*****Official Thread - Miami Vice - England v Ecuador*****

[banjo]

Ox best player in first half IMO

Not doing to bad this half either.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Is Lampard still on the field?

 

[Magic City]

I am just trying to think who OXO is putting pressure on? Lallana I guess?

You're certainly right with Lallana; I'd also say Danny Welbeck.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I would be concerned if I was Wellbeck or Lallana. Ox and Barkley look much more threatening

 

[Juan Albion]

And they were above Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Not sure what you point is? They were the 4th best South American side and the finals are in South America.

They are in the finals purely and simply because they play their home games at very high altitude, where they are almost unbeatable. They didn't win a single away game in qualifying, picking up just a single point in games against the other teams that qualified.

 

[Simster]

If there is such a thing as a morale CRUSHING win, then Italy leading Luxembourg 1-0 with 20 mins to play is surely it.

Which would obviously be good news for us.

 

[Quinney]

Ref's had a good game so far, let a lot go that normally gets given. Hopefully same will apply in the finals.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

We've still got Sterling and Sturridge on the bench, so refreshing to have some genuinely exciting players

 

[Blackadder]

You're certainly right with Lallana; I'd also say Danny Welbeck.

Crikey, I forgot all about Wellbeck.

 

[The Wizard]

If there is such a thing as a morale CRUSHING win, then Italy leading Luxembourg 1-0 with 20 mins to play is surely it.

Which would obviously be good news for us.

Italy were shocking the other day against ROI. A shadow of their former selves, over-rated.

 

[Simster]

I would be concerned if I was Wellbeck or Lallana. Ox and Barkley look much more threatening

Wellbeck clearly shouldn't start. We've got all sorts of options that don't involve playing bang average strikers.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

And Lallana.

 

[Pavilionaire]

If there is such a thing as a morale CRUSHING win, then Italy leading Luxembourg 1-0 with 20 mins to play is surely it.

But this is what Italy DO, they peak at the right time.

 

[Blackadder]

Is Lampard still on the field?

Good point.

 

[Simster]

Italy were shocking the other day against ROI. A shadow of their former selves, over-rated.

I have to say I don't find that hard to believe - the media are creaming themselves over Andrea Pirlo, and he is about 94. (I know he ran the show against us in the 0-0 Euro game, but if he was old then he's proper old now)

 

[Weststander]

I would be concerned if I was Wellbeck or Lallana. Ox and Barkley look much more threatening

Both very direct, immense pace and power, great on the counter - they have looked very good tonight. England using the counter attack in the heat of Brazil, rather than the pressing team that opponents love to pick us off on the counter ... could be the way to go?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Good point.

Like Wilshere he just fell to the ground for no reason. The ball hit you. get on with it

 

[Simster]

But this is what Italy DO, they peak at the right time.

True, although it normally involves SQUEAKING out of the group stages. I'm not sure they can afford to do that in this group.

 

[banjo]

FFS smalling needs a Zimmer frame. So so slow.

 

[Dan Aitch]

These commentators are appalling. How did they miss this as Ox's injury?