New International Football thread

[Durhamfootman]

Ha.... just to make me eat my words, Rice breaks up a Hungary attack then puts a lovely through ball to Grealish, who releases Mount with a beautifully weighted ball round the back of the defenders. Mount pulls the ball back well to Sterling who slots home and gets pelted with cans for his trouble. 1-0 England from a terrifically well worked move

2-0 straight away as Hungary give the ball away, Mount sets up Sterling who fires across the face of goal. The ball takes a deflection on the way which slows it down and Kane puts the ball home with a diving header. Self inflicted from Hungary, punished clinically by England

[Durhamfootman]

second time the goalie has denied Kane in a one on one. Game has opened up and England are now tearing Hungry apart. The crowd are doing their bit throwing missiles at Shaw trying to take a corner, but to no avail as Maguire buries the cross for 3-0

Flares and things being thrown around now.... lovely having the fans back

[Durhamfootman]

3rd time the keeper denies Kane one on one. Could have, should have, had 4 tonight

[Durhamfootman]

4-0 final score. Rice with the late goal.... a low shot from the edge of the box which the keeper fluffed.

England much better in the second half once Hungary made the schoolboy error of having a bit of a go. They conceded immediately and then proceeded to fall apart

the fans were a disgrace... seemingly if this had been a UEFA tournament it would have been played behind closed doors. I guess lots of games will be played behind closed doors after this. Monkey chants, throwing missiles, setting off flares.... all the fun things to be found at a football match in an East European country.... lovely!

I'm glad their team got a good hiding

[yuppie]

How much longer will Hungary fans be tolerated?

[Durhamfootman]

I saw there was a bit of hoo hah. What was it about?

[Durhamfootman]

well that was a most unsatisfactory game of football

England were poor tonight in pretty much every dept. Hungary had a few chances, but I think they only created one for themselves. The rest were gifts handed to them on a plate.

I haven't quite got my head around this idea of playing completely different sides in each game. I'm sure it's very clever and it's just me being a bit too dim to recognise a master stroke, but it strikes me from tonight's performance that this team might very well have benefited from a bit practice at the weekend, whilst the undoubted star of the show from the first game didn't get a look in tonight

still..... San Marino provide the saving grace if we play this badly against Albania next up

[bigfluffylemon]

Yes, three points up, 4 ahead on GD with San Marino still to play, would take a quite monumental stuff-up from here.

It could be a lot more comfortable though.

[Durhamfootman]

at one point England hoped that they might have already qualified as Group winners by this stage, but Albania winning unexpectedly at the weekend put paid to that. Now it might go all the way to the San Marino match.

England were hopeless tonight. Lucky not to lose it actually. Hungary had at least one glorious chance to snatch it at the death, if not two.

[Durhamfootman]

I see that Stones starts for England, but hasn't once been on the pitch for Man City this season. Newcastle have a big defensive problem that they need to solve.......

hmmm?

[Durhamfootman]

at one point England hoped that they might have already qualified as Group winners by this stage, but Albania winning unexpectedly at the weekend put paid to that. Now it might go all the way to the San Marino match.

England were hopeless tonight. Lucky not to lose it actually. Hungary had at least one glorious chance to snatch it at the death, if not two.

both from England mistakes, btw

[Durhamfootman]

I watched an hour of the England match last night

As comfortable a win as I've seen in recent years. It's easy to see why teams come to park the bus, because Albania needed a win and their willingness to be positive saw them torn to shreds when England moved the ball quickly forward. I usually complain when England faff about passing the ball amongst themselves, but it was clear what they were up to last night. By playing little triangles on the edge of the box, they suckered Albania forward (at one point there were 5 Albania players pressing the 3 centre backs) and then England hit them with pace and were 4 goals up in half an hour.

I have no idea who James is or who he plays for, but he was terrific at RWB. Quick, excellent control, direct, strong and aware, great delivery at set pieces..... more please!

I don't ever remember Henderson play so positively, or so effectively. He didn't take a step backwards or slow anything down all night.... I'll have more of that too

[yuppie]

Over here at present there seems to be a view amongst many supporters that it would have been better if Zlatan had stayed retired. Their style of play just does not suit having Zlatan in the team, and they really can not have such a luxury in the way they play. It is dour and attritional football but it has seen them to their most successful spell since the might Thomas Brolin was around.

Their recent loss to Georgie has not helped their cause considering the position they were in after beating Spain.

There is this view that Zlatans return has nothing to do with Sweden and everything to do with Zlatan. Sitting on the sidelines whilst seeing Sweden get better results with him not in the team must have hurt the man.

[Durhamfootman]

he was never a player that I warmed to, old Zlatan. Not sure why, just couldn't find it in me

[sussexpob]

Over here at present there seems to be a view amongst many supporters that it would have been better if Zlatan had stayed retired. Their style of play just does not suit having Zlatan in the team, and they really can not have such a luxury in the way they play. It is dour and attritional football but it has seen them to their most successful spell since the might Thomas Brolin was around.

Their recent loss to Georgie has not helped their cause considering the position they were in after beating Spain.

There is this view that Zlatans return has nothing to do with Sweden and everything to do with Zlatan. Sitting on the sidelines whilst seeing Sweden get better results with him not in the team must have hurt the man.

Watched that Georgia v Sweden game, tbf to your lot it was one of the greatest smash and grab jobs I have ever witnessed. Sweden must of had by memory at least 4 shots cleared off the line, including a double effort that somehow refused to go in. Zlatan missed a sitter too.

I guess its hard for someone like Sweden - Zlatan is their greatest ever player by some distance, so its hard to let those players go. I guess the thinking is, hes the type of player who has the quality even now to make the difference - but he pretty slow now. You can expect him to do anything but finish chances.