England v Russia, 11th June, 8pm

[Bartonyellow]

Well thats a shame...

How's mowing the lawn and Washing the car working out for you sweaty socks this summer ?

 

[WAP]

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/741756412011937792

Have a look at this, a flare gets thrown from the Russian end into an English section. Disgusting.

 

[JoshBCFC]

We don't have to find a scapegoat. We don't have to blame the manager. Russia had one chance in the last minute and they took it, it doesn't mean that we did anything wrong at the end.

Let's be straight here if Vardy had come on after the 1st goal he could've easily killed the game off, Kane had an off-day today and for some reason he didn't take him off and make the correct option in bringing Vardy (who has much more pace to get in behind their slow defense) on. TBH if we ever had any chance of scoring again after Russia's goal then I think the decision to bring Sterling off killed that chance.

Despite that it was a very promising performance, Walker, Rooney and Rose all stood out for me. No real poor performances today.

 

[mente captus]

i thought Hart and Kane were awful

but aside from them it was a pretty good england performance.

interesting to see how they will come back after that heart-breaking equaliser in the next game and if Kane is still allowed to take the set-piece responsibility

 

[Kopper]

Those substitutions were a disgrace, why on gods earth would you take off the best player on the pitch, the captain and leader off when your defending a lead and im sure Milner is Hodgson's love child or something cos he always seems to get a run at some stage despite being terribly shit and lost the ball which eventually lead to the goal. Its such a shame because we played well and controlled the game for 90 mins but individual mistakes and poor substitutions cost us.

I got slated on here for saying Milner was less than brilliant and wanting shot of him.

Milner should feature on the wing or not at all.

 

[Pagnell]

I got slated on here for saying Milner was less than brilliant and wanting shot of him.

He came on in the 87th minute. You seriously think 6 minutes on the pitch makes you right for wanting rid of the player with the highest assist stats in the top flight since Christmas? Woy bringing him on in hindsight was the wrong substitution, but that is based on the type of player he is, not his quality.

 

[smat]

Kane being on corners is going to be on some "Top 50 Worst England Moments" program that goes out on ITV2 during the next World Cup.

 

[GodsGift]

I'm still annoyed about last night. It was an encouraging performance and I do like the way Roy set us up, but it all counts for nothing if we don't win. After all, I thought we played well against Italy and Uruguay at the last World Cup, but look how that turned out.

I mean, I don't think people realise how bad that Russia side are and yet we couldn't score from open play. From 60 mins onwards when it was still level, it was blatantly obvious something needed changing - yet Kane somehow stayed on, as did Alli, and Sterling lasted 20 minutes longer than he should have done. And not to bring Vardy on after we went ahead was just ridiculous - why even bother including him in the squad if he's not going to bring him on in that situation? 1-0 up against a slow side who are naturally going to push higher up the pitch - it's simple stuff.

 

[CEngelbrecht]

Yeah, put Vardy in the starting next game.

Let's be straight here if Vardy had come on after the 1st goal he could've easily killed the game off,

Is Vardy turning into Beckham at the World Cup '98?

 

[spireite]

Kane should be in and around the box all the time, where he can do his damage. Too many of his touches are out wide. And why he is taking set pieces I'll never know, there's noone better in our side at goal poaching loose balls. Not sure I'd play Sterling myself either.

It wasn't the worst performance ever, but it was pretty toothless. The Russian keep made a couple of saves, but they were all straight at him more or less. Thought Rooney done good in the middle there to be fair to him. Was pretty disciplined in his role, and curbed his instincts to bomb up

 

[smat]

On the positive side, Rooney was much better in midfield than I expected. Think he'd get exposed against a better team but his range of passing was great.

 

[spireite]

I'm still annoyed about last night. It was an encouraging performance and I do like the way Roy set us up, but it all counts for nothing if we don't win. After all, I thought we played well against Italy and Uruguay at the last World Cup, but look how that turned out.

