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!
That's got to be the by-word for England fans today as the lads take on Russia in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier. My position is that McClaren should play the same team that did the biz on Saturday against Israel and hope for a similar result. A win today and you would have to fancy us to qualify.
posted by gatorbob @ 11:33 AM
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!
204 Comments:
Wales are kicking off in the early FSC match today. The Dutch are up later at 2:30 on the channel. Obviously the England match is a pay-per-view deal. Are you buying it, Dave?
Croatia have predictably taken the lead in Andorra. No hope of an upset there, I'm afraid.
0-2 Croatia in Andorra. (sigh)
Latest scores:
Slovakia 1 Wales 1
Andorra 0 Croatia 3
Wales have jumped out to a mighty impressive 3-1 lead against Slovakia, who are no mugs. They better not blow this one.
Meanwhile, Croatia are 0-5 up at the half. Ouch.
Croatia are no six up! Bloody hell!
And Simon Davies has just capped a remarkable night in Slovakia as they now lead 2-5. A real captain's performance from Craig Bellamy, with two goals and another cross forcing an own goal from a Slovak defender.
Macca has wisely gone with the same side from Saturday:
Robinson; Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole; Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Barry, J Cole; Owen, Heskey. Subs: James, Brown, P Neville, Smith, Downing, Johnson, Crouch.
Some nice options off the bench there if we get into some trouble and need goals.
And Croatia have settled for six against Andorra this afternoon. They're now on 23 pts from nine games. England start on 17 pts from eight games this afternoon.
Whew! Made it in time for the England match. Just got back from my arraignment this morning. I was in Euston Station last night and felt compelled to punch this lairy old Scots geezer in the nuts.
I'm confident that no jury in the world would convict me!
C'MON ENGLAND!
I reckon that that lairy Scot's git is going to feel as if he's been kicked in the goolies after the French are done with his side today. But I take your point.
Come on England! Good to have you lads on board. United We Stand should be along shortly after he finishes holding detention hall with the usual suspects.
The Dutch are starting against Albania. They are currently second in their group and could really use a convincing win against the fourth placed Albanians.
Three Lions on a shirt....
Jules Rimet still gleaming!
All due respect to Gooner, but Robin van Persie really is a chippy sod.
Oh dear, it's the tragic Mike Riley who officiating the Albania vs. Holland game. Could be embarrassing.
And the Albanians have it in the net, but the striker is penalized for a shove.
The Czechs are already one up against the Republic. They're just about down and out now.
And plucky little Estonia have taken the lead away to Macedonia. Good result for them if that holds up.
Yes he is. But if he weighs in with 15-20 goals this year, I'll live with it.
He's like having a certain Alan Smith in our squad and I'm not referring to Smudger either.
File this under strange but true. RVP spent the summer coverting to Islam. I'm really hoping that he gets around to changing his name to something groovy like Robin Abdul Jabbar!
I heard that! I think it was on the Five Live call-in show, they were talking about Mido getting some crap from anti-Muslim elements in the crowd and they were listing some of the Muslim players and RVP's name came up. I thought, "WTF? Is that solidarity with the bloke who offed Theo van Gogh?" Just incredible.
I am home with 20 seconds to spare.
We bought it again.
They just kicked off!!!
Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!
Welcome, Davey. Enjoy the match, eh?
Heskey has stayed down in the first minute.
Looks like he is up again
no chances yet
Ferdinand beaten for pace down the right. The cross kicked out for a corner. Cleared but still not completely out
What colors are they playing in - I've got the red on. And a scarf, although it's bloody ninety five degrees down here today. Struth!
Russia with just one striker up front, eh? Sounds good to me.
England in white. Russia in red
Oh dear. Sounds like it's all Russia so far. They're trying to catch us napping in the early stages. I heard that the wily Hiddink was targeting Robbo. Bastard.
Good work from Hesk, Richards cross kicked out for deep throw. Richards has a long throw. Hesk wins and Owen t
OWEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cross by Barry. So much time. YES!!!!
