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  1. USA got away with one. The score should have been 4-0 England...also i do hope Bono gets well enough to do something with the band during this world Cup. A great celebration would be a U2 appearance on the last weekend and they play something like--
    Unknown Caller
    City of Blinding Lights
    Where the Streets Have No Name
    One
    Beautiful Day...
    How could it get better than that?!
  2. Originally posted by patssox95:USA got away with one. The score should have been 4-0 England...also i do hope Bono gets well enough to do something with the band during this world Cup. A great celebration would be a U2 appearance on the last weekend and they play something like--
    Unknown Caller
    City of Blinding Lights
    Where the Streets Have No Name
    One
    Beautiful Day...
    How could it get better than that?!


    In all honesty, I'd rather see France get beat in every match than that. Plus, they'd just get called sell outs for doing that.
  3. South Korea have put in by far the best performance so far. Greece are my second team after England (aswell as Italy), and they just didn't turn up. Rehhagel has performed wonders for them over the years, and I still think they can pull it out over the next couple of weeks, but not if they continue in the negative fashion that proved their undoing today. Samaras should be paired up with Gekas up front and not out on the left, and they need to utilise the wingers they have to offer, e.g. Ninis and Salpingidis. Charisteas is a big lump of a target man, there's nothing to be gained from putting him up against a quality full-back in Lee Y.P. Domenech (surprise surprise - I could manage France better than he can lol!) did the same thing last night by throwing Gignac on against Uruguay on the bloody right flank - you do not throw big centre forwards like those guys out wide when their pace isn't the strongest asset. When they spread the game out in the 2nd half and brought genuine wide players on, they looked much better and should have got at least one goal. However, like I say, South Korea were by far the better team, put together a great performance and came out deserving winners, so kudos to them

    To my mind the England v USA has been the best game of the tournament so far, ahead of South Africa v Mexico. Was in a local pub tonight, the atmosphere was fantastic, and I've never cheered an England goal quite like I did today. Absolutely gutted for Rob Green tonight though, the guy's a quality 'keeper, and I'd like to think I've got some experience to base that on having watched him play for Norwich for all those years - he'll bounce back from it. Every England 'keeper bar Joe Hart has had dodgy moments in their career - even Seaman, and he's up there with Gordon Banks when it comes to legend status. The save from Altidore after he skinned Carragher did a fair bit to make amends (I feel).

    I do feel we played well and had the greater share of the match, but we just lacked that something, which shouldn't really be said considering the calibre of player out there - I'm thinking the likes of Rooney, Lennon, Lampard, Gerrard etc., although having said that I do think the team shouldn't be built around Rooney. He's a quality player, no doubt, but I don't think the team works well - I'd rather see something like Defoe and Crouch/Heskey up front, a more traditional front two that such players are better suited to playing, and indeed most players in the Premiership are used to playing.

    The USA are a very good team and I was worried in the countdown to kickoff - you don't beat the likes of Spain in the Confeds. Cup without having quality and character, and with players like Donovan and Dempsey they can 'cause anyone problems. However, I also feel England have overcome the biggest test of the group-stage, although I'm counting no chickens yet.

    Overall, a draw was fair, and quite frankly it could have been worse. We have our problems to solve, so I'm hoping Mr. Capello gets his rear in gear and the team pick it up against Slovenia and Algeria. Stick with Green, give Dawson a chance alongside Terry if King's fit, rather than Carragher or Upson, and put Joe Cole on the left. If Barry's fit, he should go straight back in to the team - he provides balance and is primarily left-footed, which is something we severely lack in the squad. Perhaps drop Lampard or maybe go 4-4-1-1, with Gerrard in the hole behind a main striker. Who that striker would be, who knows? I just hope Capello doesn't become afraid to drop any of the big names simply because they're good individuals - a team should be a cohesive unit of 11, rather than 11 incompatible individuals.

    Anyway, enough of my babbling, I'm just loving the fact that football is back!

