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 a day of qualifiers and friendlies. Group G is off so England will be cashing in on a pay-day with Ghana. It's all a bit of a nonsense but that won't stop me dialing up a link to follow it this afternoon, will it? If you're watching and following to, join in on the chatter.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 12:45 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!
117 Comments:
So much for John Terry being the "permanent captain." He's been released to his club, so it's Dave's favorite over-rated play, Gareth Barry in as skipper today.
I've got a lovely link for FSC here:
http://www.veetle.com/index.php/widget#F9DD0B98C5A9DB292239EA98A700507B/true/default
And here's a lovely one for Gillette Soccer Special:
http://www.justin.tv/gillettesoccerspeciallive#/w/1020789520
In Group A action, Turkey are 1-0 up over Austria. A win there would help ease Turkey into second spot behind Germany who are just about into Euro 12 at this point.
In Group D action, Romania and Luxembourg are at 0-0. It's shocking to see how far the Romanians have fallen off since their heights in the 90s. France are the obvious winners of this group with Belarus, Albania and Bosnia fighting for second spot.
In Group E action, the Swedes are 1-0 up over Moldova. The Dutch are the presumptive winners of this group with Sweden, Hungary and even Moldova fighting for second spot.
In Group F action, Israel and Georgia are locked at 0-0. Bloody boring Greece are top of this tight group, with Croatia and Georgia a point behind them. Israel have an outside chance of second spot.
Finally, in Group I action, the Czechs have beaten Liechtenstein 2-0 today in an early kick-off. Spain are the obvious winners of this group and this result will put the Czechies in a comfy position for second. The Scots will do well to close the gap with them.
In some early friendly action, China have beaten Honduras 3-0, Qatar have drawn with Russia 1-1 and Ecuador have drawn 0-0 with Peru.
Right, here is the very interesting team selection from Don Fabio tonight:
Joe Hart; Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, James Milner, Gareth Barry, Jack Wilshere; Andy Carroll, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing
I'm quite pleased with that. After all, there's no real point in running out the likes of Rooney and Lampard in a match like this when Capello really needs to see who's up to the challenge of a decent international side like Ghana. I also like the 4-3-3 set up, with plenty of width provided by Milner, Young, and Downing.
Interesting that this match was advertised as a chance to see the likes of Terry, Rooney and Gerrard. None of them are in the squad tonight.
I'm onto the ITV coverage of the England match:
http://www.kiwii.co.uk/
Robin van Persie has scored for Holland in the 13th minute against Hungary.
Here are the teams in full:
England Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Milner, Barry, Wilshere, Downing, Carroll, Young.
Subs: Green, Lescott, Parker, Jarvis, Welbeck, Defoe, Crouch, Bent, Carson.
Ghana Kingson, Pantsil, Vorsah, John Mensah, Lee Addy, Adiyah, Annan, Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Muntari, Gyan.
Subs: Adjei, Opare, Inkoom, Derek Boateng, Tagoe, Ayew, David Addy, Jonathan Mensah, Kumordzi, Clottey, Sowah.
Referee Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
Teams in the tunnel. There's a bit of a carnival atmosphere at Wembley tonight with loads of Ghanaian support.
Clive Tyldesly doing the commentary for ITV tonight.
Anthems now. There was a lot of controversy about the fans booing both anthems on Saturday. Let's hope the boo boys have stayed home tonight.
Kick-off time - Come on, you England!
Good sprightly start by England, with lots of width providing by Young.
A couple of nasty challenges early on by the Ghanaians. Should have been a yellow card there.
Young wins a corner early on with a wild effort.
Downing knocks the ball over and it's cleared. Wilshere with a volley back in - well collected.
Another great graphic BD
I am home between jobs at the 5 minute mark.
Miss much?
Another lunge in from Ghana. The referee will be called into action before long.
Afternoon, Dave. Thanks for the praise. All England so far with Ghana putting the boot in early.
How did the anthems go?
ooh, Ghana have a chance.. well saved Hart
Pantsil should have been penalized twice there but the referee is being very lenient.
Do you have the US coverage or from the Blightey
It is on FSC
Oh - early chance for Muntari. Fantastic smother by Joe Hart. England's #1, no doubt.
I've got the ITV coverage with Clive Tyldesly and Andy Townsend. Who's on FSC?
Rep of i and Uruguay have a goal each
Gary Cahill and Leighton Baines will have to watch playing too far up against Muntari.
Downing... you're a professional... use your RIGHT FOOT
Oh - good stuff by Downing, getting free but then stabbed it with the wrong foot.
Thanks for the soccer special link
It drives me crazy that these pros aren't two-footed.
Downing does use his righ... again...you're a professional!!!
Wilshere was lucky there; the ref had already blown up when he started lunging in.
Young with a chance to shoot - well over.
Is that link an SS link. Just looks like sky sports news
Oh dear - that's why Downing doesn't use his right more. He did well getting in behind but ballooned it over. Again - if he's left-footed, why not play on the bloody left - I ask you!
Carroll with a chance but his first chance it too strong
The one that I posted earlier was a Gillette Soccer Special but the bloke running it was flipping around.
Poor touch from Carroll.
