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's another big day of WC 2010 qualifiers, but my mind is firmly set on the big one - England vs. Croatia from Wembley. Croatian metal maniac Slavan Bilic has been shooting his mouth off all week; join me from 3 pm onward to see the Three Lions stick a sock in it.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:46 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!
212 Comments:
Here's how Group 6 looks pre-match:
1. England - Played 7 21 pts (+22 GD)
2. Croatia - Played 8 17 pts (+9 GD)
3. Ukraine - Played 7 14 pts (+8 GD)
4. Belarus - Played 7 9 pts (+4 GD)
5. Kazaks - Played 7 3 pts (-15 GD)
6. Andorra - Played 8 0 pts (-28 GD)
In other words, a win today sends us to South Africa!
Is it on the telly?
Nah, mate. We'll have to do it Internet style this afternoon. I'll be posting the links closer to match time.
I've found a great link on Iraq Goals that's showing the end of the England vs. Slovenia friendly from Saturday. I'm hoping the geezer running the station will switch to ITV for the pre-match coverage.
http://www.iraqgoals.net/ch1.html
In other Group 6 action, the Kazakhs are 0-1 up to Andorra, who have yet to earn a point in the group stage.
Keep an eye on the Group 1 match between Hungary and Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo and co. now need a bleedin' miracle to qualify for next summer.
Here's the England team for this evening:
Green; Johnson, Upson, Terry, Cole; Lennon, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard; Rooney, Heskey. Subs: Foster, Brown, Bridge, Milner, Defoe, Beckham, Crouch.
Matthew Upson replaces Joleon Lescott in the middle of the defense, Aaron Lennon gets the spot on the right and Heskey is paired again with Roon. Expect to see Jermaine Defoe off the bench in the second half, particularly if we need a goal.
I've got the ITV pregame on crystal clear off of P2P
I've switched up to an Atdhe link for the ITV coverage of the match.
What's your link off P2P just in case I lose mine?
mms://itvbrdbnd-itv1.wm.llnwd.net/itvbrdbnd_itv1?e=1236421395&h=67d6d19a9d00537d 2d8a3ac21e784b43
What exactly is Bilic on about in that they've lost their "Englishness?"
Cheers, mate!
Terrific pre-match coverage here with Stevie Mac, Andy Townshend and co.
No Luka Modric today, of course. But they do have that diving bugger, Eduardo. Let's hope he can stay on his pins today.
A lot of pressure on Glen Johnson today, who's started really well for Liverpool but who had a howler defensively on Saturday. He's got to get tight to Kranjcar today.
Wembley positively glowing in the London night sky. Wish I were there.
Me too.
We now only need a point
The teams are out and we're almost set to go here.
True enough - but I want a win to kill off any Croatian threat and as revenge for two years ago.
The Croatian side for tonight:
Runje, Srna, Krizanac, Simunic, Pranjic, Mandzukic, Vukojevic, Pokrivac, Kranjcar, Eduardo, Olic. Subs: Subasic, Drpic, Cale, Rakitic, Petric, Leko, Klasnic.
Here we go....!
Lennon gets his first chance to cross and it's blocked out.
The Croatian #16 is in heavy on Rooney. Expect to see more of that tonight.
Big shout for handball but the ref is not impressed. Let off for Croatia.
Loads of pressure here from England. Great stuff! Most of the action down the right wing through Johnson and Lennon.
The replay indicates that the Gerrard cross did hit the player's arm but it was probably thought unintentional.
Good stuff from Upson blocking Olic out on the left side.
Yes! Penalty to England! Lennon did brilliantly to jink inside and that was a clear trip. Stonewall.
Lamps steps up to take and...
England 1-0 after seven minutes!
The move that ended with that penalty was all about the combination between Glen Johnson who spread beautifully to Lennon and Aaron frightened the life out of the Croatia defense with his pace. Great start!
I like this Johnson fella.
Good running from Rooney, who managed to poke a cross to Gerrard who couldn't keep the header down.
Me too, WHR. He got roasted for some sloppy defending on Saturday but he is a real threat going forward.