Corner for Russia.
Come on England, hold on and get another one.
Easy catch by Robbo
YESSSSSSS! 1-0! Mikey's 39th!
Wemberly sounding good.
You're not singing any more...
Barry's been an absolute revelation in these two matches, laying on two or three of the goals. How can you leave him out now?
They should have scored again.
Everyone thought it was offside but Hesk was through but the keeper saved and Owen couldn't get the rebound
Hesk is winning everything and laying off well
That goal should really settle the nerves. Top two here we come!
Excellent.
That's the best thing for our confidence. Wee-Mikey's the man!
I'm just going to follow the blog today. Can't talk to clients and watch near misses and the like. I'll pop up now and then.
GoOnEnglanddddd!
That was chance for Russ.
Hit side netting. Robbo had it covered.
Why did you do that to Fergie
Russia look nippy going forward
SWP wins a corner.
They scored from the last one
Don't say it, Dave. Don't say it.
Come on, Gareth. Lay another on!
Terry almost gets to it.
He is now laying down hurt. Knock to the head but is up.
England look like they can score from every corner
Russ almost get a break goalside of Cashley. He comes back and covers up.
SWP has a shot. Should have been a corner but the ref is blind
Macedonia 1 Estonia 1
Scots are still holding on to a 0-0 with France. That would be their best result.
Thanks for noticing Dave. I posted that and it fell unnoticed and unloved.
Did you see the latest Bourne movie? There's a scene in it that is all about the cctv in Euston Station and I really hope that that footage of Ferguson surfaces someday on YouTube.
Russia pass the ball well and get the ball in the net!!!
Thankfully called back for handball. A close decision. I heard the whistle right away.
PHEW
SWP sneaks for a header that he should have scored
I am sure it will.
BOTH teams look capable of scoring
Phew is right. What's going on with the back four?
Russia attack with pace
Just looked at the replay of the "handball" I think we lucked out.
Very marginal decision
365 comment: "TV replays suggest the Russian goal was as much chest as arm and England are a shade lucky to get away with that."
Nice shot from a Russia. Good save from Robbo.
Corner... cleared
Germany have been pegged back by Romania
Russia are attacking at every opportunity and sadly I think they have the beating of our back four!!
It is end to end
RVP has just elbowed an Albanian in the face and picked up a yellow for his trouble. Could have gone off for that.
Wembley sounds quite
The German game is a friendly
I forgot the last word.
Wembley sounds quite quiet!!
Russia almost connect with a header.
Phew again!!!
JCole has a shot from outside the box. Good save from keeper.
Stevie G. has useless start.
Cole's shot was deflected.
I just don't understand why that new stadium can't rock the way that the old one did. Is it all the corporate feckers in the crowd?
Is RVP's elbow okay?
OWEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stevie G. is clearly still nursing that had toe.
Heskey sets up Owen with a header right to him
Great job HESK
31 minutes gone.
Russia had only let in one goal in all of their qualifiers before this one
Blimey, that wee Mikey's fortieth! He's well on the way to the record now.
Not much excitement from you Robert.
COME ON!!! GET INTO IT!!!
Steve, do you feel guilty.
From the Beeb
025: Darren Fletcher is struggling in Paris with an injury. Sir Alex Ferguson, fresh from his Euston hiding, is watching from the stands.
Italy have scored in the Ukraine
Heskey has been excellent. What is going to happen when Rooney comes back. Can he play deeper?
I'm into it, I'm into it. But I'm at least thirty seconds behind you, since I'm watching the Dutch match.
Extraodinary scenes in this match, btw. It had looked as if Mario Melchiot had scored a cracking header in his net, but Mike Riley has cancelled it out for no apparent reason.
By the way, great finish by Owen
I'll say it again - the boy Roon hasn't scored for England since Euro 2004. I think he'll have to win his place again.
N Ireland have tied it up in Iceland.
