WC 2014 - Match 7 - England vs Italy

[No Fixed Abode]

RattLOLed.

He was. Outclassed by Pirlo again.

[sandman]

So he was on the pitch? Can you tell us which midfielders in the squad didn't get on the pitch?

[No Fixed Abode]

It's a shame Gerrard wasn't as defensive (or attacking) as you.

[stealthpapes]

The brackets ruin that.

4/10

[melonhead]

70% pass completion in opposition half.
3 shots, all 3 off target.
Zero chances created.
7 crosses attempted, 7 unsuccessful.

Not bad for an attacking creative player I guess.

Yeah.... must have missed that pass for Rooney to help set up the goal then.

wayne set up the chance
raheem set up the setting up


he was also, as the number 10, supposed to be the one to sit on Pirlo when we didnt have the ball. he followed him round alot-but actually did nothing about stopping him.

[Mr Angry]

As Winchester Royal posted earlier, we don't HAVE to beat Uruguay, merely not lose.

To a large extent that depends on Costa Rica Vs Italy. If that match is a draw then it would be handy to beat Uruguay. If Costa Rica win then it's almost essential that we beat Uruguay.

Well obviously.

Did that really need saying?

[LUX]

RattLOLed.

He was. Outclassed by Pirlo again.

typical glory boy fan, doesn't support his local team, does not support his country. Who are you supporting, France? Italy? Whoever looks likely to win?

[No Fixed Abode]

RattLOLed.

He was. Outclassed by Pirlo again.

typical glory boy fan, doesn't support his local team, does not support his country. Who are you supporting, France? Italy? Whoever looks likely to win?

Imagine getting so RattLOLed by facts.

[LUX]

which fact is that? I posted about Pirlo on this thread as the match finished (and at HT). Check it out.

[No Fixed Abode]

which fact is that? I posted about Pirlo on this thread as the match finished (and at HT). Check it out.

So was Pirlo better than Gerrard or not?

[LUX]

of course

If only Lampard had been there to match that talent.

So come on then, who's is the glory boy supporting for this year's WC? Maybe drop Spain?

[Royalclapper]

RattLOLed.

He was. Outclassed by Pirlo again.

Yeah, who'd have thought that prior to the game eh?

[Ouroboros]

I just hope Lux has forgotten this by the time that NFA's sister gets cancer.

[From Despair To Where?]

RattLOLed.

He was. Outclassed by Pirlo again.

Yeah, who'd have thought that prior to the game eh?

Pirlo in better than 99% of the players at the World Cup shock

Whatever next? Torres in tripping over his own feet when it's easier to score shock

[Mr.Swainey]

I thought Woy was brave leaving Gerrard out of the starting XI.

Rattled. Where was Fat Frank?

[floyd__streete]

England were entirely mediocre. Played with good pace and intent first half but it was entirely lacking in quality and the second half just degenerated into shooting fish in a barrel. Defensively we are poor. Hear so much about these supposedly wonderful young players but once again Wilshere had zero impact, ditto Lallana (admittedly with little time to do so). Barkley just seemed to want to run with the ball showing zero intelligence, running into danger. He doesn't look to me to have the maturity to play for England just yet. Team selection (in terms of starting XI) was generally sound but this whole 'cult of Rooney' and having to squeeze a busted flush into the side no matter what just marks Hodgson down as another weak England manager tbh.

Uruguay can't play as badly as they did against Costa Rica and given that the latter might only need a point to qualify I can see England ending the campaign with ZERO wins.

[Hoop Blah]

Why all this focus on Rooney, if he'd taken his chance he'd be our hero, he got himself into the position to create the opening.

It was Wellbeck that switched off then couldn't be arsed to make up the ground, that left us so exposed for the 2nd goal

Totally agree. Rooney had a decent game, only a 7/10 perhaps, but he did what we needed to and you know he'll deliver quality more often than not if he's put into a position to deliver as he was when Sterling put him through.

Who would you rather have on the ball in those crucial moments? Wellbeck, Barkley or Rooney?

He didn't take the couple of chances that came his way, but he's more reliable than the others at doing so.

[Hoop Blah]

As above, I think Rooney had a decent game and performed the role asked of him. Hodgson took a gamble on exposing Baines with the hope that we'd make up for it going forward. I like the fact he wasn't too cautious and stuck Milner in there to nulify their threat and asked our attackers to try and pin them back with a threat of our own.

Overall a good performance with some good attacking play. Both full backs were exposed and we could easily have given a couple more goals away as well but I think the balance was pretty good.

Sterling was the real key and he ran them ragged at times and the side was obviously set up to give him that platform. I'm not sure that will be the same for the next two games but I'd be amazed if he wasn't at used in one of the 3 attacking positions on Thursday.

I like Sturridge but I do find him frustrating at times. Too often I think he tries the difficult option or hangs about outside the box and out wide too much. The ball across the box that Wellbeck ended up being closest to tapping in was a case in point and he could add a more goals if he made those more traditional runs a little more. I think it comes down to work rate and reading of the game. Perhaps things that he needs to work on.

Promising stuff from England though and a big thumbs up for Hodgson from me.

[No Fixed Abode]

I just hope Lux has forgotten this by the time that NFA's sister gets cancer.

You are seriously out or order. We're discussing football and you've over stepped the mark massively there.

[Royal Rother]

Agreed.