World Cup: England v Sweden

[lane4]

The half-time whistle blows. England have enjoyed the majority of possession and have a 1-0 lead - but aside from the goal, they have created few chances and face another nervous 45 minutes against a combative, if uninspiring, Sweden team.

Come on EN-GER-LAND!

[swimmer]

o is the game on now? thought it was 10.30 tonite kick off - ooopps!

[lane4]

Swimmer - hang your head in shame, you should be banished forever from these forums after a comment like that!

England escape with a 1-1 draw following a woeful second half performance. Leeds hooligan Danny Mills lets the nation down by gifting Sweden their equaliser. He has surely played his last game for his country?

[swimmer]

yes i hang my head in shame - however i did catch the last 5 mins! hehe :) england wer playing sooooo bad though, they betta pick up their game before argentina - next friday ko 12.30 , hehe i think i can redeam myself a bit now!

[Bazza]

Originally posted by lane4
England escape with a 1-1 draw following a woeful second half performance. Leeds hooligan Danny Mills lets the nation down by gifting Sweden their equaliser. He has surely played his last game for his country?

When did they play woeful? They weren't playing that well when I watched them. Must have been watching the wrong game!;)
I don't think we can blame Danny Mills - everyone was crap (except Seaman - take note OS!), and I'm sure he'll keep his place. I thought he linked up quite well with Beckham. Please don't play Heskey out wide, it's painful just seeing him on the wing...:o

[outside smoker]

Seaman was at fault for the goal. The great "save" he made when it was one on one was a very poor effort hit straight at him with the striker`s right foot when it would have been better to take it with his left. For more thoughts on Seaman see another topic.

England are missing Gerrard deperately. Hargreaves worked very hard in the first half closing down the Swedes but tired in the second half cos he was given very little help - this was when Sweden came into it more cos they had more time on the ball. Scholes was woeful. Beckham was never in it - tho his delivery for the goal (as always) was perfect. Heskey did more in 20 mins up front than Owen and Vassell managed in the whole match - he is never going to be a left sided midfielder.

Basically England lost it big time in the middle - which begs the question:

WHY ON EARTH IS STEVE MACMANAMAN NOT THERE?

With so many problems in midfield they need someone with proven big match experience and ability.

[lane4]

Originally posted by outside smoker
WHY ON EARTH IS STEVE MACMANAMAN NOT THERE?


My sentiments exactly!

[swimleeds]

Too many players not playing to their potential.

Beckham clearly did not take any chances, alwats passed the ball rather than take on an opponent, but too replace him with another of the same ilk shows that we don't have sufficient cover if the first choice players have an off day.

But why did, in my opinion, take off the only player who looked like doing anything _ Darius Vassell.

lets hope that we can improve sufficiently to beat the Argies.

Biggest surprise to me so far was the way Saudi Arabia could not handle the high ball from the Germans.

[lane4]

Originally posted by swimleeds
Biggest surprise to me so far was the way Saudi Arabia could not handle the high ball from the Germans.

It was because they are s***?

Biggest surprise to me so far was why this was a surprise to you!? :confused:

[swimusa]

Yes because when I think of great soccer nations, I think of Germany, Argentina, Britain, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

**when reading, insert sarcastic tone**

[swimleeds]

The surprise was because the Germans have played the same for the last few years, because mots of the Bundesliga clubs use the same formation as the national teams.

Any coach who plays against them knows this and tries to negate it somehow.

So the surprise was that the Saudis went into the game with no idea how to counter this. They were out muscled all the time.

If a team qualifies for a major championship, you don't expect them to roll over at the first attempt no matter who they play.

[Bazza]

Originally posted by outside smoker
Seaman was at fault for the goal. The great "save" he made when it was one on one was a very poor effort hit straight at him with the striker`s right foot when it would have been better to take it with his left. For more thoughts on Seaman see another topic.

England are missing Gerrard deperately. Hargreaves worked very hard in the first half closing down the Swedes but tired in the second half cos he was given very little help - this was when Sweden came into it more cos they had more time on the ball. Scholes was woeful. Beckham was never in it - tho his delivery for the goal (as always) was perfect. Heskey did more in 20 mins up front than Owen and Vassell managed in the whole match - he is never going to be a left sided midfielder.

Basically England lost it big time in the middle - which begs the question:

WHY ON EARTH IS STEVE MACMANAMAN NOT THERE?

With so many problems in midfield they need someone with proven big match experience and ability.

For me Seaman made some important saves - not just the one hit straight at him, though that was one of the best. If we had anyone else in goal, it would have been at least three against.
Yes we miss Gerrard, but I thought Scholes and Gerrard did well. Beckham was better than anyone who could have replaced (as proven when Keiron Dire came on), but Heskey was definitely woeful on the left. He looked effective in the 2 minutes he played up front. Vassell was lively and looked like creating something, but Owen was never at the races, possibly due to a lack of service. McManaman has never done anything in an England shirt, especially on the left (I assume this is where you were referring to him playing?). The bottom line is most of them were a disappointment, but who would be better?:confused: :(

[lane4]

Originally posted by bazzaroodoo


Yes we miss Gerrard, but I thought Gerrard did well.

Explain please!? :confused:

[Bazza]

Erm...:o

Oops - I OBVIOUSLY meant Hargreaves!:rolleyes: