England vs Chile Match Thread

[raynesparksaint]

So that's Rodriguez written off then, after a mere 56 minutes playing among a collectively dour England performance.

 

Seems a bit unfair to me, considering how many chances the likes of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young have been given and failed to impress.

[Badger]

Rooney and Lallana play better when given a free role. Seems teams like Spain half the team have a free role, and or rather they play a fluid and dynamic system whereby every player knows their role in any given situation. It's shame England never seem to successfully become this sort of team despite the hype.

 

Sad to say, but are our players intelligent enough to play a fluid system ?

 

And when have we had a manager intelligent enough to implement such a system or explain it to the players and motivate them ?

[captainchris]

I can't help thinking Adam and J-rod were saying to themselves "****ing hell can't wait to get back to a team that can actually play" .

 

England couldn't pass or hold on to the ball to save their lives. It must be quite hard to shine when you come from a team that press as a group, control the game for long periods and can pass a ball to playing for England....

 

I'm starting to think I'd rather our players weren't near the England squad which probably doesn't help their game at all

 

I think Adam might get another shot but I doubt Jrod will get another go (though I was surprised he was called up in the first place if I'm honest)

 

Really well composed message... Makes lots of sense...... Our guys will be pleased to get back to a decent well organised team...

[The Kraken]

With the squad withdrawals, I can see Lallana getting game time Tuesday

While I hope you're right (and think he did enough tonight to warrant it) I'm not sure where Hodgson will see he fits in for England.

[saintant]

Who'd want to be told they fit in to playing that pathetic style!

[doddisalegend]

Rooney and Lallana play better when given a free role. Seems teams like Spain half the team have a free role, and or rather they play a fluid and dynamic system whereby every player knows their role in any given situation. It's shame England never seem to successfully become this sort of team despite the hype.

 

That's why I think Lambert is a good fit for England playing as a number nine leading the line and bringing others into play Rooney doesn't, IMO, do that very well. England never had someone holding the ball up for the (lets face it pretty pedestrian)midfield and wide men to join the attack tonight. Adam and Rooney playing off Lambert would be quite good I reckon.

[Sour Mash]

Lallana looked good first half, faded 2nd half and didn't see much of the ball. Rodriguez is very much a confidence player and he looked a bit nervous to me; couple of times he got the ball and had the opportunity to run at the Chile defence, something he does so well for us, yet opted to play an easy pass instead. I'm just not sure if the England management will show him the patience he'll need to get into his rhythm for international football.

 

Rest of the England team very poor throughout. Rooney trying to do everything and getting in other players way, not picking the easy pass. I thought the best example of the contrast between the two sides was the kicking from the keepers - time and time again the Chile keeper picked out his man at all angles of the pitch, absolutely perfectly. Forster on the other hand just booted the ball aimlessly up the pitch every time the ball came to him, clearly to the annoyance of other England players, really made a difference to the rhythm and structure of the game. As others have said, Chile were a very good side.

[RonManager]

Post match interviews with the 3 amigos.

 

http://www.youtube.com/southamptonfc

[Barry the Badger]

I thought Lallana gave a decent account of himself.

 

Jay, although he plays "on the left" for Saints, that was a totally different position tonight. It was left mid and that is not his position. He was unfortunate to be played there really.

[Pugwash]

Having avoided the news all evening, just watched the recording.

 

Chile are a good side, but where was England's midfield? No creativity or link-up play. Honestly, playing Lampard and Wilshere together - the two least-disciplined and tactically inept midfielders in the squad - with Milner of all people, ffs? Not that it mattered with centre backs that couldn't play out from the back, a right back who wasn't and a hoofing keeper.

 

Brave performance from Lallana and J-Rod gave it a good go, but this was a side without shape, organisation or leadership.

 

If Berbatov had been playing for England, it could have been a re-run of Saints v Fulham, with the team in red doing all the pressing and passing and dominating possession.

[doddisalegend]

BBC ratings for the match Adam comes out with the highest mark out of 10 (with a 7) of the whole squad

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24966559

[Hedgehog]

I thought Adam did well, JRod not so much, but if you are going to rate players on this game what did the likes of Lampard do, and even Rooney with his 2 shots (that I can remember). It is still a long time until the finals, a lot can happen before then. Lampard picked up a gold cap, and had a deflected free kick, was there more? I expect the only players who feel happy tonight were those not able or asked to play tonight, as their stock still remains high.

