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!
The only objective that I have for this meaningless friendly at Wembley today is for all the England starting XI to survive the Wembley turf unscathed. Unfortunately, I'll be involved in conference presentations during the afternoon, so I'll have to duck in and out of the match during "bathroom breaks."
posted by The Blue Devil @ 12:58 PM
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!
103 Comments:
Here's the England team for tonight:
Green, Johnson, Ferdinand, King, Baines, Walcott, Milner, Carrick, Gerrard, Crouch, Rooney.
I like how Don Fabio is running out some of the less likely members of the squad such as Carrick and Walcott. But then why risk Rooney on that pitch? Honestly, it seems as if Fergie and Capello want to injure the kid.
And the Mexican side:
Perez, Juarez, Rodriguez, Osorio, Salcido, Aguilar, Marquez, Torrado, Dos Santos, Vela, Franco.
Hey Bob,
I am here!
I am surprised about Rooney
I surprised that Hart is not in the net
I hope England don't ALWAYS need to have a holding midfielder!
Hiya, Dave!
Apparently Hart is going to get the second half.
I agree with you - I don't think we need a holding against Algeria or Slovenia.
No Chelsea players in the team tonight
Why is Mexico in black? Surely green and white don't clash. The crowd looks good with the white and red
We're off
Wonder how seriously are Mexico taking this?
Is there a chance they could meet in the Finals?
Kick-off time. I'm knocking on everything wooden around me that no one in a white shirt gets crocked tonight.
Early warning sign there - Juarez with a shot from outside.
Mexico should have taken the lead
We could easily meet Mexico in the quarters if France bugger it up in the group stage.
Me too... wood has been knocked
Mexico are knocking it around comfortably, but England are pretty solid and they are not broken down.
Struth... I though Rooney hurt himself there but he was annoyed with Theo!!
Crouch goes down under a heavy challenge and I'm wincing. But the beanpole is back up again. Go on Crouchie - have your nachos!
I'm not impressed with England. Ten minutes gone and not a sniff yet.
Stevie G hit the head!
Why was I never so worried about people getting hurt in the past?
Milner comes forward and crosses for Crouch...it just evades his head though and the keeper scrambles it away.
Did we or Mexico actually win their group in qualifying
Terry Butcher on for Enlgand
I assume you're asking that rhetorically. The U.S. won CONCACAF and of course we qualified top automatically, having just lost one (the last match) to Ukraine after we'd already qualified.
YES!!!!
Ledley King heads in from a corner and a head on from Crouchie
Well done!
Why are they so tentative tonight? It seemed like Theo was off to the races there but they went back to Green. I almost think the England players don't want any part of this match - and I can understand!
Nice one, Ledley! Let's have another one.
I meant we (US) winning the group.
If they didn't score that last second header, would Mexico won it?
Out of the starting line up tonight, how many are going to start?
Keeper is unknown... but there is Rio, Johnson, Roon, Stevie G, Crouch... That is half of the men on the field
Great run by Roon
2023: Set-pieces. Fabio - it's all about set-pieces. Forget this open play nonsense. Or just pay me a whopping salary to type "England can't get hold of the ball" in three weeks and I'll get you a goal one minute later in South Africa. Guaranteed.
I think perhaps Green, Johnson, and Crouch and then of course Rio, Stevie G and Roon.
How many friendlies do England have before SA?
This is the last home one
Shoot Theo!!
Do we really deserve the lead? I dunno.
Japan on May 30th
Theo with a great run but he was unselfish trying to play in Roon who was offside. Roon's got to get his sharpness back soon.
Millwall and Swindon don't play until May 29th!
Boy, it is good you didn't have to wait that long!
A friend of ours son is going to see USA Turkey in Philly on May 29th.
He hates soccer but going for experience
Great save GREEN!!!
Where was the back four!!!
Green saved well there but Salcido was offside nonetheless.
Half an hour gone and so far so good. I'd be pleased at the end of this meaningless exercise with a 1-niller and no injuries, so blow up ref!
Baines is having a 'mare!
Bloody hell - off the post! I don't know how England are winning?
England's makeshift midfield are not doing the job and Mexico are cutting straight through them. I haven't seen Carrick make a tackle yet.
GOAL! 2-0 England!
Crouch scrambles it home after a cross from Gerrard - Rooney powered the header at goal and the rebound flew into the air, but Crouch got it home.
I leave the room and England score again... from a corner again.
Whose goal?
Roon or Crouchie?
Green saves well again - this time from Vela. I'll say it again. I'm amazed that we're winning this match. Both goals have come against the run of play.
It was from Crouch
Lucky not to be a handball
Great save by the keeper from Roon's head
Green with another save
Could have been 2-2
5 minutes for Roon to survive
He has to be fully fit
2037: FACT for you for free. England are unbeaten in their last seven World Cup warm-up matches.
Crouchie scored. It was Roon's original header and then Crouchie bundled in the rebound.
6 subs per side tonight
Get Rooney off now!
Bent is hurt I think so who is to come on for the second half up front? Defoe and who?