Healy from the spot. 18 minutes to go
Are you confident of getting #6 in a row on Friday night at Bristol Rovers?
Watching highlight of Owen two weeks ago and I reckoned he was way out of form . . . how wrong I was. . . sorry, Gooner, I thought you had a go at some random Scot . ..
Richards and SWP are causing havoc on the right
What is all this about Alex Ferguson and getting beaten up in Euston Station. Did I miss something? I thought that Gooner was just hallucinating after a heavy lunch.
Russia are making a sub. Looks like an injury to their #20____ov
Absolutely, I reckon Leeds are destined to end up as a trivia question for A Question of Sport after this season.
Something like "Which side had a 100% percent record and yet zero points."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6991198.stm
Thanks for the link, mate.
From Paris
2036: If anyone wants reminding why Claude Makelele hardly ever scores there it is. His volley has gone over the goal and inter-galactic. The camera pans to Thierry Henry in the stands who has creased up.
It has been a very clean and well played game.
Great stuff. "When you're sat in row Z, and the ball hits your head, that's Makalele!" I dunno - doesn't have the same ring to it.
Bob, stop laughing as you picture Sir Fergie at Euston
1 minute of added time
The Dutch are still deadlocked at half-time in a bad tempered match. Mike Riley might well have to pull out the red card in the second half.
What I'm picturing is some drunk git "shadow boxing" with Ferg. Great stuff.
Honestly, my best material and it's just allowed to hit the ground like the bouquet from John Terry's wedding.
But, I'm feeling contrite and I've had the Arsenal Club shop send Furg one of those ice-packs that we used have on hand for Lee Bowyer when he had to mark Dennis Bergkamp. What section is he in?
2-0 and Mikey again. Bloody Marvelous.
That's it!!
A very satisfying half of football.
Two great finishes from Owen and great play from Heskey.
Owen is only the fourth man in history to score Forty for England.
Who are they?
Sorry, mate. I'm way behind on the news this week.
Half-time - 2-0. I'd love it if the ref could blow up for full-time. I've had enough nervous energy for one day. I just want to jump in the pool now.
Stats
Possesion
E 55% R45%
Attempts on
E 9 R 4
On Target
E 6 R2
Corners
E 2 R 3
Fouls
E 4 R 2
Only Six fouls all half.
No way,
Look at the footage. It was classic Balboa stuff. Lead with my right and walloped him in the nuts with my left. Scarpered off quick-like to my corner afterwards and they gave Furg an 8-count.
Adrieanne-nuh...Adrieannnnnnnne-nuh
Scotland have held the French to half
Charlton, Lineker and Greaves?
By-the-way Bob-san,
Congratulations on passing your oral exams!!! That's as massive as the hiding I gave that old Scot.
Cheers, mate. That's a load of pressure off. You can from now on refer to me as "Gator-candidate!"
Looking at the highlights of the first half, Owen was set up well by Heskey he had an overhead that was blocked. The resulting corner was cleared but they scored when it was hit back in.
The Albanians nearly scored again there. If Van der Sar weren't a complete mutant "Fantastic Four" character, it would have snuck over him.
Iceland scored in the 91st minute against No Ir. Gillespie with an OG
Well, was I right with my guess of Charlton, Lineker, Greaves and Owen?
Congrats on the 'orals'
Thanks for letting us know.
And wee Mikey's on course for a third competitive hat-trick, right? That's got to be some kind of record too. The boy's a machine in front of goal.
Don't like to toot my own horn to much, do I, Dave?
No Ir. lose.
Lawrie Sanchez goes and it is all down hill.
Wembley's arch looks good.
Let's hope the prawn sandwich brigade gets back in time for the second half.
Restarted at Wembley
The Albanian crowd is going potty at this point. They sense a chance to bring down a big team here.
Correct on the goalscorers
Charlton 49
Lineker 48
Greaves 44
Owen 41
Come on, England!