I mean, I don't think people realise how bad that Russia side are and yet we couldn't score from open play. From 60 mins onwards when it was still level, it was blatantly obvious something needed changing - yet Kane somehow stayed on, as did Alli, and Sterling lasted 20 minutes longer than he should have done. And not to bring Vardy on after we went ahead was just ridiculous - why even bother including him in the squad if he's not going to bring him on in that situation? 1-0 up against a slow side who are naturally going to push higher up the pitch - it's simple stuff.

This, all of it. The changes were late, and they were the wrong changes. A blind man could see the pack needed shuffling after an hour. Vardy and Wilshere for Sterling and Lallana right after Diers hit was the change IMO, if he wasn't gonna change it before then

 

[GodsGift]

UEFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Russia over crowd disturbance, setting fireworks off and racist behaviour.

 

[Pagnell]

I'd have brought Vardy or Sturridge on for a straight swap with Kane on the 60 minute mark. It was clear something wasn't working for the Spurs man last night.

 

[Vale on Trent]

We don't have to find a scapegoat. We don't have to blame the manager. Russia had one chance in the last minute and they took it, it doesn't mean that we did anything wrong at the end.

Spot on. We played well and we were unlucky. English fans love to find someone to blame and moan at. Beat Wales and everything's looking rosy again.

 

[Bilo]

I thought England played well, certainly deserved to win. Not a disaster at all, drawing against Russia. Really should play Kane off one of Sturridge/Vardy though.

Shame about the scenes before, during and after the game though.

 

[Vale on Trent]

I knew we were in trouble when Hodgson was named as manager I did not think he was any good . I have always questioned his judgement . When he named his squad I thought he had made a mistake taking players not fully fit .not taking Townsend an out and out winger who can cross and shoot accurately .Tonight it all proved to be correct .Lallana as the wide player taking the corners and shots on goal were all a joke .why was he not off and Vardy on he couldn't be any worse when we had only 20 minutes to go why change things around . we started to drop deeper and deeper .taking one fast wide player who is causing problems for Russia not letting them push every one forward .To replace him with a slow defensive midfielder who has been beaten very easily this season by opposition midfielders congesting the centre and freeing the opposing wide men to push on .I could see the goal coming and was screaming for the final whistle as I could see us getting beaten then it happened they scored our defence looked a mess . after that I am now worried about the wales game .Is this going to be another failure going out at the group stages again .I have been lucky enough to have been to England games in the past I've watched the joy of the 66 word cup win and heart break of Italia 90 but those managers knew what they were doing same team set up like player swapped for like player , same formation same tactics .But Hodgson ?

We've played one game so far. Yes we should have won but moan if we don't qualify from the group not after one game which incidentally we didn't lose.

 

[smat]

Just looking at qualifiers from our group's potential round of 16 opponents. We need to beat Wales and Slovakia because if we don't, we could end up playing Portugal or Austria at best - and Spain or Germany at worst.

edited for arrogance - I would genuinely just like to see us win a game of tournament football at this stage, like Wales

 

[Leewilson]

Just looking at qualifiers from our group's potential round of 16 opponents. We need to beat Wales and Slovakia because if we don't, we could end up playing Portugal or Austria at best - and Spain or Germany at worst.

edited for arrogance - I would genuinely just like to see us win a game of tournament football at this stage, like Wales

Was looking at this myself last night. 3rd place in the group is basically asking for us to be eliminated next round (if we're lucky enough to get through then anyway). Portugal or Austria isn't the worst draw in the world, although knowing us we'd make it go all the way to extra time and crash out annoyingly. Winning the group looks much more favourable.

 

[LondonRed]

I enjoyed the early performance. I like how well Lallana plays for England. Sterling continues to lack any intelligence and I saw him as the weak link unfortunately.

Wales are so hungry for it and if England continue to be unable to produce goals then I think our tournament will be ending on Thursday. It would be nice to see England & Wales leave the group though but I have no confidence.

 

[Destruction]

CAN YOU BELIEVE STERLING COST 49MIL OR WHATEVER IT WAS??

A dog chasing its tail looks more like it knows what it's doing.

 

[smat]

Was looking at this myself last night. 3rd place in the group is basically asking for us to be eliminated next round (if we're lucky enough to get through then anyway). Portugal or Austria isn't the worst draw in the world, although knowing us we'd make it go all the way to extra time and crash out annoyingly. Winning the group looks much more favourable.

