Lakenheath Old Boys

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!

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

A Day of International Friendlies!

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!

166 Comments:

Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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

12:08 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

If I get a chance, I'll dip in and out. Work is very brisk today.

1:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The coverage for the U.S. v. Holland match has started on ESPN2.

2:43 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

2:45 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

2:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

2:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Not quite sure why the Dutch have elected to wear their white away kit tonight rather than the traditional orange.

2:55 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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?

2:55 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

2:57 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Channel 3 of VSS is working for the match at Wembley. Teams are out and the anthems playing.

2:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Rob Green gets a chance in goal tonight, while Stevie G. is skipper for the night.

3:00 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

3:02 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

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

3:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

England have kicked off at Wembley.

Come on, you England!

3:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Welcome, Dave! Good to have you on board.

3:04 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I have the VSS Ch. 3 too. It is isn't a very clear one but solid

What is the England team?

3:04 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Do you like the US jersey? Almost like your beloved Man Citeh one

3:05 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Walcott is playing.
How much has he been playing for Arsenal?

3:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nasty one there from Torres. He's lucky not to go in the book. U.S. still under the cosh.

3:06 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

England #3 in the power rankings behind Brazil and Spain

3:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

England: Green, Brown, Upson, Terry, Baines, Walcott, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Defoe, Rooney.

3:07 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Great play by Walcott set up Lamps and the keeper saves... should have scored

3:08 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Lamps has a good chance but hits it right at the keeper. Good set up from Theo.

3:08 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Cheers mate

3:08 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

3:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Roon has a pop. Well held by the keeper. I expect Roon to score at least one tonight.

3:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I do like the retro U.S. look. The diagonal stripe is brill. Very 1950.

3:10 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I have a Sky link on as well for SS

3:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Jozy nearly picks himself through a crowd in the area. That's the first sniff he's had.

3:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

First touch for Baines - not so clever. He's got to be nervous tonight.

3:11 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Cleared off the line by England!

3:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Every Dutch chance has come from 12 yards or more. Meat and drink for Timmy really.

3:12 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Slovenia take an early lead against Qatar
Albania 1 N. Ireland 0

3:12 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Egypt are attacking.... good for them

3:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

3:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

U.S. starting to play a bit now at around the half hour mark.

3:15 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Algeria knocked them out and then Egypt won the ACoN

3:15 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Defoe set up by Roon but he took too much time

3:16 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

jinx

3:16 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice turn from Roon there. He's in such good form.

3:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Close to an o.g. there from Goma.

3:17 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Is it Slovenia or Slovakia in England's group?

3:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Dutch whining a bit about the U.S. fouling.

Holden's down in a heap now after a heavy challenge from De Jong.

3:18 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ouch on the TV

The US player's leg bent horribly... I hope he is alrigght
Who is it?

3:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Slovenia.

3:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's Stuart Holden.

3:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Holden's limped off now after being knobbled by De Jong.

3:20 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Well, Slovenia are two up!

At least Holden didn't need a stretcher

3:20 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Torres tries a speculative shot and he wasn't a million miles away.

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yeah - but they're playing bloody Qatar!

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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!

3:23 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

David James sporting a ridiculous Haircut of the Week with girly headband.

3:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bloody hell! Zidane has stripped Upson and scored!

0-1 Egypt!

That's not the goal I wanted!

3:26 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

David Villa score for the Euro Champs against Fracne

Slovenia three up


EGYPT ARE ONE UP!!!

3:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Penalty to the Dutch!

Snejder works his way into the area and was pulled back by Bornstein.

3:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Kuyt steps up and....scores!

1-0 Holland!

Another goal I didn't want. What a poor minute that was.

3:28 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

The US are losing to Holland from a penalty

I missed it

3:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm not happy with this England back four at all. I'd only have one of them in my starting XI.

3:30 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Sweden take the lead against Wales

Qatar has scored!!

3:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yeah - I thought Bornstein did tug him back.

3:30 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

On the arm slightly. The replay shows him fall when no one was near

3:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Header for Roon! Off target...

3:32 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Come on England
Come on England
Come on England

3:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And now Bornstein has bloody handled the ball in the area! What's he playing at? Lucky not to give up another pen!

3:33 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

That was a handball against the US but not given

3:33 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

England are being outplayed!!

3:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fabio's not happy and I agree with him. I'm not happy either.

3:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Half-time in Amsterdam. I haven't been impressed by the Dutch but they go in 1-0 up at the interval.

3:34 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Will Fabio make changes to please SAF and co or will he want not to lose

Argentina are beating Germany at half time

3:36 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Lamps misses horribly again

3:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Lamps skies one over the top! That's two sitters that he's missed tonight. What's going on!?

3:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

3:38 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Take care Bob... I'll keep the home fires burning.

3:39 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

England's U21 have lost at home to Greece in the Euros

3:39 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

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

3:40 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

The England match in FSC Plus... ESPN just showed the goal.
Does anyone have FSC Plus?

3:41 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ESPN showing a lot of highlights of other matches
Well done

3:42 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

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

3:43 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Scotland and the Czech's go to the break scoreless

3:47 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Added time

I am sure the Wembley will boo the players off

3:48 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Rooney starting to get a bit testy

Settle down Wayne

3:49 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Baines free kick doesn't beat the first man... hopeless

That's it for half time

The fans aren't happy

3:49 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Spain double their lead against France

3:53 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

US should have been two down. One on one with Timmy but some bloke balls it up

3:56 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

What changes will be made for the second half

I would bring on Crouch. Egypt are hopeless in the air

3:57 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Leeds reserves lose at Huddersfield 1-3

4:01 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Scotland are playing a 4-5-1 at home... what is the point!!!!

