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 Euro 2012 qualifiers and I'll be taking advantage of my last free afternoon until Thanksgiving to follow them. After the terrific results on Friday, England merely need two more wins for qualification. I'm hoping for a good, solid professional job against the Welsh this afternoon. Join me for all the action!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:48 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!
171 Comments:
Family event here so I won't be watching any of the matches. They're gathering at the Horseshoe to watch a meaningless match against Lithuania.
In case you missed the Five Live Monday Night Club yesterday, here's the Motty Challenge question:
"Which two current players have scored the largest number of goals in European Championship qualifying?" (That is, not just for Euro 2012 but in all European Championship qualifying).
I'm home again then and looking forward to the match. Coverage starts on FSC in a few minutes now.
The coverage has started with an excellent montage and now a Webby intro.
In some earlier qualifiers, Azerbaijan have beaten Borat's Kazakh side 3-2 in Group A action. That doesn't change much. The two sides are at the bottom of the table, with Germany running away with the group and Turkey and Belgium competing for the second (qualifier) slot.
In Group B, the Republic have pulled off a serviceable 0-0 draw in Russia. It means that they remain two points behind Russia and level with Slovakia on points. They could really use an upset by Armenia today.
In Group C, Norn Ireland have kicked off in Estonia. 0-0 there. They need a win if they're to have any chance of sneaking into second slot. Italy have already qualified top.
While the England match is on, the U.S. will be taking on Belgium in an intriguing European friendly.
Here the table for Group G going into today's match:
1. England - 14 pts +11 GD
2. Montenegro - 11 pts +2 GD
3. Switz - 5 pts 0 GD
4. Bulgaria - 5 pts -7 GD
5. Wales - 3 pts -6 GD
All sides with the exception of Wales have played 6 and have two to play; Wales have three to play.
Lovely - anthems now. Fabio not joining Razor Clemence and Psycho in singing "God Save the Queen."
The teams for this evening:
England: Hart, Smalling, Cole, Barry, Cahill, Terry, Downing, Lamps, Young, Rooney, Milner,
Wales: Hennessy, Gunter, Taylor, Crofts, Blake, Williams, Ledley, Collison, Morison, Ramsey, Bale.
Kick off time - Come on, you England!
England attacking down the left through Cashley there.
The US team today:
Howard, Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Goodson, Chandler, Edu, Rogers, Dempsey, Torres, Shea, Altidore.
That looks close to the side that lost to Costa Rica at the weekend.
Martin Tyler and Stewart Robson on the mic this afternoon.
Very tentative start from both sides.
Oh - Terry had a chance with a header from a corner there. Williams seemed to be grabbing him.
Cole was set loose by Young but the final ball was poor and Gunter was able to clear.
Wales have a free kick in a useful area through Bale.
Oh - Young chased through but Hennessy beat him to the punch.
Bit of a balls-up in the England area as Collison drove through. It could have come to worse but Ramsey blasts into the stands.
Very slow start to the match by both sides, which must suit Wales.
Downing did well to beat his man but then his final ball was poor.
Corner now to England....
Hey Bob
I am home from school
How has it been so far?
Rooney tried an audacious chip there after a one-two with Terry. Not quite right.
Rubbish!
Welcome home, though. Great to have you on board.
I haven't looked at the teams ... what changes were there
I see Lamps
I see Downing wearing #7
I see Milner
Milner gets a card
Milner chops down Bale and gets a yellow card for his trouble.
Yeah - three changes for Engerlund from Friday's lot. Lamps, Milner and Downing all in.
Northern Ireland are two down in Estonia
Free kick to England now. Chance to swing one in to the big boys.
Who's out?
Parker, Walcott and Barry?
No - Barry's still there. Walcott, Parker and ? Not sure.
I wish Montenegro were playing tonight so they could drop points!
They meet England next month in the first of two games. If England lose, Montenegro could win the group a few days later while England are idle
Bloody Barry
Cashley has had a really poor match so far up against Bale.
Downing started last game too... he was #11
No Ireland get a goal back through an OG
Nice run and cross by Young... Downing hits row Q
Oh - great stuff from Young but Roon missed the header completely and then Downing volleyed over.
Lamps cuts out a pass intended for Rooney
England look hopeless... what it with them at Wembley!!!
I'm just checking the team sheet from Friday. Walcott and Parker have been replaced by Milner and Lamps.
