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Much debate has been had on here about whether the players were to blame for the previous two results or whether it was the manager’s poor team selection and formation.
The reality is it was probably a mixture of both. But at least Capello has changed things today, if he’d have persisted with 4-4-2 the whole world would have been baffled.
So today it’s a diamond formation – Barry holding, Milner and Lampard in the middle, Gerrard playing in an attacking midfield position.
To me this is brilliant, every player on the pitch today is now playing in a position that they are familiar with (Milner’s played in the centre most of the season for Villa, Barry has been a holding player for the most part of his career, Gerrard loves to play in this role for Liverpool). This season also allows Ashley Cole and Johnson to get forward more. It’s perfrect really.
So absolutely no excuses today. If England win comfortably then perhaps Capello did get it wrong in the previous two games. If England fail today then Capello can be completely exonerated from any blame and it surely has to be the players who are called into question.
I would have loved to have seen Joe Cole play, but I’m more than happy with this team selection and formation.
Come on England, do us proud.
Forget that… looks like he’s playing 4-4-2 with Gerrard out wide again
Off to pub now, hope I return happy.
Time for the keyboard critics to eat some humble pie!
I’ve stuck up for England and backed them throughout nearly everyone else ridiculing them.
Can we play good football and look comfortable in possession?
Yes
Are we capable of winning the tournament?
Yes
Can 4-4-2 work?
Yes
Can Lampard and Gerrard be effective in the same line-up?
Yes
Can Gerrard be effective from the left? Erm….
Yes
!
Is Capello a top class manager?
Yes
I thought we were magnificent today…rightfully quite edgy early on and then once we hit our stride we scored and went on to play some terrific football at times… You know, the sort everyone says we can’t play.
It was more uncomfortable than it possibly could have been late on, but the lads ran themselves into the ground and put themselves everywhere.
The passion, committment, desire was fantastic.
The togetherness throughout the match and after the final whistle was so evident…that’s testament to all the players and especially the manager after what happened with Terry the other day and all the stick they’ve had…
It could quite easily have gone the other way as it did with France…so huge respect to all..
We can go all the way….keep believing!
I’m not really sure what this game/result tells us but hopefully it definitely silences the "we’re not technically good enough" critics.
I’ve always said England can pass a ball, and that the reason we haven’t passed it so far is because we’ve played Heskey up front and the lads have been told to get it up to him as soon as possible.
I’m not a fan of 4-4-2, but at least today we proved (when we’re not hitting it long) that we can pass it, in fact I thought some of England’s inter-play today was exceptional.
Still, it’s a worry that we didn’t put more chances away and that once again we made it uncomfortable for ourselves. But you know what, that’s probably when we are at our best.
I hope we get Germany in the next round because we will get up for that more than we will for Serbia or Ghana, and we’ll also be up for the Argies in the QF if we get that far. I know we should be up for every game, but for some reason England only play well when their backs are against the wall.
Well, One Eye, I’ve just got back from the pub happy, although I did have to go for a walk outside for the last 15 minutes. Really proud of how we played today. Had we scored that ‘second’ goal I could have enjoyed the second half more.
I had £150 on England at 8s at the start of the tournament,
I’m praying it comes in but can’t see it now.You never know…
Better, much better, but let’s not get carried away.
We beat an ordinary team who seemed to have little ambition by one goal. There was a 10-15 minute spell in the first half when we played at a high tempo, used Milner effectively and looked dangerous. The shape of the team, with Gerard holding his position and Defoe for Heskey looked better and some of the passing was crisper.
But if we are hoping to progress to say the semi-finals, we will need to step up significantly. Is it right that we are now heading for a quarter final with Argentina? On current form, can’t see us beating them, but let’s hope we keep improving.
There were still some aimless long balls forward, I counted about half a dozen of them in the first half alone. I do not think this is a tactical instruction, I have seen it from too many different England players under many different managers. We did not retain possession all that well, indeed Barry twice lost possession at crucial times. Our passing was geared to a pressing, high-tempo, direct game, which can be very effective, but there may be times when we need to keep the ball more patiently. Let’s hope they can do that when the time comes (say, if we were to find ourselves 1-0 against Argentina with 20 mins to go).
The performance today was the minimum we should have expected and it makes me even angrier that they didn’t put it in against Algeria.
The argument about the technical ability of English players in general is a longer term one that goes back many years and is mainly about how we teach our youngsters to play the game and the kind of youngsters who progress through the system. A 1-0 win against Slovenia does not alter my opinion on that subject and I was interested to hear Chris Waddle’s opinions on the issue on Radio 5 prior to the game. I accept I may be in the minority with that opinion. And perhaps the middle of a World Cup is not the best time to debate it.