4:03 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Teams out for the second half

Crouch on for Defore
Carrick on for Lamps

4:05 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Uruguay beating Switzerland 3-1

4:06 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

England have started as bad as they were in the first half

4:07 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Zidan has a nice shot from a short corner
Saved by Robert Green

4:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm back!

Doesn't look as if anything improved while I was gone. Still 1-0 down in both matches. Not happy.

4:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Channel 3 is a bit clearer on my desktop at work than it was on my laptop at home. Wonder why?

4:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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?

4:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

SWP being readied to go on for the ineffectual Theo.

4:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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!

4:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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!

4:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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?

4:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Defoe's record - 11 goals in 39 games.

4:20 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Argentina now 0-1 up in Germany. Spain are 0-2 up in France.

4:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'd take a 3-1 result in this match. That's really the difference between the sides, to my mind.

4:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Lovely flick on by Crouchie there and Gerrard really should have hit the target. Suddenly England are clicking.

4:22 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:23 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Hull City's Amir Zaki coming on for Egypt now.

4:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Roon is played in but he just couldn't get the angle to be able to put the shot on target.

4:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Roon was back in the left back channel there covering. What does that boy eat for breakfast?

4:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

England continuing to push for the winner here. And they really should get it, you know.

4:27 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I had to go pick up Tom from school,
Holland have doubled their lead AND Englnad have tied it up

4:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Channel 3 has packed it in and Channel 4 is that fuzzier Sky link with Martin Tyler I was watching in the first half.

4:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yeah - you missed a good goal from Crouchie. And the U.S. are 2 down now.

4:28 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

What a lucky goal by the Dutch. A big deflection that put it beyond Howard

Crouch was the England scorer

4:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sit down, Goldenballs! Who asked for you?

4:29 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Notice that SWP and Heskey are both of the pitch
Walcott came off

4:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Crouch came on for Defoe and SWP for Walcott. I don't think Heskey is on, is he?

4:30 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I didn't notice that you were back. I never refreshed.
Sorry

4:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Baines fouls Zaki badly. I think it's fairly clear that we need Ashley Cole to heal quickly.

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

No worries, mate.

4:31 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Thought I saw him.... sorry again

4:32 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Portugal have taken the lead against China PR

4:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Milner coming on for Gerrard, who passes the skipper's armband to Roon.

4:33 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Milner about to come on for Gerrard
Is he going to complain about the pitch again!!

Gerrard gives the armband to Wayne

4:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Terry was completely stripped for pace there by Geddo.

4:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Under ten minutes to play in Amsterdam now.

4:34 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

YES

The US score through Boca and SWP hits the net as well

4:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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!

4:35 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

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

4:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's the opposite of that unfortunate minute in the first half when both Egypt and Holland scored.

2-1 in both games now.

4:36 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Free kick chance for the US right at the edge of the area

4:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Can I just mention that Huddersfield beat Stockport County in L1 yesterday to sneak into the playoff spots?

No, there isn't time...

4:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Come on, Landycakes!

4:37 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

The US are pushing for a second!


Slovenia win 4-1... I'm scared!
Wales lose to Sweden 1-0 at home

4:38 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Can I just say that .... my aunt is ill

4:38 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:39 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Is Roon going to play 90? SAF won't be pleased

4:39 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

No...I'm afraid that there isn't time....

4:39 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! Crouchie's second and his 21st goal for England in 37 matches. How can you leave the boy out of the team?

4:40 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

YES

Crouch scores again!

4:40 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I think he was offside

4:40 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

3-1 England. That was my prediction at half time, thank you very much.

4:40 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Schtum, lad! Schtum!

4:41 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

My tongue was a little in my cheek with the Slovenia comment. I hope you're right

4:41 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

The US have lost 1-2
Argentina beat Germany
Italy on draw 0-0 with Cameroon

4:42 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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!

4:42 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Crouch called offside this time

Crouchie for the hat-trick?

4:43 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Bentley????

I would put
Lennon
Milner
Theo
Becks

4:44 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:44 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Anyone but Becks. I'd have Harry Baggett on the right before Goldenballs.

4:45 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Roon, the Energizer Bunny, finally coming off. England's third skipper of the night is apparently....Carlton Cole?!

4:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

No - Barry has assumed the rotating arm band chore.

4:46 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Rooney is finally coming off for Cole and gave the armband to Barry

Three captains on the night

4:46 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Never noticed but Scotland are beating the Czechs

4:47 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

4:47 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I mentioned that ages ago, you dozy sod.

4:48 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

NAME ON THE TROPHY!!!

4:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's what we want, isn't it. Two stars on the chest, eh?

4:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Three minutes of stoppage time to come. I'm about to bugger off upstairs for my class.

4:50 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ESPN just showed almost all the goals from Wembley

Algeria lost to Serbia 3-0

4:51 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

It would be brilliant!!

Scotland win playing with a 4-5-1 formation at home

Bugger

4:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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!

4:53 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Greece lost 2-0 to Senegal

4:53 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

My England link just froze a second before the final whistle


It is over 3-1 win

Good second half

4:54 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Take care

See you on the weekend

Adios


UWS

4:55 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

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.

10:28 PM  

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