France v England Match Thread

Nuri Sahin

Good football.

Mr.Crinklewood

Young has been anonymous.

SirDelboy18

France have a lot of options to change the game. Any of Giroud, Menez, Martin or Ben Arfa wouldn't surprise me now.

kryogen

Englands two banks of four starting to look a little tired to me

Nuri Sahin

I expect Ben Arfa or Valbuena to come on soon for Malouda.

kryogen

Mr.Crinklewood wrote: »

Young has been anonymous.

So has Oxo and more or less all the more attacking guys, they are not having the ball sure

~Rebel~

I really dont get this thing Roy does though.

You can clearly see when France get the ball in midfield, England get into two rigid lines of four and just back off forever. All his teams do it, and it just asks for trouble. 8 outfielders are completely taken out of the game so even if you win back possession you lose it immediately after. They only seem to do it when they lose the ball around the halfway line. I understand Ireland doing it or the likes of Greece, but England shouldn't have to.

bwatson

Italian officials, you say?

Hmmm......

kryogen

-Ade- wrote: »

I expect Ben Arfa or Valbuena to come on soon for Malouda.

Ben Arfa's directness could have an impact with the English tiring

kitakyushu

Young hasn't done much other than get caught offside numerous times and now get booked. Who's his closest replacement on the bench atm?

bwatson

kryogen wrote: »

Ben Arfa's directness could have an impact with the English tiring

Yep, equally you would fancy Walcott's pace against either of the French centre halves. Especially after them having run for 70 mins in 30 degree heat.

kryogen

England really starting to defend too deep now, they are happy to camp on the edge of their box

The funny thing is if it works it wont be seen as negative play it will be seen as a brave effort and great tactical awareness to nullify the French, while ignoring the lack of ambition

keith16

bwatson wrote: »

Yep, equally you would fancy Walcott's pace against either of the French centre halves. Especially after them having run for 70 mins in 30 degree heat.

What's Hodgson thinking not bringing on Walcott earlier?

Samich

Henderson coming on. Oh god.

kryogen

~Rebel~ wrote: »

I really dont get this thing Roy does though.

You can clearly see when France get the ball in midfield, England get into two rigid lines of four and just back off forever. All his teams do it, and it just asks for trouble. 8 outfielders are completely taken out of the game so even if you win back possession you lose it immediately after. They only seem to do it when they lose the ball around the halfway line. I understand Ireland doing it or the likes of Greece, but England shouldn't have to.

Trappatoni is his idol

markie29

Henderson coming on??? surprised with that....thought Walcott would have been the choice with his pace on the wing.

MagicMarker

I wonder if there'll be boos at the final whistle.

Latchy

Be good to see Defoe coming on ,if anybody can open defence he can .

bwatson

kryogen wrote: »

England really starting to defend too deep now, they are happy to camp on the edge of their box

The funny thing is if it works it wont be seen as negative play it will be seen as a brave effort and great tactical awareness to nullify the French, while ignoring the lack of ambition

You really have a thing about England!

Of course, if it works it would be seen as good tactical awareness from England. France are very evidently a far more capable, technical side. A draw would be most graciously recieved from just about every England fan I expect.

As it is, I doubt England will manage to hold out.

~Rebel~

kryogen wrote: »

England really starting to defend too deep now, they are happy to camp on the edge of their box

The funny thing is if it works it wont be seen as negative play it will be seen as a brave effort and great tactical awareness to nullify the French, while ignoring the lack of ambition

True, which is an awful shame given that we've seen the French back four looks so vulnerable. A bit more ambition and impetus and England could really have France on the back foot, as they have done for small sections of the game (before they revert to backing off again)

bwatson wrote: »

You really have a thing about England!

Of course, if it works it would be seen as good tactical awareness from England. France are very evidently a far more capable, technical side. A draw would be most graciously recieved from just about every England fan I expect.

As it is, I doubt England will manage to hold out.

This is it though, whenever England actually try to play in midfield, and try to win the ball back quickly instead of backing off, they look a very even match for France. France look so technically superior, because for huge swathes of the game, England back off them and let them keep it.

Renn

Love how commentators always go "a lack of experience at this level" for anything that goes wrong for a new guy.

Samich

Really is like watching Ireland.

keith16

Samich wrote: »

Really is like watching Ireland.

Even their goal was a carbon copy of St. Ledgers.

kryogen

This is my problem, don't think France have enough about them to break down England when they will just sit in, still my group winner bet is ok as long as they don't lose I guess.

Prefer if they beat England now to kill off that challenge though

bwatson

This referee has not been fair to England.

Fishooks12

England getting rode by the ref

Paully D

Those payments for England caps keep piling up. Thanks Roy! :cool:

J. Marston

Chamberlain was shít.

SirDelboy18

Surely a France change is imminent?

Stevecw

Henderson, seriously!! Thats kinda hard to believe

kitakyushu

keith16 wrote: »

Even their goal was a carbon copy of St. Ledgers.

We're not allowed say 'carbon copy' unless the header goes into the exact spot in the goal apparently.

elefant

Would Henderson get a game for Ireland?

Paully D

France could do with getting Giroud on IMO.

kryogen

bwatson wrote: »

You really have a thing about England!

Of course, if it works it would be seen as good tactical awareness from England. France are very evidently a far more capable, technical side. A draw would be most graciously recieved from just about every England fan I expect.

As it is, I doubt England will manage to hold out.

The only thing I have for England is a hope that they get out of the group, in second place, I want to Welbeck and Rooney have good tournaments etc, I have nothing against England, I just have France backed to win the group.

Don't get it twisted playa

Tox56

Jesus he didn't give England about 3 of those he just gave Ribery

Stevecw

elefant wrote: »

Would Henderson get a game for Ireland?

No, i'd rather have Paul Green!

HazDanz

J. Marston wrote: »

Chamberlain was shít.

I don't think he was too bad for his first big match.

Generated little episodes of energetic play, it's hard to be an effective attacker when England are playing basically in the 18 yards infront of their own goal.

Fishooks12

Ribery would make you sick. Disgrace

conor360

Ribery playacting once again

Mars Bar

Cabaye is class

Nuri Sahin

That was on target.

Samich

Thought that was in.

dfx-

Awful game.

elefant

elefant wrote: »

Would Henderson get a game for Ireland?

Hardly.

Irelands midfield is second only to Spain.

elefant

Stevecw wrote: »

No, i'd rather have Paul Green!

Well he doesn't get much of a game either tbf.

IvySlayer

I want Cayabe so bad..

kryogen

J. Marston wrote: »

Chamberlain was shít.

He has a "lack of experience at this level" im told

Paully D

IvySlayer wrote: »

I want Cayabe so bad..

Could have been sent off for 2 yellows in the 1st half. No idea how he hasn't been at least booked yet.

kryogen

IvySlayer wrote: »

I want Cayabe so bad..

Is that two days in a row out of you?

kitakyushu

kryogen wrote: »

He has a "lack of experience at this level" im told

I guess you have to play 20-30 games for England before you realise it's not a great idea to run straight at 4 French defenders when you've no passing options.