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!
Join me for a fascinating day of friendly internationals this afternoon. Wonder how England will fare against Algeria this summer. Well, we'll see when England face stand-ins Egypt at Wembley. Wonder how the U.S. will get on against England? Well, they face Holland this afternoon. That match is on ESPN2 at 2:45 EST while we can follow England on-line from 3pm. See you then!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:51 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!
166 Comments:
Here are the other fixtures today:
Albania v N. Ireland 2:45
France v Spain 3:00
Germany v Argentina 2:45
Italy v Cameroon 2:45
Scotland v Czech Republic 3:00
Wales v Sweden 2:45
If I get a chance, I'll dip in and out. Work is very brisk today.
The coverage for the U.S. v. Holland match has started on ESPN2.
The England line-up for this evening:
Green, Brown, Upson, Terry, Baines, Walcott, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Defoe, Rooney.
So, Upson in for Rio, Baines in for Cashley, Walcott down the right side in the absence of Aaron Lennon, Roon and Defoe up front.
Kick-off time in the Amsterdam Arena. I don't really rate the Dutch, and tonight's line-up shows why. For example, Dirk Kuyt as a solo striker. Really?!
I'd love to see the Yanks burst their bubble tonight.
As expected, Bradley has gone with a European-based group that is probably pretty close to the starting XI for SA. Altidore and Robbie Findlay up front in the absence of Charlie Davies. Torres and Holden getting a look at in midfield.
Not quite sure why the Dutch have elected to wear their white away kit tonight rather than the traditional orange.
This young Dutch winger Elia looks handy but when he gets by Bornstein, he's got no targets to aim for in the box. Where's Van Horsey when you need him?
Kuyt goes down a bit cheaply there looking for a foul outside the area. Nothing doing. U.S. under a bit of pressure early on.
Channel 3 of VSS is working for the match at Wembley. Teams are out and the anthems playing.
Rob Green gets a chance in goal tonight, while Stevie G. is skipper for the night.
15 minutes gone in Amsterdam. Despite dominating possession, the Dutch haven't really created any dangerous openings yet. That's my suspicion about them - that they're well organized and experienced side but that they don't really have the fire-power to break down the better sides in the knock-out stages.
Hey Bob,
I am here just in time for kick off at Wembley
Terry gets a little boo from the fans on his first touch, he kicks it straight out of bounds
England have kicked off at Wembley.
Come on, you England!
Welcome, Dave! Good to have you on board.
I have the VSS Ch. 3 too. It is isn't a very clear one but solid
What is the England team?
Do you like the US jersey? Almost like your beloved Man Citeh one
Walcott is playing.
How much has he been playing for Arsenal?
Nasty one there from Torres. He's lucky not to go in the book. U.S. still under the cosh.
England #3 in the power rankings behind Brazil and Spain
England: Green, Brown, Upson, Terry, Baines, Walcott, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Defoe, Rooney.
Great play by Walcott set up Lamps and the keeper saves... should have scored
Lamps has a good chance but hits it right at the keeper. Good set up from Theo.
Cheers mate
I reckon that #3 is a wee bit elevated. I'd have us at #5 or 6 behind Spain, Brazil, Italy, Argentina and possibly Germany.
Roon has a pop. Well held by the keeper. I expect Roon to score at least one tonight.
I do like the retro U.S. look. The diagonal stripe is brill. Very 1950.
I have a Sky link on as well for SS
Jozy nearly picks himself through a crowd in the area. That's the first sniff he's had.
First touch for Baines - not so clever. He's got to be nervous tonight.
Cleared off the line by England!
Every Dutch chance has come from 12 yards or more. Meat and drink for Timmy really.
Slovenia take an early lead against Qatar
Albania 1 N. Ireland 0
Egypt are attacking.... good for them
All the Egyptian attacks are going down the right side at Baines. Egypt area a decent side. I'm glad that we've got Algeria instead this summer.
U.S. starting to play a bit now at around the half hour mark.
Algeria knocked them out and then Egypt won the ACoN
Defoe set up by Roon but he took too much time
jinx
Nice turn from Roon there. He's in such good form.
Close to an o.g. there from Goma.
Is it Slovenia or Slovakia in England's group?
Dutch whining a bit about the U.S. fouling.
Holden's down in a heap now after a heavy challenge from De Jong.
ouch on the TV
The US player's leg bent horribly... I hope he is alrigght
Who is it?
Slovenia.
It's Stuart Holden.
Holden's limped off now after being knobbled by De Jong.
Well, Slovenia are two up!
At least Holden didn't need a stretcher
Torres tries a speculative shot and he wasn't a million miles away.
Yeah - but they're playing bloody Qatar!
I'm bloody goal starved, I am. Nearly half time in the U.S. game and 20 minutes gone at Wembley.
WE WANT A GOAL!
David James sporting a ridiculous Haircut of the Week with girly headband.
Bloody hell! Zidane has stripped Upson and scored!
0-1 Egypt!
That's not the goal I wanted!
