Tonight's Internationals

[dww]

Funnily enough one of my mates at work was saying the same today. Me and him reckoned that it's a shame that England have had such a succesion of poor managers because for near on 7 years now they've had an excellent squad. Imagine what someone like Rafa or Wenger or even Ferguson would have done with that England squad? Guys like McLaren just don't have the tactical nouse though. He's been way overpromoted though and it shows. It's not his fault because I'm sure the rest of us would take a job that almost doubled our yearly salary whether we thought we could do the job or not.

I'm not entirely convinced. I think we have had a semi-finals sort of squad and thats what Eriksson achieved with us. Our players have been very good but we have lacked tactical awareness throughout the squad and in tight matches our lack of technical ability relative to other teams has bitten us in the ass (especially when playing in hot conditions where ball retention is key).

The fact is that some of our better players are getting more tactically aware (Gerrard included) as they play longer under better managers who demand more. Gerrard and Terry are also improving as leaders but we still need a dominant keeper before we will ever be realistic challengers for a major competition.

I agree that McClaren was forced into playing the team he did in the last to matches in many ways but he still deserves credit for making the right choices (Barry ahead of Carrick, Heskey ahead of Crouch today) as was mentioned on the BBC commentary. The real test of his ability will be how he responds when he has a free set of options.

[kurtangle01]

England would've won a major tournament by now had Wenger or Rafa been in charge.

I still think Wenger's a realistic option to take the job at some point in the future.

There's no chance of Rafa ever being England boss but it's scary to think how good they'd be under our gaffer.

Exactly. If England had a manager who is as single minded, ruthless and as good tactically as Rafa or Wenger they'd have won a major tournament recently. Perhaps the last Euopean championships.

Wenger or Rafa would pick the best team and not the best 11 players. There would be none of this Lampard and Gerrard rubbish. If it didn't work, and it has never worked, it would be changed after one or two matches.

Imagine how good England would have been under Scolari?! He'd have been a superb manager for the current England team. Shame that the press messed that one up!

[Diego]

The goal by Riise

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

England would've won a major tournament by now had Wenger or Rafa been in charge.

Falling into that trap again mate.

I think England are vastly overrated.

And looking at what the Ginger clown has done nobody could say Sven did a bad job.

Remember the quarter final versus Brazil 2002? They outpassed you with 10 v11.

Bet anyone anything that McClaren axes Wright-Phillips, Heskey and Barry from Lampard, Beckham and Rooney for the next game. Haven't we learned that the England team is picked on reputation not performance. Lampard, Beckham and Banjo player from Deliverance haven't done **** all for England in months, years even.

[Shaggy]

Falling into that trap again mate.

I think England are vastly overrated.

And looking at what the Ginger clown has done nobody could say Sven did a bad job.

Remember the quarter final versus Brazil 2002? They outpassed you with 10 v11.

Bet anyone anything that McClaren axes Wright-Phillips, Heskey and Barry from Lampard, Beckham and Rooney for the next game. Haven't we learned that the England team is picked on reputation not performance. Lampard, Beckham and Banjo player from Deliverance haven't done **** all for England in months, years even.

I don't think I'm falling into that trap. England aren't that good and don't have an abundance of world class players, but there aren't very many great international sides out there. Some crap teams have won big tournaments recently and England could easily have been one of them had Wenger or Benitez been in charge, IMO.

[kurtangle01]

McClown has to leave Lampard out now. The balance was so much better with Barry alongside SG. Barry's always been a good player but I was surprised by how good they looked as a pair.

I'm not entirely convinced. I think we have had a semi-finals sort of squad and thats what Eriksson achieved with us. Our players have been very good but we have lacked tactical awareness throughout the squad and in tight matches our lack of technical ability relative to other teams has bitten us in the ass (especially when playing in hot conditions where ball retention is key).

The fact is that some of our better players are getting more tactically aware (Gerrard included) as they play longer under better managers who demand more. Gerrard and Terry are also improving as leaders but we still need a dominant keeper before we will ever be realistic challengers for a major competition.

I agree that McClaren was forced into playing the team he did in the last to matches in many ways but he still deserves credit for making the right choices (Barry ahead of Carrick, Heskey ahead of Crouch today) as was mentioned on the BBC commentary. The real test of his ability will be how he responds when he has a free set of options.

Spot on there, lads. He has to show a ruthless streak now and take control of the England squad an show that he's prepared to play the best team and not the best eleven players.

By the looks of the highlights tonight the balance was there and McLaren would be a complete fool to change it.

Play that team, or similar, for the rest of the group and England will qualify without a doubt.

[Diego]

keith Gillespie

[kurtangle01]

I don't think I'm falling into that trap. England aren't that good and don't have an abundance of world class players, but there aren't very many great international sides out there. Some crap teams have won big tournaments recently and England could easily have been one of them had Wenger or Benitez been in charge, IMO.

Well Greece did win the last Euros beating Englands conquerors in the final so you're spot on there, shaggy. I think that had England won that penalty shoot out against Portugal they could very well have went on and won the whole thing.

[AFII]

Spain game, highlights

Click on "Resumen EURO 08 España - Letonia 12/9/07" on the left.

[Diego]

Spain game, highlights

Click on "Resumen EURO 08 España - Letonia 12/9/07" on the left.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2yrr0_clasificacion-euro-2008-espanaleton_sport

[Joe King]

The mighty England defeated the high and mighty world beaters Russia who haven't been to a big tournament since 2004 and got knocked out in the first round.

England for world cup.







The red top newspapers will make out the nation is happy, McLaren should get a knighthood and England will win the European Championships.

[dww]

Unless I'm mistaken the general consensus has been that England got a good result over a team which has improved vastly since Hiddink took over (and only conceded one in the group before tonight), no one has gone over board with their praise.

[El Jefecito]

Unless I'm mistaken the general consensus has been that England got a good result over a team which has improved vastly since Hiddink took over (and only conceded one in the group before tonight), no one has gone over board with their praise.

To be fair most of us are worrying about whether Agger is injured and if there is anyone who can stop Scotland qualifying

[AFII]

Unless I'm mistaken the general consensus has been that England got a good result over a team which has improved vastly since Hiddink took over (and only conceded one in the group before tonight), no one has gone over board with their praise.

England played good and deserve the praise they will get just as much as they got slated for their many poor performances before this one.

[dww]

To be fair most of us are worrying about whether Agger is injured and if there is anyone who can stop Scotland qualifying

I fully expect you to go over board with your praise now then