    PS - Tshabalala, goal of the tournament without question
  4. Originally posted by WojBhoy:South Korea have put in by far the best performance so far. Greece are my second team after England (aswell as Italy), and they just didn't turn up. Rehhagel has performed wonders for them over the years, and I still think they can pull it out over the next couple of weeks, but not if they continue in the negative fashion that proved their undoing today. Samaras should be paired up with Gekas up front and not out on the left, and they need to utilise the wingers they have to offer, e.g. Ninis and Salpingidis. Charisteas is a big lump of a target man, there's nothing to be gained from putting him up against a quality full-back in Lee Y.P. Domenech (surprise surprise - I could manage France better than he can lol!) did the same thing last night by throwing Gignac on against Uruguay on the bloody right flank - you do not throw big centre forwards like those guys out wide when their pace isn't the strongest asset. When they spread the game out in the 2nd half and brought genuine wide players on, they looked much better and should have got at least one goal. However, like I say, South Korea were by far the better team, put together a great performance and came out deserving winners, so kudos to them

    To my mind the England v USA has been the best game of the tournament so far, ahead of South Africa v Mexico. Was in a local pub tonight, the atmosphere was fantastic, and I've never cheered an England goal quite like I did today. Absolutely gutted for Rob Green tonight though, the guy's a quality 'keeper, and I'd like to think I've got some experience to base that on having watched him play for Norwich for all those years - he'll bounce back from it. Every England 'keeper bar Joe Hart has had dodgy moments in their career - even Seaman, and he's up there with Gordon Banks when it comes to legend status. The save from Altidore after he skinned Carragher did a fair bit to make amends (I feel).

    I do feel we played well and had the greater share of the match, but we just lacked that something, which shouldn't really be said considering the calibre of player out there - I'm thinking the likes of Rooney, Lennon, Lampard, Gerrard etc., although having said that I do think the team shouldn't be built around Rooney. He's a quality player, no doubt, but I don't think the team works well - I'd rather see something like Defoe and Crouch/Heskey up front, a more traditional front two that such players are better suited to playing, and indeed most players in the Premiership are used to playing.

    The USA are a very good team and I was worried in the countdown to kickoff - you don't beat the likes of Spain in the Confeds. Cup without having quality and character, and with players like Donovan and Dempsey they can 'cause anyone problems. However, I also feel England have overcome the biggest test of the group-stage, although I'm counting no chickens yet.

    Overall, a draw was fair, and quite frankly it could have been worse. We have our problems to solve, so I'm hoping Mr. Capello gets his rear in gear and the team pick it up against Slovenia and Algeria. Stick with Green, give Dawson a chance alongside Terry if King's fit, rather than Carragher or Upson, and put Joe Cole on the left. If Barry's fit, he should go straight back in to the team - he provides balance and is primarily left-footed, which is something we severely lack in the squad. Perhaps drop Lampard or maybe go 4-4-1-1, with Gerrard in the hole behind a main striker. Who that striker would be, who knows? I just hope Capello doesn't become afraid to drop any of the big names simply because they're good individuals - a team should be a cohesive unit of 11, rather than 11 incompatible individuals.

    Anyway, enough of my babbling, I'm just loving the fact that football is back!

    PS - Tshabalala, goal of the tournament without question


    I agree with most of your points there.

    One thing that annoyed me about England was that there passing seemed all over the place at times. A couple of times the passes were just basically handed to the USA on a plate. We did get better towards the end but if you look at the passing that was going on from the South Koreans and South Africa they make England look quite poor at times.

    The trouble is we (England) have the potential to do very well but our ego and arrogance is what makes us do silly mistakes.

    Good effort from Heskey I thought during that match, usually a lot of people are quick to dismiss him. He may not be much of a goal scorer but he always assists very well, whether you like his clumsy, crazy play style or not.

    Biggest disappointment of the match was Rooney. Where was his usual self? He seemed absent in skill and in enthusiasm for some reason. Maybe he was told to not take too many risks and take more of a back seat so that he doesn't get himself a red card or an injury for the other games that will be more crucial for England I don't know. I think he should he should have been replaced by Crouch that game anyhow instead of Heskey if that really was indeed the plan from Cappello.

    I guess that match could've gone so many ways. Both teams had their ups and downs and the USA proved that they are no push over and hopefully both USA and England can easily top the group and progress to the next stage.
  5. Originally posted by u2opra:I agree with most of your points there.

