England vs. Hungary Live!
Way hay! It's a beautiful day, tomorrow is the last day of school, I've got a fresh batch of popcorn in me lap and the England boys are on the telly. Can it get any better than this, lads? It's you're round and about, join me in watching this WC warm-up against Hungary on FSC at 3 p.m. and on the blog. If I promise to be a good boy and restrain my language, perhaps the good people at Blogspot will allow me to get through the match without blocking my access.
posted by gatorbob @ 2:43 PM
120 Comments:
And here are the sides for today's match:
England: Robinson, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Carragher, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Owen. Subs: Bridge, James, Phil Neville, Dawson, Campbell, Hargreaves, Carrick, Jenas, Lennon, Downing, Carson, Walcott, Crouch, Defoe, Johnson, Foster.
Hungary: Kiraly, Feher, Komlosi, Halmosi, Eger, Molnar, Huszti, Dardai, Gera, Toth, Szabics. Subs: Vegh, Low, Torghelle, Rajczi, Vanczak, Polonkai, Vadocz.
Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland)
The papers are saying that this will be our first chance to see the much balleyhooed striking partnership of Owen and Gerrard up front. With Crouch listed on the bench, that seems pretty likely? Is Stevie G. useful in the box? We'll see soon enough.
Okay, here's nostalgic trivia item? Who scored a goal for England against Hungary back in the 80s that stuck in the stanchion of the goal?
Kevin Keegan
What do you think about the fomation?
Carragher as a holding midfield.
Gerrard playing behind Owen?
Is Owen right to play up top alone?
Shouldn't that be Crouch to knock down for Stevie and Frank
Back to nostalga stuff.
Where was I, and I think you Bob, when we heard that Switzerland had beaten Hungary and England still had a shot to make the WC?
I just had a rousing chorus or two of "Three Lions," leaping about the place and frightening the cat. I am pumped!
Wrong on the trivia, Davey-boy, but welcome anyway. Try again. You've got the right era. Perhaps Johnno would be the appropriate person to answer this question.
I am playing Three Lions on my computer as we speak while watching the TV and listening to Five Live
I favor Crouch up there with Owen, at least against the duff sides like Paraguay and T&T. Maybe just Owen up front against a tougher side like Germany.
I have no idea where you were when you heard that England still had a chance. Enlighten me.
Trevor Brooking
You are one multitasking educator, me old mate!
Trevor....Trevor Brooking! Right, you are. A classic goal. Remember it? What are the chances that FSC will dig it out of the archives?
Here we go! here we go! here we go! They're coming out of the tunnel.
We, well at least I was, were at Portman Road when they announced the score of Switzerland 3 Hungary 2. If Hungary had won, they would have beaten England to Spain
Was that Brooking goal in the one nil win to make the finals? It was on Live on the BBC on a Wednesday which was unheard of. They actually cancelled the Saturday fixtures the weekend before
I've got the Five Live going now. Thanks for reminding me. What was the match we were watching at Portman Rd? Did we visit the chippie on the way down? Fried sausage? Lovely.
Just heard God Save... on Five Live
Yeah, that was the one. Very unusual fixture, but vital.
not a sell out tonight
I'd have gone!!!
It is bizarre to hear God Save...and FSC is showing a debt relief ad.
Stevie G's birthday today.
How about a birthday goal
Bloody Mancunians, can't be bothered.
Were you at Portman Rd
There seems to be some delay between the Five Live and FSC broadcast. I'm gonna pop off the Five Live. Too weird.
Kick off on the radio and still not on TV. I won't be able to listen to it and watch. England almost scored.
This happened last time but the second half was about the same time
Nice bright start from England. I like it.
I think I prefer Carragher either at center or left back.
they were saying that on the radio. Put Rio in the midfield
Tony Gubba is making the point that Sven has slapped Michael Carrick in the face by including Carra in his role. I don't buy it. Carrick was poor the other day.
