England v Ukraine - Build Up & Match Thread

[dune]

James Milner will line-up for England against Ukraine in tonight's Euro 2012 clash.

 

The Manchester City player has been given the nod ahead of Theo Walcott by manager Roy Hodgson.

 

Walcott has been troubled by a hamstring injury, and although he made an explosive impact in the previous game against Sweden on Friday Hodgson has decided not to risk him.

 

England: Hart; Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole; Milner, Parker, Gerrard, Young; Rooney, Welbeck

[Thedelldays]

Rooney owes a big performance

I think he will score

[Crazy Diamond]

James Milner... 'FML' as the kids say.

[Bearsy]

That actually looks a pretty sweet team now Rooney's back! Think we'll win tonight!

[Saints foreva]

Hopefully we get the Wayne Rooney who scored 27 goals last season for Man Utd and not the Wayne Rooney who couldn't give a **** and criticized the supporters during World Cup 2010.

[dune]

For once Rooney, and all the others who think they can pick themselves for the team, know they can't. Roy Hodgson is imo the best manager we've had in years. Let's do the job tonight then dispatch the Spaniards to the raptuous applause of the people of Gibraltar!

[Saint_clark]

For once Rooney, and all the others who think they can pick themselves for the team, know they can't. Roy Hodgson is imo the best manager we've had in years.

 

Apart from the fact Rooney is picked as soon as he is available, despite both strikers performing well and scoring in the last game?

[dune]

Apart from the fact Rooney is picked as soon as he is available, despite both strikers performing well and scoring in the last game?

 

But do you really think he'll be picked again if he doesn't perform or behaves like an idiot? (btw i do realise he is an idiot)

[trousers]

Rooney sending off sweepstake....I'll go for 43rd minute

[Bearsy]

Dumbass Arena always me looool!

[SB]

Rooney 5/2 to score anytime and England win, surely worth a bet?

[S-Clarke]

urrrgh Milner. Was it any coincidence that we looked more threatening once he was subbed and replaced by Theo? Nope.

 

He's a hard worker, but a clogger. Doesn't do much and is never a wide player, way too slow and predicable to do that.

[skintsaint]

Let's hope its not a repeat of that awful night against Romania. **** living in Oz for the Euro's, time diff is killing me. England 2-0 winners.

 

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[Jack]

England will make hard work of this, but get through. France will win comfortably. England will play Spain in the quarters.

 

IMO.

[S-Clarke]

England will make hard work of this, but get through. France will win comfortably. England will play Spain in the quarters.

 

IMO.

 

Or we lose and France lose, but France lose by lots of goals. We then come 2nd to Ukraine. (I think).

[S-Clarke]

Bit of a boost, Shevchenko hasn't made it. He's out.

[SNSUN]

Apart from the fact Rooney is picked as soon as he is available, despite both strikers performing well and scoring in the last game?

 

I agree Carroll had a good game in the last match but I think it was always written in the stars that Rooney would play tonight. Perhaps had Carroll bagged a hattrick against Sweden then it'd have been hard to drop him, but Rooney offers a creativity that Carroll doesn't. Few England players are a cemented choice. Cole, Hart, Rooney and Gerrard are the exceptions. (With possibly Terry, although if I were the England manager, he wouldn't be so certain of a starting spot.)

 

I can't watch this tonight, thank-you work, but I'll be listening in on the wireless. Ukraine will be a tough nut to crack in their home environment, but under Roy I happen to think we'll win this by two clear goals. (While hoping Sweden do us a favour against France.) I'd much rather play Italy than Spain, but after seeing Spain make hard work of Croatia, either are beatable on a good day.

[CanadaSaint]

urrrgh Milner. Was it any coincidence that we looked more threatening once he was subbed and replaced by Theo? Nope.

 

He's a hard worker, but a clogger. Doesn't do much and is never a wide player, way too slow and predicable to do that.

 

I can only imagine that Hodgson doesn't think Walcott has "90-minute fitness" at the moment, so he's likely keeping him for the "impact sub" role.

 

However, we almost certainly need to win and outscore France in order to avoid Spain so I thought he might have used AOC and Theo in combination rather than Milner.

 

Just when we stop looking like the old England we look like reverting back to it again.

[Thedelldays]

if we win 2-0

france win 3-2

we win group on FIFA rankings

[S-Clarke]

if we win 2-0

france win 3-2

we win group on FIFA rankings

 

What would happen if we lost 3-2, and France lost 2-0? Would we still go through on 4pts on Fifa Rankings? I assume that's how they'll work it.

 

You'd then have...

 

Ukraine - 6

England 4

France 4

Sweden -3

[Crazy Diamond]

Rooney has 17 goals in 20 games when played alongside Welbeck.