[cellone]

BBC ratings for the match Adam comes out with the highest mark out of 10 (with a 7) of the whole squad

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24966559

 

But says his replacement didn't get long enough.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Expecting England to play a saints like high pressing game is unrealistic. It takes hours on the training ground and players used to the system and playing it week in week out. You just can not impose it on players when you've got 10 days with them and they then go back to their clubs. Look at the difference a preseason and familiarity made to us.

You are never going to be able to play it with lampard or Stevie G in there,we paid big money for victor with that system in mind.

Rooney was closing down like a school boy tearing around, Adam and jrod seemed to be caught in 2 minds , and lampard, Milner and Wilshire just did not press as a back up or as a unit. It meant chile were able to easily pass round Rooney or any effort our 2 made. We saw this a couple of games last season.Sven and Capello would of had us sitting, and I suspect woy would of 6 months ago, he's been blinded by a couple of decent performances. We were just too easy to play against tonight.Tonight also showed how good Fonte and Lovren are on the ball, Cahill and Jones were shocking and tonight showed all the experts that Ashley cole is in a different class to Baines. If Clyne isn't better than one of Johnson or Walker, then my cocks a carrot.And wtf is Wilshire on, does he have to dribble every single time be gets the ball. Pass the ****ing thing.

 

As for the debuts,because of Lambert and Townsend people are forgetting how tough it is to step into playing for your country. Mick C always said it took him a dozen games to feel like an international player. JRod certainly looked overawed, but that's quite normal particularly in a poor performance. Adam looked better, some good touches , control and simple passes. A lot of its down to luck . Rickie got a free header 10 yards out within minutes of appearing and that has to help. I got the feeling that Rickie thought "**** it, even if I only play once, its once more than I ever thought possible" and just went out to enjoy it. He played like he had nothing to lose, JRod played like he didn't want to screw up, Adam appeared a bit more relaxed, but needed some luck.

[SW5 SAINT]

Pompey are better than England.

 

C'mon………..

[St_Tel49]

Expecting England to play a saints like high pressing game is unrealistic. It takes hours on the training ground and players used to the system and playing it week in week out. You just can not impose it on players when you've got 10 days with them and they then go back to their clubs. Look at the difference a preseason and familiarity made to us.

You are never going to be able to play it with lampard or Stevie G in there,we paid big money for victor with that system in mind.

Rooney was closing down like a school boy tearing around, Adam and jrod seemed to be caught in 2 minds , and lampard, Milner and Wilshire just did not press as a back up or as a unit. It meant chile were able to easily pass round Rooney or any effort our 2 made. We saw this a couple of games last season.Sven and Capello would of had us sitting, and I suspect woy would of 6 months ago, he's been blinded by a couple of decent performances. We were just too easy to play against tonight.Tonight also showed how good Fonte and Lovren are on the ball, Cahill and Jones were shocking and tonight showed all the experts that Ashley cole is in a different class to Baines. If Clyne isn't better than one of Johnson or Walker, then my cocks a carrot.And wtf is Wilshire on, does he have to dribble every single time be gets the ball. Pass the ****ing thing.

 

As for the debuts,because of Lambert and Townsend people are forgetting how tough it is to step into playing for your country. Mick C always said it took him a dozen games to feel like an international player. JRod certainly looked overawed, but that's quite normal particularly in a poor performance. Adam looked better, some good touches , control and simple passes. A lot of its down to luck . Rickie got a free header 10 yards out within minutes of appearing and that has to help. I got the feeling that Rickie thought "**** it, even if I only play once, its once more than I ever thought possible" and just went out to enjoy it. He played like he had nothing to lose, JRod played like he didn't want to screw up, Adam appeared a bit more relaxed, but needed some luck.

Not a bad summation IMHO

[trousers]

[Jimmy_D]

 

Predictable.

 

Other papers have been far fairer though.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10453486/England-v-Chile-Adam-Lallana-flies-flag-high-for-Southampton.html

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/15/adam-lallana-england-jay-rodriguez-chile

[Bewildered]

quotes from Hodgson after the game re: AL and J-Rod

 

"Lallana did well. Rodriguez worked hard, did all the right things, but it was a big ask for him to play in that position.

 

"But I'm not disappointed with any of them and I'd not write any of them off on the basis of that game."

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-0-2-chile-mirror-player-2796133

 

Looks like The Mirror are all too happy to give Rodriguez a kicking. He was poor, he wasn't the worst player on the pitch though.