David Villa score for the Euro Champs against Fracne
Slovenia three up
EGYPT ARE ONE UP!!!
Penalty to the Dutch!
Snejder works his way into the area and was pulled back by Bornstein.
Kuyt steps up and....scores!
1-0 Holland!
Another goal I didn't want. What a poor minute that was.
The US are losing to Holland from a penalty
I missed it
I'm not happy with this England back four at all. I'd only have one of them in my starting XI.
Sweden take the lead against Wales
Qatar has scored!!
Yeah - I thought Bornstein did tug him back.
On the arm slightly. The replay shows him fall when no one was near
Header for Roon! Off target...
Come on England
Come on England
Come on England
And now Bornstein has bloody handled the ball in the area! What's he playing at? Lucky not to give up another pen!
That was a handball against the US but not given
England are being outplayed!!
Fabio's not happy and I agree with him. I'm not happy either.
Half-time in Amsterdam. I haven't been impressed by the Dutch but they go in 1-0 up at the interval.
Will Fabio make changes to please SAF and co or will he want not to lose
Argentina are beating Germany at half time
Lamps misses horribly again
Oh - Lamps skies one over the top! That's two sitters that he's missed tonight. What's going on!?
I'm going to have to take off to head over for my class in a moment. I'll catch you for the second half mate.
Take care Bob... I'll keep the home fires burning.
England's U21 have lost at home to Greece in the Euros
Defoe goes down without but it is okay he is English
Free kick chance for Gerrard to get a cross in... straight to the keeper
The England match in FSC Plus... ESPN just showed the goal.
Does anyone have FSC Plus?
ESPN showing a lot of highlights of other matches
Well done
The Argentine goal was a tap in because the German keeper came 25 yards outside of his box and didn't get the ball
Defoe has a shot well saved.... I hate Defoe
Scotland and the Czech's go to the break scoreless
Added time
I am sure the Wembley will boo the players off
Rooney starting to get a bit testy
Settle down Wayne
Baines free kick doesn't beat the first man... hopeless
That's it for half time
The fans aren't happy
Spain double their lead against France
US should have been two down. One on one with Timmy but some bloke balls it up
What changes will be made for the second half
I would bring on Crouch. Egypt are hopeless in the air
Leeds reserves lose at Huddersfield 1-3
Scotland are playing a 4-5-1 at home... what is the point!!!!
Teams out for the second half
Crouch on for Defore
Carrick on for Lamps
Uruguay beating Switzerland 3-1
England have started as bad as they were in the first half
Zidan has a nice shot from a short corner
Saved by Robert Green
I'm back!
Doesn't look as if anything improved while I was gone. Still 1-0 down in both matches. Not happy.
Channel 3 is a bit clearer on my desktop at work than it was on my laptop at home. Wonder why?
These Egyptians are playing it about for fun making England look like mugs. Can JT's nonsense really have had such an effect on team morale?
SWP being readied to go on for the ineffectual Theo.
It just seems as if every pass from an England player is just a bit too heavy, like that one from Gerrard to Theo. It's as if they've just met!
GOAL! And just when I start bitching, England score a truly sweet goal. Terry into Gerrard out to Barry and into Crouch for a simple pass into the net.
1-1!
Unfortunately the cameras pick out the LA Galaxy's David Beckham standing next to Fabio on the bench applauding Crouchie's goal. Why is he there?
That's Crouchie's 20th goal in 37 appearances for England. It's hard to leave him out with that kind of record. Defoe doesn't come close to that strike rate.
Defoe's record - 11 goals in 39 games.
Argentina now 0-1 up in Germany. Spain are 0-2 up in France.
I'd take a 3-1 result in this match. That's really the difference between the sides, to my mind.
Lovely flick on by Crouchie there and Gerrard really should have hit the target. Suddenly England are clicking.
Mad scramble in the box ends with an acrobatic attempt by Roon. Just wouldn't go in, but they're knocking on the door for #2.
Hull City's Amir Zaki coming on for Egypt now.
Huntelaar has added #2 for the Dutch, apparently having come on as a sub in the second half.
2-0 Holland over the U.S. now. Not good news for Bob Bradley who would have liked to have seen the U.S. play a bit like Egypt are playing today.
Roon is played in but he just couldn't get the angle to be able to put the shot on target.
Roon was back in the left back channel there covering. What does that boy eat for breakfast?
England continuing to push for the winner here. And they really should get it, you know.
I had to go pick up Tom from school,
Holland have doubled their lead AND Englnad have tied it up
Channel 3 has packed it in and Channel 4 is that fuzzier Sky link with Martin Tyler I was watching in the first half.
Yeah - you missed a good goal from Crouchie. And the U.S. are 2 down now.
What a lucky goal by the Dutch. A big deflection that put it beyond Howard
Crouch was the England scorer
Sit down, Goldenballs! Who asked for you?
Notice that SWP and Heskey are both of the pitch
Walcott came off
Crouch came on for Defoe and SWP for Walcott. I don't think Heskey is on, is he?