 

Still can't understand Milner's inclusion, he was hopeless against France and we looked so much better against Sweden when he'd gone off. Yet more confusion all around that 'hard working' means 'good performer'. It is not the case.

[S-Clarke]

Rooney has 17 goals in 20 games when played alongside Welbeck.

 

Still can't understand Milner's inclusion, he was hopeless against France and we looked so much better against Sweden when he'd gone off. Yet more confusion all around that 'hard working' means 'good performer'. It is not the case.

 

English mentality, lots of strong tackles, harrying, hoofing and running around like an idiot whilst not actually achieving much. Sod being able to control the ball and beat a player with pace and skill.

[Dark Munster]

if we win 2-0

france win 3-2

we win group on FIFA rankings

 

Correct. Or England 3-1 and France 4-3, etc.

 

For once the FIFA rankings are useful.

 

Not a huge issue when it's 1st vs. 2nd at stake. But if we lose 1-0, and France loses 3-1, then France would be eliminated by FIFA rankings.

 

In that case I predict le excrément will hit the fan.

[Dark Munster]

What would happen if we lost 3-2, and France lost 2-0? Would we still go through on 4pts on Fifa Rankings? I assume that's how they'll work it.

 

You'd then have...

 

Ukraine - 6

England 4

France 4

Sweden -3

 

We'd go through on goals scored.

[SNSUN]

In that case I predict le excrément will hit the fan.

 

I'd go mad too, I have money on France winning the tournament... (and a cheeky each way on Czech Republic to get to the final.)

[Saint J 77]

I can see this being another close game, much like the game against Sweden. Hopefully with a better result though so we avoid Spain. Although if we do get through I'm not sure Italy will be any easier. Not sure how effective Rooney will be tonight due to lack of recent game time.

[Bearsy]

if we win 2-0

france win 3-2

we win group on FIFA rankings

 

Hope so! I really want to hear Hodgson mention our superior "ranking" post match!

[Crazy Diamond]

ITV's studio in Poland looks like the demonstration garden you get in a Homebase or B&Q.

[Crab Lungs]

ITV's studio in Poland looks like the demonstration garden you get in a Homebase or B&Q.

 

 

So true.... Badgerhead Chiles and friends are rocking the garden furniture. I wonder if there is a cheap jacuzzi behind camera.

 

I'm actually half-waiting for a waiter to turn up with their drinks...

[Thedelldays]

see childs face when carragher said that over 90% of what players/managers tell the media/TV is completely made up and used to feed the media machine

 

haha

[Crazy Diamond]

 

So true.... Badgerhead Chiles and friends are rocking the garden furniture. I wonder if there is a cheap jacuzzi behind camera

 

It's just missing one of these, with a kid testing it to destruction

 

[Crab Lungs]

It's just missing one of these, with a kid testing it to destruction

 

 

Maybe Andy Townsend, Robbie Earle and Ugo Ehiogu are testing it, in anticipation of the Quarter Finals?

[Crazy Diamond]

Maybe Andy Townsend, Robbie Earle and Ugo Ehiogu are testing it, in anticipation of the Quarter Finals?

 

Ha, Robbie Earle. He's not been allowed back after flogging his World Cup 2010 tickets. Classy.

[Crab Lungs]

Ha, Robbie Earle. He's not been allowed back after flogging his World Cup 2010 tickets. Classy.

 

Ah, forgot about that...!

[Crazy Diamond]

This montage of England - I've watched all those clips with a BBC commentary instead of Clive Tyldesley, and it makes me WANT to pay the TV licence. ITV are so bad.

[dune]

Who the f/ck wants to hear the views of Roy f/cking Keane.

[dune]

Watch fat boy Rooney not sing the anthem

[dune]

The mong band are back then.

[Crazy Diamond]

The mong band are back then.

 

Sick of them. Nearly as bad as those ****ing vuvuzelas.

[hypochondriac]

Rooney has been rubbish so far.

[Thedelldays]

I think Young will be leaving my dream team

[Toomer]

We need to hold of the ball and take the sting out the game and settle down.

[Lighthouse]

Ukraine had by far the best of it so far. Husyev and Konoplyanka looking dangerous.

[Gingeletiss]

Attack v defence training game for Ukraine!

[Thedelldays]

at least the ref is giving us the free kicks tonight

[hypochondriac]

FFS Rooney. If that had been Carrol we would be ahead.

[Crazy Diamond]

Milner with the cross... and it's missed everyone. Now there's a surprise.

[Gingeletiss]

Frightened of dislodging his wig!

[Turkish]

Milner with the cross... and it's missed everyone. Now there's a surprise.

 

Why is he there? He couldnt cross the f*cking road.

[Crazy Diamond]

Why is he there? He couldnt cross the f*cking road.

 

He works hard, that's why. We all forget that working hard is enough.