Lennon's picked up another free kick. He's got the Croatian defense alarmed.
Lennon beats the defender easily again but his cross is far too heavy. Shame - that's the weakness of his game.
43rd minute at Hampden with no score. Kenny Miller is going to have nightmares about not lifting a shot.
Barry with a raking shot that's well saved by the keeper. Again, super movement by England.
Hiya Someone. What's you feeling about the Jocks? Do Scotland need a win tonight to have any hope of qualifying?
Not a lot of Heskey so far. I'd love to see Lennon looking for him to knock down to the on-running Rooney and midfielders.
I believe that that's Lampard's 19th goal for England. Good strike rate for a midfielder. Mostly pens, though.
Cole is caught marginally offside.
Hi guys.
I am here!
YES!!!!!!!!
I have the atdhe ITV coverage going
Northern Ireland are on the TV
Johnson and Terry mucking about with it at the back. Keep it tight, lads.
Close by Croatia... hit over the bar.. should have done better
Welcome, Davey. It's looking good so far. I hope that they don't let Croatia back in here. Keep up the pressure!
YES!!!!!!!!!!
GERRARD!!!!!
Great cross by Lennon, Great header!!!
GOAL! There it is! Lennon finally picks out a cross to a head. And it's Gerrard with a super header.
2-0!
Wembley sounds good!!
We want three! We want three!
It's this kind of form that starts all the unrealistic expectations about England winning the World Cup.
Don't think I'd give Lennon that much space.
Scotland and Holland are tied at half time
Scotland need to win. I think a draw might keep them in second but they would be the worst runners up and not make the playoffs!
Yup, the papers will have WORLD BEATERS all over the place
Johnson wins a throw, but that comes to nothing. Lennon marginally offside. Wembley is buzzing!
2015: Half-time Scotland 0-0 Netherlands
Cracking game at Hampden and the Scots could so easily be winning, having struck the woodwork twice. Keep the faith.
You're not singing anymore!!
Keep it up Wemberly
That might be the first real touch that Rob Green has had.
Olic beat the offside trap there but Upson recovered well. Don't get careless, lads.
I have a Scotland link working from atdhe
Stay onside, Wayne.
Wales and NI are both losing at home
I'm hoping that Someone will pop in now and again with the Scotland updates too. I can only focus on one match.
Bugger... Portugal are winning in Hungary
Olic seems to have switched sides. He must not have fancied running at Johnson.
Too bad - I was looking forward to some Ronaldo tears.
Doesn't Wembley sound good???
it helps being two up
Foul on Heskey will set up another England free kick opportunity.
Yeah - the crowd is positively buoyant.
Lamps strikes it really well and the keeper kept it out for a corner.
I just turned on Five Live... they have coverage!!
Oooh, I thought Terry could have got on that one.
Nice, fluent move there again with a brill flick-on by Rooney. Heskey just wasn't reading the play quickly enough.
Half an hour gone and things are sailing here. I'm feeling better about having to duck out before the end of the match for my class.
Did you see that Ukraine only drew in Belarus
Glen Johnson does really well to cut out a cross and nearly springs Heskey.
I saw that. Belarus nearly held Croatia the other day.
Good news is that two of the three teams ahead of Portugal are wining or won
Scotland and Holland have started again
That is great news! I still think they'll struggle to reach South Africa, but a win tonight is a huge boost for them.
HT
NI 0 Slovakia 1
Wahey! Early doors but Wahey!!
This keeps up, I can pack my Vuvuleza and my swim trunks for the LOB summer rental cottage.
paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarp.......paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarp.......paaaaaaaaaaaaaaarp!
Second half underway at Hampden. Scotland need a win and a little help. If they draw they'll need a lot of help to advance.
ooh, Lennon could have made it three
Oh, Lennon was in one-on-one with the keeper at a wide angle but the keeper did well. He tried to chip him and the keeper knew it.
We're definitely having a ban on those infernal horns from the LOB retreat.
Hiya Gooner and Someone
TH has tied it up for France in Serbia
Portugal have gone to half
Shut those bloody bazookis up!!!