Edited 16 November, 2013 by Bewildered

[trousers]

@marksaggers: Just read the Southampton FC report on their debutants for England tonite. No wonder these players don't live in the real world !

[trousers]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/304113/analysis

[Bewildered]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/304113/analysis

 

Being labelled worse than Raheem Sterling is just brutal, hope the slaughtering Rodriguez is getting does not ruin his confidence.

[Smirking_Saint]

Looking at the game from a neutral position (its hard as Ill probably over criticise to compensate) jay had a very poor game. He may well end up an England player but he isnt there yet, Welbeck and sturridge are streets ahead.

 

Lallana looked good apart from his poor set pieces early on. Wanted the ball, held the ball and looked dangerous.

 

From an England perspective I would say the failing was having no real defensively minded CM, which means wheb the LB and RB push up as they envaribly do these days you leave yourselve very vunerable to the counter. We were crying out for Gerrard, the side isnt the same without him. Without cover Lampard is useless IMO

[shurlock]

Looking at the game from a neutral position (its hard as Ill probably over criticise to compensate) jay had a very poor game. He may well end up an England player but he isnt there yet, Welbeck and sturridge are streets ahead.

 

Lallana looked good apart from his poor set pieces early on. Wanted the ball, held the ball and looked dangerous.

 

From an England perspective I would say the failing was having no real defensively minded CM, which means wheb the LB and RB push up as they envaribly do these days you leave yourselve very vunerable to the counter. We were crying out for Gerrard, the side isnt the same without him. Without cover Lampard is useless IMO

 

Agree about the need for DMs in allowing the full backs to push up and the likes of Jrod and Lallana to come inside but Gerrard's not the man. Still offers something going forward but is a liability defensively now that his legs have gone. Schneiderlin and Wanyama absolutely tore him apart at Anfield.

[Saint Garrett]

England's CM is the big problem. None of ours are DMs so we get overrun. That means the two wide players can't press as the full backs don't press. I actually think Rooney and Milner did ok last night, but Wilshere and Lampard were atrocious. Time to give up Frank

[Saint Charlie]

International football as a whole is so underwhelming.

[Sheaf Saint]

 

Exactly what I thought would happen - especially after this disgraceful rag of a paper blamed England's defeat to Italy in 1997 entirely on MLT.

 

This is why I was surprised and a little concerned about J-Rod's call-up, and starting him last night was a mistake. I just hope the mauling he gets from certain sections of the press don't dent his confidence too much because we all know how important that is to his game.

[CB Saint]

J rod looked completely overawed by the occasion and because the team was misfiring he didn't really get a chance together into the game and settle his nerves. However that didn't seem to bother Townsend when he made his debut. Maybe jrod is just not ready yet.

 

lallana is an interesting one. Looked comfortable an lively, however it would be interesting to see if he can click with Rooney. If not I suspect his chances will be limited.

[trousers]

After watching JRod isolated on the left side of the field last night I've got the words of Pochettino's left hand man ringing in my ears (sorry, his bane escapes me at the moment).... "Our forwards don't play IN positions, they play FROM positions"

 

Last night, it was clear to me that Hodgson had instructed JRod to play IN a specific position, which is not how he plays for his club.

 

It highlights the difference between how Adkins and Pochettino utilise(d) JRod. He struggled somewhat under Adkins but has flourished under Pochettino's more fluid approach.

[Batman]

what is more horrific (and not at all surprising) we have absolutely only 1 way to play

hodgson had no idea what to do with chile. and was shown that we HAVE to have pace out wide. not so much creativity but as long as we have quick ball carriers wide we might do alright.

 

but we persist with many very poor players.

yet again, lampard was shown to be past it

 

johnson has been terrible for ages and was again last night. remember him getting torn a new one at SMS last season. been shyte for a while and in no way on gods earth is he better than clyne

 

Phil 'future england captain' jones is bang average at CB (where he never ever plays for his club). The amount of times he let the ball bounce in front of him was disturbing

 

wilshere has fallen way short of the form of last season. he is good in flashes but gives the ball away so cheaply in the middle

 

thought milner was good last night (which tells its own story)

 

Rooney was better than anyone else

 

rodriguez, will be surprised to see him play again in the near future

 

lallana was pretty good IMO and would be far more dangerous in a better england team but then, roy NEEDS pacey ball carriers out wide. so he will never really feature with roy

[lifeintheslowlane]

J Rod was thrown in at the deep end remember...not only his first England squad but his first England start against tough opposition. He's not been afforded the luxury of a gentle introduction...squad first...being brought on for the final 20 minutes in a comfortable game. He you are...here's your big chance to impress...3 games to go before we select the 23 for the world cup...f**k it up now and you're history.

