World Cup 2006 Thread

Originally Posted by danielf

Some dire defending on that second Sweden goal...

Dire defending at all set pieces tbh

[danielf]

Originally Posted by yesman

Dire defending at all set pieces tbh

Well, yes. There is that...

[sir_drinks_alot]

Originally Posted by yesman

Dire defending at all set pieces tbh

Yup that's are weak spot

[Gareth]

Shame that Owen could have finished his World Cup tonight

The way he crawled (literally) off the pitch in agony was impressive... some of the players on the pitch were pussies, yet he was clearly in severe pain and still managed to show what a good sportsman he is.

[budwieser]

How the Hell did that second goal go in, Someone up there doesn`t like our football team.
I know, ****e defending and a bit of bad luck. At least we won the group.!!!!
Ecuador won`t be as easy as is being said though.!
Full credit to Joe Cole , he`s played blinding football for us in ALL of our games so far.
Thought the ref was pretty crap though.

I'm not sure if it is coincidence, but I tuned in to the match seconds before Gerrard's goal - just like I did the previous game - scarey

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by Gareth

Shame that Owen could have finished his World Cup tonight The way he crawled (literally) off the pitch in agony was impressive... some of the players on the pitch were pussies, yet he was clearly in severe pain and still managed to show what a good sportsman he is.

Can't agree with you enough there. And only aftr a minute as well, most of them would have had the game stopped right then, and stayed put.

Hopefully it is just a twisted knee, nothing too serious.

Owen should be put down like you would do to a useless horse im certain his got a touch of the andertons.

Originally Posted by danielf

Well, yes. There is that...

Good luck to your team tomorrow, not that it really matters, as you are in the next round anyway, but it would be nice to see you get one over the Argies, it should be an interesting match.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by yesman

Good luck to your team tomorrow, not that it really matters, as you are in the next round anyway, but it would be nice to see you get one over the Argies, it should be an interesting match.

Thanks,

Yes, it should be an interesting match, but I'm not getting my hopes up too high for Tomorrow. Van Basten is likely to rest some players on yellow cards (including Robben), and it would be a tough game without resting players. We'll need a win to top the group, but I'll settle for a draw. We're out of the group anyway. So it looks like it will be Portugal next, and possibly England after that. Fingers crossed.

[iadom]

One FIFA stat that I did find interesting is that even before tonights game, Frank Lampard has had more goal attempts than any other player in the competition, now all we need is one or two on target or with more power. Rooney looked knackered after 30 minutes, Beckham was useless and was at fault for Sweden's first goal. we should leave him on the bench and start with Lennon. I also thought that Owen Hargreaves had a good game.

[Horace]

Fatty Lampard may have had most shots on goal but he's rarely been even close to on-target. Gerrard needs to start in the next game.

Oh well, I guess we made it through. Now it's down to who gets the least dodgy referee and penalty shoot-outs.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by iadom

One FIFA stat that I did find interesting is that even before tonights game, Frank Lampard has had more goal attempts than any other player in the competition, now all we need is one or two on target or with more power. Rooney looked knackered after 30 minutes, Beckham was useless and was at fault for Sweden's first goal. we should leave him on the bench and start with Lennon. I also thought that Owen Hargreaves had a good game.

Lennon impressed me against T&T, and to a lesser extent, so did Downing. I suppose 4-3-3 is an option...

[ntluser]

There's too much evidence that England are happy to score one goal and hang on for the rest of the match.

With Owen regretably gone it's time to move to 3 - 4 - 3 with Rooney, Crouch and Lennon up front and Cole, Lampard, Gerrard and Beckham on the half - back line.Ashley Cole, Terry and Callagher complete the fullback line.

Irritatingly, England have a bad habit of dribbling out of their own half when a big boot to our wings would remove the danger of the opposition getting a shot at goal. This would have avoided the shambles in the goalmouth which led to Sweden's second goal.

They also spend a lot of unecessary time in the centre of the pitch with their short passing instead of using the long ball to make the other side run. Beckham's pass to Rooney was a classic example. They need to spread out more and move the ball and themselves up the pitch, as a team, more quickly.

They also spend too much time passing sideways across the pitch and passing backwards instead of moving the ball up the pitch on the offensive.

It was noticeable particularly when we were taking corners that England never had anybody in place outside the opposition penalty area so that when the opposition defence headed the ball out we had someone to kick it back in.This allowed the rapid breaks that threatened our goalmouth.They need to contain the ball in the opposition goal area until someone finally scores.

The best combination was Cole & Cole who showed how effective they could be with rapid movement up the wing in partnership. Getting Beckham to do the same with Lennon could be an equally dangerous combination particularly if Gerrard and Lampard keep up their long shot barrage from just outside the penalty area.

We need to develop the fast flowing, accurate passing and deadly shooting style of Brazil/Portugal/Argentina in attack and a more effective stonewall and clearance style in defence.

We have a winning team if only we can be more positive, more goal hungry and get the tactics right. I hope they manage to get things right in time.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by danielf

Lennon impressed me against T&T, and to a lesser extent, so did Downing. I suppose 4-3-3 is an option...

Downing in the two games that he came was just average at best. Lennon did impress though and for me, should start.

Does this make me a fan?

Originally Posted by ntluser

There's too much evidence that England are happy to score one goal and hang on for the rest of the match.

...and the fact that we are not a team which can purely defend, i.e. shut up shop, makes it all the more worrying...