 games in 15 days or something.

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In fairness most of those players have had 3 weeks or so to recover. Not a summer break in any way but enough to take the edge off fatigue.

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Ince has his say about England

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14829210.stm

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Yes l have to agree with quite a bit of what he says.