Lamps has been completely anonymous. I wouldn't say that Lamps' international career is over quite yet but I would say that he's a squad player for Euro 2012 and then should retire after it. Stevie G. is probably in the same boat.
Stop coming back so far Wazza!!
There is Cole and Milner back there
Cole goes down like a sack of potatoes... glad to see nothing called
Bulgaria have taken the lead in Switzerland through Ivanov.
England have Stockdale, Jags, Lescott, Parker, Carroll, Johnson, and Defoe on the bench.
The ball goes out to Milner who had miles of space to explode into.... he jogs in and then puts in a hopeless cross!!
Is Walcott suspended? He's in a suit
YES!
ASHLEY YOUNG WITH THE GOAL!!
GOAL! Ashley Young sticks in England's first!
Made by Downing... after Milner stunk it up twice!
Downing did really well to beat Ledley and get to the by-line. Good cut back to Young who did the rest.
1-0 England!
I'd like another goal before half-time.
England are now six points up with one to play
Monty have two
ooh, dangerous cross by Young again!!
Roon was offiside
Oh - great ball in from Young and no one got there for the touch in.
England have faggy polka dots by their names!
Is MUR anywhere near those fires?
The Dutch have won 2-0 in Finland and have qualified as a result.
What a fortnight I have had here in the Capital District
Earthquake, Hurricane and Tornado!
I haven't noticed any polka dots.
HOPELESS AGAIN BY COLE!!
Struth, mate! Watch out for the locusts and frogs!
I don't think David is near those fires on the Gulf Coast.
This game really doesn't mean anything!
They just need to not lose to Monty
Switzerland Bulgaria match is tied at one at the break
At half-time, take a look at the Motty Challenge question I posted earlier.
I did hear that last night but turned it off before the answer was said
I would say.... let me think about it!
Half time
Off to take Shad for a walk
TTFN
That's half-time, then. A boring match, really. But I'm relatively satisfied by the 1-0 scoreline.
Have you noticed that the Speed Channel is starting "The Car Show" this week - their version of "Top Gear?"
Armenia have taken the lead in Slovakia, which means that the Republic could stay in the runners-up spot.
Belguim and the U.S. are at 0-0 at half-time.
Wales are about to kick off then.
Oh - Lamps played Young through and he nearly found Roon in the center.
I am back.. any changes?
JT has reached 32 matches as captain of England - level with Kevin Keegan.
No changes yet...do you have any answers for the Motty Challenge?
Oh - I thought Bale was on side there and he was. Off the races!
No Ire are now 3-1 down
How about Robbie Keane?
Oh - great ball back from Downing. I agree with Stewart Robson. Rooney keeps on making the blind run into the six yard box rather than dropping off for the cut-back.
Leeds United get a mention on FSC by Martin Tyler
Correct for one with Robbie Keane!
Who's the other?
ooh, that's a surprise that i got that one
Penalty for Scotland against Lithuania.... MISSED by Darren Fletcher
Klose?
I'd like to see Defoe and Carroll on before the end.
Another hopeless pass by Cole
Wow - two for two, for you. You're on fire, mate!
WOW... NO CHEATING AT ALL!!!
It's all England possession now but still very few chances.
2052: HALF-TIME Scotland 0-0 Lithuania
Colin Moffat's HT snap-shot: "What is it with Scotland and penalties? Craig Levein's men have been hammering away at the massed wall of defenders in yellow - but even after an act of madness gifts Scotland a spot-kick, Darren Fletcher's tame effort is saved. Incredible."
Here's another trivia question for you, then.
Which European side is Maroune Fellaini playing for this afternoon?
Great tackle back there from Barry on Ramsey.
Italy and Slovenia are goalless as are Romania and France and Russia and Rep Ir
I thought he was Belgian but they aren't playing
The Swiss are now 2-1 up.
They are, actually. A friendly against the US. It's 0-0 there and the second half has just kicked off. Well done!
I'm on FIRE!!
Is that match on ESPN?
Bring it on!!!
Bale tries to beat about eight players and then shoots from the Wembley tube station. England fans laughing derisively.
Who won the Cup Final in 1949?
No - it's US Open Tennis this afternoon on the ESPN2.
Nice run by Barry but should have shot but lays it off to Lamps... shoot like that for Chelsea please
Bloody hell, Frankie!
Barry with some uncharacteristically skillful play and then Lamps chips over from ten yards.