Enjoying the Ghana v Germany game at the moment.
Germany next up then on Sunday
Didn’t think they were any more impressive beating Fifa ranked 32 Ghana than we were beating FIFA ranked 25 Slovenia.
In fact I think we dominated our game much more, yet the England knockers will still claim Germany are a far, far better team than us and we have no chance cos we can’t pass and the players are rubbish etc, etc…
And yes Andrew, if we do progress through that one then we are on a collision course with Argentina, which would be on the following Saturday 3pm kick off…unless I’m mistaken?
I will say now I think we can and will beat the German’s…bring it on!
Well having seen both games, I was more impressed with the Germans, yes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t beat them in a one-off fixture.
Thought Ghana played well too, good to see a team play with a bit of freedom and enjoyment.
Oh come on you ridiculously rose-tinted specs wearing Engeerrrland fans!
England beat Slovenia 1-0 – wow
They did play better, admittedly, but was that really a performance of a team capable of going any further?
Yes, they could beat Germany but I think we are in serious trouble now. Ghana were more impressive in defeat than Slovenlyia.
The Germans have looked far better than us throughout the tournament. They have a far better flow to their game, can pass quicker and more accurately (please note) and they have far more depth in their squad.
Of course I
want
England to win, but if I were betting on the game then 9/5 Germany opposed to 13/10 Eng (Hills) is a steal.
Good luck to those that have backed Eng to win the tourney (as my mate has also done), but I think you’re in dreamland. I may join you, I’m an awful sleeper.
Zip
Oh come on you ridiculously rose-tinted specs wearing Engeerrrland fans!
Nothing wrong in having a bit of belief and supporting your own team mate.
England beat Slovenia 1-0 – wow
Meanwhile…Germany beat Ghana 1-0 wow
They did play better, admittedly, but was that really a performance of a team capable of going any further?
It was an improvement as you say…there was togetherness which is important, Rooney looked better which is important and they will grow in confidence from that. It’s a marathon not a sprint and it’s all about getting results and progressing and building momentum, today was a huge stepping stone.
I think we are in serious trouble now. Ghana were more impressive in defeat than Slovenlyia.
I don’t get your reasoning there zip? If Ghana were more impressive in defeat then surely that’s a compliment to England in making Slovenia look more inferior? After all Slovenia were only as good as we allowed them to be, which up to the last 5/10 minutes was not that good to be honest..
The Germans have looked far better than us throughout the tournament. They have a far better flow to their game, can pass quicker and more accurately (please note) and they have far more depth in their squad.
Man for Man I think we are the better team, we can play well as a team as we have proved both today, in qualifying and in previous tournaments. Most of the England lads will have played regularly against their opponents in Champions League matches for their clubs and would have come out on top more often than not I would guess over the last few seasons?
I hope we do go in as underdogs as it will be more motivation (as if we need anymore!)
Well, I hope you’re right Mr Zamorston!
Ya never know – tis knockout from hereon in.
Yep – Eng did perform well against Slovenlyia – but I actually think Ghana are stronger than the Slovenians.
I don’t think the Germans were that impressive but I do think they have far more room for improvement than us.
As for how our players perform against German players in Euro club footy or the Prem League, not sure that will have much bearing on Sunday. It’s far more about how both units play on the day, and Germany look superior in both movement and creativity and just as strong at the back.
Zippy
Oh come on you ridiculously rose-tinted specs wearing Engeerrrland fans!
England beat Slovenia 1-0 – wow
They did play better, admittedly, but was
that really a performance of a team capable of going any further
?
Yes, they could beat Germany
but I think we are in serious trouble now. Ghana were more impressive in defeat than Slovenlyia.
The Germans have looked far better than us throughout the tournament. They have a far better flow to their game, can pass quicker and more accurately (please note) and they have far more depth in their squad.
Of course I
want
England to win, but if I were betting on the game then 9/5 Germany opposed to 13/10 Eng (Hills) is a steal.
Good luck to those that have backed Eng to win the tourney (as my mate has also done), but I think you’re in dreamland. I may join you, I’m an awful sleeper.
Zip
I’m a stickler for pointing out faults, but in one sentence you’ve said "was that really a performance of a team capable of going further?
And in your very next sentence you’ve said "Yes, they could beat Germany".
And in your next sentence you’ve said "but if I were betting on the game then 9/5 Germany opposed to 13/10 Eng (Hills) is a steal."
So please clarify… who are you supporting? Who have you backed? Or are you one of these people who say, "told you so" no matter who wins.
