Except they are not shite - they are just not one of the best 6 teams in the world. The biggest dissappointments recently have been because they always appear to be playing under a massive fear of failure, which then comes true. The opposite, Wayne Rooney in 2004 was a joy - a player with no fear just taking things on. Too much to hope that some of the younger ones will have the same attitude this year?

That absolutely nails it.

We've seen England players play much better & much more confidently for their clubs in Europe, than they have been for England in recent tournaments. IIRC, it was the WC in Japan that seemed to be the start of the 'scared crapless & introverted' style of football displayed.

 Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?

oddball  in kelly,s heroes

Ribery out of the World Cup with a back injury. A blow to France. Attacking midfielder Clement Grenier is also ruled out.

Seems like Nasri's missus really p*ssed the French coach off with her tantrum, as France call up Remy Cabella and Morgan Schneilerlin as replacements.

'86 / 90 world cups being the exception

Although not the World Cup (but arguably just as difficult a tournament), I thought we played well in Euro '96.  Certainly that steamrolling of Holland was something to remember and cheer, and we were all so close to Gazza netting a Golden Goal in extra time.  Had we won that match I have no doubt we would have won the final too.

In 'WC 98, we were also within a whisker of progressing past Argentina (Sol Campbell's inexplicably denied goal anyone?).  Mind, I'd agree since then we have been terrible in tournaments and terribl to watch also.  Still, like I said before, I'll dream on and hope we turn up in Brazil and see the likes of Lallana, Barkley, Sturridge, and Ox fearlessly take on the true powerhouses.

Tomorrow's team for friendly with Honduras will likely be more tinkering and game time for those who need it. I expect Roy to not risk any of his preferred starting XI but especially his back 5 (Hart, Jag, Cahill, Johnson, or Baines), with neither Gerrard, Sturridge, or Lallana getting a start either.  I expect Roy will star with:

Forster, Shaw, Smalling, Stones, Flanagan, Wilshere, Henderson, Milner, Rooney, Welbeck, Lambert.

Subs will be Lampard, Barkley, Jones, and possibly a few minutes for Sturridge, Gerrard, Lallana, Baines, Johnson.

Expect a turgid game with the tinkering and substitutions/position changes. 'Twas ever thus.

Play suspended for 30 mins due to a thunderstorm. A good time to get Chiles and Townsend out on the touch line perhaps.

Credit where credit due, Hodgson starting with his probably first XI (but mass substitutions from half time onwards I expect).

A lot of clumsy stuff going on now by the Hondurans, with a hint of malice here and there too, that kick at the ball point blank range on Sturridge was pretty disgusting tbh; lucky to only get a yellow there.

I'm sure it's no coincidence that England have been playing better since Rooney went off and Barclay came on.

Barkley adding some excitement to the game.  Personally I'd start with him over Rooney, with him and Lallana flanking Sturridge.  Rooney needs a kick up the proverbial.

One thing becoming very apparent in the last couple of games he's played, Johnson is unable to put a first time ball in from the right.  Several times in this game he's received the ball with space to make the cross, and took the touch and played it back.  Utter garbage.

If ever there was a player who was playing due to a lack of better alternatives it is Johnson.

Well, what did we learn from this match? Not a whole lot more than that Honduras are cynical and dirty, England need to take one touch less, Sturridge needs to go do some finishing practice, Johnson is tulip, Barkley should play for Rooney, Wilshere needs to stop giving the ball away, Sterling should start for Welbeck, we need to put the cross in faster, and, Pirlo will rip us a new one.  Still could be worse, and we could have the WC 2010 team.

Not to say there are not positives.  For a start, I'd like to think some of the players were not giving 100% as not to get injured, and will put themselves about a bit more in a competitive game.  Lallana and Barkley are looking sharp, Sturridge is making the right runs and finding the right positions, Baines looks pretty solid as does Cahill.  Reasonably optimistic still.

Sturridge needs to improve his finishing.

Rooney needs to improve his touch

Wilshere needs to stop being caught in possession so much.

Johnson worries me. No pace and woeful decision making + technique. We need to start with Sterling on the right, if only to protect Johnson from the opposition.

Barclay excellent - he is going to turn into a world class player.

Lallana good too.

Welbeck - limited.

You could have written my post.  Agree to a T.