Thought I'd start a football blog, we might keep this going until 2010.....England doing well....did not see the match or even the goals....I'd like Michael owen back in the squad though....and I think Peter Crouch would make a very good substitute...remember against Argentina in Geneva a few years ago....with Michael Owen and some very good movements on and off the ball...they caused havoc.....did see Scotland's missed chance....that could be very costly losing those 2 points !.

Ferdinand out of World Cup ...

Ferdinand injured....great start......England must play with an attacking style....it is so much easier to defend when you attack....the others risk losing the ball in midfield ....and another attack can develop....that's why Brazil are so good....they don't have very good defenses out there (though in recent years they have been better), because : they are always looking to go forward....put them on the backfoot and they are never happy...France demonstrated that at the last world cup when they went at them and the south americans could not play their usual way !.

What with Owen, Beckham and now Ferdinand....they are either fragile or it's a case for Hercule Poirot....

Think to much has been made of Ferdinand's absence, his replacement Michael Dawson (although not as experienced) had a storming season at Spurs so his confidence with be strong and he will have momentum on his side.

If Dawson can adapt quickly to the international game then he could actually improve England's distinctly shaky defence.. instead of going out in the quarter's we might now scrape through to the Semi's -):

Stan....I think you might be right...it will wake England up....our defense is too slow at times...this is where the Germans are very strong on last ditch defending.....I really think England can get to the semis this year....further than that is just guesswork because you always meet a big team in the semis (except that time with South Korea)..Without getting ahead of ourselves, I'm starting to doubt whether France will be the opponents in the quarters...not in form that side at all...Losing Ferdinand is perhaps a bit like a sending off for a good team...the player less galvanises them and they play better....it happens many a time....Milan AC...a few years back went down to 10 men...can't remember the game now....they won 4-1....;...Don't know much about Dawson.....If Joe Cole signs for Spurs...they will be formidable next season...!...

Think the Ferdinand injury may prove to be a blessing in disguise for you guys as him and Terry have looked bloody awful together for a while now.

It's the Chelsea curse : Drogba, Ballack, Essien and now Robben injured......we might need an accompanying exorcist to deal with this....

Think it was the first time I've ever seen Drogba roll around in real pain ....

I think Jammie Theakston should be one of our goal keepers :-)

Caught a few minutes of that.....full stadium by the look of it....

Yes - very entertaining. I think both celeb goalkeepers did well - especially Patrick Kielty, against the likes of Shearer and Sheringham.

Taking into consideration some of the recent comments made by our lot + the amount of injury concerns, I'm beginning to doubt our ability to even qualify for the knock out stages now.

Well....here we go....

France as a team have not looked that impressive, but the Henri-Ribery combination is quite good.....Argentina look formidable up front with a leaky back four.....they might come a cropper with that shortfall in defense, but should make the second round without any problem.....South Korea doing well....good luck to our lads.....120 quid says they will win.....(gulp !...)....

Gulp.....what a blunder !...anyway....Green made it up with a great save........England just can't seem to play out of defense with creative football. they rely on a mistake from the opposition in midfield to then create a chance with the forwards.....also.....Wright-phillips and Lennon just don't seem to be able to dribble away from oncoming defenders when heading into the penalty box....and I wish they would smash the ball at end of their run....I would replace Milner with Joe Cole.....at least he can play....not a good performance but they should beat the Algerians and we now need a lot of goals....

rf ... spot the difference :-)

"rf ... spot the difference :-)".. donkey would probably have stopped it -):

Of course, if any of the England strikers had scored a second goal, no one would care about the one R.G. let in! Only one goal against the USA???? Poor.

Same old England wasnt it. Ordered myself a case of Special Brew to get me through the next match on friday.

All the time the ball was coming in to the attackers in the air 40 yards out instead of from wingers beating men and from the bye line. Everything was predictable.

Gerrard for once looked an international player but faded possibly due to frustration of others around him.

Whats Wright Philliphs doing in an England shirt??

Where was Lampard? and Rooney for that matter.

The short pass into feet was badly missed.

Carrick is the one who can do this but dont think he'l get much time to prove it.

Where was Theo for the last 15 minutes?. (probably at his mums watching with a few tinnies, what a waste of speed and talent)

All the papers this morning are blaming Green, OK he committed one hell of an howler but that deflects from the poor penetration and quality all around.

Capelo seems to be losing it aswell, did you see him on the touch line.

We always start rotten so theres better to come .............hopefully.

Thanks Dil,....to me : Joe Cole must play....in games like this : you have to want the ball not get rid of it anywhere, the danger now is that the USA could win their last 2 matches.....England will need a lot of goals in these next 2 games, because you can bet that the americans will win against Algeria in the last game and if they put a lot in the net, they could pip us to the top spot and that would be a disaster for Capello's lot forced to take another route via probaby Germany, Spain or Italy...a minimum of 3-0 in the next game...minimum....