Hi All,

Thanks for the feedback stay tuned for part 2

Plain and simple, can’t see Rooney staying. I think too much has gone on now & he must leave. Regardless of what happens from here, I dont see him winning over the Man Utd fans anymore.
David Moyes needs to give up on it. Let him go to whever, Chelsea, Arsena, PSG or whoever.
I was over in England in April/May and went to 3x Chelsea games (chelsea fan)
I watched the match at OT where Chelsea won 1-0 in the 86th with the Mata goal. When Rooney was subbed on in he second half, he received mixed reaction. I also spoke to many locals, they were no longer the biggest fan.

I tipped him to leave when RVP first arrived. Looks like ill be spot on.

Full Time Report

Full Time here in Donetsk

England 1 France 1

Not the most entertaining second half, no team rode their luck or too many chances and/or risks. France controlled the possession and the passing game for the whole 90.

England came into it in the second half, but didnt have too much to offer.

France didnt really test Joe Hart in the second interval, John Terry and co. werent really troubled as Les Blues didnt really create too many clear-cut chances.

Overall a cagey performance from both sides, and despite the statistics going towards the French, a draw was a fair result.

France England
20(6) Shots (on Goal) 5(1)
9 Fouls 7
11 Corner Kicks 4
0 Offsides 5
64% Time of Possession 36%
0 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
0 Saves 5

What are your thoughts of the game?

SUBSTITUTION ENGLAND 90th Minute

OFF: Danny Welbeck
ON: Theo Walcott

SUBSTITUTION FRANCE: 84th Minute

DOUBLE

OFF: Yohan Cabaye
ON: Hatem Ben Arfa

OFF: Florent Malouda
ON: Marvin Martin

SUBSTITUTION ENGLAND: 77th Minute

DOUBLE SUB

OFF: Alex Oxelade-Chamberlain
ON: Jermaine Defoe

OFF: Scott Parker
On: Jordan Henderson

75th Minute in:

Scores still locked at 1-1.

England have come into the game more. They look more threatening but cant seem to find the final ball. Their midfield havent quite been at their best, and the attack is very quiet.

The tempo has slowed down slightly. England will enjoy that. Ribery has had a quiet second half, so has Nasri. The three lions have certainly learnt their lesson from the first half. Steven Gerrard has been poor offensively but strong defensively. Substitutes might be needed to change the game around.

Samir Nasri’s move infield to link up with Ribery looks dangerous, but the defence of England is on the ball.

Scott Parker has not been at his best today. Possibly his injury getting the better of him.

The game is starting to look more cagey and no risks have been taken as of yet. The French passing game is still the controlling the match. But nothing special is report in the last 15 minutes.

Business end of the game coming up. This is where it will get interesting.

60th Minute in:

Second half has started where the first left off. France dominating possession and the passing game.

As good as the French football is, the English defence dont seem too trouble. John Terry is controlling the defence like he always does, Lescott is playing his part too.

The attack for England have softened slighltly, the ox and Ashley Young havent had too much of the ball. The midfield is starting to have a say in the game now shutting Nasri and Ribery down slightly better than they were in the first interval.

Both teams still in it, its going to be a great last half hour. Anyone can win this. One of the teams have to take a gamble.

HALF TIME REPORT:

Game drawn at 1-1. Lescott’s first ever goal for his country with a header from a set piece gave England the lead, then Nasri equalised with a great low strike.

Its been a lively and entertaining game, both teams having chances. France dominating possesion.

Joe Hart has produced some wonderul saves including a stinging header from Diarra. The French interplay has been great, despite the French goal they cant seem to break down JT and co. at the back. Parker is having good game but cant keep up with the speed of the Les Blues midfield. Gerrard has been relatively quiet.

I think we are going to see more of the same in the second half. Ribery, Nasri are having great games. So is the OX, and the English defence. The English midfield have been quiet and just seem to be outplayed by their oppostition

France England
9(4) Shots (on Goal) 2(1)
5 Fouls 3
5 Corner Kicks 0
0 Offsides 3
62% Time of Possession 38%
0 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
0 Saves 3

GOAL!!!!!

France equalise! 1-1 Samir Nasri equalises with a wonderful strike on the edge of the box.

His Manchester City counterpart saw it too late! great goal!

GOAL!!!!!!!

England Score!!!!!! Joelen Lescott scores off a set piece, Wonderful free kick whipped in by Gerrard!

Lescott as he does best heads the ball in the back of the net.

1-0 England (Lescott 30′)

30 Minutes In:

Speed is still lively – England lead 1-0

Welbeck picked up a slight knock but runs it off. Assistant ref has made couple wrong decisions in regards to offsides. But nothing major to report.

England are giving Mexes and Rami hard time down the flanks as Evra keeps rushing up. England pace on the flanks is hurting France.

England must track Benzema’s smart runs, his runs are opening up space in the final third for Nasri and Ribery to exploit as JT and Lescott are trying to keep track of the Madrid striker.

Yes Johnno, I agree, Benzema is one of the deadliest stikers in the world.

He has all the aspects of being a wonderful striker, he is still very young too!

