In some ways I understand where you coming from BUT would love to know your 23 man squad that you would of chosen, We was struggling for centre midfielders and called up Henderson LOL, Take the old guard out the centre midfield and who would you of played in this tournament.

Let's not forget send a team of youngsters out and they get battered could have a reverse effect on them personally not on us the fans.

Slowly but surely the youngsters will feed through, it's starting with the front line and then when the likes of Wiltshire is fit it'll gradually move through midfield and then defence.

OK, names that spring to mind (and yes, we have players injured such as Rodwell) would include Barclay, Tomkins, Sturridge, Bertrand.

Not a 23 man squad though is it and dont you think it's a bit unfair on them to throw them in at the deep end? surely need a few Friendlies and then a Qualifying campaign before throwing them all into a Tournament, Players get enough stick of fickle twats at the best of times let alone media twats.

I'd throw them in as impact subs and to get the experience of a tournament atmosphere. I want to see young players playing for England who hold absolutely no fear. Holding no fear is an ingrained English trait.

Think of it like the Olympics. There are British competitors who've qualified by right to go this year, but who likely won't medal. But they'll soak up the competitive atmosphere and be well prepared for Rio 2016.

If Roy would of taken Bertrand he would of had to of left out Baines, Cole still one of the best Left Bscks around. Take Tomkins who would of been left out? We was already sweating for for Centre Backs but I know you'll say leave Terry out, far enough but that would of left Lescott, Tomkins, Jones and Jagielka.

Sturridge I think should of been in there and not because of Chelsea but because he can take players on BUT one thing he cant do is defend or pass so England fans would have to expect that.

We'll be saying the same old things about these youngsters 10yrs down the line and by then Rooney and co will then be old men too LOL

Interesting one that. Am I (maybe I am) the only person on here who thinks the Klingon is utterly fu%king useless?

In many ways I'm far more interested in the English players who will make up the bulk of the Team GB Olympic team - 'Sir' David Beckham excepted.

I think the tournament will be far more entertaining too. And hopefully that godawful band won't be there either. If there is the slightest prospect of them attending MPs should rush through a bill banning them.

The plus for England was that they showed some fight and spirit to come back and win. You can achieve a lot with that kind of mentality versus talent. I think England are relatively weak on talent and I was not expecting much at all in this tournament. However, there are plenty of examples of average teams doing well and it comes down to teamwork. Hodgson has plenty of experience of getting the best out of poor resources and his changes during the game paid dividends. The English "way"on the pitch appears to be taking everything to the brink before getting a result. Off the pitch, many fans/press slag the team mercilessly whatever happens

Trouble is they don't seem good enough, especially as already stated they play in what "everyone" says is the best league in the world. Ok there are a lot of foreign players in the Premier, therefore, you have to be a very good english player to get a look in.

I'm not sure I'm seeing that many "very good" english players?

In the FIFA Rankings England sit 6th - with Holland, Germany & Spain above them (Euro Teams).

England are good enough to get to the quarter final stages where they will probably play Italy. Italy are currently 12th in the rankings.

I agree England don't have the technical ability of Spain or the flare of say Italy, but on their day they can beat the best. A lot of success is down to mental strength/concentration, not necessarily outright skill.

The last World Cup was a disaster mainly because of the regime Cappelo installed. This time there is team spirit which is vital if you want to progress to the later stages - Italy 1990 , Euro 96.

Two of the goals England scored against Sweden are the best 2 in the competition so far.

Hodgson's job is to get the tactics right for each game using the players at his disposal. Simples.

Hodgson wants Rooney and I'm thinking we can fit all 3 strikers in the team, Rooney, Wellbeck and Carrol, What I would do is sit Rooney behind the front 2, he likes to drop and collect the ball anyway.

I would then have a 3 man Midfield Gerrard, Parker, Milner.

The width comes from our full backs, Ashley Cole was like a left winger at times last night.

I reckon putting Rooney in directly now will spoil things, they have managed to play without him and not lose.

Plus they won the last game, therefore he should be a substitute player only.