Brian Clough!
Milner is very slow!
Is he playing for Citeh? If not, why is playing for England!!!
Reginald Maudling?
Belgium have taken the lead through Lombaerts in the 55th minute.
The US match is on ESPN
A buffalo with an aqualung!
Well... it was supposed to be... it has it on the description but it bloody NASCAR... it is on ESPN2... rain at Flushing
The Poles have taken the lead against Germany!
Belgium up 1-0
Naismith has scored for the Scots
So Jurgen may start with a draw and two losses - not very good!
Earnshaw on for the Welsh
Robbie Earnshaw has come on for Morrison.
Why doesn't this England side have some passion!!!!
The Hammers are the nickname of which English football team? The Hammers?
Were Slovakia the team in World Cup?
They are losing at home to Armenia four nil
To be fair, the crowd has been really quiet today. No passion from them. Sounds like Wemberly is half empty.
20 to go at Wembley... not like the Wembley nights I remember
That's excellent news for the Republic. Yes - they were in the WC.
Rooney seems to be like the Rooney of last season
EURO 2012 QUALIFYING LATEST: "Great news for the Republic of Ireland in group B as Armenia thump Slovakia 4-0 in Zilina. Ireland's draw means they are still in second place, a point ahead of the two sides.
What was that effort from Rooney!!!!?
What was Rooney trying to do there?
Lamps being replaced by Parker
Parker on for Lamps now. Frank was rubbish tonight.
Typical bloody ManYoo fouling from Smalling there.
Bale hits it and it's well over.
Bale with a free kick... over the bar... not that close
More ManYoo fouling from Smalling.
Wow - miss of the season from Earnshaw! I nearly had a heart attack!
Still twenty minutes for the US to get the equalizer
I turned it over for a second and I missed the Earnshaw miss!! PHEW!!!
England fans cheering both replays of that one. Definitely one that Shadow would have scored.
I thought England were lax in the first half but they've been really bloody casual in this half - and nearly paid for it. Come on!
Again... this game is not that important... they get a point and a point at Monty and it is over
Adam Johnson on for Downing who was knackered. Still no striker change, though.
Sweden have scored a fifth in San Marino
The Germans have leveled it through a penalty by Kroos.
Great save by Hart, but the whistle went for offside by Gunter.
If England get three points from their last two games... they may not qualify... if they get two ... they do qualify!
PHEW... ANOTHER CHANCE... OFFSIDE BUT GREAT SAVE ANYWAY
Great ball over by Young and of course Roon was nowhere to be found. Why can't we play a proper striker?
Northern Ireland concede a goal with the almost the last kick of the game... 4-1
At least, England play Monty away from Wembley... they win those games
I wish that Chris Gunter's name was "Grunter." Much funnier that way.
I would definitely play Carroll up top with Rooney in support. I would have Young and another on the wings
How does Cappello survive these type of performances
World #1, Holland, have beaten Finland away 2 nil
England definitely giving Wales a chance here.
Under 5 to go.... I was rushing home to watch this drab!
At least throw a Carroll on for fifteen minutes. 1-0 is not satisfactory!
Me too - I want my money back!
Oh - Young tried one from a tight angle.
Rooney off - he's been rubbish. Andy Carroll on finally.
Useless shot by Young... just don't do that with the Devil on your shirt
Roon is off being replaced by Carroll
Definitely a lot of empty seats there tonight. WTF?!
This game better not have put Roon back into his funk.... another hat-trick at the Reebok on Saturday!!
Two 10 o'clockers to watch with Chelsea's match and Arsenal's match on followed by United
2 added minutes
A chance here for England to swing a free kick in toward Carroll. No - they played it short. Grrr!
England wasting time... why not score.... HOPELESS!
YOU'RE PLAYING FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!
I don't want to hear about the result being the most important thing... playing well is pretty damn important too
Unfortunately, I'll be missing in action on Saturday as we have a big Belize fundraiser that day.
One last chance now....
Knock it toward Carroll!!!!
England have a free kick.. will they take it? Will they knock it in the box... yes and no!!
NOT HAPPY
Full-time: Bloody rubbish, really.
1-0. Not happy with that at all.
Well, I'm off to shake off the doldrums with a swim.
Cheerio!
What a bummer about Saturday!!
This group is not over!!!
Again, I better not here the players satisfied by this performance!!
TTFN... I am off to pick up the boys!
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