Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

We won't, all the players seem to be plodding along under Hodgson, good enough to comfortably qualify, but not enough top quality in the side or cohesion as a team to progress at the finals.

All of them are on massive wages for being bang average players, I'm sure the right man at the helm could mould them into something but I don't think many of them are that fussed about the England thing except to maintain or raise their price tags, it's all about their clubs. I think most fans are the same these days too.

'Arry Redknapp said in his autobiography that some players in his charge used to ask him to make an excuse so they didn't have to play for England.


Of course we only have his word for that but if true then it is a sad state of affairs that players just don't want to play for England.

30 years ago I wouldn't have believed him, but nowadays, for definite.

I've just bought a copy of that autobiography from Amazon, probably next on my list to read.

You can't beat qualifying for a tournament after a loss, cracking anti climax.

Give Bale his due he did try to over hype the excitement, and the players were sliding all over the place in front of the fans.

It wasn't as if they weren't going to get at least a point at home to Andorra.

I wonder what the chances are of England, Wales & N Ireland being drawn in the same group.

Aidan11 wrote:I wonder what the chances are of England, Wales & N Ireland being drawn in the same group.

Probably our best chance of progressing.

Could even get the Republic of Ireland to make up the four.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:

Aidan11 wrote:I wonder what the chances are of England, Wales & N Ireland being drawn in the same group.

Probably our best chance of progressing.

Could even get the Republic of Ireland to make up the four.

It could also be a banana skin. I still remember the night N Ireland beat us a few years back.

Aidan11 wrote:

budgetmeansbudget wrote:

Aidan11 wrote:I wonder what the chances are of England, Wales & N Ireland being drawn in the same group.

Probably our best chance of progressing.

Could even get the Republic of Ireland to make up the four.

It could also be a banana skin. I still remember the night N Ireland beat us a few years back.

Probably won't matter who we get, we'll still screw it up.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:

Aidan11 wrote:

budgetmeansbudget wrote:

Aidan11 wrote:I wonder what the chances are of England, Wales & N Ireland being drawn in the same group.

Probably our best chance of progressing.

Could even get the Republic of Ireland to make up the four.

It could also be a banana skin. I still remember the night N Ireland beat us a few years back.

Probably won't matter who we get, we'll still screw it up.

This is sadly true.

Looks like Romania will be through to the Euro's with 20 points but they've only scored 10 and let in just 2! All their matches have either been 2-0, 1-1, 1-0 or 0-0.

Northern Ireland hung on to win their group in the end.

Aidan11 wrote:

budgetmeansbudget wrote:

Aidan11 wrote:

budgetmeansbudget wrote:

Aidan11 wrote:I wonder what the chances are of England, Wales & N Ireland being drawn in the same group.

Probably our best chance of progressing.

Could even get the Republic of Ireland to make up the four.

It could also be a banana skin. I still remember the night N Ireland beat us a few years back.

Probably won't matter who we get, we'll still screw it up.

This is sadly true.

England would have to be utterly dire not to get beyond the revamped group stages (24 teams and even 3rd place can go through). Certain to be a top seed as England are 5th in the co-efficient rankings, worse case scenario is getting Belgium, Russia and Portugal in England's group.

Very different team for England tonight.

Wonder how good Barkley will become.

Don't think he'll get that goal. Deflection.

This game just seems so un-natural with the artifical pitch, they should be banned.