I didn't notice that you were back. I never refreshed.
Sorry
Baines fouls Zaki badly. I think it's fairly clear that we need Ashley Cole to heal quickly.
No worries, mate.
Thought I saw him.... sorry again
Portugal have taken the lead against China PR
The Scots are 1-0 up over the Czechs. Good result for them, what good is does at this point. The Czechs won't do much this summer, IMHO.
Milner coming on for Gerrard, who passes the skipper's armband to Roon.
Milner about to come on for Gerrard
Is he going to complain about the pitch again!!
Gerrard gives the armband to Wayne
Terry was completely stripped for pace there by Geddo.
Under ten minutes to play in Amsterdam now.
YES
The US score through Boca and SWP hits the net as well
GOAL! Milner's first touch is a shot that was parried out and SWP hits it right back in. The keeper was lacking there but I don't care.
2-1 England!
Two goals five second apart from each other
That was a good couple seconds
ooh, Keeper should have saved that for Egypt
How did he save the other shots
That's the opposite of that unfortunate minute in the first half when both Egypt and Holland scored.
2-1 in both games now.
Free kick chance for the US right at the edge of the area
Can I just mention that Huddersfield beat Stockport County in L1 yesterday to sneak into the playoff spots?
No, there isn't time...
Come on, Landycakes!
The US are pushing for a second!
Slovenia win 4-1... I'm scared!
Wales lose to Sweden 1-0 at home
Can I just say that .... my aunt is ill
Against Qatar? Come on, Dave. You're as nervous as a kitten. I reckon England will do a nice professional 2-0 job against the U.S. and then absolutely hammer the Algerians and Slovenians.
Is Roon going to play 90? SAF won't be pleased
No...I'm afraid that there isn't time....
GOAL! Crouchie's second and his 21st goal for England in 37 matches. How can you leave the boy out of the team?
YES
Crouch scores again!
I think he was offside
3-1 England. That was my prediction at half time, thank you very much.
Schtum, lad! Schtum!
My tongue was a little in my cheek with the Slovenia comment. I hope you're right
The US have lost 1-2
Argentina beat Germany
Italy on draw 0-0 with Cameroon
I should bloody hope so.
SWP has made a difference. I'd have to say on the right side, my choice is:
1. Lennon
2. SWP
3. Theo
4. Bentley
Beckham - not at all!
Crouch called offside this time
Crouchie for the hat-trick?
Bentley????
I would put
Lennon
Milner
Theo
Becks
That seems a fair result for the U.S. I really wasn't impressed by the Dutch but I don't think the U.S. are really good enough to beat most solid European sides.
They'll have to hope for a low scoreline against England and then getting at least four points off the other two games and hoping that England murder the others.
Anyone but Becks. I'd have Harry Baggett on the right before Goldenballs.
Roon, the Energizer Bunny, finally coming off. England's third skipper of the night is apparently....Carlton Cole?!
No - Barry has assumed the rotating arm band chore.
Rooney is finally coming off for Cole and gave the armband to Barry
Three captains on the night
Never noticed but Scotland are beating the Czechs
If Roon can score about eight goals and Crouchie scores a goal every other game in the WC - say, three goals. Lamps and Gerrard with one or two a piece and JT with an odd header from a set piece, well...we could come close.
I mentioned that ages ago, you dozy sod.
NAME ON THE TROPHY!!!
That's what we want, isn't it. Two stars on the chest, eh?
Three minutes of stoppage time to come. I'm about to bugger off upstairs for my class.
ESPN just showed almost all the goals from Wembley
Algeria lost to Serbia 3-0
It would be brilliant!!
Scotland win playing with a 4-5-1 formation at home
Bugger
Full-time: 3-1
That's a reasonable result for us. We were clearly dominant in the second half after a strangely off kilter first half performance. Egypt aren't half bad. I'm really happy that Algeria knocked them out in the qualifying stages.
I'm off then. Catch up with you on the weekend!
Greece lost 2-0 to Senegal
My England link just froze a second before the final whistle
It is over 3-1 win
Good second half
Take care
See you on the weekend
Adios
UWS
Just finished watching the US match and the England highlights.
I'm pretty happy with England. They dispatched Egypt who are no mugs pretty well in the end.
The US were pretty awful, yet it's hard to judge since the Dutch were very negative and the ref very fussy. It was so start-and-stop.
Jozy and Findlay are not the answer. And though he's doing very well at Everton, Donovan couldn't be arsed tonight.
Bornstein had another 'mare performance and that's got to be a worry. Coach Bradley really needs to play Pearce there who is much more solid. I guess there's a school of thought that says that Bornstein is good on the overlap but he's desperate in defense.
A few pluses as well. I thought DeMerit looked very solid, and Torres lively if a little lightweight.
2-1 in the end was probably the right result. The Dutch didn't deserve much more than that, and if Jozy had tied it up right at the death, we'd have learned the wrong lesson tonight.
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