It sure puts the pressure on - The consensus fwiw was that we would draw this match - Not lose it.

 

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And Italy played above themselves by a long way. F*cking greasy mummies boys

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Agreed, Rooney is a waste of space.

A disapointing if predictable result from this game. Uruguay were turned over comfortably by Costa Rica but I suspect we will see a different Uruguay later in the week. This game will be the battle for the second position still.

A draw against Uruguay and all 3 points against Costa could still be enough to see us through as you would expect the Italians to deal with Costa Rica and get at least a draw against Uruguay.

We always throught the last group game would be a must win, and that is the way it will be.

Agree with that

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Still digesting that game, but my general feeling is that Rooney definitely isn't worth his starting space.  I'd have put my money on Lambert bagging that had it been him striking it.  Sturridge looked good for much of the game, but worried he's picked up an injury.  Sterling had 30 minutes too much on the pitch but was dynamite in the first half.  Johnson predictably poor, Baines not as bad as some think, in that he was offered no support from his Left midfield/forward, I think Lallana would have been better in front of him.

As for the subs, Barkley had a neat cameo but was effectively faced with a wall of blue. Wilshere, why?  Lallana didn't have enough time to impress. I'd have subbed on Lallana for the Wilshere substitution, with Lambert for Rooney, and Barkley for Sturridge (assuming this was a forced sub due to a knock/cramp).

Win or die against Uruguay now.

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Disagree, not panic stations just yet due to the strange reult earlier

Even with Costa turning over Uruguay in that group I still think it will be close for who finishes second and I don't think it will be Costa Rica

My thoughts -

Uruguay 1 - 1 England

Italy 3 - 1 Cost Rica 

 

England 2 - 1 Costa Rica

Uruguay 1 - 1 Italy 

 

England go through in 2nd place via a draw with Uruguay and defeating Costa. 4 points might be enough for second place in this group!

 

All to play for still in this group. I think it will be harder for Uruguay playing Italy last and probably needing points. England will be wanting to avoid defeat against Uruguay and hope Italy turn Costa Rica over and set it up for them in the final game.

 

Must win for Uruguay....less so for England possibly due to the way the games fall. But if England get beatne then of course it will be all over.

So frustrating watching England tonight a lack of cutting edge and too slow passing the ball around we need to take players on more often, I agree with Matty's comments a lack of quality lets us down. Plenty of effort but we don't have a game changing, world class player.

I am a bit more optimistic about our chances against Uruguay though (hopefully Suarez won't be fully fit but I get the impression he will), their squad captain Lugano is a player who was been released from WBA after a very poor season. Cavani, Suarez and Godin are the only 3 players who can really make a difference.

We need to shake things up, Rooney needs to be dropped, his enthuasiasm has gone and even though he isn't playing in the right position anymore I think playing a more youthful player in the form of Barkeley or Lallana could give us some extra impetus. Rooney's miss really was awful in the second half.

Baines and Johnson were poor, there were some positives to take (Sterling) but we are lacking in key areas.

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I just think that's too negative. We played much better tonight than any game in SA 2010 and euro 2012. Yes at the back we look v dodgy but we will cause Uruguay and Costa Rica big problems if we continue to attack like we did tonight.

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Had Rooney buried that shot, we would all be saying fair result. Certanly, Uruguay are not as capable of parking the bus like the Italians, who are probably the hardest team in the world to break down when they go into defensive mode (and still maintain an attacking threat). Handle the Uruguayan forwards and we'll be fine, though our defence does worry me in coping with Uruguays attack (Cavani and Suarez ).

Hope we have a strong ref for that game, as Suarez is no mystery player and we'll certainly have a plan for him so as long as he doesn't trick some bit-part ref from some third world country with his scheming and diving.

And yes, the German was disappointed.

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Glad to see my confidence wasn't wrong.

PS: I'm half Italian.

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I'm not fully downhearted by the game as I think we can turn over the Uruguayans, but I just don't see the results that way.

I think:

Uruguay 1 - 2 England

Italy 3 - 1 Costa Rica 

 

England 2 - 2 Costa Rica

Uruguay 1 - 1 Italy

And that would put Costa Rica through on goals I believe.  They may make the surprise second spot.

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Ok who can remember the world cup from 1986?

England got beaten by Portugal first game and then drew 0-0 with Morocco in the second game before that game aginst Poland took us through.

That is the same scenario as my prediction for the remaining games.

I couldn't see us drawing with Costa Rica 2-2 personally.

A draw against Uruguay wouldn't be a disaster IF Italy turn over Costa Rica.

I was only seven at the time but know those results, and I do agree it's possible, and Costa Rica's game against Uruguay may have been 'their final'.

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So has Rooneys corner landed yet  ?

I think the keeper just made the save:

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lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-q5ATuTcws 

 

These 442oons are great.

Cavani is the Uruguayan Rooney basically overrated and no way worth £50+ million. Suarez will not be 100% fit he didn't even come on when they were losing so his injury must still be pretty bad. Basically it sounds obvious but we need to put our chances away because we will concede chances/goals with out defence. Think we can beat Uruguay something like 4-2 if we play well.

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Passing - thats what italy do. defending and passing.

Given that uruguay lost, i think it was a worthwhile gamble to play a more expansive side and risk defeat. We have nothing to fear from uruguay if we play the same way and in the cooler temps of sao paulo, that will be possible, i hope last night didnt take too much out of us.

very difficult to judge the second period as they were ahead early and happy to sit back and defend thereafter. thats what they do - defend and pass well!

Matty,you do need to realise the limitations of our squad. whilst we have pace and look good going forward, our players are not good at doing the things you admire in the italians. (In comparison). I am not too depressed - if we cant beat uruguay then we dont deserve to get out of the group anyway.

(Was i watching a different game re rooney's chance? he had a defender infront of him and his decision to go near post was the only one that would probably have gone in. Hardly an 'open goal')

The pressure to drop Rooney will be immense. Certainly not the same man he was in his early career.

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it is no good trying to emulate the italian style of play . we need to play attacking aggessive style which suits the players . but most of all you have to finish clinically. too many misses and its goodnight.

Nick, realise the limitation of our squad? LMFAO!! Read back through this thread. No one is more aware than me, hence the negativity and subsequent lack of surprise at failure.

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This.

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Was a predictable result really, whilst we looked good breaking forward our lack of clinical finishing was the least of our problems, the simple fact is the Italians taught us a lesson in possession football and when to sit deep and when to go forward.

Main concern for England should be how they ran out of steam. Supposed to be young guns. God help them if extra time comes into the equation.

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