Russia vs. England Live!
It's a big, big day for England footie. Anything but a loss virtually assures that the England boys will qualify at least second in the group and a win could still have us competing for top spot with Croatia.Early indications are that Macca may experiment with a 4-3-3 in order to push for the win. The news has all been about the "plastic pitch" and its implications, but now it's time to get down to business. Match-time is 11 a.m. EST.
Come on England!
posted by gatorbob @ 7:45 AM
77 Comments:
C'mon England! Stick that plastic pitch up them!
It was heartening to hear on the Guardian Unlimited podcast this week that most of the Russians don't play regularly on the artificial turf either.
Here's the side that Macca has picked for today's crucial match:
England: Robinson; Richards, Ferdinand, Campbell, Lescott; Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Barry, J Cole; Rooney, Owen.
Subs: James, Shorey, L Young, Lampard, P Neville, Downing, Crouch.
It looks like pretty much what England ended up with on Saturday after the Cole injury forced Lescott to the fullback slot. I assume they'll line up in a 4-4-2. It points up again the lack of flexibility in the England set-up that we're going with the same team and line-up for both a match at Wembley against Estonia and a match on a plastic pitch in Russia. Incredible!
More bad news - there have been skirmishes between England and Russia fans in Moscow overnight. More news to come on that.
Let's remember that this is a must win match for Russia and yet Guus Hiddink seems to be going with a lone striker up front in the hope of catching England on the break.
What kind of maniac goes to Moscow midweek to watch a nervy match in mid-October? Of course there are going to be skirmishes with those Russkie gangsters. Those foolish enough to go will be lucky if they're not fed Polonium butties.
The Five Live feed has just popped off - bugger!
You reckon it's probably the hard-core headcases looking for a bit of a scrap in the cold, right? Your middle class guy and his kid is hardly going to make the trip.
As predicted, a nervy start from England on the plastic pitch, with Russia trying to get the early advantage.
Rio's made a desperate block to prevent a shot; it's gone out for a corner.
First England shot goes to Roon, who scuffs one wide after a flick on from Owen.
Football 365 comments: "Russia are having the better of the early possession in what appears to be a very intimidating atmosphere in Moscow."
Robbo has just been warned about time wasting at a goal kick in the 7th minute!
The Portugeezers are being held away to Kazakstan - Borat will be pleased. But Ronaldo and co. will be in real trouble if they don't get a result today.
England appear to be setting out their stall for a draw with a well organized backline, Rio and Sol in particular snuffing out the danger.
First good chance for England. J. Cole floats a corner over and Lescott has a header tipped over the bar by the Russian keeper Gabulov.
Both sides seem to be reverting to a long ball approach.
Twenty minutes in and England are looking comfortable, with a few nibbles at goal and keeping it tight at the back.
Robbo's monkeying around with a goal kick again. He's likely to get booked if he keeps this up.
YESSS! GOAL ROONEY. England 1-0! Owen's flick-on finds its way through to Rooney who beats Gabulov with a thunderbolt of a strike on the half volley. What a goal from a man who is proving just why he is rated so highly. You never know that might silence the crowd as well.
Great to see Owen and Roon combining so well. Up until Saturday, the seeming first choice strike pair were only scoring every 200 minutes or so while Owen was rattling them in with Heskey and Crouch as a partner.
Now, hang in there!
Rio and Sol keeping up the brick wall in the back as Russia press for an equalizer before half time.
Half-time: Russia 0 - England 1
England will be delighted with their efforts so far. Rooney's fantastic strike is his fourteenth in forty appearances and gives England a real chance to top the group.
The only bad news today is that the Portugeezers have squeezed out a 2-1 win against Borat's lot. Shame.
Are you watching the match? A friend called to tell me there is some China internet site carrying the game live for free. Sorry I didn't catch up with you in DC, Bob, I was snowed under with fatherly responsibilities, including painting a bedroom. Am in West Palm Beach today for meetings.
Hey, Trev! Good to hear from you. No, I'm stuck in the office. I'd be curious to see which site is carrying the feed. Can you send me the link?
I'll be back up in D.C. for Thanksgiving. I'll look forward to seeing you and the family then. Enjoy West Palm, eh?
The second half has started with England white-knuckling a 1-0 lead that would see them claim top spot in the group as Croatia are not playing today.
Roon has gone down with a knee problem and has been carted off for some treatment. Time to switch him for another sacrificial lamb, surely. Crouch?
A Gareth Barry free kick finds Gerrard unmarked in the box, but the Liverpool skipper sends his shot horribly wide. He's is rotten form these days. Get him off for Lamps at this point?
Rio has picked up a booking and will now miss the last match against Croatia. With Terry crocked, we could be really thin along the back.
Half an hour left for England to see this one home.
Come on!
I'm following your commentator Gator. Thanks for the updates.
No problems; I'm enjoying it.
Since Rio's card, Sol Campbell has been playing out of his skin, cleaning up all the Russian attacks. He seems back to his best.
365 reports: "66 mins: Russia are in firm control if this match at the moment and England will need to start keeping possession if they are to retain their lead."
Surely some changes are needed now, with twenty five minutes left. Isn't this the situation that Phil Neville has built his England career around?
Curses! Roon has hauled someone down on the edge of the box but the referee seems to have given a penalty.
1-1! PAVLYUCHENKO has converted the penalty past a helpless Robbo. It sounds like a harsh penalty but it's the risk that England took for playing so deep throughout the half.
That sets up an extremely nervy last twenty minutes.
