England 1 Ecuador 0

[frosty]

That first half was terrible, like all of englands games apart from Sweden.

[USABlue]

Why does Joe Cole never pass to Ashley Cole?

I noticed that too, Cole overlaps into position then Cole inevitably cuts inside ignoring him. How bad have we looked so far, fancying Ecuador to nick this one, but I did before the game and I have seen nothing to make me doubt my original thoughts.

[Shaddy]

I noticed that too, Cole overlaps into position then Cole inevitably cuts inside ignoring him. How bad have we looked so far, fancying Ecuador to nick this one, but I did before the game and I have seen nothing to make me doubt my original thoughts.

To be fair to Joe, he may not back himself to track back to cover for Ashley if he over-commits.

[SouthAussieRover]

Beckham!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Flopsy]

ruddy hell - good freekick awful game

[SouthAussieRover]

It's at least 30 degrees out there Flops.

England are doing what they have to.

It's good to see them passing the ball well and trying to keep possession.

Expect the night game between Holland vs Portugal to be quicker etc as the temperature drops.

[Flopsy]

Lamplard needs a kicking

bugger me - Beckham subbed for Lennon

[SouthAussieRover]

Should have been a penalty there.

[Flopsy]

cant see Carrick starting Central midfield next game - hes been rubbish

phew - 1-0 to the Mighty England - we're oozing towards world cup glory

[SouthAussieRover]

Carrick,Hargreaves and Rooney did excellent there.

The humidity,temperature etc were getting to England towards the end.

Let's hope it's a bit cooler for the next game given the ko is at the same time.

[jim mk2]

That was probably England's last win under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

[Flopsy]

The otehr two I can agree with. But Carrick? I like the lad but he kept giving the ball away and didnt provide the shield that we want from a Central defende and we cant have that.

GET WELL SOON GARY NEVILLE AND DO IT BLOODY QUICKLY

[SouthAussieRover]

That was probably England's last win under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Why don't you crawl back under your stone you miserable b'stard.

Edited June 25, 2006 by SouthAussieRover

[joey_big_nose]

Well I got that all wrong, I thought England were going to play really well...

There are a two major excuses that can be made- the heat, the absolute disinterest of the Eucuador players in trying to win the game (in the knockout round! christ...).

However, Beckham was clearly finished as a force in the game in the 70th minute- he was throwing up! Why didn't Sven withdraw him?

The next game is in the afternoon too, hopefully it will be cooler. As for what formation I haven't got a clue...

ps. I said before the tournament that the quarter finals were the stage we absolutely had to reach. We managed that so well done!

[RevidgeBlue]

Absolute garbage yet again but a perfectly acceptable result.

The second game along with the Paraguay game in which we've created nothing whatsoever from open play, but had to rely on a Beckham free kick. (Beckham was woeful once cagain)

The Rooney back to goal experiment left him completely isolated and devoid of any support just as tnr predicted.

Sven just gets luckier and luckier but surely this is the end of the line playing like this.

[SouthAussieRover]

Absolute garbage yet again but a perfectly acceptable result.

The second game along with the Paraguay game in which we've created nothing whatsoever from open play, but had to rely on a Beckham free kick. (Beckham was woeful once cagain)

The Rooney back to goal experiment left him completely isolated and devoid of any support just as tnr predicted.

Sven just gets luckier and luckier but surely this is the end of the line playing like this.

Up pops Jim Mk3

[RevidgeBlue]

Up pops Jim Mk3

If we get much further playing like that you can say you were right!.

[SouthAussieRover]

If we get much further playing like that you can say you were right!.

It doesn't matter how they get there as long as they get there

[jim mk2]

Showing your true colours by supporting England. Jolly good show Donald.

[rover6]

Rev, I totally agree with you but those men with the analytical skills of a spoon (aka the MOTD pundits) seemed satisfied, almost impressed, with England's performance.

It defies belief that all tournament Hansen, Shearer and Wright have been dismissing Germany and yet after an England game like that, they are eulogising about the team.

Lampard and Gerrard? Still they flatter to deceive. Carrick was reasonable but certain people (guess who) thought he was astoundingly splendiferous.

I'm glad England won but how many would Germany or Argentina have scored against that lot?

England need to improve (how many times have we said that?).

[jim mk2]

Terry and Lampard were awful (again).

Unbelieveably, Terry was named man of the match by the sponsors.

[SouthAussieRover]

Showing your true colours by supporting England. Jolly good show Donald.

Up pops rover6 JimMk4 too.

Does England as a country have a collective depressive attitude?

[Exiled_Rover]

Lampard should never pull on an England shirt again, he's been woeful the entire tourament.

Same formation next game with Hargreaves holding for Carrick (who's distribution was excellent) and Gerrard. Lennon should also start, Beckham has done nothing to earn his place (thought that free kick has probably bought himself another year of Captaincy). We're unbelievably slow and need an injection of both pace and width - Lennon provides both.

[greggyk]

Well Ecuador were probably the worst team we've played thats why we never looked like conceding (after they hit the bar, but we'll ignor that because it was a mistake )

If Lampard had his shooting boots on, we would have won this game(along with a cuple of the others) much easier than this.

Dont understand why The Fraud SGE took of Cole for the useless Carragher, we were in complete control and even looked like scoring more!

I also cant understand why Hansen and Shearer were w@nking over Carrick, I thought he was pretty average and would prefer Hargreaves in there (if Nevilles fit) for the next game.

Rooney and Ashley Cole were Englands best players today

[ihtd]

We are a nation that is not hitting form just at the moment, if Sven finds his balls and can get them up for the quarter final and plays bloody Lennon from the start in a la Chelski formation 4-5-1/4-3-3 meaning he can still play Becks we would be a threat to any side in the world.

Robbo

Neville(if fit) Ferdinand Terry A Cole

Beckham Carrick Lampard

Lennon Gerrard

Rooney

To play that formation would probably mean that either Joe Cole/Beckham or Lampard would have to be dropped and i cannot see that happening but Lennon does look a threat and is somewhat of an unknown quantity to other nations. Yes the prem goes out worldwide but not many teams would have been looking for him as a first choice threat.