it takes a lot of nerve to take a spot kick in these situations, so well done to those who stepped up but were not good enough, but where were or why were forwards goal scorers not taking them instead of Cole you need a goal scorer who is used to staring down a keeper and putting the ball past him NOT a left full backwho doesnt score goals. this spot kick had to be scored I'm totally dumfounded. We however were second best and I dont feel too bad at going out. its only a game

There are times when I wished I did not like football, and tonight is one of them.

A hugely disappointing performance from England, but I suppose only to be expected. Hart, Lescott, Johnson, Gerrard, Parker and Terry played their hearts out thoughout the tournament, Cole was solid, but I think he is perhaps past his best now. That said, some of the distribution left a lot to be desired, and the ability to hold and play telling passes was all but zero.

The attack, well what attack. How can players who get paid very handsomly fail to grasp the basic rudiments of the game. Young was poor thoughout, Walcott did very little apart from his goal, Carroll the same, Wellbeck tried hard but lost the ball too easily, and Rooney did not seem interested in playing at all, especially tonight. Milner was neither good or bad, but its strange that when he left the field, England seemed to fall apart

As for Hodgson, tactics all wrong, substitutions all wrong, and total lack of enthusiasm and motivation, he has to go.

All in all I have enjoyed the competition so far, but only when England were not playing.

it takes a lot of nerve to take a spot kick in these situations, so well done to those who stepped up but were not good enough, but where were or why were forwards goal scorers not taking them instead of Cole you need a goal scorer who is used to staring down a keeper and putting the ball past him NOT a left full backwho doesnt score goals. this spot kick had to be scored I'm totally dumfounded. We however were second best and I dont feel too bad at going out. its only a game

Correct on every BUT why are you another that forgets Ashley Young also missed LOL he is a forward player too,

It's like those in Moscow that remember the JT slip but forget Anelka who is a forward missed on after him

P.S Baines

A close game could have gone either way, oh sorry was talking about today's cricket!!!

Will be interesting to see how the press see this. Will they turn on Woy? Not that I especially care.

If the press do turn against Roy Hodgson, they are even more idiotic than I thought. This tournament was supposed to be Capello's swansong as England boss and it was only the fall-out over John Terry losing the captaincy a few months back that was the reason for Postman Pat leaving when he did. Hodgson was only appointed 8 weeks ago IIRC. Personally, I thought the FA would probably go with a caretaker manager for this tournament and then wait until after it before appointing Capello's successor.

So did Rooney play well or not, ~I am led to believe that he was pretty poor.

it takes a lot of nerve to take a spot kick in these situations, so well done to those who stepped up but were not good enough, but where were or why were forwards goal scorers not taking them instead of Cole you need a goal scorer who is used to staring down a keeper and putting the ball past him NOT a left full backwho doesnt score goals. this spot kick had to be scored I'm totally dumfounded. We however were second best and I dont feel too bad at going out. its only a game

it takes a lot of nerve to take a spot kick in these situations, so well done to those who stepped up but were not good enough, but where were or why were forwards goal scorers not taking them instead of Cole you need a goal scorer who is used to staring down a keeper and putting the ball past him NOT a left full backwho doesnt score goals. this spot kick had to be scored I'm totally dumfounded. We however were second best and I dont feel too bad at going out. its only a game

Correct on every BUT why are you another that forgets Ashley Young also missed LOL he is a forward player too,

It's like those in Moscow that remember the JT slip but forget Anelka who is a forward missed on after him

P.S Baines

I couldnt bring my self to mention ashley young I've made my feelings about him clear after previous games, I'm not criticising Cole for missing Just dont think he should be taking important kicks, and if they had 12345 list some one from the management team should have switched them around

So did Rooney play well or not, ~I am led to believe that he was pretty poor.

He was poor yeah but for some reason England always resort in having him playing too deep, would love us/him to just be patient and play on the shoulder of the last man.

When you have to resort in him tracking Pirlo that tells it's own story, if we played higher up the pitch we wouldn't of had to worry about Pirlo because he would of been worried about us instead and wouldn't of had as much time on the ball as he got, For an Old player he must of felt like he was 21 again.

Should have all been done and dusted in normal time as england we're absolutely awful to be honest but same old same old (shootout loss again)

Same old England deficiencies - just so uncomfortable on the ball; too many panicky hit'n'hope passes that don't go to feet; woeful lack of movement off the ball. The only positive has benn the back 4 - but then, that was very much helped by totally drilled defensive structure encompassing the midfield, too. All just too negative.

Got exactly what they deserved - but it could have been so different, as England gave it more of a go in the 1st half, yet simply allowed Italy to dictate the game from half time onwards.

Anyway, my scores on the doors across the whole tournament for the squad who played (out of ten):

Hart - 6.5

Johnson - 7.5

Terry - 8

Lescott - 7

Cole - 6

Parker - 6

Gerrard - 8

Milner - 5

Young - 3

Wellbeck - 4

Rooney - 2

Walcott - 4

Oxlade-C - 6

Carroll - 5.5

Henderson - 4

Downing - 3

Defoe - 3

The one player I was impressed with last night - and not one I'm normally a fan of - was Johnson. He played well defensively and obviously offered something going forward.

