Come on, England!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:38 AM
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!
Friday, October 12, 2012
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!
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Really good article in the Guardian this morning rounding up all of the stories for this weekend:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/oct/12/world-cup-qualifiers-10-things
Among the stories today, Wales' so-called "Golden Generation needs nothing less than a win over the Scots today in order to keep alive hopes of qualification for Brasil 2014, so Monkey Boy Bale, Aaron Ramsey and co have got to pull their fingers out today.
I'm here at the start of today's double-header on FSC. I'm suddenly aware that this U-21 match with Serbia may well have happened yesterday; however, I've been so busy this week that I was able to miss the result, if there was one.
So - it's new to me; join me if you're around.
Right, then - here we are at our old stomping grounds at Carrow Road for this afternoon's U-21 match. It's billed as a first leg of some kind of playoff. I don't really follow the U-21 scene enough to know what competition they're talking about.
Early booking for a Serbian with a nasty challenge on Dawson.
Looks like this one is on live. In the other playoffs, Russia defeated the Czechs 0-2 in their first leg match.
In the real qualifiers, the senior Russia side has scored an important 1-0 win over Portugal. That will put the wind up among the Portugeezers. Russia now go clear at the top of the charts with 9 points from three matches, Portugal may well have created some space for the likes of Israel to challenge them with a win away to Luxembourg today.
Fairly scrappy start so far with three yellow cards early doors.
England have some real width today with Tom Ince on the right side and LUFC Academy alum Danny Rose on the left.
Noted 17th century political economist Adam Smith has been resurrected to play as a right sided midfielder for England today. Didn't know the old man had it in him. Also thought he'd already been capped long ago by Scotland.
The Czechs have taken a 2-1 lead over Malta in Group B action.
Oh - Incey was straight through on goal but couldn't fashion a finish to match the run. He's dangerous but still young.
Raheem Sterling goes down in the box looking for a pen. Doesn't get it and fortunately doesn't get a card for simulation, as he's already on one.
The Czechs are now 3-1 up; Italy are locked in a 1-1 draw with Armenia. Serbia might run them hard in that group if they're not careful.
Those bobble-hat wearing chappies in the Faroes are holding Sweden to a 1-1 er coming down to the last ten minutes.
If that result holds up, it bodes well for the Irish who meet Germany this afternoon. A draw would suit the Green.
Yet another card for the Serbs. No chance that they'll end up with 11 on the pitch at this rate.
Coming down to the last few minutes of the first half. Serbia have successfully frustrated the home side but will they be able to foul their way to a draw if the cards keep mounting.
I suspect that England's sharp shooters will be hoping to fill their boots with goals this afternoon, including these lads:
Skipper for today Wayne Rooney - 29 goals
Ballhog Jermain Defoe - 17 goals
Danny Welbeck - 2 goals
Andy Carroll - 2 goals
Sweden have pulled out a late 1-2 win over the plucky Faroes to break Irish hearts this afternoon. Puts more pressure on the Irish to get something against Germany.
Moldova have kicked off against Ukraine - a draw in that one would be loverly.
The England starting XI for this afternoon:
England: Hart; Walker, Baines, Jagielka, Cahilll; Carrick, Walcott, Cleverley, Welbeck, Rooney, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Very interesting from wily Woy. With Gerrard suspended and Lamps out with a niggle, it's a very youthful side.
The Mancs among us will be especially happy about the inclusion of Michael Carrick, but I'm wondering why on earth England need a holding middie against bloody San Marino. I might even have gone with a back three and really release the hounds of war against them. Instead it's a traditional flat back four and then Carrick holding so that Cleverley and Walcott can get forward. Rooney and his mate Danny presumably running up front and the Ox providing width down the left.
Sterling takes another tumble right on the edge of the box but the ref plays on.
Englands bench for tonight: Cole, Ruddy, Lescott, Shawcross, Milner, Shelvey, Johnson, Lennon, Carroll, Defoe, Forster.
Penalty to England! Alan Smith is upended in the area and the ref has no choice.
Now this one needs to go in, no doubt.
Craig Dawson, the center back....
Scores - England 1-0 up!
Strangely Craig Dawson is top scorer in these qualifiers. Now, England need to keep pushing forward for a second goal.
Not bothering to post the squad full of construction workers and postmen for San Marino. In the immortal words of Python, "never even 'eard of 'em."
Here we are at Wemberley then for the biggie.
Come on, England!
The U-21s wrapped a slim 1-0 win a moment ago. Not much to take with them to Serbia.
Goal difference may well be important here. Right now, one separates England from Montenegro on top of the group.
Teams are out on the pitch at Wemberley. Let's have some goals, lads!
Kick-off delayed by a missing ball that a Royal Marine brings onto the pitch finally.
Come on, you Whites!
San Marino dropping back into a defensive formation straight away, predictably.
A couple of early interchanges not really coming off, to the frustration of the Wemberley crowd.
Oh - great strike by The Ox that the San Marino keeper tips over well. Corner.
Poor cross from Baines but England retains possession of course.
Rooney is maddeningly dropping deep as he's wont to do. I want him straight up front knocking in tap ins.
Theo was behind the backfour but got absolutely mullered by the keeper as he dinked it over him. Theo's down for the count.
The replay shows a real Shumacher effort there from keeper Simoncini.
Looks like a real problem for Theo - LUFC Academy alum Aaron Lennon may well be pressed into service early doors.
Theo is trying to come back on but he looks really rattled. I'd have Lennon on instead.
The San Marino area is really packed at this point.
Here's that change - Lennon to come on for Theo.
Lennon should link up well with his Spurs mate Kyle Walker.
