Have we got an unofficial official England v Russia thread?

[Wilko]

Got to be honest I thought they both looked pretty poor, it was a good game but I don't think there was an outstanding amount of quality in the game bar Bale's free kick.

I certainly don't think we should fear a team with players like Williams and Gunter to be honest.

The poorest team in the tournament so far have been Russia.....

 

[Hugo Rune]

Does anyone REALLY think that we've just seen an England team that is incapable of beating Wales and Slovakia?

If so ... elaborate.

I thought we played brilliant tonight. Even if we play better or the same against Wales & Slovakia, we'll lose to one and draw to the other. That's just the way it goes with England, performance or quality of players are irrelevant. Tournament over for me.

 

[1066familyman]

The poorest team in the tournament so far have been Russia.....

I'll reserve judgement on that as just watching back Switzerland v Albania now. Usually in tournaments Switzerland are duller than dishwater, although they've already scored here inside the first 5 minutes

Anyway, were Russia really that poor, or did we just make them look poor? I thought we played well, and aside from a brief spell early in the second half and the goal, we didn't really let them in the game.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

What I find great about England doing their usual hardest to get knocked out, after a 10 zip qualifier and then changing formations and personnel and I sit here and ask why? Is that I have had a worse time in the past 6 weeks with Brighton, so anything England do will not make it worse for me. So do your worst England... I don't care!!

 

[Doc Lynam]

Very impressed with England tonight, and its been a very long time since i said that! Bold decisions on the ball and dynamic attacks, good stuff. It was a pleasure watching us play tonight.

 

[Acker79]

I didn't pay attention to the first half. One moment I did see, Rooney had the ball in front of the defence and we had three players in an offside position behind the defence. They just stood there, making no effort to get back onside, forcing Rooney to turn back.

Based mostly on the second half, I'm surprised by the amount of praise for Rooney. He seemed to pack positional discipline, and let play go by him too much. Sterling was, of course, awful. England as a whole were ineffective. Unable to find team mates in the box, making wrong decisions in the final third. As others have said, very much like Albion, especially accepting others' opinion that we were generally good in the first half and failed to make our pressure count. Though, I think that is like the Albion under Sammi and Hughton as well as Gus and Oscar (think of early games under hyypie where our opponents would have one shot and score while we dominated the rest of the game and didn't, think of how dominant we have been in games this season, only to fail to win or win by only one goal, think of Birmingham at home, think of Wednesday at home).

I don't think we're incapable of beating Wales. But there is a difference between being capable of something, and being likely or probable of doint it, and another performance like that second half, and I could see Wales getting something from the game. Especially when you consider everyone though it was a foregone conclusion we would comfortable beat an "aging" "injury hit" Russia that would be "whichever 11 players are fit".

 

[blockhseagull]

I didn't pay attention to the first half. One moment I did see, Rooney had the ball in front of the defence and we had three players in an offside position behind the defence. They just stood there, making no effort to get back onside, forcing Rooney to turn back.

Based mostly on the second half, I'm surprised by the amount of praise for Rooney. He seemed to pack positional discipline, and let play go by him too much. Sterling was, of course, awful. England as a whole were ineffective. Unable to find team mates in the box, making wrong decisions in the final third. As others have said, very much like Albion, especially accepting others' opinion that we were generally good in the first half and failed to make our pressure count. Though, I think that is like the Albion under Sammi and Hughton as well as Gus and Oscar (think of early games under hyypie where our opponents would have one shot and score while we dominated the rest of the game and didn't, think of how dominant we have been in games this season, only to fail to win or win by only one goal, think of Birmingham at home, think of Wednesday at home).

I don't think we're incapable of beating Wales. But there is a difference between being capable of something, and being likely or probable of doint it, and another performance like that second half, and I could see Wales getting something from the game.

I'd agree with some of the comments.

However you are basing it on the poorer half, we did completely control and dominate the first half with Rooney playing well

 

[Sussex Nomad]

I thought Rooney was a lot more effective in a deep sitting midfield role. That means I have to eat my words about the ineffective ****. I'd like to see him grow as a player in that position. But we shouldn't be experimenting at a championship. Why the hell have we changed everything we did from the qualifiers? As for Sterling, words fail me. How on earth did he manage to thieve his way into professional football, let alone the English side? But we played this 4-5-1 (4-3-3) to accommodate Rooney. It smacks of Woy having no backbone.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

The poorest team in the tournament so far have been Russia.....

Textbook England - Russia offered less than nothing, we ran ourselves into the ground only to achieve parity at the final whistle. Where was the third sub to run down the clock?

Great atmosphere at the Elephant & Castle in Lewes btw.

 

[Randsta]

Same old story!

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Sterling and Service don,t seem to fit with above mentioned player !!

 

[Seagull1989]

Why was Harry Kane taking our corners ? Possibly are biggest goal scoring threat isn't in the box. Surely Rooney or Lallana could take them

 

[Pavilionaire]

Lallana did bugger all in that second half and he's now on 0 goals in 24 matches.

 

[Algernon]

I thought Kane looked to carry little or no threat today. Infact many a time we got down the wings only to cross the ball into a box populated by 5 Russian defenders alone.
Vardy should start on Thursday.
Sterling should be left back................ (in the changing room.)

 

[nwgull]

That was probably the most positive opening game performance from an England team that I can remember. When was the last time that we dominated a team like that in the first game of a Euro or World Cup.

Full of confidence that we'll beat Wales and Slovakia after that.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

That was probably the most positive opening game performance from an England team that I can remember. When was the last time that we dominated a team like that in the first game of a Euro or World Cup.

Full of confidence that we'll beat Wales and Slovakia after that.

Exactly this. We played well but were unlucky, end of.

 

[Mowgli37]

Many, many beds being wet tonight.

Very encouraging performance. Swap Sterling out for Vardy and you're onto a winner against the remaining two nations. Oh and as much as I love him get Kane the hell away from set-piece taking!

 

[Mackenzie]

I thought we played pretty well tonight, Vardy should be in the team though.

 

[One Love]

That was probably the most positive opening game performance from an England team that I can remember. When was the last time that we dominated a team like that in the first game of a Euro or World Cup.

Full of confidence that we'll beat Wales and Slovakia after that.

Competely agree ...

If we replace Hodgson with any local schoolboy team manager

and

we send Milner home on the next plane.

 

[BadFish]

Competely agree ...

If we replace Hodgson with any local schoolboy team manager

and

we send Milner home on the next plane.

Bit harsh to blame Milner for that i think.

Roy needed to get Sturridge on IMHO.