Wullie

You don't need the sports package, you need the news package which is included in the basic sky subscription. I agree its strange though that its free on one service but not totally free on Sky.. Wrong. You need Sky Sports.

Walcott can't be worse than him, eh? I'd pick Wayne Routledge ahead of him tbh. Every time.

I'd also like to make clear my disdain for Shaun Wright Phillips. The fucking wanker. That is all.

Not that I include the big lump in with those players, but Heskey trying to pull the ball across a crowded penalty area to Rooney instead of taking the clear shot at goal he had was astonishing even for him. Clown.

For once we agree. Johnson is an absolute joke and a shambolic defender.

Wullie mate, agree that Capello got some decisions wrong...like I would have played Joe Cole (although it has to be remembered that he didn't really have a stellar season) and I would have taken Heskey off at half time. But really I think this time players like Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard can't hid behind the manager anymore. They have to accept that they are not good enough on the international stage and England have to start afresh. But let's be honest, there's no way Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard are "not good enough on the international stage" - these are some of the best players in the world who do it every single week for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Modern international football is of a much lower standard than club football. Saying they're not good enough is avoiding the real issue of why they've never done it for England other than in fits and starts. I agree that all three of them were atrocious last night, particularly Rooney who I've never seen have a worse game. The worst bit is that when he takes the field against us on the first day, he'll probably destroy us like he does every time.

As poor as I've seen an England side in years, certainly at a tournament. It made scraping through a win against Trinidad and Tobago look like halcyon days. Can't believe how wrong Capello has got it when it's come to the crunch. Still think we'll get through the group somehow but playing like this, any half decent side will roll us over without breaking sweat.

Victim of the Ashley regime like the rest of us.

Didn't think for a second France would get through the group. Garbage.

Timely loyalty bonus from Bet365, gone for £2 on Argentina/Nigeria/Mexico dnb, £3 on Argentina/Germany/England. Cue a South Korea win.

What you start with? Luckily I've been betting modestly, only 25 in the hole with another 30 in tournament bets looking shite as well. Only £30 so it's not as bad as some.

My entire World Cup wedge is gone.

Torres looks absolutely hapless.

Fuck me, what a strike.

Dear Christ. Might just ring the bailiffs myself now, cut out the middle man.

Fascinating that oldtype.

I too now fancy -2 but feel very wary of losing more money after the New Zealand fiasco earlier. Hmm.

Ditto. Fucking slovakian cunts.

Why the insistence on a radical new brilliant ball every tournament which inevitably the players aren't used to and complain about? Why can't they just use a normal bog standard Premier League/Champions League ball so this doesn't happen every time?

£7 on Slovakia win/Brazil to win both halves. £3 on Fabiano to score twice. 50p on Robinho FGS 5-0. 50p on Kaka FGS 6-0.

The first few games are always very tentative aren't they?

Had a look at the Italian squad last night, every single one plays in Italy but not one player from Inter in the squad - that's got to be some sort of record. Thought Cannavaro was playing for Al-Shitty these days? Ah yeah I did think I'd seen one on the BBC list but then Wiki still has him at Juventus when I just checked. My point was more about no players from the current champions of that country. He's not an Al-Shitty player before July 1st though.

Had a look at the Italian squad last night, every single one plays in Italy but not one player from Inter in the squad - that's got to be some sort of record. Thought Cannavaro was playing for Al-Shitty these days? Ah yeah I did think I'd seen one on the BBC list but then Wiki still has him at Juventus when I just checked. My point was more about no players from the current champions of that country.

Had a look at the Italian squad last night, every single one plays in Italy but not one player from Inter in the squad - that's got to be some sort of record.

Bayern have used it since Christmas. Not sure about the other clubs. Surely everyone has to use the same ball?