Performance or Points?

[GlasgowBandit]

So thats the first 90 minutes overa nd England struggled to see of Paraguay.

I thought in the first half England looked good, they where composed on the ball pushed foward created chances looked like they could score from every set piece and then half time came ......

What I want to know is what does Sven see from that bench?  He has no idea about tactics IMO, his use of subsitutes is shocking and well you boys where helluva lucky to get the 3 points after a great first half performance.

It is vitally important to take 3 points from your opening game but it is also important that you put on a performance that breeds confidence, also its vital that your coach can send out the right signals but Sven is lacking here.

Play like that against the swedes and you will be defeated.

[MrMoves]

If you win the game your tactics are correct.

Granted, England never really started the second half but Paraguay never looked likely.  I felt England edged it and the scoreline was fair.

If they win every game 1-0 in that fashion then I'll be a happy man.

[Teacake]

Its all about the points this early, just ask Sweden!

England were ordinary but they've got 2 weeks to get it right as there isn't a good side in their half of the draw til the quarters.

[Scottish Dave]

put it this way which team is sitting happiest right now:

England - just scrapped a win with a jammie own goal, or/
Sweden - did everything but put the ball in the net

Obviously england, even tho sweden deserve to be above them in the group, thats why points win over performances at this stage

[Dewi_cool]

Whoever wins this group. play Germany in QF, I would imagine that Sweden are happier

[MrMoves]

put it this way which team is sitting happiest right now:

England - just scrapped a win with a jammie own goal, or/
Sweden - did everything but put the ball in the net

Obviously england, even tho sweden deserve to be above them in the group, thats why points win over performances at this stage

Why is it a team who can't beat Dwight Yorke's pub side deserve to be above England?

Sweden were awful.

[dan]

under sven england will win nothing.

we have some of the greatest players in the world individualy but sven is TOO defensive. Taking off owen after 55 mins is awful. we should be going at teams and killing then not sitting back defending

[Gryff]

Sweden - did everything but put the ball in the net

Were we watching the same game? Sweden had 4 in defence with a man advantage and really only had some clumsy long range attempts with only 1-2 respectable attempts in the whole 45 mins they had the advantage.

[Rooky9]

under sven england will win nothing.

we have some of the greatest players in the world individualy but sven is TOO defensive. Taking off owen after 55 mins is awful. we should be going at teams and killing then not sitting back defending

Its far to easy to predict winning nothing at international level - there's only one thing to win every two years to go round.

there's no middle ground when people get taken over by the World Cup syndrome, one minute we're going to win it, the next we have no chance. Fact is we won one nil and Robinson only had one (if that) save to make. We have the best defence in the competition and they showed that today after being let down in the second half by an inability to keep the ball - nothing more nothing less.

End of day one is more than good for England

[dan]

under sven england will win nothing.

we have some of the greatest players in the world individualy but sven is TOO defensive. Taking off owen after 55 mins is awful. we should be going at teams and killing then not sitting back defending

Its far to easy to predict winning nothing at international level - there's only one thing to win every two years to go round.

there's no middle ground when people get taken over by the World Cup syndrome, one minute we're going to win it, the next we have no chance. Fact is we won one nil and Robinson only had one (if that) save to make. We have the best defence in the competition and they showed that today after being let down in the second half by an inability to keep the ball - nothing more nothing less.

End of day one is more than good for England

mate, day 1 has nothing to do with it, in euro 2004 we were the best team in it by a mile but we went 1-0 up against france and sat back and they murdered us when we sat back. in the QF we went 1-0 up against portugal and sat back and they murdered us unttl we went 2-1 down, then we started to play. sven is too defensive.

if we had a manger who attacked teams(and im not sayong this because im support arsenal) like arsene wenger, or ferguson,benitez or even martin jol we could win it

[Teacake]

Whoever wins this group. play Germany in QF, I would imagine that Sweden are happier

The winners of Englands group play the RU in Germanys group in last 16, the winner of that tie would play a team from group C or D ie Argentina, Holland, Portugal etc

[Rooky9]

So this time we didn't get caught and can go on. On each of the occations you talk about the player in our squad weren't half as experienced as they are now. The emergance of Chelsea and the success of Liverpool puts us so much further on than 2004...

Todays results were ideal - and football is ultimately a results business....

Lets hope for an improved 2nd half on Thursday - get qualified, avoid suspensions in the the third game and then kick on.

[Scottish Dave]

put it this way which team is sitting happiest right now:

England - just scrapped a win with a jammie own goal, or/
Sweden - did everything but put the ball in the net

Obviously england, even tho sweden deserve to be above them in the group, thats why points win over performances at this stage

Why is it a team who can't beat Dwight Yorke's pub side deserve to be above England?

Sweden were awful.

cos they played far better than England

[Scottish Dave]

Sweden - did everything but put the ball in the net

Were we watching the same game? Sweden had 4 in defence with a man advantage and really only had some clumsy long range attempts with only 1-2 respectable attempts in the whole 45 mins they had the advantage.

well if henrik had 1 inch longer legs he would have scored 2 with a slide and should have scored with his head too

[Acidmouse]

Don't the pundits all say a wins a win and we improve as the tournement progresses.

Yes it was pretty poor but least we won.