Ta very much, lad. Owen is on 41? Or is it 40?
Russia almost score.
Shot just misses the far post low.
Phew.
I don't know. Which one is it
Knock it off!!!
They almost score again.
The guy was a toe nail away from knocking it in.
Stevie with a good shot and well saved.
I thought it was forty for Owen, but I may be wrong. I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to see him make a run for the record. At 26, he certainly has a chance if he stays fit.
He has now scored 40.
I must have been counting the one he is going to score in the next ten minutes
Absolutely. Go on Mikey! Get that hat-trick. I want to see another flip like he did after his hat-trick in Berlin.
Cashley could have given away a pen there. He tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick but the guy muscled him of the ball and got into the box. A ref could have given it.
Is your match still nil nil?
It sounds as if Cashley is having a rascal of a match. What's he playing at?
Russia have looked dangerous most of the day.
They will be a real handful on the plastic.
Yeah, and Albania look the more likely to score too.
The Scots are still hanging on at 0-0 to. That would be a marvelous result.
He's hopeless.
As for the Cash incident, it wasn't a pen but some ref would blow when the guy went down.
I don't quite understand why everyone is so afraid of the plastic pitch. Is it really that much of an advantage for the Russians?
Russia now playing three up front, according to 365. Is that right, Dave? Bloody hell.
defending's not as easy as preparing pot-noodles.
England are looking very shaky!!!!
COME ON RIO AND TERRY.
GET A HOLD OF EVERYTHING
Did you see about naming an England team of players with two first names.
John Terry
Michael Owen
Ashley Cole
Joe Cole
(do these two count?)
Got any more?
Was that what Ferg muttered as you were giving him one in the jewels, Gooner?
Spain have scored early against Latvia
Portugal one against Serbia
Is Cole really a proper name?
Stevie should have scored.
He missed from 8 yards.
Come on... get number three
I guess Cole is pushing it.
Cole Porter??
Gareth Barry
Great release from Robbo to SWP.
He stinks at getting in the cross
Yeah, really. I'm sick of hearing about the Russian fans singing and their strikers pushing our defenders about. What do they think they're playing at? Don't they know that they're meant to roll over and die now?
Stevie G just doesn't look right.
Watch him be on fire at Fratton Park on Saturday
The Ukraine have tied it up against the Italians.
"He rang me one day last week and asked me, 'how do I cook Super Noodles?' I couldn't believe it - especially as it says 'boil for two minutes' on the front of the packet" - Cheryl Cole
How about Rio Ferdinand - does that count?
Enough said
Macedonia drew with Estonia
24 minutes to go
Albania have it in the net once again....and again it's called off for offside.
Not sure about Rio. I think it was listed.
This was on The Guardian website during the Israel match.
Italy have taken the lead again
SWP can't cross the ball!!
SCOTLAND HAVE SCORED AGAINST FRANCE!!!
Both World Cup Finalist been beaten from the Scots!!
I agree - he gets into great positions but he can't cross for toffee.
From the Beeb
2122: GOAL France 0-1 Scotland
Unbelievable. The travelling support are going absolutely blinking nuts in Paris. James McFadden unleashes a quite astonishing shot from distance and while Mickael Landreau gets fingers to it, that's not enough to keep the exocet out.
Rep of Ireland lose to the CR
Unreal! Well done, the Scots. It's about time that McFadden started a match. He seems to score at will for them. The haggis will certainly be flying tonight in Glasgee!
The steam seems to have gone out of the England match, yes?
Just over 15 minutes to go.
No subs for England yet.
The second half hasn't been as good. Russia has had the better chances.
As I type, Crouchie is warming up
Way hay. Let the big boy at those tired Russian defenders.
Hard shot from Russ. Robbo couldn't hold it. Rio kicks it away
From the Beeb
2131: Michael Owen runs free on the right. His pass into the box for Shaun Wright-Phillips is woeful. England's two-goal hero looks well and truly knackered.