Nah, I still reckon Stevie G. in the holding role with the freedom to get forward against poor teams, and Crouchie up front with Owen. Rio? You're having a laugh.
It's only six minutes in and Gubba has already mentioned Ferenc Puskas. That was only fifty years ago!
That's one Magyar down and ten to go!
Barnstorming run from Stevie G. and nothing from the ref. Come on!
I am not sure this is Tony Gubba mate
he did the last game but it isn't him this time
didn't mean to correct you but it just had to be done
Nice delivery from Becks but the Hungarians are a big lot in the box.
You may be right. Any guesses on the commentator?
We're crowding them out in the midfield, but there's not enough going on up front for my liking. It's really a 4-5-1.
I agree, Gerrard is playing very deep sometimes. I think him and Cole are going to switch some
Rooney actually looks content and happy. He's thick as a plank, isn't he?
good attempt by the Magyars
Come on, England!
pretty pedestrian after a bright start
Red Devil or not - Rooney's daft as a brush.
I repeat... don't diss a devil
cole should have given that off. He tries to do the fancy or too much for my liking
Useful free kick...Bechs to take...and it comes to nothing.
This is more like it - we're using the right side with Becks and Neville a bit better.
not much better
I do like how Rio and terry are getting forward more, all total football style. Although Rio's final ball isn't quite like Van der Keerkoff's.
They're doing the wave, unfortunately. An indication of England's performance. Come on!
Cynical stuff from the Magyars after a great move and run from Joe Cole. Free kick coming from Becks....nearly!
What a dive
Come on Lampard
Typcical
Great stuff! Brilliant move ending with a somewhat dodgy pen. for England. Lamps to take and....
What a poor pen. The keeper could only save it.
I already had Yes typed in the box
Who is going to take England's penalties?
I don't have confidence in anyone
Yes, unfortunately it is typical. I would have bet my house on Lamps, but again it shows that we don't have the steely nerve in the side for a penalty shoot-out. I wouldn't fancy it against any of the big sides.
Good move before the pen though. We mustn't forget that.
How did that not go in.
Great cross by Becks.
Post and crossbar from the clearence
Ooohhhh, nearly from Joe Cole. Becks is really ramping up the deliveries from the right. Good stuff.
Still nothing from Owen. He really does need some support from a partner. If this first half has proven anything, it's that the "Gerrard as center forward" theory is a non-starter. Crouch must come on in the second half.
Back to Five Live
Why does that Christian Miles nob always insist on calling Frank Lampard "Lompard?"
England vs My wife's going to the West Indies. Jamaica? No, she's going on her own accord.
Live on Saturday
Just heard that Five Live condemned the Gerrard dive
Germany 0 Japan 2 half way through the second half!!!
Germany are 2-0 down to Japan at home! Hah hah!
l
Strelnice Stadium (6,244)
Czech Republic 1 - 0 Costa Rica
Final
Stade 7 Novembre
Libya 1 - 2 Uruguay
Final
Slasky Stadium (40,000)
Poland 1 - 2 Colombia
Final
Stade Jean-Bouloumie
Chile 1 - 1 Ivory Coast
2nd
BayArena
Germany 0 - 2 Japan
2nd
Stade 7 Novembre
Tunisia 2 - 0 Belarus
Half
Stadio Arechi
Argentina 2 - 0 Angola
Half
Old Trafford
England 0 - 0 Hungary
everyone is struggling.
No need to worry
What do you think of Terry Butcher's suggestion that Becks go off for Crouch? I think he's mad. Becks has been good; Gerrard and Lamps have been cancelling each other out. I still think Carra comes out and Crouch goes up top. 4-4-2.
Yeah, outrageous dive from Stevie G.
I don't think Becks is as good as he used to be but I still think he belongs. BUT it is the IN thing to think that Becks should be dropped.
Lennon and Walcott coming on? Surely not! Is Sven toying with us or what?