    One thing that annoyed me about England was that there passing seemed all over the place at times. A couple of times the passes were just basically handed to the USA on a plate. We did get better towards the end but if you look at the passing that was going on from the South Koreans and South Africa they make England look quite poor at times.

    The trouble is we (England) have the potential to do very well but our ego and arrogance is what makes us do silly mistakes.

    Good effort from Heskey I thought during that match, usually a lot of people are quick to dismiss him. He may not be much of a goal scorer but he always assists very well, whether you like his clumsy, crazy play style or not.

    Biggest disappointment of the match was Rooney. Where was his usual self? He seemed absent in skill and in enthusiasm for some reason. Maybe he was told to not take too many risks and take more of a back seat so that he doesn't get himself a red card or an injury for the other games that will be more crucial for England I don't know. I think he should he should have been replaced by Crouch that game anyhow instead of Heskey if that really was indeed the plan from Cappello.

    I guess that match could've gone so many ways. Both teams had their ups and downs and the USA proved that they are no push over and hopefully both USA and England can easily top the group and progress to the next stage.

    I pretty much agree. I'm a big Heskey fan, and although I wish he would score more goals, his record speaks for itself with regard to his appearances/win ratio. We play better as a team with him up front, but his goal-scoring (or rather, lack of) means the burden of getting the ball in the net often falls to the rest of the team. Saying that, you look at the players we have, we shouldn't have trouble scoring. I agree that Rooney wasn't up to much, which is why I don't think he should be an automatic pick, and indeed hope he isn't. He's a class act for Man Utd, but he's got some way to go before becoming an international star - I know he scored 9 in qualifying, but I just think he blows hot and cold too easily. Like I said earlier, I think we shouldn't be afraid to go with a more traditional line-up that matches systems the majority of the squad play for their clubs - we lack a striker in the Torres mould. People have been pointing the fact that Rooney played up front on his own for Man Utd this season, but England do not play like Man Utd - we need a striker who not only can finish chances regularly but runs the channels, leads the line and instils an impetus in our attacks from the top, rather than relying on our midfield to always try and do something magnificent. Rooney doesn't lead the line, he looks for space and always wants the ball, which isn't a style of play which suits the rest of the English players. Think Chelsea and Liverpool - players like Lampard and Gerrard play alongside the likes of Drogba and Torres, who stay up front dragging the defence the runaround, giving midfielders like FL and SG the opportunity to run into the spaces created. Rooney's style leads to him taking up the space, clogging up the pitch and thus losing an outlet in the attack, and then people wonder why England struggle.

    My team for Algeria:

    GK - Green
    RB - Johnson
    CB - King/Dawson
    CB - Terry
    LB - Cole
    RM - Wright-Phillips (I think he did more than Lennon today, and on his less favoured flank)
    CM - Barry
    CM - Gerrard (c.)
    LM - Cole
    ST - Heskey/Crouch
    ST - Defore

    I feel that would have a much better balance and is a system that generally all the players involved are suited to. That said, we can but wait and see what the next week will throw up.
  6. Originally posted by iTim:Haha, typical England.

    Still waiting for the World Cup to ignite though, only game that I've enjoyed to a degree was the Greece vs. South Korea game. All have been a little stale.


    Wait to Wednesday, it's the debut of Spain which I won't be able to see due to Muse's concert


  7. you're so lucky, you know that


    Germany's on tonight, finally hope our team is in good shape....bring it on!!


  8. You play us! Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!
  9. I preddict a 3-1 win for Germany, but it won't be an easy match for them, no way.


  10. Germany shall start red hot favourites. But we love our Harry!
  11. The special connection between England and USA is so important that our Goalkeeper is willing to throw the ball into the back of his own net

    Heskey = Joke
    Green = Wups (but not good enough anyway)
    Milner = very over-rated, get JOE COLE in there!!!!

    Terrible performance, embarrasing, the only good player was Gerrard...
  12. Apart from Heskey's miss when her was thru one on one" I think he was the best English player on the field. One lots of headers, clean accurate passing, good strength.
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.