J. Cole gives away two free kicks in the space of 10 seconds.
First yellow card.
Russ have a free kick on the left of the box to the side.
Cleared
Time for Owen to come off for AJ too, eh?
The Scots are fifteen minutes from possibly their greatest victory of all time. And one that would almost assure them of qualification.
Crouchie on... Heskey off
Well done Emile!!!
10 minutes left
SWP takes a shot, awkward bounce in front of the keeper.
England get first corner of half.
Cleared
A total melee has broken out in the Albania-Holland match. And it looks as if it's a red card is coming out. Yes, the Albanian defender Kana is off. But what about Sneijder, who seemed to head-butt Kana? Well, apparently nothing. But Van Nistelrooy has got a yellow for mouthing off to the ref. It's definitely kicking off now.
Yeah, well done Ivanhoe! Another great performance.
Albania down to 10?
Still goalless?
GD doesn't separate teams in these tables.
Head to head does. That means, if England win 2-0 could afford to lose 1-0 in Russ if they tie
England have another corner
Cleared but........
RIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, Ruud has just stuck in the killer blow with a typically lethal finish. Exquisite. You'll have to look at the highlights for that one. Pick that out! Wow! And Ruud will be lucky to get out of Tirana alive now. Very cruel to the Albanians.
Way hay! Is that his first for England?
A shot went through keeper.
YOU BEAUTY!!!
He did score in the World Cup '02
Denmark I think
Oh dear, a flare has come out of the crowd and leveled Melchiot to the ground. This could spell some UEFA trouble for Albania. And Mike Riley has blown early for full-time. Incredible scenes here!
from the beeb
2141: That's England sorted. All eyes on Paris and Scotland.
2140: GOAL England 3-0 Russia
A poor effort from the Russia keeper but Rio Ferdinand won't give a damn. The centre-back collects a Michael Owen pass in the box after a corner, shapes to backheel to Gareth Barry before stepping clear from his marker and firing in at the near post for his second goal in England colours.
That's right, I do remember that. It was really an own goal off Schmeichel but he claimed it.
Yeah, the Scots are down to the last five minutes. All hands to the pump, lads!
J Cole replaced by Neville.
More international caps for the Nevilles than the Charltons.
143 to 141.
The Charltons have a few more goals. Not because of your Jack.
Did you know that Bobby and Jack are not talking anymore?
It is something to do with their wives.
This result really does a lot for our goal difference too. Worth an extra point.
Into the three minutes of added time
For some reason, Five Live isn't blacked out!! I wonder if it was the whole time.
Ach, Jack must've scored a few off the noggin, no?
Owen off and Downing on
Just looked it up.
He scored THREE
A little short of Bobby
Alan Green complaining how bad it is to leave Wembley. Worst than the old one.
It's over
WELL DONE ENGURLUND!!!!!!!!
Six goals and none conceded. Not a bad two days of work.
Just a bit.
England 3 Russia 0. Terrific win.
Scots just about hanging on now. I'm on the Five Live - thanks for the tip.
Table
Croatia 23
England 20
Russia 18
Israel 17
Come on England. Get something in Russia.
Forty seconds from the end of the match.
Come on SCOTLAND!!!!
Anelka's won a corner....
And another corner....
YES!!!
WELL DONE SCOTLAND!!!!!!!!!!!
And it's over! Wow! Scotland have beaten France. Fantastic.
Did you see the England Israel match?
It is on next on FSC
They're now on top of the group. Still have to go to the San Siro and away to Georgia, but it's a huge, huge win.
Lovely jubbly. I'll be watching it.
Ukraine quarter finalists.
The other two finalist.
WOW
I think Italy have to go to Scotland
Great to spend the afternoon with you.
Best of luck on Friday. I will be at Thomas' soccer match in Saratoga.
Will you be around for Saturday?
So,
England have Estonia at home next and then away to Russia
Scotland are at home to Georgia and then away to Georgia
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