I don't buy it. Becks is still lethal from free kicks and his distribution from the right is vital. I don't think he should be captain - that should be Terry - but I'd still have him on for every match.
Jim Proudfoot is the commentator
Hargreaves for Neville - that's it? Honestly, Sven has lost the plot.
why is neville off?
Is he hurt
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
The radio is now behind the TV
GOAL! 1-0 England: Beautiful ball from Becks and a great header from Gerrard. Maybe I spoke too soon.
I can now watch the TV and then enjoy the commentating after the fact
I don't understand the substitution. I can't think that it's tactical, but I didn't see Neville struggling. Sven's lost the plot.
606 on after the game
At this point, I'd settle for 2-0. That would be a good result. Especially if Owen scored the second.
I've been downloading 606 on the Ipod as a podcast. Good stuff. I've likely take the World Soccer Daily down to the pool and listen after the match.
GOAL: 2-0! Terry from another sensational ball from Becks. See what I was saying about his distribution?
Well, it wasn't Owen but YES
Beck's crosses are brilliant.
Daman, Germany equalized
I can't see that the formation's changed at all, so what accounts for the change in attitude? Did Sven do the hairdryer in the dressing room? Rattle the teacups?
now the Radio is ahead of the TV.
HOW?
This shows what I've always said about this side. They've got so many weapons that it almost doesn't matter if one player or another is injured. There are goals in this side for sure!
what a corker
GOAL: 2-1. A goal out of nothing. Sloppy distribution from Robinson. They didn't mark up from the throw and then woof! Brilliant strike out of nothing.
Oh dear, this doesn't look good. the goal seems to have pumped the Hungarians up. Their tails are definitely up now.
gerrard HURT!!
AGHHHHHH: Stevie G. is down. Whew, he's back up.
phew... he is up
Okay, I'd be happy with 2-1 now and no further injuries or incidents. Blow up ref!
another great cross
Another brilliant free kick from Becks and nearly. Corner to come....and Terry's header is saved at the second chance.
Thank goodness that Toth guy is coming off; he is a total thug.
No substitutions from Sven?
Hargreaves is useless, isn't he. He just doesn't add anything. He must have the Sven/Ulrika photos in his sock drawer.
I Google Earthed your place yesterday.
Just thought you would like to know that I am spying on you
Walcott... for who?
And here comes Walcott. This could be interesting, although I'd rather see Crouchie come on to knock the Magyars about in the box. Maybe Theo'll get nobbled and force Sven to use Defoe.
I think Harg. is going because of his German ties. He could be invaluable behind the scenes.
Ah, Crouch is coming on. Owen and Gerrard to come off. Good move, Sven. Don't risk them.
Crouch and Walcott for Gerrard and Owen
do you think it is good for Wal. to go to the WC
nice cross by theo
Theo is going out with the mayor of Southampton's daughter
Theo is going out with the mayor of Southampton's daughter
Bob, I lost power and my computer couldn't get back on line.
Great goal from Crouch. I got to see it five minutes after the power came back on
Amusing reading lads.
I was forced to wait until 11pm for the replay. What is up with the channel? That flippin' children's show FoxFC was on when I was expecting the replay.
I don't agree at all that Gerard intentionally dived. One look at that replay and you can see what would have happened if he'd kept his feet. That Magyar would have ended Stevie's WC with that two-footer over the ball. As nasty as anything I've seen in a while.
Lampard's miss is troubling. Now that's Lamps, Becks, and Wee Mikey that have the penalty miss hoodoo on them. I doubt that there's enough nerve in the England squad to survive a penalty shoot-out and I think that the papers would be well to point that out. Sven should also and let the lads know that there's no playing for draws this time. We have to win on goals.
Crouchie is peaking right on schedule. What a finish from the big galoot! Back to goal with his defender close, he's just so awkward to defend. And what a turn and shot. Great stuff.
