As I understand it, if England do a Liverpool and lose both main keepers in a week then we will face Europe's finest with a shotstopper whos experience comprises 14 games or so experience in goal on loan to Cheltenham.

Scary, isn't it.....

spot on that, exactly the attitude that has carried england so far in recent tournaments. sod ball retention, to hell with tactics, cry god for england, harry and st george and just bloody well go get 'em lads!

then when england are absolutely shattered after 55 minutes - the only major league that doesn't give players a winter break don't forget - they get traditionally picked off by teams that have spent the first hour keeping the ball and conserving their energy.

No that's going to the other extreme.

We're not a very good team, but team spirit goes a long way. And of course strategy and tactics play an important role.

I'd rather have what this bloke writes about than the cynical attitude you show regarding the national team, although you are not interested I understand, but why knock people who are?

i'm not knocking people who are mate, i'm just pointing out the truth about teams which aren't very good really. strategy and tactics are far, far more vital than team spirit.

england's players suffer in summer tournaments because a) they don't have a mid-season break, b] the summer weather in close season tournaments takes its toll on them physically and c) they're not very good at playing possession football to negate the effects of a) and b]. after an hour against germany in WC 2010 few england players could even run. that makes being tight-knit, compact and solid defensively - not over-stretching yourself by legging it about for the first hour - more important than ever. it's actually one of hodgson's strengths, playing within your limitations, and it could serve england well this tournament. certain fans might not like it but i reckon they'd prefer to win by being solid and pretty boring over chest-thumping, disorganised, passionate defeats.

Yes, there's a lot of truth in what you write, and the example of Chelsea recently is a good template of how a lesser team can overcome a better team. And Bayern for that matter what happens when you are all huff and puff.

Err, yes after last night I take it all back, you are dead right. Talk about a load of rubbish, this team will do nothing. Is there any point in going?

Thought that Downing started the game brightly, carroll should have scored from his xcellent break and cross after 5ish mins, he faded in the second half, but hey wingers fade, it's almost a prerequisite,lol. But was a good run out for most of the second 11 got to keep them sharp, Feel a touch for young jones hope the fuc he can settle into one position next season, all this swapping around IMO,aint doing him any good. But all in all useful evening for roy hodgson, and thought he handled the press well.

Err, yes after last night I take it all back, you are dead right. Talk about a load of rubbish, this team will do nothing. Is there any point in going?

I'm sure the team that will be first choice during the championship will look different to what was on the field last night.

Please don't interpret that as me saying we're going to take the tournament by storm, but I do believe there is more to come.

Well as a Norwegian I was hoping for a Norway win last night , but we just couldnt attack and get through the England defence.

We kept posession, especially in the 2nd half, and England lacked creativity so if we had played better we should at least managed a draw.

I cant see this England team do well in EURO , you need to improve a lot , what we saw last night was just not good enough.

spain have announced their squad for the euros:

casillas, reina, valdes

albiol, arbeloa, sergio ramos, pique, jordi alba, juanfran, javi martinez

buquets, xavi, iniesta, fabregas, xabi alonso, cazorla

silva, jesus navas, negredo, mata, torres, llorente, pedro

perhaps not as strong as past couple of tournaments and missing puyol and villa, but still take some beating.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we will win the Euro's but let's not forget it was friendly and the first time we have beat Norway since 1980.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we will win the Euro's but let's not forget it was friendly and the first time we have beat Norway since 1980.

Its started already.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we will win the Euro's but let's not forget it was friendly and the first time we have beat Norway since 1980.

Its started already.

Do you wish you were in it Smokes. Even if it is an early plane journey home.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we will win the Euro's but let's not forget it was friendly and the first time we have beat Norway since 1980.

Its started already.

Do you wish you were in it Smokes. Even if it is an early plane journey home.

No mate. I have other plans.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we will win the Euro's but let's not forget it was friendly and the first time we have beat Norway since 1980.

Even if there were a few positives, and it was a friendly, and a second string team, there is no getting away from the fact that this was a completely unacceptable performance without energy or imagination.

There is a real danger this is going to be just like SA all over again. I see players are dropping like flies already. Others look so slow and bungling.

I don't know if anything can be done, perhaps stick smelling salts up their nostrils.

Even if there were a few positives, and it was a friendly, and a second string team, there is no getting away from the fact that this was a completely unacceptable performance without energy or imagination.

i should get used to it if i were you. that's the way roy hodgson teams play.

Even if there were a few positives, and it was a friendly, and a second string team, there is no getting away from the fact that this was a completely unacceptable performance without energy or imagination.

i should get used to it if i were you. that's the way roy hodgson teams play.

I just hope there aren't too many sides playing that sort of football. Would love to see good attacking open footie at this Tournament!

Even if there were a few positives, and it was a friendly, and a second string team, there is no getting away from the fact that this was a completely unacceptable performance without energy or imagination.

i should get used to it if i were you. that's the way roy hodgson teams play.

I just hope there aren't too many sides playing that sort of football. Would love to see good attacking open footie at this Tournament!

two hopes of that at this tournament imo smokie. in fact at almost any modern tournament really. look at how chelsea won this year's european cup. even spain at world cup 2010 were not great to watch and put not losing first.

Even if there were a few positives, and it was a friendly, and a second string team, there is no getting away from the fact that this was a completely unacceptable performance without energy or imagination.

i should get used to it if i were you. that's the way roy hodgson teams play.

I just hope there aren't too many sides playing that sort of football. Would love to see good attacking open footie at this Tournament!

two hopes of that at this tournament imo smokie. in fact at almost any modern tournament really. look at how chelsea won this year's european cup. even spain at world cup 2010 were not great to watch and put not losing first.

