Euro 2012 - Group Stages

[TBM]

Boos echo round the sodden streets of Reading

Poland drew 1-1 mate, not that bad a result

[Royal Rother]

Not bad!

[southbank1871]

Despite most of the Irish supporting whoever is playing England, I’ve got quite a few Irish friends and like most have some Irish heritage, so I always hope they do well. It’s always England over Ireland though, obviously.

Starfers, any idea what the view of Irish fans is for tonight? Would they be hoping we beat France after the Henry incident a couple of years ago, or does the English h8 override that?

[Negative_Jeff]

"and so he sulks in the commentary box, braying lie a punch drunk donkey on Skegness beach, muttering like a grotty uncle at a wedding reception, maturating like a pile of wet cement, whimpering like a grieving panda, wilting like a melting Findus pancake.......he is like a bunch of petrol station carnations, the paper hat in a Morrisons christmas cracker, a penguin with measles, and an aborted dirty weekend in Milton Keynes"
The bloke in the Daily Telegraph doesn`t seem to think much of our old mate Lawro.

[Starfish]

Most Irish people will be for France, I would have thought, but that is not as obvious as it was when I was growing up. A German friend of mine was in Ireland during the last World Cup and told me that the pub in watched the Germany-England game in in Cork was split 50-50 (he was a bit disappointed about this). I have to admit that that was inconceivable 20 years ago - in the 1980s and 90s, we had an extreme footballing 'smaller-neighbour-syndrome' and we wanted England to lose against whoever they were playing against. There are similar examples to that all over Europe between neighbouring countries though. The Henry thing - I don't know if that will really have an impact - the market strength of the Premier League is probably playing more of a role in forming kids attitudes about England in a more positive way than in the past.

For what it's worth, I would imagine that 90% of Germans will be cheering for England tonight - I was in the centre of Nürnberg today and saw two or three people wearing butchers' aprons ... excuse me ... England shirts

[Simon's Church]

A few journos on twitter saying AOC is going to start instead of Downing.

[cmonurz]

A few journos on twitter saying AOC is going to start instead of Downing.

I would love this, personally. Only a minor change, but Hodgson putting a bit of his own stamp on things. The Rio affair, openly admitting we’re going to play very ‘English’ football, and now potentially AOC starting – I’m really warming to Hodgson.

[ZacNaloen]

that's good news, he's a great player and it's a sign of intent from Hodgson.

[TBM]

If he plays, i would whack him as the "number 10" and push Young out on to the wing

[ZacNaloen]

Isn't the number 10 role his favoured position?

[TBM]

Isn't the number 10 role his favoured position?

Yep, he says he's a central midfielder who likes to attack but was put on the wing at Soton cos of his pace and skill

[Simon's Church]

I'd prefer him on the right to get at Evra, think Young and Welbeck have a good understanding in the middle.

[Wax Jacket]

I'd prefer him on the right to get at Evra, think Young and Welbeck have a good understanding in the middle.

the French back 4 is bad all-round

[southbank1871]

I want to believe this rumour, but I still suspect Downing will start.

[Maguire]

Life is too short to waste your time on one way love. Nothing more cringeworthy than English people toadying up to the Micks, banging on about the craic or trying to claim some distant family link to the emerald isle.

Fukk the lot of them. Fukk their bitter hate. Fukk the chip on their shoulder. Fukk thinking you're hilarious because you tallk quickly in a mick accent. You're not funny, you're acunt. Fcuk o'neills. Fukk colcannon. Fukk Beamish stout. Fcuk point to point racing. Fukk pikeys. Fukk the blarney stone. Fukk Waterford crystal. Fukk leprechauns. And fukk Shane Long.

Der's more to Oireland dan dis?

No, der isn't.

[southbank1871]

[Maguire]

[Starfish]

That gave me a hard on.

[southbank1871]

Mick is fast becoming my favourite racial slur btw.

[Bumblebee]

I’ve got quite a few Irish friends and like most have some Irish heritage

SBers, Clinton Morrison and Samantha Mumba - the only black Irish people in history.