I agree, UWS!
That was a lazy cross from Gerrard.
Remember fellas, Croatia were two up last time and England tied it up before losing.... too soon!!
Stay onside, Ivanhoe!
Doesn't that suggest that Croatia will level it and then we'll win in the end?
Darren Fletcher in the book at Hampden
Italia are two up against Bulgaria to stretch their lead against the Rep of Ire.
Israel are SEVEN up against Luxembourg
Heskey breaks the offside trap but is thwarted!
BURY IT!!
Definitely onside
Oh, Emile! Should've been 3-0 there. Straight in on goal. Should have scored definitely. Great ball from Lennon.
Lamps balloons one over after great touch by Hesk
Oh, now Lamps blows a clear chance there. Ballooned it well over the top.
That is interesting. If Fab is using the excuse of Owen not playing but either is Hesk
AGAIN... come Emile!!!
Oh, Heskey blows another one. Come on, Emile! Jermaine Defoe's looking on thinking, "I'd have had me hat-trick by now!"
One added minute to come.
Denmark have been pegged back which is good news for Ronny
Half time at Wembley
WELL DONE ENGLAND!!!
Half-time: Well, that is really satisfying. I'd love to have it 3 or 4-0 but I won't be greedy.
Back in a tick after I set up my class.
Jeez, lads, I had no idea I could get the picture this clear. I'm going to sign off now. We are off to South Africa, no doubts!
Great save by the Scottish keeper from a Robben break.
PHEW
Take care Trev
Robben in the book for Holland
Ecuador are winning in Bolovia
How does this affect Argentina
oooh, Kenny Miller is denied!!!
COME ON SCOTLAND!
Wales have tied it up against Russia
Scotland have just over 15 minutes to get a goal
Scotland almost in again.
COME ON... get that goal
Second half is underway at Wembley
Bloody red seats still in view.... GET BACK IN YOUR SEATS!!!
NI have a little less than half an hour to get back into it.
Commons should have done better with a back post header for the Scots... ten to go
Disaster!!!
Mistake at the back by the centerback.. and Holland have taken the lead!
England have started slowly
NI should have tied it up again but Slovakia go down and take a two goal lead
Holland could have scored again
If the score stays the same Scotland will finish third on GD Norway. That 4-0 walloping was the big score
Burley has about four minutes left as manager.
I'm with the prawn sandwich crowd, back late from half time.
Oh, damn. Holland have scored.
Eduardo was at the back post but was challenged by Johnson. GJ was on the wrong side of him. That could have been a pen
Eduardo was nearly in there but Johnson did well under pressure. Eduardo went down but the ref was not impressed and neither was I. His reputation precedes him.
I would keep Burley. He hasn't done that bad
Apparently Eduardo needs another two match ban in order to convince him to stop diving!
Bilic is going barmy with the fourth official. He'll need a few Iron Maiden rotations to calm him down after the match.
Here comes Defoe!
I don't think Eduardo dove there. I think it was very clumsy by GJ
England getting sloppy at the back. Come on!
YES!!!!!!!!!!
LAMPARD WITH THE GOAL!!
3-0! Lampard!
Brilliant cut-back by Johnson and Lamps made no mistake.
Made by GJ. He is great going forward but his defending is suspect. Why not play him in midfield
Good advantage played by the ref after Lennon was fouled.
That's Lampard's 20th in England colors.
Two minutes of injury time gone at HP
Norway have had a goal pulled back. Let's hope they get pegged back all the way
Russia have retaken the lead in Wales
We want four! We want four!
Not a good night for the Home Countries.
It is over in Scotland
Scotland have NOT qualified.
What a bummer
I agree with you..it could been so much better
A friendly with Brazil in Doha?!
Norway have won so it is official
England in complete control now.
MAKE IT FOUR!!!!!
Stevie G with his second header!!!
4-0! Gerrard! A bit of a comical goal there. Rooney beat the off-side trap and then looped a ball over to Gerrard who nodded home well.