Listening to Chris Waddle on 5Live earlier and he hit the nail on the head. We pass it around the back 4, the keeper and a midfielder who's dropped deep and it looks fine, comfortable - as long as the opposition sit off us. Yet when the ball is moved forwards, most of the time we lose the ball because the players just cannot retain possession; they look like rabbits in headlights, try to beat the defender and fail; try a cute pass and it's blocked. And, when the opposition starts chasing the game and closing us down higher on the pitch, we don't even have the luxury of comfortable (if mind-numbing) possession

Anyone who thinks the Premier League is the best league in the world is an idiot. It's exciting, because it's frenetic and yields plenty of goals and despite the best efforts of the pansies at FIFA/UEFA, still has some blood'n'guts. But technically it's akin to Sunday League football. Possession isn't respected - let's face it, why keep the ball at all costs for minutes on end when you know that if you lose possession, the other side will be equally feckless about it and you'll get the ball back half a minute later. Instead, just go for glory, get the ball to the other end as quickly as possible (the better teams will use skill and passing, the worst a great big hoof).

The thing is, we've all seen that the English way of playing can actually be productive against more technically-able teams from Europe. Yet England never seem to play the 100mph, get-it-wide-get-it-crossed type of game our players are most comfortable with. We always try to play a more cultured game which is alien to most players.

I suppose what I'm saying is that for years it's been apparent that England are rubbish at playing a possession game; we just don't appear able to do it. So why persist with it? Why not play a more direct and/or counter-attacking game?

Just saw this, made me chuckle

Oliver Holt  "Roy Hodgson might as well have walked out into his technical area at the Olympic Stadium in platform shoes. Or hung a disco ball from the ceiling of the England dressing room. Or decorated it in avocado green for the night. He was accused of crimes against fashion by picking Andy Carroll in a 4-4-2 against Sweden last night. But after a see-saw night when England flirted with disaster, Hodgson proved his doubters wrong again. Not just because Carroll scored a magnificent header to open the scoring in the first half. But because when everything was going wrong and it looked as if England would be going home early, Hodgson acted fast. He didn’t stick with something that had stopped working. He updated. He modernised."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sweden-2-3-england-reaction-by-oliver-886388

He has to play and will, without a shadow of a doubt, play. He's our only player with an ounce of flair, and he needs a game now.

I dont think Woy will play a 4-4-2 again in this tournament. A poor Swedish side cut us to ribbons at times. I think he'll go to a 4-5-1 with Rooney as the lone striker.

I guess this is a win/win for Roy, Rooney has to start, therefore if they lose, well introducing Rooney at this point didn't help, he obviously had't adjusted, down to him being suspended. If they win it was a good move on his part, to take a chance on him.

If Rooney gets sent off, then again hardly Roy's fault is it.

Be interesting either way, for about 15 minutes, which is about how long I lasted before I switched off last time

Rooney has matured on the disciplinary side. I don't think he picked up a single booking last season, which is nothing short of remarkable. Up to mid April he hadn't even committed a single foul, which is incredible!

If England qualify an if it's Spain next, then he could well find his temper tested as I don't see him getting much of the ball, let alone in the final third.

I looking at the skies in poland. They looking very dark and angry again. Wonder if another deluge might be on the way

Yes, it is chucking it down at the moment in the Poland Czech Republic game and, off-topic, I notice that Estofex have a level 2 warning in that vicinity. There have been a few rumbles and flashes so far, but no goals yet 😉

On the BBC site I found this comment

Sweden striker and captain Ibrahimovic, 30, said: "I think we were the better team against England."

Sunderland midfielder Larsson agreed: "We were definitely better."

Sweden lost their first Euro 2012 game to co-hosts Ukraine 2-1, having also taken the lead. According to Ibrahimovic, his team need to improve their performance towards the end of matches.

Funny they were the better side, but lost both matches, because they couldn't hold it together for the full  90 minutes.

Not sure that makes them better

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18471301

That was the kiss of death

Czech Republic score