Oh - nice ball thru from Walker but Cleverley just couldn't get onto it.
Things just not quite clicking for England in the opening quarter of an hour.
Are England Arsenal in disguise? They look as if they want to walk it in.
First touch of the ball for Joe Hart at the 15 minute mark.
The Scots have taken an early lead in Wales through James Morrison.
Israel are taking full advantage of that Portugal loss this afternoon; they're already 0-2 up over Luxembourg.
Good news for us out of Moldova. Ukraine are locked in a 0-0 draw. If they can hold out there, it would be excellent for England.
Still too clever by half from Cleverley, Roon and Welbeck. Bring on Andy Carroll!
This tippy tappy nonsense is getting right up my nose. More often than not, they're losing the ball!
Come on, England!
Just need a goal to settle the nerves.
Quick corner that caught out most of the England side.
Good stuff from The Ox but he can't find any white shirts in the box.
We need to convert one of these corners!
Short corner again! Argh!
Second touch of the ball at the 24th minute mark.
Good shot by the Ox that Simoncini merely parries. No one following in.
Deflected cross by Baines that Roon get over.
Roon has been playing some nice forward play but I want to see him in the box!
Roon still playing far too deep.
Lennon wins yet another corner. Come on - swing in a good cross now.
Yet another rubbish cross from Tom Cleverley. Teach the boy to cross the ball!
Free kick taken far too quickly again by the England boys. Why aren't they taking advantage of these set pieces!!!?
I really don't understand why Woy has decided to experiment with the Barcelona style on this evening when we need goals, not possession.
We've reached the half hour mark at Wemberley - still no goals. Fortunately, no goals in Moldova either.
Get Carroll on!!!!
Another corner....
First decent ball over and Simoncini is under pressure.
Another good cross over from Cleverley and Roon just misses at the back post.
Oh - Carrick hits the bar with a ripper and then Welbeck hits the Sunday roast!
England get a penalty - Welbeck tripped up by Simoncini!
Definite pen there - Welbeck was caught.
Yes! Roon converts for 1-0!
Yes! Roon converts for 1-0!
Yesss!!!!!!!!!!
2-0 as Welbeck is set up by Lennon - a similar flicked finish to that goal against Sweden in the Euros.
Perhaps more importantly, Moldova and Ukraine are still at 0-0 in the 80th minute.
Oh - Roon curls one toward the backpost that Simoncini just tips around. Corner.
85th minute in Moldova - hang in there, lads!
Oh - just about another goal there with Carrick nearly nicking home a Baines cross.
So that's Roon's 30th and Welbeck's 3rd goal for England tonight.
Oh - The Ox with a cheeky little shot through the defender's legs that nearly deceived Simoncini.
Half-time - Not the avalanche of goals that I wanted but still a professional 2-0 start. I expect 4 or 5-0 in the end.
And more importantly, Moldova have just finished a superb 0-0 draw with Ukraine that just about assures second place for us in the group.
Germany are 0-3 up at half-time against the Republic. So much for the crisis in the dressing room. Marco Reus with both goals.
So we're underway in the second half. I want goals!
Oh - nice combo play there between Carrick and Welbeck and nearly an own goal.
Oh - Cahill misses a sitter! Mistimed his volley completely!
The Ox looks gassed - I'd have him off soon for Andy Carroll. Like to see how these San Marino mugs deal with the big man.
England really should be 3 or 4-0 up by now.
Baines wins his umpteenth corner.
Bloody Norah - it's 0-5 Germans now with added goals from Klose, Kroos and Ozil.
We've hit the hour mark with no additional goals. Surely time to throw on either Carroll or Jermain Defoe, who's usually good for a goal in these circumstances.
Good free kick opportunity now for England.
Baines behind this one....
Oh - just over the bar.
The Scots are still 0-1 up entering the last phase of that match.
Wales have equalized last on! Bale upended in the box by Shaun Maloney.
Michael Carrick trudges off and is replaced by Jonjo Shelvy.
Welbeck pulled up there and may have a problem.
GOAL! Roon gets his second and his 31st for his country. Now he's fifth on the list. Great curler!
And now 4-0! Welbeck finishing off a great cutback from Cleverley. It's the ManYoo show tonight.
Roon's day is done. He hands his armband off to Joe Hart as Andy Carroll comes on to torture the San Marino defenders.
Excellent - early corner opportunity for Carroll now.
And Carroll nearly got onto it with a great near post run.
England's GD is now a very satisfying +10 having scored 10 goals each against Moldova and San Marino and sharing goals with Ukraine.
GOAL! The Ox adds a 5th now. Great finish. He and his dad are the first father/son combo to score for England, ironically both against San Marino. Nice side foot finish.
Oh - Carroll nearly adds a sixth for England.
Still 10 minutes to add to the scoresheet.
Andy Keogh has scored a consolation goal for the Republic. It's 1-6 there now!
Shelvy with an errant pass - I don't fancy him.
Shelvy with a really pedestrian shot there straight at Simoncini.
England are still pressing for that 6th goal deep into the second half now.
Full time in Ireland - 1-6 - ouch!
The Group H table now has a very satisfactory look to it.
England - Played 3 - Pts. 7 (+10GD)
Montenegro - Played 2 - Pts 4 (+6GD)
Poland - Played 2 - Pts 4 (+2GD)
Ukraine - Played 2 - Pts 2 (0GD)
Moldova - Played 3 - Pts 1 (-7GD)
San Marino - Played 2 Pts 0 (-11GD)
Full-time - 5-0. Very satisfying win then for the Three Lions. On to Poland on Tuesday evening.
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