Fleet Street.... don't get too carried away please
I remember thinking about the WC draw with England not being in the top pot... this is the reason I was so pleased to get Croatia again
Bugger... Croatia score!
Green makes some great saves but he still gets the goal... GJ still beaten to easily for the cross
Albania and Denmark have drawn
Ronny will be pleased
December 4th.. where will England be?
That's only the fifth goal in eight qualifiers that England have conceded. Not too bad.
I think Fabio will have learned that playing Johnson in a big game against quality opponents is a risk.
Oh well then! 5-1! Rooney!
Bilic is hanging his head. Shouldn't have shot his mouth off before the match, should he?
Looks like Goldenballs is going to get his requisite cap.
What on earth is going on? I turned away and now it's 5-1, with two (2!) Gerrard headed goals?
Samba football now from England.
Was Eduardo's goal a diving header????
I'm off for my class now. Great evening at Wembley. More of the same, lads!
Cheerio!
Bugger.. I picked up Matt from footer practice and missed England's fifth. Good news, I can rewind the ITV link
Well done ROONEY!!
What a clanger by the keeper
man of the match... Lennon
NI have lost at home... not good news there
Portugal have won
World Cup Dates
June 11th to July 11th
It is over and England are in SOUTH AFRICA
England 5 Croatia 1
Well done!!!
Now, keep fit Rooney, Gerrard and co....
LOVELY JUBBLEY!!
I will check in for the US game but have meet the teams night tonight
Take care everyone
Cheerio you lot.
Davey, what's your favorite tune? I'll start practicing my Vuvuzela technique so I can serenade you outside your window all next summer.
Pick something peppy. Paarrrrrrrrrp.....paaaaaarrrrpppp....paaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrppppp
Blimey, that result is enough to make a believer out of me. And we still have Rio, Joe Cole and Theo to come back into the set-up. Can we win it all? I'm starting to dream about it, lads. Talk me down...
Ricardo Clark has just saved the U.S.'s bacon with a 60th minute rocket that has Sam's Army 0-1 in T&T.
The Argies are in real trouble in Paraguay, down 1-0 with very little time left. They'll be buoyed by Colombia's 3-1 defeat in Uruguay.
Back from meet the team night
Not long to hold on!
Again, Steve, you stick your Vuvu up your left nostril!
Any one watching this one?
How has the game been? US deserve it?
The Argies are into stoppage time in Paraguay and look to be heading for another bad loss. Diego Maradona had told Leo Messi that he had to man up but apparently he didn't get the memo.
Heya, Dave. It's been tight as a tick. I'm watching the Prez on the big screen and this one on Atdhe. I think we can hold on.
Argentina have lost!!!
Paraguay have booked their ticket to SA! The Argies are left with a steep upward road. Can you imagine a World Cup without Argentina?
Time almost up in Trinny. Looks as if we've eked out an important win here.
Into 3 minutes of added time
OOOOOHHHHH.....nearly a second goal from Landycakes.
Put the boot in!!
US should have scored there!
Almost an og!
That should do it
Blow up ref!
YES!!!
Well done USA.
A good day all round!
Take care everyone
UWS
There it is! The U.S. are top of the table with 16 points ahead of some later qualifiers. Mexico are just kicking off.
Cheerio, Dave!
Brazil have started against Chile and Mexico have started against Honduras.
A win for Honduras in the Azteca tonight would really put the wind up.
Fifteen minutes in at the Azteca and still 0-0. A draw tonight would leave the top of the CONCACAF qualifying group like this:
US - 16 pts
Honduras - 14 pts
Mexico - 13 pts
CR - 13 pts
Coming up on half an hour. 0-0 in the Azteca.
Nilmar has just put Brazil 1-0 up over Chile.
Mexico definitely on the front foot here but they haven't found the opening yet. Getting near half time.
El Salvador and Costa Rica still at 0-0 nearing half time.
Julio Baptista "The Beast" has added a second goal for Brazil who are rolling.
One goal from Costa Rica would really put Mexico in a pickle.
Suazo has scored a penalty to bring Chile back to 2-1 and that's the last action of a thrilling first half.
Into stoppage time at the Azteca.
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