Jack Wilshere is picking out some exquisite balls so far.
You're right... he's switched to the cricket world cup
Is that Danny Wellbeck on the England bench? Why? He can't even get into the United side.
Good tackle from Cahill there. I don't know why the away fans are booing.
Oh - Young pulls a great save out of Kingson.
Fabio and Psycho are enjoying it all.
Jags gives up a foul to Asamoah in a dangerous position.
Muntari lining up the free kick....
High over the bar.
Where's Michael Essien tonight - injured?
I did hear about Wellbeck being called up to the squad. They say he was called up so he wouldn't be called up by Ghana
Lee Addy is struggling to keep up with Milner and Downing.
Wow - Gyan struck one from about 45 yards. Joe Hart was right behind it but it was well hit.
oooh, how did that not go in!!
Are you around for tonight's U.S. match?
You're slightly ahead of me - Ashley Young should have scored but contrived to put it onto the bar from about four yards.
Now Johnson goes close. England are playing well. Really well.
Uruguay are 3 -1 up in Ireland
Great save by Hart
Wilshere is penalized for a phantom push there. Dangerous area for the free kick....
Oh - great save from Hart!
What time is kick off? I teach until 7:30
The score could easily be 2-2 at this point. It's a really good, open friendly here.
Downing on the right and cuts inside but then doesn't cross it
8 pm on FSC, mate. I'll be looking for you. I teach until 7.
Free kick chance for ENGURLUND.... Downing to take from quite far out...curled to the top of the net
I'll join hopefully
Kathy is about to Skype her bruv... I'll be back
Free kick chance now for England....
Downing hits it but it lands on the roof of the net.
I'll be here....
Half an hour in now and it's still a very even match.
Some movement on the Ghana bench - why would they be considering a change already?
Asamoah hassles Jags but all he gets is a corner....
The corner is well cleared by Jags.
Ghana spraying the ball around now, to the delight of their fans.
England are 1-0 up!
Great goal by Carroll. A clinical finish with the left foot into the bottom corner of the net.
Half time with England in the lead!
Holland and Hungary are drawing 2-2
I know Hungary were 2-1 up
I'm just back from chatting with a student and it's half time and I've bloody missed a goal. And it's Andy Carroll's debut goal for his country. Good lad!
Here's how 365 described the Carroll goal: "Great pass from Young as he loops the ball into Downing. He lays it off to Carroll and the Liverpool man drills low across goal and into the bottom corner.
R of I 2 Uruguay 3
Bit of a ding ding between the Republic and Uruguay. It's 2-3 there.
I'm off to set up my class. Back in a tick.
2058: Hmmm, It did look like a foul by Andy Carroll you know. He gives a Ghana defender a good shove before turning to latch on to Stewart Downing's lay-off. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir had a good view of of it too.
Did you get my email about United's visit to the US?
Barca in DC, Revs in Foxboro and the All-Stars in NJ
I have Five Live on too. It is the match
Lescott replaces Johnson as England's only change
Jag moves to full back
I hate all the empty seats at the beginning of the half
Five live is slightly behind FSC... COME ON FSC!!
Holland 3 Hungary 2
Van Nistelrooy with the goal!
Make that 3-3
I'm back just in time for the second half kick-off. Lescott has replaced Jagielka.
Alan Green and Mark Lawerenson complaining about the empty seats
Downing goes down hurt with a nasty tackle
He is up but that wasn't nice by Muntari
Alan Green is saying great things about the ref
Holland 4 Hungary 3
Lithuania 1 Spain 1
Yeah - I did get that message but I didn't have a chance to respond to it because of irritating students. Are you planning to go to the one at Meadowlands?
Holland 5 Hungary 3
Two quick goals by Kuyt
VNR and RVP both scored as well
Well, the All Star game isn't going to be at the Meadowlands. I think it is at the Red Bull Stadium
You miss, Ruud, admit it.
What about that one, then?
Dagenham 0 Brighton 1
Scotty Parker about to come on... get him tired for the match on Saturday!
The Ghana players are starting to fall over a bit.
Obstruction there from Downing. I hate that "shielding."
Good tackle there by Cahill against Badu.
Foul throw by Pantsil, not called by the ref.
Oh - close call there from Pantsil got the away support excited.
Nearly an own goal from Barry in the end.
Muntari coming off and Andre Ayew is coming on. He's a real threat.
Goalscorer Andy Carroll is also coming off for Jermain "The Ballhog."
Nasty one there from Boateng right onto Milner's chin!
Despite that assault, Milner picks himself up and produces a great save out of Kingson.
Extraordinary. Leighton Baines is playing in his stocking feet with his boots laying by the touch-line!
Oh - Cahill nearly nods home from a corner. Probably should have got it on target.
I'm back at my break and a bit dismayed to see that Gyan leveled things in extra time with what sounds like a corker.
That's it for me this afternoon. I'll be zipping home after my class to enjoy tonight's U.S. international.
I had to bugger off to pick up the boys. I get back in time to see
Gyan score a lovely equalizer in stoppage time. A deserved result for the Africans. They really celebrated in front of a lot of fans.
I wasn't that bovverred!
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