England v Sweden Match Thread

[Chazza]

Looks like Carroll will be starting as nearly all the papers have him in the team for Oxlade Chamberlain

[JohnDoe]

Carroll and Welbeck is a bad fit.

[Fosterbloke]

Is Downing not good enough?

[Darkon]

This will be a physical match, I think England needs a bit more muscle in CM for this one.

Wonder if England will be a bit more offensive for this one? I hope, but doubt it.

[spanky]

This should be a 3 pointer for England but will bore the hell out of viewers.

[Lee]

Hope Carroll smashes the **** out of them.

What's happening with Gerrard and Parker? Hasn't it been rumoured this week that Hodgson might rest one of them?

[dww]

This will be a physical match, I think England needs a bit more muscle in CM for this one.

Wonder if England will be a bit more offensive for this one? I hope, but doubt it.

I think England will use similar tactics but I would expect them to be more successful and have more attacks nonetheless. The whole of Roy's plan revolves around transitions in possession triggering moves frequently involving a few quick passes either down the middle to a target man or out wide to get a cross in. France were neat and efficient on the ball, giving England almost no chances to enact their plan, I don't think Sweden will be as tidy.

I'm not sure England have much more muscle to bring in (barring Jones starting). I don't think at international level its often all that useful either. I think bulking up the midfield would if anything make a Roy side worse, which frankly is an idea too horrific to contemplate for long.

[Kenneth]

This should be a 3 pointer for England but will bore the hell out of viewers.

I think the Swedes think the same way. Certainly their media think they'll win this.

[cream]

England will struggle to score. This will be a draw or loss for England.

[Darkon]

I think England will use similar tactics but I would expect them to be more successful and have more attacks nonetheless. The whole of Roy's plan revolves around transitions in possession triggering moves frequently involving a few quick passes either down the middle to a target man or out wide to get a cross in. France were neat and efficient on the ball, giving England almost no chances to enact their plan, I don't think Sweden will be as tidy.

I'm not sure England have much more muscle to bring in (barring Jones starting). I don't think at international level its often all that useful either. I think bulking up the midfield would if anything make a Roy side worse, which frankly is an idea too horrific to contemplate for long.

You might be right, I havn't (thankfully) not seen much of how he set up the England international side, but knowing the Swedish team well I can see England losing the battle in midfield against a strong Swedish team if they don't take up the battle more than against France. The big difference between France and Sweden being that they are more direct, will throw in crosses and not just play around the edge of the area as France did. IMO Sweden could well sit on England in this game if they don't push forward more, and it seems like Sweden are setup well against England.

England can then try and throw the ball up and over the Swedish midfield, but with big CD's that can prove a dificult strategy as well.

[dww]

You might be right, I havn't (thankfully) not seen much of how he set up the England international side, but knowing the Swedish team well I can see England losing the battle in midfield against a strong Swedish team if they don't take up the battle more than against France. The big difference between France and Sweden being that they are more direct, will throw in crosses and not just play around the edge of the area as France did. IMO Sweden could well sit on England in this game if they don't push forward more, and it seems like Sweden are setup well against England.

England can then try and throw the ball up and over the Swedish midfield, but with big CD's that can prove a dificult strategy as well.

I think the latter point is why Welbeck will start - reasonably tall and strong but much more mobile than Carroll (who it looks like he will partner). I think he'll get joy out of Mellberg. The Swedish defence looked like they struggled with lateral movement against the Ukraine.

I think a more direct opponent is what will help England. We shall see.

[lickedlollipop]

Hope Carroll smashes the **** out of them.

[Glenn Hysen]

Not much hope tonight. The way we played against Ukraine was terrible. We play a bit like Liverpool last season under Dalglish. Trying to play attacking football but no real structure to the team. A small nation like us needs to rely on a solid defensive structure and go from there. I never cheer for England even though Gerrard captains it, don't know why really. But I was glad for Torres to score yesterday. After all the goals he scored for us.

[dww]

Not much hope tonight. The way we played against Ukraine was terrible. We play a bit like Liverpool last season under Dalglish. Trying to play attacking football but no real structure to the team. A small nation like us needs to rely on a solid defensive structure and go from there. I never cheer for England even though Gerrard captains it, don't know why really. But I was glad for Torres to score yesterday. After all the goals he scored for us.

Torres played for Sweden?

[Kenneth]

Heard Welbeck talk for the first time on the radio this morning. Camp as a row of tents. Like a black Kenneth Williams.