 

Anyone surprised he looked nervous?

[Batman]

J Rod was thrown in at the deep end remember...not only his first England squad but his first England start against tough opposition. He's not been afforded the luxury of a gentle introduction...squad first...being brought on for the final 20 minutes in a comfortable game. He you are...here's your big chance to impress...3 games to go before we select the 23 for the world cup...f**k it up now and you're history.

 

Anyone surprised he looked nervous?

that is international football. Townsend did not have this issues and is now part of the squad. lallana did not really have this issue either

 

you have to be able to come in like that, do well enough. he never

[Shroppie]

Do you think that Hodgson had some misguided idea that choosing a couple of Saints would instantly turn England into a high tempo pressing team?

 

If so, it's a sad reflection of his understanding of how complex Saints' closing down is, and how it has to be a whole team philosophy. O e or two players doing it without support will always get torn apart.

[Batman]

Do you think that Hodgson had some misguided idea that choosing a couple of Saints would instantly turn England into a high tempo pressing team?

 

If so, it's a sad reflection of his understanding of how complex Saints' closing down is, and how it has to be a whole team philosophy. O e or two players doing it without support will always get torn apart.

highly doubt that was the case at all

[lifeintheslowlane]

that is international football. Townsend did not have this issues and is now part of the squad. lallana did not really have this issue either

 

you have to be able to come in like that, do well enough. he never

 

I don't disagree...just felt sorry for the lad in the circumstances. Doing well in a shambles of a team performance isn't going to make things easier, as the clock ticks down.

[Shroppie]

highly doubt that was the case at all

 

Second thoughts, you're probably right. I don't think he's either brave or astute enough to consider different approaches.

[thefuriousb]

I see little is being mentioned, nationally, of the ineptness of the players playing behind the 3 'forward' players.

 

No support from the 2 full backs and the 3 of Lampard, Milner, and to a lesser extent, Wilshere was just abject at best.

 

There was no fluidity in the system. No support for one another, and just too much space between the line of defence, midfield and attack. It was like a real-action fussball side!

 

I thought that J-Rod's inclusion was a bit leftfield, but it appears to be a formation Roy is keen to use and Jay fits the bill currently, especially with the injuries.

 

But to hang him out to dry is wrong, though not at all surprising by all that live to knock people down.

 

What should be of far greater concern is that England do not seem to have enough midfield & defenders that can play a technical 4-3-3 formation, a coach that knows how it should be played... and perhaps not enough English Saints players.

 

We all know how JWP, Clyne & Shaw play in this formation. I dont see how on that performance last night they would not have done a far better job at delivering progressive football than Johnson, Baines & Milner

[James]

Was at Wembley. What a completely ridiculous performance by England, any criticism that's coming the way of our boys should fall squarely at the feet of Roy Hodgson, he is a tactical dinosaur.

 

The problem was not the players but the formation and the tactics. JRod was being asked to play as an orthodox left mid and stuck to the touch line all game - I've never seen him be asked to do that for us or for anyone to say that's his position. Why call up a player and not give him a fair shot to show what he can do? Roy's understanding of how saints play and where JRod fits into our attack (if represented by last nights set up) is worryingly basic.

 

I thought lallana did well and worked extremely hard but even he was nowhere near as effective stuck out on the right playing second fiddle to Rooney.

 

I'm glad our boys are getting recognised but it's always been club over country for me so would now actually rather they weren't picked. They miss a week of training with MP, are subjected to tactics like that and there is always the risk of injury (heart in mouth when Adam went down). I'm worried that the slating the press give England will hurt the confidence of the players when actually they should be taking a long hard look at Woy. We will never win anything playing like that, not with him as manager. If Roy managed Spain I honestly reckon they wouldn't get past the quarters...

[Wes Tender]

Expecting England to play a saints like high pressing game is unrealistic. It takes hours on the training ground and players used to the system and playing it week in week out. You just can not impose it on players when you've got 10 days with them and they then go back to their clubs. Look at the difference a preseason and familiarity made to us.

