We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It may not count for much, but there is still little more tantalizing a prospect for footie fans than a match between England and Brazil. And this one gives us a chance to see the new Wembley in all its glory, a new line-up for England and possibly the next generation of samba boys. The "Three Lions" is pumping - bring it on!
posted by gatorbob @ 2:35 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
143 Comments:
And Becks is in the side. And there are some other surprises too. Here are the sides:
England: Robinson, Carragher, King, Terry, Shorey, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Smith, Owen.
Subs: Carson, Brown, Bridge, Neville, Carrick, Jenas, Bentley, Dyer, Downing, Crouch, Green, Defoe.
Brazil: Helton, Daniel, Naldo, Juan, Gilberto, Ronaldinho, Mineiro, Gilberto Silva, Kaka, Robinho, Vagner Love.
Subs: Doni, Maicon, Alex Silva, Alex, Marcelo, Edmilson, Josue, Elano, Diego, Alves, Jo.
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Thank goodness McClown has plumped for a traditional 4-4-2 instead of the 4-5-1 that was being bandied about in the press. Shorey slots in on the left in place of the injured Bridge and Cole, it's the midfield four that started the World Cup and Michael Owen has Smudger for company up front.
It's a relatively strong Brazil side too for a friendly, with Ronaldinho, Robinho and Kaka all in the starting eleven.
Nice round of applause for the late great Alan Ball before the kick-off.
Brazil to kick off...and here we go!
He Bob, I am here. I walked in right at kick off
Typical British commentary - "Can England get some tackles in early to unsettle the Brazilians."
How about we have a real festival of good football with two good sides on display, eh lads?
Missed all the pre game stuff.
I will rewind it on my DVR
First dangerous looking attack down the left for Brazil but it's cut out nicely by Terry.
Nervous early moments for England there after a dangerous free kick is swung in and Robbo flaps at it.
Afternoon, Dave! What do you think of the lineups?
Great run by Cole but went down like some other players. THEY AREN'T ALL FORIEGNERS
You've got to like the sight of Smudger in the starting eleven, eh?
I like the 442. Can Lamps and Stevie G play together.
I am fed up with all the talk during the World Cup about a holding defender. DID WE NEED ONE AGAINST TandT???
I agree! If they start with a holding midfielder against Estonia, I'll throw a pie at the telly!
England have settled down after the early nervy start but they still look rather plodding, without any real ideas so far.
Estonia... a better example than TandT
Some lovely Brazilian flair there from Becks and Cole.
Surely they can go with a 4-3-3 against Estonia, with perhaps an out and out wide man and two center forwards?
Did you see this?
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=435702&cc=5739
Becks playing in the center. Good delivery almost gets to Owen
Thanks for the ESPN article on Leeds. I hadn't heard about the recount but I'm not surprised. There are a couple of other offers bouncing around including a Yank and a Sheikh.
I'm fed up with Tony Gubba - how was that last cross from Becks a "good delivery" if it went over everyone's heads?
Just too far on the cross.
Hopeless control by Lamps
As usual Lamps and Gerrard are cancelling each other out...will they ever learn?
I am trying to end the jinx for me.
I am actually wearing my England shirt for the match. I have the red one and Kathy is wearing the white
Joe Cole's using more the usual number of step-overs today, don't you think?
I've got the red one on - that's the lucky one because of '66.
Chance for Becks to get in a dangerous cross from a free-kick.
Not too good
First free kick for Becks...a bit disappointing but a decent effort from Joe Cole.
I didn't think so at first but he was offside.
Good thing that was ruled offside....
Great pass from Becks to Cole and then far too many step overs
I do not like how the England defenders are backing away from these guys. Far too much respect.
I just looked at the "goal" again.
Gilberto was not offside but three others were.
Who knows what the rule is now!!
Shorey looks to be solid but unspectacular. Doesn't add anything going forward.
Did you see that Agblondahor is AWOL for the U21s?
Wonder what is up with that. He is one of their stars for qualifying and then blows it for the tourney
I'd like to see Becks get a free kick a little closer than forty yards from goal, but....
