FIFA World Cup group stages

[dan08]

I would've went with Sterling, Rooney and Milner.

Milner could have provided defensive cover for Johnson at RB which is our main weakness.

[SaintPowelly]

I would've went with Sterling, Rooney and Milner.

Milner could have provided defensive cover for Johnson at RB which is our main weakness.

I'd of gone with Milner for the same reason, but Lallana is 5 times the player Sterling is.

[st_brendy]

I'll also point out that with Chamberlain apparently not fit enough to take part in this one, starting with Sterling and Welbeck leaves us with no attacking pace on the bench to bring on later.

In this heat, bringing on quick, fresh legs for the last 20 minutes could have had a massive positive impact. Lallana, Milner, Lambert, Lampard, none of them will offer that.

[SaintPowelly]

I'm hopeful its a rumour, but I fear the worst.

[dan08]

I'll also point out that with Chamberlain apparently not fit enough to take part in this one, starting with Sterling and Welbeck leaves us with no attacking pace on the bench to bring on later.

In this heat, bringing on quick, fresh legs for the last 20 minutes could have had a massive positive impact. Lallana, Milner, Lambert, Lampard, none of them will offer that.

Barkley's a decent option on the bench.

[Durhamfootman]

I've now seen the large part of the Spain game that I hadn't seen yesterday

here's a question.....

If van Persie goes down when Casillas tries to recover his poor control, instead of staying on his feet and scoring.... does Casillas get sent off and miss the remaining 2 group games?

Costa headbutted a player off the ball and he could have been off too.

amazing game, really and Holland have shown England exactly what they have to do tonight. Like Spain, Italy like to keep the ball and pass it around slowly. They won't like it up 'em Capt Mainwaring either. Will the conditions allow it though?

Not surprised to see Torres miss an open goal from 2 yards, btw, and he missed another sitter earlier when the whistle blew for offside but he took the shot anyway with the goalie not interested. How that lad went from prolific striker to total donkey from one season to the next, without ever recovering his form, is beyond me.

As far as I am aware, any red card only carries a one match ban.

And any way, being sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity is always just a one match ban.

that's fair enough.
Casillas is still lucky that vP isn't a South American, all the same

[ntini77]

I would have picked Barkley in place of Welbeck. But it's good to see Sterling starting.

[st_brendy]

Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Gerrard, Henderson, Rooney, Sterling, Welbeck, Sturridge

Sirigu, Chiellini, Paletta, Barzagli, Darmian, De Rossi, Pirlo, Veratti, Candreva, Marchisio, Balotelli

[dan08]

Good news for us that Italy have picked Balotelli over Immobile. Saying that, Balotelli will probably now score a hat-trick...

[ntini77]

Where's Montolivo?

[dan08]

Where's Montolivo?

Broke his leg a couple of weeks ago.

[Gingerfinch]

I've now seen the large part of the Spain game that I hadn't seen yesterday

here's a question.....

If van Persie goes down when Casillas tries to recover his poor control, instead of staying on his feet and scoring.... does Casillas get sent off and miss the remaining 2 group games?

Costa headbutted a player off the ball and he could have been off too.

amazing game, really and Holland have shown England exactly what they have to do tonight. Like Spain, Italy like to keep the ball and pass it around slowly. They won't like it up 'em Capt Mainwaring either. Will the conditions allow it though?

Not surprised to see Torres miss an open goal from 2 yards, btw, and he missed another sitter earlier when the whistle blew for offside but he took the shot anyway with the goalie not interested. How that lad went from prolific striker to total donkey from one season to the next, without ever recovering his form, is beyond me.

As far as I am aware, any red card only carries a one match ban.

And any way, being sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity is always just a one match ban.

that's fair enough.
Casillas is still lucky that vP isn't a South American, all the same

Think Casillas will be dropped anyway, so it won't make any difference.

[Durhamfootman]

poor games so far, today.

this current game isn't really football.......... just a bunch of players intent either on play acting or kicking big lumps out of each other

lets hope it gets better later. For all my cynicism, I'm quite looking forward to watching the England game tomorrow morning

[Durhamfootman]

Think Casillas will be dropped anyway, so it won't make any difference.

De Gea?

[Gingerfinch]

Think Casillas will be dropped anyway, so it won't make any difference.

De Gea?

I think Reina is number 2? Casillas was number 2 last night, if you get my meaning