FIFA World Cup group stages

[hopeforthebest]

That's the way do it, great riposte.

[Gingerfinch]

Looks like the physic got injured in the celebrations ! now thats funny !

Broken ankle, maybe?

[Dilbert]

Looks like the physic got injured in the celebrations ! now thats funny !

Broken ankle, maybe?

Ironic would be more apt i guess...

[hopeforthebest]

Didn't prof. Hawkins predict Sturridge would score first for England.

[SaintPowelly]

Struggling to keep my eyes open, don't know how I am going to survive the Japan game

[dan08]

Welbeck's been great.

[hopeforthebest]

I was about to ask where is Gerard and then he popped up to make a long pass to an Italian player which started all the problems for us in the last 2 minutes.

[hopeforthebest]

Haven't watched much of England for a long time but I'm impressed with them generally. Not the finished article but this a lot better than I expected wwith all the negativity I.ve been hearing. May not have the stamina for the second half but I wish them well.

[Durhamfootman]

Stayed up, in the end

Quite surprised at what a good game it's been, and at the tempo it's being played at

Humble pie time, I suppose.... Welbeck has played well, so far, and Sturridge didn't fluff his chance. Brilliant ball from Rooney

Not so good defending down the left. Italy are attacking in pairs, yet for some reason Gerrard either can't or won't help (and Rooney doesn't want to) so Baines keeps getting caught 1 on 2. Roy needs to sort that out urgently at half time

I also thought the Sterling shot was in, especially when the scoreboard showed 1-0

Plenty of time for things to go wrong, and the amount of possession that Italy are getting is a bit worrying, but decent enough first half

Is Lallana being saved to give the Italians a bit of scare later in the game? Substitutions will be interesting.

Lets get the left sorted out and see where we go

[st_brendy]

With Pirlo and Veratti in the middle of the park, I have no issue with Gerrard not going out to the left side to help Baines out.

It's Rooney's job to help Baines out, and he refusing to. I don't care if he thinks that it's not his job. He is the one who Roy has put out there. Either you help out Wayne, or you come off.

[SaintPowelly]

With Pirlo and Veratti in the middle of the park, I have no issue with Gerrard not going out to the left side to help Baines out.

It's Rooney's job to help Baines out, and he refusing to. I don't care if he thinks that it's not his job. He is the one who Roy has put out there. Either you help out Wayne, or you come off.

If only that was true, hes too scared to sub him

[SaintPowelly]

Great goal, hes looked lively.

[dan08]

Baines can't defend.

[SaintPowelly]

He needs to get Shaw or Lallana on to help Baines, Rooney wasn't even in the shot then.

[mikesiva]

It had to be Balotelli....