Do we really need to play out the second half, ref? Blow up!
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport's chief football writer at Wembley: "To say England's advantage is flattering is an understatement, as proved by Fabio Capello's grim expression on the sidelines. He does not look happy despite the lead and he is right. England desperately unconvincing at the back and inferior to Mexico in possession. Robert Green has saved well twice from Carlos Vela and the Wembley woodwork that kept Chelsea at bay for so long in the FA Cup Final has had another good rattling from Carlos Salcido."
They might leave Crouchie on with Defoe for some little and large action, eh?
There must have been the Home Internationals before World Cups.... we were never worried about injuries
Of course, England weren't in the 74 and 78 WCs
Don Fabio doesn't look pleased - I wonder why?
Saved off the line but put in anyway
Where were the defenders!!!
There was NO ONE THERE!!!
Deserved goal for the Mexicans
Last kick of the half
Looks like FSC are going to have a daily sky sports show on for the WC.... I like it
Good afternoon Blue Devil and UWS. I am in my classroom. I see that England are ahead 2-1 despite what appears to be a subpar performance.
Hiya, MUR. Yeah - that's the narrative for today.
Hart on for Green
Carra on for Rio
Defoe on for Crouch
ROONEY STILL ON!!
England vs Japan on FSC live on Sunday at 8 a.m.
Great goal by Glen Johnson!!!
That was quick
Of course, all the corporates have missed the goal because they are still having their half time drinks
It looks terrible with all the seats empty. The FA HAVE to do something about it!
Man Utd's new signing Javier Henandez on for Franco.
Hiya MUR
Hello everyone. That was quick. My students referred to a Spanish languge site that has not updated the score. That goal must have been scored in the first miinute of the second half.
This is better from England in the second half
Bloody hell - what is Fabio playing at with Roon?
I agree . He proved that he can last a full half against a pretty solid team. It is time to replace him.
Mexico should have scored again
Hey, in recent Cups we have looked like world beaters and the whimpered out... let's stink it up and win it all later
I guess Fab is worried at all about Roon getting hurt. He looking at who works best with him
Agreed. According to Bob England should have a fairly easy run to the semis where it appears that they will face Brazil.
Huddlestone on for Carrick
Another Spur on the pitch
I think Rooney works best with Crouch. I wonder if Fab will experiment with a different striking combo against Japan.
Fab wants England to push their. Of course I am giving my student s a hard time about the current result. They are disappointed.
I meant to say England push their weight worund in light of Huddlestone's appearance.
Free kick chance for ENGURLUND... Beckham range...Milner standing over it, lays it to Gerrard and he hits it wide
That would have gone in at Anfield!
Under 20 to go
Surprised that Citeh's Johnson hasn't been given a chance tonight
2132: Who fancies Portugal in the World Cup? They've had a shocker in a friendly against the team ranked 117th in the world. A home game against Cape Verde - score? 0-0.
2132: Who fancies Portugal in the World Cup? They've had a shocker in a friendly against the team ranked 117th in the world. A home game against Cape Verde - score? 0-0.
I would give him a chance. He might feature on Sunday against Japan.
Baines has looked very suspect!
Portugal were probably going through the motions. I am sure the real Portugal will show up in South Africa.
Spurs again... Lennon on for Theo
Roon still on
Mexico is probably a more difficult opponent than any team England will face in the group stages.
Before I forget, I would like to congratulate the Tangerines om their promotion. A tremendous achievement.
I second that emotion
Roon takes a pop from 40 yards with the keeper out. Saved off the line by a defender.
Should have shot it earlier
Adam Johnson on for Milner
Looks like Roon is going to play the full ninety
I think Fab should have subbed Rooney. I would hate to see him get injured on that horrible pitch.
You sound like Bob
Just on this issue. Still United all the way.
Great speed by Lennon and hacked down
That is great pace!!
Baines or A Johnson to take... Baines into the wall
3 added minutes
A much better half by England
G Johnson with the M of the M
I'm back for a sec. 3-1, eh? I'm pleased with that. Blow up ref!
Lennon will be the wildcard in South Africa. England's opponents will have a terrible time trying to defend against him.
Roon still on
That's it
Good result but not performance
Last game on home land
Sunday in Austria and then off to South Africa
BOY IT IS CLOSE!!!
Take care everyone
UWS
Take Care everyone.
Cheers, lads. Good comments from all of you. A decent result from an average performance. The main thing to be stressed is that the starting XI survived without injury, save Gerrard's nasty head wound.
Lessons learned about players, then:
It seems that Baines will probably get knocked out of the final squad based on his performance today. Carrick and Milner may live for another day, despite poor showings.
On the plus side, Lennon and especially Johnson strengthened their case to be in the first team. I agree with MUR - their partnership could scare a lot of defenses in June.
Rooney is still not a hundred perfect and there is no reason to run him to death in meaningless friendlies going up to June 12. At this point, I'd have him training as usual but wouldn't risk him at all in the pre-WC matches. If he rolls that ankle again before June, it could be the difference between us going out in the quarters and winning the whole shebang.
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