Come on England!
Feck! Come on England. Shove it up these gangsters.
Feck indeed! Russia are 2-1 up now and it's the sub PAVLYUCHENKO who's the villain again.
This time it seems Robbo was at fault, typically spooning a shot straight to the goalscorer. That'll make painful viewing later.
We need a goal back now.
And the goalscorer has picked up a yellow card now for a late challenge on Joe Cole. He's had a busy four minutes.
It's all Pavlychenko now and he plays a one-two at the edge of the box and then has a shot blocked by Sol.
Macca is finally going to his bench and it's Frank Lampard first to come on.
Lamps has less than fifteen minutes to change things. If he fires in a trademark Chelski rocket, all will be forgiven among Engerlund fans.
In the end, Macca's gone with a desperate three pronged substitution with Lampard, Downing and Crouch on for Lescott, Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips.
Crouchie's first contribution is to elbow a Russian, nearly drawing a booking.
Roon has won a priceless free kick with less than ten minutes left. Where's old Goldenballs when we need him?
And Roon thumps the free kick straight into the Russian wall.
"Where are you now, David Beckham?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo woo woo."
Five minutes left. Come on England!
Ooooh, Lamps floats a ball over and Sol rises to meet it but sends his header agonizingly over the bar.
The Russian crowd is going potty with only a few minutes left to a famous victory for them, which puts them well back in the frame for qualification.
Three minutes of extra time to pull this one out of the fire.
Come on!
Full-time Russia 2 - England 1
England have gone down to a disastrous loss in a game they seemed to be bossing at half-time. There will no doubt be a lot of anguished post-mortems from the tabloid hacks in the coming days. Surely England were far too negative in the second half as they let the Russian forwards come at them. I'll have to look at that second Russian goal, but it really sounds like Paul Robinson's Waterloo. He's had a string of five clean sheets before today but that's been more a result of being protected. It's surely time for him to step aside.
I'm going to limp home and sit in a darkened room for a couple of hours while the U.S. - Switzerland match is on FSC.
I have to sit here for the rest of the day wearing my England kit like a numpty.
This is indeed pretty grim and I hope Dad knows not to call to tell me to "watch the game."
Thanks for keeping me up with the match.
Actually, I've just got home and there's a message from Dad on the machine, so expect one when you get back to Alex. tonight.
Grim indeed. I still think qualification is a good bet but you never like to leave things to the last match. I believe that Russia would need to win in Israel and rely on the Croatians to beat us at Wembley next month - a tall order for them. With first place settled, I expect the Croatians to putter through a dull match.
A correction on the earlier post. Here are the current standings in Group E:
Croatia Played 10 Points 26
England Played 11 Points 23
Russia Played 10 Points 21
I hadn't realized that Russia have one more crucial match in hand - and it's in Andorra! So, we'll need to beat Croatia and hope that the Israelis can take some points off Russia next month. A much dicier proposition than I'd realized.
Hey Bob
I was following you at school for most of the game. I couldn't sign in.
WHAT A BUMMER!!!
It all looked so good.
I am home now and I was going to straighten up the qualifying situation.
England's only hope is to have Israel take something off the Russians.
They did draw in Russia and Israel have played the big boys tough.
There is still hope.
As for Scotland, now all they have to do is beat Italy at home.
WHAT A BUMMER OF A DAY
More bad news today for the Brits -
Scotland have gone down 2-0 in Georgia. That's got to give the advantage to France, who are playing Lithuania as I type.
I'm doing a bit of grading while watching the U.S. vs. Switzerland match. The Swiss are really rubbish. I can't believe that Austria, Switz and Greece are all seeded for next summer. If both England and the Scots fail to qualify, I'm not sure it'll be worth watching.
Germany losing two nil at home to the Czech Republic
Greece have qualified from Group C
I just am hoping so much that Israel get something from the Russians.
I just looked up the schedule.
Israel v Russia is on Saturday November 17th. Croatia play at Macedonia. England are off.
On Wednesday November 21 is England Croatia and Russia play at Andorra
It is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and for the first time I actually have that day off. IT IS A GOOD OMEN and I will be able to buy it!!!!
France struggling against Lithuania
What about this score?
Liechtenstein 3-0 Iceland
San Marino 1 Wales 2
San Marino have only score 16 goals and let in over 300.
Not very impressive Toshack
Northern Ireland equalize at the Dahlgren's homeland
The Czech have taken a three goal lead in Germany
Cyprus are beating Rep o Ir. with ten minutes to go
Wales HOLD ON to beat San Marino 2-1
The Yanks have score a goal in the 85th minute!!!
Well done Bradley
Almost another one. Great pass by Dempsey to Adu. Very close.
Ireland have scored a 93rd minute at Croke Park.
It doesn't really matter.
They draw and are out.
Sweden draw with NoI. They are still alive for qualification
The US win
France still drawing.
If it stays this way, then the Scots will only need a draw against the Italians
Hey Dave! That's put a smile back on my footie face. The U.S. kids have broken Swiss hearts thanks to a great killer goal from Michael Bradley. Freddy Adu nearly added another late on. We looked quite good. The Swiss? Not so much.
Go on you Lithuanians!
I appreciate the positive thinking, Dave. All of the post-game coverage has been fairly dark.
Still very bummed.
I still think Israel can do something against the Russians
Are you going to listen to 606?
The Beeb is back on
If Scotland had won, they would have been there if the score in France stays the same
The commentating from Russia was like on a Phone.
TH14 score twice in a minute.
BUGGER
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