Yeah, well, many of us think he’s kind of a German after all those years at Bayern (and growing up near the border) which is much worse. 
Well beaten by Croatia. Poznan is a nice city but that was a tough loss.
Oxlade-Chamberlain to start, which is a positive selection. The team looks fairly decent on paper, but that has counted for nothing in recent tournaments. Here’s hoping Hodgson doesn’t find his face on a root vegetable in tomorrow’s papers.
England v France is first up today. I’ll be rooting for England.
It is refreshing to watch an international football tournament with which England are involved and have national expectations be so low. If England get anything out of this game, I will count that as a major plus - though we might have to do it with the “park the bus - hit on the break” tactics so beloved of every neutral.
Oh, who am I kidding? What’ll happen is exactly what happens in every major tournament. England will lose when they face the first decent side they play. It’s happened in every tournament since 1990, with the exception of Euro 96. If England beat France, it probably says more about them than us - and we’ll simply lose to the first decent side we play in the knockout rounds instead (by the looks of things Spain or Italy).
31C in the stadium, which doesn’t suit a premier league playing style. In retrospect, a good job Scholes didn’t make a comeback, or he’d be like a boiled lobster already.
And we’ve got an injury already - Ray Clemence the goalkeeping coach!
I’m pulling for England today. Welbeck and Young with a hatrick, each!
Good job by Roy to not put Lampard and Gerrard out there together. If Welbeck can do a good job as a target man, then I think there’s plenty of quality to support the attack. I’m not a big fan of Milner, but he’s got the ability to support both attack and defending. Solid choice.
Lampard withdrew from the squad injured.
Yes, and thank God we’ve been spared that debate this tournament.
Pretty even so far from what I’ve seen. France more assured in possession, and we’re having trouble playing it out from the back, but we just had a great break to give Milner a great chance. he just couldn’t quite stretch enough to put it in an open goal.
England 1-0.
Good goal!
France puts one back.
1-1
Keeper should have done better there but to be fair I think his view was blocked by the defenders.
Under a lot of pressure here just before half-time, and we’re sitting just in front of the penalty area. We really need the whistle here.
Are you in the stadium? wow!
Oh! Just saw the previous post.
Beam me over there.
I want to watch it too.
Sorry, no, I was referring to the position of our players. We were reverting to type and sitting very deep. Can’t do that against a decent side.
Parker slipped and Gerrard shouldn’t have been as deep as being in the penalty area anyway. A bit of discipline in remaining on the edge of the area and he might have got out to block that.
Hey ! Please wave to me.What shirt are you wearing?
Watching the first few minutes of the 2nd half on ITV.com, the phrase that springs to mind is “Can we have the ball please, monsieur?”