You are never going to be able to play it with lampard or Stevie G in there,we paid big money for victor with that system in mind.

Rooney was closing down like a school boy tearing around, Adam and jrod seemed to be caught in 2 minds , and lampard, Milner and Wilshire just did not press as a back up or as a unit. It meant chile were able to easily pass round Rooney or any effort our 2 made. We saw this a couple of games last season.Sven and Capello would of had us sitting, and I suspect woy would of 6 months ago, he's been blinded by a couple of decent performances. We were just too easy to play against tonight.Tonight also showed how good Fonte and Lovren are on the ball, Cahill and Jones were shocking and tonight showed all the experts that Ashley cole is in a different class to Baines. If Clyne isn't better than one of Johnson or Walker, then my cocks a carrot.And wtf is Wilshire on, does he have to dribble every single time be gets the ball. Pass the ****ing thing.

 

As for the debuts,because of Lambert and Townsend people are forgetting how tough it is to step into playing for your country. Mick C always said it took him a dozen games to feel like an international player. JRod certainly looked overawed, but that's quite normal particularly in a poor performance. Adam looked better, some good touches , control and simple passes. A lot of its down to luck . Rickie got a free header 10 yards out within minutes of appearing and that has to help. I got the feeling that Rickie thought "**** it, even if I only play once, its once more than I ever thought possible" and just went out to enjoy it. He played like he had nothing to lose, JRod played like he didn't want to screw up, Adam appeared a bit more relaxed, but needed some luck.

 

Sums it up pretty well. Clyne would have to have done a better job than Johnson, who was caught out of position too often and he was the weak link on that flank. I suspect that Ward-Prowse would have added something beneficial to the midfield too. Townsend was largely ineffectual when he came on because he was closed down immediately, much as Saints close down players quickly. That wasn't surprising to see Chile play that way, once I'd hear the commentator mention that their manager, like Pochettino, was a disciple of Bielsa's. Roy had witnessed how we play and our league position is testimony to the effectiveness of our style of play against other teams who play the old English way. He is an intelligent man and must realise that if he can get England playing that style of football, it would be effective, but it requires the personnel capable of playing it and disciplined drilling. If he decides to change in the direction of that style, then it bodes well for our youngsters' futures.

[James]

I see little is being mentioned, nationally, of the ineptness of the players playing behind the 3 'forward' players.

 

No support from the 2 full backs and the 3 of Lampard, Milner, and to a lesser extent, Wilshere was just abject at best.

 

There was no fluidity in the system. No support for one another, and just too much space between the line of defence, midfield and attack. It was like a real-action fussball side!

 

I thought that J-Rod's inclusion was a bit leftfield, but it appears to be a formation Roy is keen to use and Jay fits the bill currently, especially with the injuries.

 

But to hang him out to dry is wrong, though not at all surprising by all that live to knock people down.

 

What should be of far greater concern is that England do not seem to have enough midfield & defenders that can play a technical 4-3-3 formation, a coach that knows how it should be played... and perhaps not enough English Saints players.

 

We all know how JWP, Clyne & Shaw play in this formation. I dont see how on that performance last night they would not have done a far better job at delivering progressive football than Johnson, Baines & Milner

 

Agreed. Good post. I was sitting behind some Arse fans who were getting ****ed off at my bashing of Wilshere. He is so overrated and just does nothing. My mates laughed at me when I said he wouldn't get in the Saints team, but he wouldn't for me. There would be nowhere near as much hype if he played for say Villa.

[Saint_clark]

Sad to say, but are our players intelligent enough to play a fluid system ?

 

And when have we had a manager intelligent enough to implement such a system or explain it to the players and motivate them ?

 

Of course they are, they've almost all managed it at club level at some point.

[david in sweden]

as a dyed-in-the-wool Saints fans, it's hard to just say favourable things about our two, when the overall TEAM performance was so abysmal.

 

If our lads get dropped (on Tuesday)....and the rest remain - it would be grossly unfair. The defence was all at sixes and sevens and no-one seemed to be able to cope with the 100 mph Chilean side that looked like SUPER Saints at their very best, and I think both the players and fans were taken aback by the aggressive Chilean attacks that seemed to be endless.

 

Some of the England " regulars " were pretty gross to say the least and it would be difficult to find three England players to praise, but I do think Adam was our best player.

