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England 0-0 Macedonia. Boo.

   

Oh dear. That didn’t go very well at all did it? With a goalless draw against Macedonia, Steve McClaren’s honeymoon seems to be over. Rooney looked like he couldn’t trap a bag of cement, Macedonia looked very capable of scoring, Downing and Lampard are taking a fair bit of critcism.

Five minutes of video highlights here.

My solution: Scott Parker is in form and deserves the chance to add some bite to England’s midfield, Rooney needs a rest (he hasn’t been right since Sven rushed him back from injury) and SWP deserves a go at right mid now Gerrard is suspended.

Wednesday’s away game against Croatia is now massive, and McClaren needs the points and the performance to restore his reputation to pre-Macedonia levels.


  • http://australia dino

    Its funny when a team constantly performs to their ability are criticised for under achieving. Maybe 30 years of failure will finally reduce expectation on a country who are well short of top football nations..The WC was a perfect result of where England trully ranks.

  • daryl

    You could very well be right dino. And as of 2006 it’s now 40 years of failure.

    There’s actually a debate about this between the two Neville brothers that’s mentioned here.

    “Gary thinks it is a joke that England have not won anything for 40 years and is sure we have some of the best players in Europe, whereas Phil believes those four decades of hurt should tell us something.”

    Peronally I believe that England have the talent to win something, but absolutely not the right. They should never, ever, ever go in to a tournament expecting to win a la Brazil, just hoping.

    That became clear in the World Cup. 4 dreadful performances against Paraguay, TnT, Sweden and Ecuador and all the manager and team had to say was “don’t worry, the best is yet to come” as it if it were pre-ordained.

    Ironically, a little humility might relieve the pressure to perform.

  • Dia

    Personally I don’t think England think they have the right to win anything. The England squad was loaded with talent in the WC whether or not it was utilised to the best advantage is another matter. As in the past and was seen in this WC the England squad tended to play as individuals and not as a team, perhaps the result of a bad manager. The manager they had was as usless as a hole in a wet paper bag. They seem to be holding their own in the Euros won 2 drawn 1 I am sure teams like Italy would be very glad of that score line at present! long way to go to the end of the Euros though. This particular England squad have only played a couple of times together with this manager. Maybe it is time to hold the tongue a while and see what comes before critising England

  • rasor

    England is just one hell of an overated players plus over optimistic supporters. One good move from Crouch and company then the supporters start thinking they will be crowned. Italy has got a world cup trophy at hthe current moment to show for their abilities. The fact remains England is not as good as their supporters think. by the way im just one neutral soccer fan. I just appreciate good football. Maybe Fifa should recognise pasionate fans and in that department you will come first.

  • Dia

    Rasor, I read your blog and think what is this guy on? overated players! do you notice that the English players you call overrated are sort after and asked to play in most european countries. Over optimistic supporters? aren’t all supporters ‘over optimistic’ about their countries football team? Yes Italy has the WC trophy especially after all the scandal in Series A!!! but wouldn’t you think that they would want to go out, especially in the Euros, and prove to the world that they are true champions of football and put all the doubt behind them. Instead they come out and play football in the Euros like some 4th Division team in the UK. At least England are consistant lol but Italy seem to ‘blow their own trumpet’ and come out with egg on their face. Just my opinion.

  • razor

    Fine then! Maybe you have a point. Italy is boring. England is great! Espcially hargreaves. he is my favoured player. You opinion is great Dia.

  • http://australia dino

    Dia you peanut. Your ignorance is laughable. “England is consistant” at what being overated? Italy “with egg on their faces” after JUST WINNING THE WORLD CUP !!!!!!!Maybe one day when your feeble mind realises what it takes to be World Champions you will understand how remote the chances are of England ever fluking it again.If you want to keep embarrassing yourself, continue to feed us your woeful opinions

  • brrrap

    If England’s Chances are ‘remote’ then i wouldn’t like to think what australias chances are then!

  • Dia

    Dino, my little pet!! you have tunnel vision!! The ‘b’ all and ‘end’ all is not winning the WC, (which some say was a fluke due to the obvious advantage the Italians have at ‘diving’) it is to come out and play consistently good football in any event! Are the Italians still knackered after struggling through the WC? are they still shouting about not having enough match practice because of the scandal in the Series A? or are they just going through a bad patch in the Euros and playing crap football? you have 3 choices which one is it to be? How long can you run on the back of the WC win when your team comes out and plays what can only be classed as SHOCKING football. Yes the England team was blown out of all proportion by many especially the press and if they had played as a team and not as individuals then there would have been a far different ending, my opinion. However we have never been so low as to have to ‘dive’ to win we believe in fairplay. If you have to win by foul means then the win is worth nothing. You keep riding on the back of the 4 stars and lets just see how far you will get in the euros sweetie.

  • http://australia dino

    Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha Do I even have to say anything. Who has got tunnel vision moron. SHOCKING football describes England for the last 40 years. AND WINNING THE WORLD CUP MEANS EVERYTHING PEANUT !!!!!!!!!!!

  • Dia

    Dino after your last post you have actually progressed to ‘monkey nut’ keep polishing those stars and practising your diving techniques because thats about the totally ability you have. How many UK players play in the Italian football league and how many Italians play in the UK League? says a lot doesn’t it.

  • http://australia dino

    Can you please explain how any country can dive their way to a world cup, you ignorant, dim witted clueless twit !!!Can you regurgitate any more sterotypical, anti Italian dribble which has absolutely NO BASIS IN TRUTH !!!! Your stupidity is unbelievable, as anyone with an IQ greater than their shoe size knows that the diving crap is just rhetoric of jealous, narrow minded ignorance. Watch a game or two of class football or just keep your pathetic comments to something you may know a little about.

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