From what you’ve said you appear to think the Germans will win, but England can win, but Germany can win, but England can win also. For FFFF sake mate, who do you think will win?
Do you think we’ll beat the Germans or not? For the record, I Think we’ll beat them easily
Time for the keyboard critics to eat some humble pie!
I’ve stuck up for England and backed them throughout nearly everyone else ridiculing them.
Can we play good football and look comfortable in possession?
Yes
Are we capable of winning the tournament?
Yes
Can 4-4-2 work?
Yes
Can Lampard and Gerrard be effective in the same line-up?
Yes
Can Gerrard be effective from the left? Erm….
Yes
!
Is Capello a top class manager?
Yes
I thought we were magnificent today…rightfully quite edgy early on and then once we hit our stride we scored and went on to play some terrific football at times… You know, the sort everyone says we can’t play.
It was more uncomfortable than it possibly could have been late on, but the lads ran themselves into the ground and put themselves everywhere.
The passion, committment, desire was fantastic.
The togetherness throughout the match and after the final whistle was so evident…that’s testament to all the players and especially the manager after what happened with Terry the other day and all the stick they’ve had…
It could quite easily have gone the other way as it did with France…so huge respect to all..
We can go all the way….keep believing!
You don’t think much of the team then
They were far from ‘magnificent’. Infact, a ‘magnificent’ England performance would have at least meant we weren’t relying on last ditch tackles at the death to hold onto a 1-0 win over the mighty Slovenia!
It was a huge improvement on the previous two games, but this was off the back of what many are saying was the worst England performance they could remember. I love your optimism, but the evidence suggests we’re a long way short of what will be required. In short, we have no chance of lifting this cup, but I’ll hope and dream for as long as we’re still in Africa!
Can Lampard and Gerrard be effective in the same line-up?
Yes
Lampard was invisible and was by far Englands worse player on the day. There was no evidence at all to suggest he plays well with Gerrard. Infact, if Capello has any balls he’ll drop Lampard for the Germany game IMO.
How does beating a team, ranked 25th in the world, silence the critics? I fully expected England to win yesterday afternoon and they duly delivered.
Will our overall performances have the German’s running scared?
Whilst it was a satisfying victory, that level of performance will not be enough to beat Germany. We will need to step up on what we have done thus far if we are to progress on Sunday.
We have progressed to the knockout stages despite not performing to the level we are capable of. That is a huge positive, in my opinion. We have not yet peaked and if Wayne Rooney can finally showcase his talents on the biggest stage, we have plenty more improvement to come.
We have the game to beat Germany. No doubt about it.
It may surprise many of you who have read my thoughts on England in previous threads, but I took the 10-1 on England to win the World Cup. Simple, really – we would never touch that price again if we were to beat Slovenia.
We have just achieved progression from the jaws of elimination. A victory over Germany will be a massive boost and suddenly we find ourselves in the quarter-finals with that magic word ‘momentum’.
I have criticised our lack of technical ability and that hasn’t changed in the space of a week. Jamie Carragher spoke about how hard they have been working on keeping possession in training. That says it all, really. We have to work to keep hold of the ball. For many teams, it is something that just comes naturally.
We still gave the ball away far too easily on too many occasions yesterday.
I have always said that we can still go far in this tournament despite our obvious shortcomings. The more I watch this World Cup, the more I realize that it will not take a great team to win it. The standard hasn’t been on a par with previous tournaments.
It will be interesting to see how our defence handles a team with genuine pace – something they have yet to face. Very encouraging, however, that our only goal against was the result of a goalkeeping error.
I look forward to Sunday and predict we will find a bit more and beat Germany.
Personally think that Germany will feel they have drawn the short straw getting England in the next round. Id doubt any of the major nations will fancy playing England regardless how the performances have been so far. Me i have no alleigence(spl) one way or the other in fact id much sooner the club side i support win the League Cup than England the World Cup. It was better yesterday but as has already been pointed out Slovenia are not a major force. England need to keep Heskey away from the pitch then it can progress.
Onwards and upwards.
Personally think that Germany will feel they have drawn the short straw getting England in the next round.
I agree, few teams will want to play England, but that’s because of the name and the "potential", rather than ability. They got the result they needed last night against a team that were woeful. (Slovenia have been unexciting to say the least.) So, job done. Result is what matters, isn’t it? I wouldn’t get too carried away though.
They could beat Germany but, like many England -Germany games I believe it will be tight.
However, don’t think England or Germany, for that matter, are good enough to win the tournament. Would look to Argentina, Spain or Brazil or even Holland to do that.
But the USA to reach the semi-finals. I believe they have the passion, desire and team spirit to overcome Ghana and, I expect, Uruguay in the quarters.
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