You're right there Stevie....I will still enjoy the games but it would be better to see teams come to the tournament and play their own style of football, rather than generic defensive stuff.

Back to earth after two or three games I suppose...

You're right there Stevie....I will still enjoy the games but it would be better to see teams come to the tournament and play their own style of football, rather than generic defensive stuff.

Back to earth after two or three games I suppose...

i reckon poland could be a bit of fun this tournament and france could be interesting to watch too, depending on their starting XI under blanc.

You're right there Stevie....I will still enjoy the games but it would be better to see teams come to the tournament and play their own style of football, rather than generic defensive stuff.

Back to earth after two or three games I suppose...

As your lot aren't in it Smokes. Who are you going to be rooting for. Apart from ABE

You're right there Stevie....I will still enjoy the games but it would be better to see teams come to the tournament and play their own style of football, rather than generic defensive stuff.

Back to earth after two or three games I suppose...

As your lot aren't in it Smokes. Who are you going to be rooting for. Apart from ABE

He's sulking bo , good weather fans these scottish boys ,and good enuf when givin stick, but when it comes to takin a bit, diferent story ,and as for losing abso no comment but then you would have thought they would be used to losing by now!!!

Losing barry's a blow, but adding another defender? Ah well

You're right there Stevie....I will still enjoy the games but it would be better to see teams come to the tournament and play their own style of football, rather than generic defensive stuff.

Back to earth after two or three games I suppose...

As your lot aren't in it Smokes. Who are you going to be rooting for. Apart from ABE

Do you really need to ask???

France, Sweden, Ukraine, and any other team that England might come up against; the 'any other team' being a bit hypothetical- sadly.

Losing barry's a blow, but adding another defender? Ah well

Look on the bright side, he could have called up Henderson to replace him.

"Our abysmal player is being replaced by one even more rubbish "

That was what I saw on Sky News earlier. Anyone in agreement?

If you'd written England's average player was replaced by one even more mediocre, i'd agree.

Can't get Sky here.....sadly

Was hoping for a fresh new England, but no we get a manager who is blindly loyal to a team that sacked him and finished 8th, Gerrard the good player he is, is not good enough at international level, Against Norway he was woeful, we need players who can keep the ball Gerrard is not good at that, Carrick is but he decided he was not up tp being a bench player watching the average midfield we have knocking it about without a clue what to do, apart from Lampard our midfield is very average and to draft in another defender is typical England.

..... and to draft in another defender is typical England.

I think Woy's thinking is for Jones to move into midfield to replace Barry, and Jagielka to take Jones' place as a versatile defender. In fairness too, there was enough critisism about us being 'light' on defenders, so calling up another maybe isn't a bad move.

..... and to draft in another defender is typical England.

I think Woy's thinking is for Jones to move into midfield to replace Barry, and Jagielka to take Jones' place as a versatile defender. In fairness too, there was enough critisism about us being 'light' on defenders, so calling up another maybe isn't a bad move.

yes, it means jones will be cover for both defensive mid and right back though which does stretch things a little. i think he should have taken micah richards instead of jagielka as he can cover both right back and centre back if needed.

it also indicates that he's going to play gerrard in the middle 2 in his preferred 4-4-1-1 formation which is a mistake. can see france's 4-2-3-1 having loads of space against england in the opening match.

..... and to draft in another defender is typical England.

I think Woy's thinking is for Jones to move into midfield to replace Barry, and Jagielka to take Jones' place as a versatile defender. In fairness too, there was enough critisism about us being 'light' on defenders, so calling up another maybe isn't a bad move.

yes, it means jones will be cover for both defensive mid and right back though which does stretch things a little. i think he should have taken micah richards instead of jagielka as he can cover both right back and centre back if needed.

it also indicates that he's going to play gerrard in the middle 2 in his preferred 4-4-1-1 formation which is a mistake. can see france's 4-2-3-1 having loads of space against england in the opening match.

Agree with you on Richards, and that was a stupid mistake and also about Gerrard too.

I will be supporting England ofcourse but i just can't muster up any enthusiasm for this tournament.

Agree with you on Richards, and that was a stupid mistake and also about Gerrard too.

I will be supporting England ofcourse but i just can't muster up any enthusiasm for this tournament.

if england played to their strengths then they could do alright in tournaments. two flat lines of four with gerrard in a middle two is just stupid though. and has been for years.

..... and to draft in another defender is typical England.

I think Woy's thinking is for Jones to move into midfield to replace Barry, and Jagielka to take Jones' place as a versatile defender. In fairness too, there was enough critisism about us being 'light' on defenders, so calling up another maybe isn't a bad move.

yes, it means jones will be cover for both defensive mid and right back though which does stretch things a little. i think he should have taken micah richards instead of jagielka as he can cover both right back and centre back if needed.

it also indicates that he's going to play gerrard in the middle 2 in his preferred 4-4-1-1 formation which is a mistake. can see france's 4-2-3-1 having loads of space against england in the opening match.

Agree with you on Richards, and that was a stupid mistake and also about Gerrard too.

I will be supporting England ofcourse but i just can't muster up any enthusiasm for this tournament.

I think we all agree on Richards, the exception being Hodgson.

if parker and johnson get injured - very possible - then you've only got jones covering both. or you play jagielka well out of position at rightback. or perhaps worse, someone like milner there. hodgson's not covered his bases here. and again you end up with gerrard as one of the two sitting midfielders, something he's simply not a specialist at.