Young was cack, as he has been for the whole tournament, which has been a surprise, because normally I would rate him. Maybe he's simply not good enough for international football.

He gave the ball away too easily, although he was far from being the only one.

I still reckon Jones, Smalling and Cleverley will make the leap to international football on a regular basis. It's just a question of when.

Walker's time may not have come yet, although I see him eventually ousting Johnson.

The one player I was impressed with last night - and not one I'm normally a fan of - was Johnson. He played well defensively and obviously offered something going forward.

Young was cack, as he has been for the whole tournament, which has been a surprise, because normally I would rate him. Maybe he's simply not good enough for international football.

He gave the ball away too easily, although he was far from being the only one.

I still reckon Jones, Smalling and Cleverley will make the leap to international football on a regular basis. It's just a question of when.

Walker's time may not have come yet, although I see him eventually ousting Johnson.

Don't forget Wilshere and Rodwell.

What I'm disappointed at is Walcott being kept out on the wing by Wenger. Whilst he's fast and can beat a man, can read the game pretty well and his delivery has improved, I do still see him as a more central attacker/striker. I thought he was the natural successor to Henry there. Whilst he's playing on the wing, he isn't going to develop as a striker. I'd like to see Lennon have an injury-free season, as I think he's capable of playing wide right for england.

Adam Johnson also needs to move from thre Etihad if he;s going to develop.

 

Hart - 6.5

Johnson - 7.5

Terry - 8

Lescott - 7

Cole - 6

Parker - 6

Gerrard - 8

Milner - 5

Young - 3

Wellbeck - 4

Rooney - 2

Walcott - 4

Oxlade-C - 6

Carroll - 5.5

Henderson - 4

Downing - 3

Defoe - 3

Can't argue with them Marks, And funny that the 2 highest are the 2 oldest players !!

...Roll on the Olympics, C'mon Team GB

The one player I was impressed with last night - and not one I'm normally a fan of - was Johnson. He played well defensively and obviously offered something going forward.

Young was cack, as he has been for the whole tournament, which has been a surprise, because normally I would rate him. Maybe he's simply not good enough for international football.

He gave the ball away too easily, although he was far from being the only one.

I still reckon Jones, Smalling and Cleverley will make the leap to international football on a regular basis. It's just a question of when.

Walker's time may not have come yet, although I see him eventually ousting Johnson.

 

Don't forget Wilshere and Rodwell.

What I'm disappointed at is Walcott being kept out on the wing by Wenger. Whilst he's fast and can beat a man, can read the game pretty well and his delivery has improved, I do still see him as a more central attacker/striker. I thought he was the natural successor to Henry there. Whilst he's playing on the wing, he isn't going to develop as a striker. I'd like to see Lennon have an injury-free season, as I think he's capable of playing wide right for england.

Adam Johnson also needs to move from thre Etihad if he;s going to develop.

I mentioned Wilshere in a subsequent post. He's a given for the England team.

As for Rodwell. Huge potential, but the problem with his career so far, as everyone knows, has been injuries.

And speaking of Everton, it will be interesting to see how Barclay develops.

Funny how people read the game isn't it, I thought Gerrard was one of our worst players last night, he constantly gave the ball away and was caught out of position almost all night...........or was he playing just off the front man??

The frightening lack of depth in our squad is, well, frightening........when I looked at the bench and saw Carroll (who admittedly played ok), Downing, Henderson and Defoe I thought, might as well leave these lads on as you won't be improving anything.

We did well to get out of the group but the remaining 4 teams in the competition are all streets (and I mean streets like the M1) ahead of us in terms of ball retention, movement, football knowledge and understanding of the game.

Not all bad though, if you accept that getting out of the group in these competitions is our lot in world football (and it so is) then you are happy this morning, as I am. We are on a par internationally with Sweden, Czech's, Russia, Denmark etc and they didn't get out of their groups.

Same old England deficiencies - just so uncomfortable on the ball; too many panicky hit'n'hope passes that don't go to feet; woeful lack of movement off the ball. The only positive has benn the back 4 - but then, that was very much helped by totally drilled defensive structure encompassing the midfield, too. All just too negative.

Got exactly what they deserved - but it could have been so different, as England gave it more of a go in the 1st half, yet simply allowed Italy to dictate the game from half time onwards.

Anyway, my scores on the doors across the whole tournament for the squad who played (out of ten):

Hart - 6.5

Johnson - 7.5

Terry - 8

Lescott - 7

Cole - 6

Parker - 6

Gerrard - 8

Milner - 5

Young - 3

Wellbeck - 4

Rooney - 2

Walcott - 4

Oxlade-C - 6

Carroll - 5.5

Henderson - 4

Downing - 3

Defoe - 3