He seemed to be everywhere, back in defence and everywhere else in the middle, whilst Milner and Lampard seemed to get lost a lot of the time, and couldn't handle the Chilean attacking style.

 

It was obvious that Rooney was going to be upfront, but he seemed a pretty toothless in attack, and it left JayRod stranded out on the left wing where Adkins (wrongly) started him last season, where he looked nervous and had little chance to show up, as their defence closed him down very quickly. No wonder Sanchez (?) is second best to Messi. He took his efforts exceptionally well.

 

If Roy has a Plan B for the Germany game ...he'd better come up with it PDQ, because another defeat seems inevitable (on last night's showing) and with only the Denmark game to come (in March) he may have to pick his squad by picking names out of a hat..... and hoping they all stay fit (and in form - if there is such a thing).....until the plane flight to Brazil.

 

 

.

Edited 16 November, 2013 by david in sweden

[david in sweden]

Lallana did well. Should feature at some point against Germany.

 

JRod doesn't look ready for this step up YET. ****ing pathetic anyone writing the lad's international career off at the age of 24.

 

 

 

of course they've been doing that to James Milner since he was 19 ...and he's still gets in to the squad.

[Hedgehog]

Football focus were in general had praise for Adam, good for them.

[Wade Garrett]

Thought Lallana was our best player. The whole back 4 were terrible, as was Wilshere. Felt sorry for Jay, he was hardly given the ball.

 

Rooney is a good player, but greedy as f*ck. Went for unlikely goes for glory time and again, when other players were better placed.

 

Townsend will be an important player for us, I reckon Barkley will as well. Lallana looked good yesterday. Would like to see him given a chance with the first 11, and not some of the crap he played with last night.

[Leicestersaint]

I thought Adam did OK - one of the better players on a poor night.

 

JRod looked overawed and frightened - I think the call ahs come too soon for him. If he plays well for Saints and scores regularly then he will get another chance next year.

 

Overall most of the England team looked pretty woeful.

[DaveyR]

The fact that so many England players are heading to the 100 cap mark speaks volumes why the national team is in the state that it is! Old boys club with no fresh impetus being introduced. To achieve 100 caps for your country you should be an amazing talent. Unfortunately it's average-good players that are achieving this. Too many old has beens in the team.

[Sour Mash]

The fact that so many England players are heading to the 100 cap mark speaks volumes why the national team is in the state that it is! Old boys club with no fresh impetus being introduced. To achieve 100 caps for your country you should be an amazing talent. Unfortunately it's average-good players that are achieving this. Too many old has beens in the team.

Which average/good players are you referring to?

[The9]

I thought that people generally were underestimating Chile, who were always going to put a strong side out in a match against one of the top UEFA nations in the run up to the World Cup.

 

Add to that that there was no real effort to integrate the new players OR the fringe players, and the England system is nothing like the Saints one and it was a recipe for disaster. I wouldn't have Rodriguez anywhere near the squad even for an experimental side at the moment anyway.

 

Lallana is on such good form at the moment he was always going to shine no matter what, but it was obvious from the first minute when he went to press the ball in the Chile left back position and looked around to see he was on his own, then stopped pressing, that there wasn't any change to England's system and the Saints players were going to have to try and impress despite the system, not because of it.

 

Star Wars Imperial March moment for me was Henderson and Cleverley coming on late on. Welcome to The Future.

[The Kraken]

The fact that so many England players are heading to the 100 cap mark speaks volumes why the national team is in the state that it is! Old boys club with no fresh impetus being introduced. To achieve 100 caps for your country you should be an amazing talent. Unfortunately it's average-good players that are achieving this. Too many old has beens in the team.

Lampard shouldn't be starting for England; and certainly not in the midfield two against such a high intensity side as Chile. But I can't think of any other old has beens from last night. As to the 100 cap brigade, the people we've seen of late reach that milestone have been David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard. If you're casting doubt on the validity of any of them reaching 100 caps on merit, then count me out of that one. Ashley Cole in particular has been amongst the best players in the world in his position for around 10 years now. Beckham is an English icon but was an extremely talented player worthy of his plaudits. Gerrard also was an outstanding player and even still deserves to be in the side on merit. And Lampard, who is starting to look past his best but who has scored 15+ goals per season from midfield in all but one of the last 10 domestic seasons. Aside from them, John Terry has retired from international football. So I'm rather confused as to whom you're referring to in any case.

Edited 16 November, 2013 by The Kraken