Beren

Croatia are awesome.

Goal of the tournament that

Croatia's delivery is lush. Also, Townsend needs stabbing.

I always suspected you were the ringleader to all this trouble and violence abroad, Jill.

Lallana forcing a save first half with a well-struck shot? Rooney forcing a fabulous save onto the bar? The Lallana shot wasn't one I'd expect a team to score from 8/10 tbh. The Rooney one is the "piledriver" I referred to in the bit bolded. We dominated a team with no attacking intent until the last minute, sure, but even if you call the Lallana chance a good one - is that really satisfactory? Not for me. Not if I think England can go further in the tournament, and just be the best they can be.

Irrespective of the equaliser, I was going to be the stick in the mud and post this: I'd only be satisfied with that England performance if I had very low expectations or ambition for England. It was reasonable enough but they did not work the Russia keeper nearly enough. I'd attribute that not to poor finishing (although that was a little bit in evidence) but poor chances. The Rooney piledriver was good, but apart from that I can't think of many other great chances where I'd expect a team to score from tbh. Kane barely had a touch of the ball in dangerous areas because he was isolated up top alone. I'd be incandescent if I were Vardy after the season he's had. Sterling has done sweet fuck all to justify his place on the plane let alone a starting berth. He's been shoehorned in because Vardy can't play winger (because Rooney's been shoehorned into the side). It's ridiculous. Such potential to actually slice teams open and it's just going to go begging. Again. Square pegs forever in round holes. They can't even entertain the idea of not playing Rooney and just having Kane and Vardy up top, so they'll try every possible permutation or just trudge along with some short-stop solution that is barely passable. The idea of having Vardy on as a super-sup really annoys me, and is quite patronising. If he comes on does something brilliant, it's not great management. It's Pardew bringing on HBA when all else fails. A good manager fucking starts his dangerous players from the off. Vardy has been destroying defences for the past 12 months who aren't leggy. He doesn't need for them to be leggy to be effective he just needs to be on the pitch (and not hamstrung by a system designed to accommodate a fat dinosaur). I actually don't hate this England team. Cole, Terry, Gerrard are gone... but ffs. Keep playing Rooney, Sterling etc for no reason and I'll hate them again in no time.

"Justice for the England XI" I need to watch Scottish commentary from now on. Can't take this shit anymore (only one game in)

Class hit

Rooney passes to their keeper - good pass by Rooney Rooney gives away needless foul when Russian player surrounded and no options - good place to make a foul Gimme a break man

England's work rate and attitude have been very good, but not very incisive IMO.

I think I'm a proper cynical bastard reading this thread. Russia came to do a containing job and have been fairly successful. England have been limited to creating chances and half-chances from deep, which means the quality of chances have been so-so. It's not like they've been cut open repeatedly and their keeper is keeping them in it.

Why would you change anything? Best you've played in years England been shit for years In all seriousness, it's not like the Russia keeper has been pulling off wonder save after wonder save over there...

Fucking knew I should have just stuck the free bet on 0-0 at HT. Stars in my eyes.

Away from home anarl. No interest in doing anything other than waiting to get beat.

Has Hodgson hired these commentators as hype men? Every tackle, pass or shot is cracking!

Nice Polic

Absolutely this. God I hope America and Russia one day have American Football teams playing against each other in a competitive final. I'll die a happy man.

You're welcome Troll, my combined reverse jinx with Mike saved your ass.

That team

Why are the two folk in the foreground identically posed

Until you made this post on the forum. Don't you know how the Betting Gods work?

He'd not have got to it but that's a pelanty from first look.

Going to go for 2-0 England on the bet365 offer.

Ridiculous not to score from there

Bullshit camera angle for kick-off. [/old man]