WTF! I really fancy him for the senior squad at some point.
Useless free kick from Becks.
He definitely deserves to be in the team though
Wembley looked good from that last shot. Why are there empty seats near the dugout?
Just saw this from the Beeb on Ags.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6706909.stm
I don't understand the criticisms about the Wembley pitch - it looks pretty good from this vantage point.
Great tackle from Stevie G.
Matt just made a good point.
Why is Ronaldinho wearing #7
Becks time!!!
Put it in Davey Boy
Here we go....!
Oooh, that was close!
Oooh, that was close. Great shot
Not a sniff for wee Mikey yet, but if he gets through this one without injury I'll be happy.
Stupid foul by King
Could easily have been a penalty there.
Ronaldinho....strikes it wider than Becks.
Phew
Not as close as Becks
Talking of the pitch, it doesn't look too good when you get up close
Nicky Shorey has obviously slipped a fiver to Tony Gubba before the match -he's positively raving about the kid and he hasn't really done that much.
Yeah, you're right, it does seem to be cutting up badly.
Some of your comments don't show up and then all of a sudden they are there.
You were right about close to being a penalty. Did you see how far Ron took it from? It was outside the D.
That's odd. Shorey really put Robbo in the muck there. Lucky break.
Do you know that Shorey is getting married tomorrow?
Hell of a stag party!!!
The crowd seem flat
High, wide and 'orrible from Ron.
I'm not surprised that the crowd is quiet. This has been a disappointing performance so far from England. Becks's free kick is the closest they've come to scoring and Brazil could easily be two up.
Why is Smudger back defending inside his own "D?"
Foul by Terry.
Dirty bastard
Why can't England just attack the oposing goal???
Ach, why didn't Owen run at the defender there?
Owen had a lot of space on the left.
Why did he go at a jog???
Half-time - 0-0; not much to rave about there. It won't quiet any of the McClown critics there. I haven't ever heard a quieter England crowd at half-time. Is the new Wembley another "museum" like the Emirates?
By the looks of it, Kaka and Becks want to swap shirts. Are they coming off at the half?
A good quote from the Beeb. I agree with every word.
2048: HALF-TIME - It is staggering to see England look so static compared to the Brazilians. After watching the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal play some sumptuous football this season - good movement, slick passing - it must be depressing for England fans to see their team play with a lack of imagination.
Absolutely!
It does look like Becks and Kaka will come off. I expect wholesale changes at the half. Probably a chance for Bentley to run down the right.
Any changes?
Becks did not come off... I am pleased with that.
No changes
No, as usual, I'm completely wrong. Both sides are "as you were." Talk about lack of ideas!
I know that Dietmar Hamann was the last player to score at Wembley.
Who was the last England player to score there?
I don't know the answer
I just found out the answer.
Do you know?
Nice shot by Robbo
Good save there from Robbo.
I meant to say save
Corner chance for Becks. COME ON... get a good cross in
Two good crosses from Becks.
Tricky question there, Dave. Hamann's was the opening goal in the WC 2002 qualifying campaign - England won 5-1 in the corresponding fixture - so if you're talking about the last England player to score in a full international, it's got to be in a Euro 2000 qualifier. I don't know - Michael Owen?
At least there are a few shots being made now
Any answer to my trivia
Thank you for your answer. I was thinking it was Sholes but I was wrong as well. Here is the answer.
Who was the last England player to score at Wembley?
And the answer was of course, Tony Adams. The former Arsenal man scored England's in their 2-0 win over Ukraine on 30 May 2000 - their penultimate game at the old Wembley.
Good run from Jamie C.
Crossing chance for Becks.
I would never have got that one.
Nice free kick from Becks and nearly there from Owen.
Great cross... almost from Mikie.
That's more like it
I don't think anyone would have gotten that question.
Probably not even Tony himself
Dyer and Downing... Hopeless
Downing for Cole and Dyer for...?
Who would you have on then? It's slim pickings.
Another stupid foul from Engurlund
Another free kick opportunity for Ronaldinho....deflected over.
Good... how close was Smiffy to the ball when he blocked it?