Liked Gerrard and Joe Cole too. Becks it must be said had high plusses--his crosses for the first two goals were excellent, and he passed well-- and high negatives--tendency to fade out. But the worst is his defensive tackling. That 88th minute job was worthy of a red card. He rode through that late challenge from behind and could have really hurt that bloke. Shocking.
Terry and Rio looked for the large part comfortable. Rio still is too dozy to get high marks but he's probably one of the two best and we have to make do.
I didn't fancy Carra in the role that he started and was much happier when Hargreaves came on. You lot expect something from Hargreaves that he's not tasked by Sven to do. He's very professional and he was told to hold. And he did for the most part. He did fine apart from not closing their goalscorer quickly and convincingly. But that was panic stations from Robinson's poor clearance to Cashley's give-away. England didn't get lucky after overly casual and sloppy play.
Mikey is not a forward that can be the lone ranger up top. Hopefully Sven sees that now. In a 4-5-1, it should be Crouch to start. 4-4-2, Wee Mikey is fine alongside Crouch. Theo had a touch here and there but he looks like Freddie Adu--nice touches in less dangerous areas that ultimately don't pose any questions to the opposition.
Everybody came through without injury--another plus.
Agree with all of the above comments. Here are the ones that I would've added yesterday if the system had allowed me to:
Plusses:
* No injuries. At this point, I'd like them to skip the Jamaica match and wrap the boys in cotton wool for the next week.
* Owen got through another sixty minutes and should be ready. He wasn't really in it yesterday, but we all know that he's the sort of player who can be anonymous for eighty minutes and then score the winner.
* Becks was tremendous yesterday, after a week in which everyone was calling for his head. His balls from wide right and set pieces are still one of the most potent threats that we have.
* On the opposite side, Joe Cole was excellent too. One quibble, if our opponents have watched their vids, they'll know that he's a naturally right-sided player playing out of position on the left, thus he'll always cut in toward goal. The Hungarians never figured that out, but the Swedes may have him sussed.
* Crouchie is in hot form. What a finish from "Bambi on Ice" on the turn. I never thought the big man had that kind of touch on him. It reinforces in my mind the need to start him alongside Mikey against Paraguay and T&T and that we have goals in the side.
Minuses:
*Penalties - if I were a journo in the England camp, I'd ask Sven at the next press conference what his starting five for the pens will be, and if he demured at all, I'd roast him. We all know that England will likely face pens at some stage, as they did in 90, 96, 98, and 04. Sven should have his five selected now and have them and Robbo practicing nothing but pens when we get to the knock-out stage. My five would be:
1. Gary Neville
2. Frank Lampard
3. Steven Gerrard
4. Ashley Cole
5. Joe Cole
Those five must all score in any pen shootout situation. If they lose after Rio misses penalty number ten, I've got no grumbles, but if they miss two out of the first five again, I'll kick the telly in. I don't want to hear the Keego-style excuses about not being able to practice in a game atmosphere and pens being a lottery. If they truly were a lottery, then England would occasionally win one and Germany would occasionally lose one. We all know that isn't true.
*Rio - the occasional lapses will kill us in the latter stages. He put Robbo under pressure twice from backpasses yesterday; one led to their goal. We can't do that against the Argies.
*Sven's experiments - They have to end now. The experiment yesterday with Carra as a holding midfielder and Gerrard as a striker was a joke. Carra was just fine, but Gerrard was really playing at the top of a midfield diamond. He did well but cancelled out Lampard, who had a poor game as a result. I'd still prefer Gerrard as holding player and Lamps as the roving central midfielder, with Cole and Becks out wide left and right. Crouch and Owen up front for the first two matches and maybe just Owen up front for the Swedes, depending on results.
*Substitutions - Hargreaves is crap; he shouldn't be in the squad and I don't want to see him coming off the bench. Sven doesn't seem to be able to read the game these days. Yesterday's match was crying out for Crouch early on and - when he finally made his appearance - he scored. Walcott should be saved for real emergencies.
That said, roll on June 10th!
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