20 Minutes in:

England havent really created any clear cut chances besides James Milner’s open goal. The French look really quick off the blocks and Ribery looks dangerous. Joe Hart has produced a couple good saves.

3 Lions starting to settle. James Milner missed an open goal after rounding the keeper. Delicate ball from Gerrard.

Game has a real good pace to it, both teams seem they want to win it. OX is growing in to the game.

England playing well but so are Les Blues.

Overall: Both teams looking dangerous

Stats:

France England
2(1) Shots (on Goal) 1(0)
1 Fouls 2
2 Corner Kicks 0
0 Offsides 2
52% Time of Possession 48%

JAMES MILNER MISSES OPEN GOAL! ENGALND STARTING TO PLAY THEIR PART

10 Minutes in:

Lively start to the game, the OX seems up for it and you can start to see the tone of the match being set with France controlling and England ready for the counter

France trying to exploit the flanks. Benzema looks up for the challenge of Terry and Lescott – the English midfield need to stop the ball getting to Nasri orelse it can be a long afternoon.

**LIVE TEAM SHEET**

France:

Lloris

Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Evra,

Nasri, Cabaye, Diarra, Malouda, Ribery,

Benzema.

Subs: Mandanda, Giroud, Matuidi, Reveillere, Menez, M’Vila, Martin, Ben Arfa, Valbuena, Clichy, Koscielny, Carrasso.

England

Hart,

Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole

Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Young, Welbeck.

Subs: Green, Walcott, Henderson, Carroll, Baines, Jones, Jagielka, Downing, Defoe, Butland.

OX ticks the BOX with Milner on the right hand side of midfield.

Mexes and Rami get the nod in the Halves.

Thoughts?

Going to be a good game, it will be a game won at the back. Defence is key as both attacks can trouble the defence.

John Terry needs to be at his best, Joe Hart has to be ready for the likes of Ribery and Bezema.

Man of the match tip: Scott Parker – if its anyone who can Exasperate the french its the Spurs midfielder. His heart and passion will left the squad.

Same goes for JT. The likes of Young and Welbeck have to try test the french defence, Koscielny is the weak link.

If England let France play – they are in for a long afternoon.

Great article Tony. I agree in most bits.

But i dont feel Rogers is the man just yet, I think this is going to remind of something like an AVB at Chelsea.

Yes Liverpool dont have many experienced players, so clashing might not occur on a daily basis, like it was at Stamford Birdge, But the pressure will cetrainly be on him.

He has never managed a big club, and it was only a couple months back he was courted in the media saying ‘i dont want to destroy my career’ by being touted as a possible successor to Villas-Boas.

He is a great manager with wonderful potential for the future and his style of football with such a small and under-known squad at Swansea is second to none.

But i just dont think he is ready for the likes of Liverpool just yet, i think he needs to do similar to Martinez at Wigan. Stick with your current club for a good 4 or 5 years, earn your respect there, then when the time is ready..move on.

Right now Liverpool has plenty of Ego’s. They might be young, but they are a team with confidence ready to flourish. They need an experienced manager who can settle them down and get the best out of them, at least for the next 2 or 3 years till the likes of Henderson, Downing, Adam, Carrol mature that bit extra.

If he was to take the top job at Merseyside, do you think he can cope with the pressure of losing 2 or 3 games on the trot, or going through a bad spell? like every team will through the campaign. Someone with limited experience in my opinion wont cope. We saw it with AVB, and we see it with plenty others such as Hughes at Man City and Luis Enrique at Roma. The pressure is too high for the once most successful club in English Football.

He needs more time with a small club, and Liverpool need to focus on getting their end straightened up before they look for a long term plam. Because lets face it. They are in dissaray at the moment.

I think Adelaide deserved the win despite the dominating football by Grampus..

but the midfield were solid, they were well organised and drilled

Kosmina got his tactics right, they moved the ball crisply, overall great footballing performance

Wonderful performance!! Great grams! Reminds me a bit of Chelsea!!

Give me your thoughts guys!?

Adelaide are defending their heart out! Eugene Galekovic with top goalkeeping ..

Thoughts?

I dont know if this has been mentioned yet, because i havent read most replies but here is how i feel it should work.

90 minutes draw
extra time still played 30 minutes

after that – every 3 minutes one player from each team will have to be sacrificed until we are left with 6 on 6 (5 players and a goalie)

Then golden goal

That has been my idea for years! since 2000! when France played Italy in the Euro’s

Aleks I do agree with you in some extent. But you cant really make MAJOR differences between international football to club football. The foundation dont change.

Football is always about the manager, they make the impact, the ability to get the best out of the players, controlled through the attitude. Most international players play in their respective leagues, there is no need for the football to change, as long as that player has the same mentality as his team mates then the football will blossom.

A great example is Spain: 80% of their players are from Barcelona, the other 20% from Madrid. They seems to transfer their football from Barcelona to Spain with ease. The way Barca please is the EXACT same way Spain have played in the past two tournaments.

It is the same philosophy.

Why cant England manage the same thing? look at the starting line-up. ALL of them are in the EPL. why cant they move their “frenetic pace where crunching tackles, line-sprints and having a long range crack” as you noted and make it a force on the international stage. The problem is simple, they have 2 different philosophy’s at club level and international level.