blonde poker forum

I've been watching this tourney from the start and have enjoyed it far more than the recent senior tournaments. Teams have been playing without fear and the football has generally been attacking.

For me England look like one of the top two teams in the comp along with tonight's opponents Holland. The big issue with England though is stamina.

The died badly against Italy and looked dead on their feet against Serbia.

If they can get off to a good start they have a chance of beating the very impressive Dutch but a lot depends on their ability to dig in later on. (And Leroy Lita not to miss sitters)

Should be a good game either way.

I've watched a lot of this tournament too, I think I have got more involved in these games than the recent senior ones.

We need to take our chances if we are to stand a chance of winning. We've looked solid at the back for the most part and look dangerous going forward. I don't like the way Lita doesn't seem to realise how important the chances he has missed are. When he's celebrated his goals its been as if to say 'told you, don't doubt me' but they have been tap in's or on a plate and don't make up for the sitters he missed that my mum could finish.

I don't like Richardson as a character but i'd have him on the left and Young up front with Nugent. I though Huddlestone had a cracking start to the comp then lost his place to Noble (obvious that's neither here nor there with his two match ban). Reo has been poor IMO, I think I miss something in him being selected as captain for club and country.

Spot on. Especially about Lita. We should have been 4-0 up vs Italy. Then we can relax a bit more and not play at 110% for the rest of the game. He's very cocky.

Reo-Coker has been pants.

Drenthe is class.

Tempted to edit my comments about Lita.... its all reverse physiology obviously!!

Babbel looks v good. coming deep, running with the ball, and up top.

Bit harsh on Lita - considering both of his missed chances were at 0-0, and therefore we'd have had to score two more goals after them. He's done well for England in this tournament - we probably wouldn't be in the semis.

Just got back and switched the telly on.  Looks like Lita nearly had us in the final except for a cracking equaliser by the Dutch in the 89th minute.

Taylor was too honest in getting up. If he stays down in the 6 yr box the ref blows up.

Cant say the goal wasn't coming though.

It's Holland's to take now.

I guess this is where the stamina question gets an answer

Probably lose on penalties

Carson for the full team.

No point in getting to the final. We dont have enough men to play it.

i dont think the ref would have blown up if he had of stayed down. I'm sure he could have managed to drag himself off the pitch though, or Nugent had the chance to knock it out on half way.

Now... England and Penalties. I bet they arent anything like the ones in that practice game!

If you score 10 penalties you should win a shootout....

.. and if both teams have scored 10?

11 - 11 and counting

how exciting is this LOL

Robbed ... keeper was nearly on the 6 yard box FFS !!

LOL JUSTICE !!!!

SIGH ... NEVERENDS !!!

Im really shocked we lost at penalties, keeper was 2 yards off his line

What I'm saying is that the keeper has to step up at some point. (which he did at the end to keep us in it for an extra round, but it wasnt enough)
I said during the World cup David James should have been trained up on penalties and put in if we got to a shootout, and something similar should have been done here with a larger keeper. It is all about the size of the goalkeeper in a shootout.

At least it's taking us far longer to lose shootouts.

We're getting better.

The England lads did brilliant.  Played virtually the whole of extra time with 10 men, or more accurately, 9 and a half.  Defended solidly, and then took some great penalties.  Great to watch, and a shame it didn't go their way.

If we had got to the final I don't think we could have won anyway.  Several players suspended and several others injured. 

13-12 on penalties.  Wow.

Sickener!

Yes it maybe due to how big the keeper is but being close to the sodding ball helps, what a ref!

Dudek's not the tallest.  Running off the line to stop Pirlo's shot didn't do Liverpool any harm in Istanbul.... ;whistle;

Typical, that Pearce was crap at pens. too  ;hide;

Referee's assistant stood on the goal line watching the keepers for every penalty.
Now, either he is extremely short-sighted or he was asleep.

Can't fault the England team for effort.
Give the job to Pearce - the players respect him.

Everyones against england jejejeje xd

Bit harsh. I thought Taylor was the best England player during extra time. They were out on their feet and put up a great effort. Good to see some pride in the shirt for a change.

Well, with Taylor's injury, Milner's cramp, and the others showing that they were all knackered I think 9.5 was fairly generous.  Tremendous effort from them all, really wanted them to win at the end. 

What a game. The lads were more than good enough to go all the way outplaying a very good dutch side.

If only the first team had that commitment...

...or the penalty takers (on the whole).

Why did Pearce make that substitution near the end of normal time?
It was crazy,we had defended heroicly,why bring on an extra defender?