Sweden 2 - 2 England
21/06/06 10:15 AM
Okay we’re through, we won the group and therefore avoid Germany, and somehow managed not to lose. Job’s a good’un?
I know we would’ve taken a draw before the game but this had to be one of the most frustrating matches I’ve seen in a while. We are just rubbish in the second half of games. I really would love to hear the blood-pumping, emotion-uplifting, pride-giving, monotonous drones that Sven calls a team talk.
Frustrating points of note (to me) include:
- We definitely should have taken a fifth striker. If Sven’s even hesitant to put Walcott on in a game where Owen’s been injured and Rooney’s knackered, a game that didn’t really mean that much (let’s face it) and your only other option is a striker on a yellow card, when the hell should you try him out?
- Why, WHY GOD WHY, do we persist in putting the smallest member of our team on the line at corners?!? Ashley the Giant was at fault for both of the goals (okay the first wasn’t entirely his fault, it was Beckham’s, but he’s still a bit too dwarven) surely it’s obvious to put… a… tall… man… on… the… posts…
- England have become the Doncaster Rovers of defending against set pieces (believe me, I was at the 4-0 stuffing by Forest). Conceding from a throw-in. A throw-in! At the World Cup!
- Gareth Southgate couldn’t be a worse commentator. I honestly didn’t think you could get worse than Graeme Le Saux, but wow Southgate’s crap. Owen’s stretchered off with a twisted knee; “Well I don’t want to be the Grim Reaper, but…” But what? it’s a fatal injury? Owen’s gonna die?? Other Southgateisms include the fact that Joe Cole will “Put in a shift for you”. Eh? Perhaps a, I dunno, 90 MINUTE SHIFT? What are you on about you idiot?! Perhaps you should’ve put in a penalty practicing shift in ‘96… Or remember your own performance in the UEFA Cup final. Or be getting your FIFA badges. Or something.
- Owen going off with what looks like a serious injury.
- Rio going off, probably for some jaffa cakes. Oh he does love those jaffa cakes.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t just slate the team; I was still cheering the lads and I genuinely do support them. Even Hargreaves. Positive things included Cole’s peach of a volley, Gerrard outshining Lampard by far in just 10 minutes or so and obviously the return of ROOOOOOOO-NEEY who had some great little touches. We avoid the home nation in the next round and get an extra day’s rest. We’ve not played particularly well and yet are unbeaten, which as the cliche goes, shows the sign of a great team. Hmm.
There’s no doubt we’ve got to get better. But I still think we’re going to amble our way through against Ecuador. But then come the likes of Portugal (wonder if Big Phil has something to prove to the British press?), Holland, Brazil and Argentina.
Thank God we’ve got Owen Hargreaves.
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