Why can't Owen stay on his own two feet. Becks was making a good run.
Shooting chance for Becks?
Beckham time again....
while Smithy and Joe Cole come off.
Watch Mac take off Becks.
Good, he stays on.
Why is Dyer replacing Smith?
Nice hit by Downing
What a screamer from Downing...
Wasted corner.
Great chip by Becks to Owen. He had time to bring it down don't you think?
Becks has drifted into the middle and is now dominating the game. Gerrard's dropped back into the hole and, well, is Lampard even on the pitch? I can't tell!
Yeah, Owen doesn't look the sharpest on the turn, several times tripping over his feet.
Great cross, great header.
THANKS BECKS!!!!!
LOVELY JUBBLEY
YESSSS! Brilliant cross from Goldenballs and the requisite headed finish from Terry. 1-0!
Oh dear, the 'Orrible Orange is coming on for JT. WTF!
And he's nearly gifted a goal...what a plonker!
I agree... what a plonker!!!
Becks coming off to rapturous applause and deservedly so. He justified his selection even though many see it as a step backward.
A win would do England a power of good.
No, he's still on and is over another free kick....
And it's headed away.
Beckham coming off.
Well done David
Now he's off....will he get another game in midweek?
LA Galaxy move to be put on hold??
That couldn't happen could it?
It would be nice to stick another in. That would put a smile on everyone's faces. I'm not sure one goal from a set piece even against Brazil is going to change anyone's mind about the side.
I hope this isn't right?
2132: Goalscorer John Terry who seemed to pick up an injury after scoring for England is replaced by Wes Brown.
uhoh
No way, Gubba's talking out of his arse as usual. England don't even play again until the fall after Estonia. Why would that put his move on hold? He's scheduled to play his first game for the Galaxy in a friendly against Chelsea about three weeks from now.
It will mean that the Galaxy might lose him for international breaks, that it.
off the wall
Phew
The wall's holding up well to those Ronaldinho free kicks.
Oh, that could easily have been a goal there from Alves.
There is talk of him coming to England on loan after the season
Some nice stuff there from Dyer but the final ball was lacking.
Corner to come...
Great run from Brown to open a cross from Dyer and then crap from Dyer
Come on Crouchie
I don't see that happening either. He needs some time off at some point. A thirty two year old can't play year round!
Crouchy on for Owen. Excellent move. Wee Mikey's not the player he was at 19 but we still need him for the tap ins.
Robbo makes up for a crap kick there.
Lampard just cannot hit shots for toffee in an England shirt.
England are causing more problems for themselves than Brazil
Great view of the Arch.
Heck of a shot by Lamps.
It would have gone in if he was wearing a blue shirt.
What kind of defending was that by Robbo and co? Yikes
Really sloppy stuff from Robbo. That could easily gone in and would have been quite a clanger.
Robbo tried to punch it out from below waist height!!!
Carrick on for Lumps
Go on Crouchy - knock another in!
Robbo's always had a dodgy habit of punching when he should catch, even from the time when he was at LUFC.
unbelievably pathetic from England on that break.
"Dear, dear, dear..." That sums up Jermaine Jenas, doesn't it?
Absolutely.
Of course, he will still be in the squad.
Do you Claudio R. is a good choice for Citeh?
Oh dear, Diego has broken England hearts. It's 1-1. Bugger!
Hopeless defending.
How many players were open in the box in the last minute
The smallest man on the pitch gets a free header in the middle of the box. Unbelievable.
Full-time: 1-1 - Well, that was dispiriting at the end, wasn't it? In truth, it's a fair result, but still we needed a morale boost before the midweek match.
Oh well, I want a win midweek anyway.
Bugger.
Glad to spend the afternoon with you Bob.
Talk to you next week
I can't believe that Claudio Ranieri would want to come to Citeh unless he's been promised tons of money to spend.
Cheerio, mate.
Shit! I really thought we'd won that one. Ledley King, you muppet ball watcher.
Still, nothing here on view that says that we'll have much to worry about against Estonia. And nothing either to allow us to predict Mullering them either.
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