I'd rather avoid Portugal because we all know how that one ends, and Austria are the Belgium of this tournament according to The Hipsters. Is the 1-0 win over Ecuador in 2006 the last time we won a knockout game? Goodness me.

 

[smat]

CAN YOU BELIEVE STERLING COST 49MIL OR WHATEVER IT WAS??

A dog chasing its tail looks more like it knows what it's doing.

He was getting hammered in the rural Oxfordshire pub I was in, but I think that was because he's black tbh.

Edit: I mean he was getting shouted at by punters, not that he was getting drunk, which might have explained his final ball

 

[TomPNE94]

Austria are the Belgium of this tournament according to The Hipsters.

Thought that was Iceland

 

[smat]

Thought that was Iceland

God no. Iceland are the Greece.

 

[JimJams]

In defence of Sterling he and Lallana should have changed wings, Smolnikov is lightning fast and caught Sterling up on the few breaks he had down the line. Lallana beats his man with a trick or good movement, Sterling uses his pace generally so if they'd have swapped Sterling at least would have got on better against his fullback. They're both right footers so it's not like it disables either of them.

 

[MJA]

Overall it was a decent performance from England. For the most part we controlled the game well, kept possession patiently and looked to penetrate when opportunities came up. And the main reason we controlled the game so well was down to the one man most of us, myself included, didn't want to start - Wayne Rooney. As soon Roy took him off, we lost that control and Russia started to enjoy more time on the ball and were able to build the pressure that ultimately cost us 2 points.

The formation needs to be looked at. Roy claimed we played a 4-3-3 last night but my reading of a 4-3-3 formation is that we play 3 strikers and that's not what we did last night. For me last night was a negative 4-5-1, trying to be portrayed as an attacking 4-3-3 and I don't think we have the players to try and fabricate width. At the end of the day, Roy has picked a squad filled with central players and he did this because he clearly felt that the diamond was the system that suited us best and I still question whether it is despite the Portugal performance. The Portugal game needs to be kept in context as ultimately the game was ruined by that disgraceful tackle on Kane and the red card that followed because suddenly Portugal shut up shop and challenged England to get through them. In these situations the best was to penetrate is by stretching the opposition all across the pitch using width but unfortunately Roy wanted to stick with the diamond instead of thinking that it was an opportunity to test the 4-3-3 (4-5-1) formation.

Thought both full backs were superb in getting forward though and Rooney and Lallana stood out for me as well. Kane, Sterling and Alli were the biggest disappointments but we all know what Kane is capable of, probably just needs a strike partner and Alli will have a point to prove in the next match. I just don't think there is a place in the starting XI for Sterling, he actually looked out of his depth last night which is scary for a player apparently worth nearly £50 million.

And finally, will someone tell Roy that having your only actual striker taking corners is the most bizarre thing ever. This has to change for the Wales game

 

[Liam_SWFC]

I thought England were very good last night and it's a travesty we got robbed at the end, despite that blow at the end I'm now optimistic we'll make it through this group as winners. Dier is absolute quality, thought Walker, Rose, Rooney all had good games, Russia were absolute piss in that first half though and we needed to capitalise, it's a shame we didn't have our finishing boots on.

My only gripe with last night was Roy's decisions, it was glaringly obvious at 1-0 we needed Vardy on to get in behind a desperate Russia. So he brings on Milner and has us sitting back on a 1-0 lead when our defence is our weak point, no sense in that. Puts unwanted pressure on the Wales game now.

 

[DarkSithLord]

I thought England played well, certainly deserved to win. Not a disaster at all, drawing against Russia. Really should play Kane off one of Sturridge/Vardy though.

Shame about the scenes before, during and after the game though.

Normally Id agree but against that Russian side last night its unforgivable.

 

[silkyman]

i thought Hart and Kane were awful

Why Hart? He had fuck all to do all game, made one reasonably smart stop and couldn't do much about the goal because Smalling was stood in the way with his thumb up his arse.