Cronky

We do produce players of skill, but what I often feel separates us from the better international sides is that the skill isn't spread throughout the side. With sides like Spain, even the defenders and the defensive midfielder are reasonably comfortable on the ball. They don't mess up an attacking move if the ball happens to land at their feet or if there's a chance to get forward. As an example of what I mean, in the last few England games, we've had Wes Brown and Ashley Cole at full back, neither of whom are technically gifted on the ball. It's all very well having the likes of Bentley or Joe Cole ahead of them, but they also have to rely on support from other players to sustain a move, and too often they get let down. It's difficult for a team to sustain a rhythm is not everyone can pull their weight when we're in possession.

He'd be useful as an impact sub, but I'd really like us to bring in someone better to lead the line. He has the reputation of being a bad trainer, and I don't think he's looked after himself over the years. He's now very slow and the better centre backs can block him out of the game altogether.

All tournament, the Germans have looked burdened by the label of favourites, and that was never more apparent than tonight. They were very hesitant and didn't seem to know whether to close the opposition down or stand off them. The Turks were running rings round them. I'd agree with Sir Al that they can play a whole lot better. Maybe in the final the pressure will be off, and they'll shed their inhibitions. I'd also agree with Wullie that we could do worse than look at signing one or two German players. Starting with Frings.

Newcastle to make move for Swiss star Eren Derdiyok By Mirror.co.uk 25/06/2008 Kevin Keegan wants Switzerland's Euro 2008 hot-shot Eren Derdiyok. The 20-year-old was also watched by Arsenal during the tournament but caught Newcastle's eye. Basle striker Derdiyok is rated in the £6m bracket by his club, but is eager to move to the Premier League - and Keegan likes the fact that he is a big, strong target man. (Shoot ye not the messenger)

What will be, will be on this one. Every major football club in Europe is fully aware of Arshavin and will have made a decision on whether they want him and how much they are prepared to bid. We're not going to be able to steal a march on anyone by acting quickly. I can't believe that there isn't at least one Champions League club interested and able to fork out the right money. We need to look elsewhere. And incidentally, I'd be astonished if Abramovich wasn't extremely keen to bring Arshavin to Chelsea and prepared to outbid anyone to make it happen.

Just done a little scouting on Youtube. He seems very quick for a bloke that height.

It seems your identikit Ince profile is about 10 years out of date. We'll see, I guess. I wasn't impressed by the fact that he actually started his coaching qualifications but hasn't shown any persistence in completing them. I'm not talking about the full licence here, just the lower one. This is the guy who, at Man U, tried to insist that his team-mates called him 'the guv'nor'. People do change, but I reckon Ince will have had a bigger challenge than most, put it that way.

There are better tests of skill than a single blast at goal. In the 70's, the Americans used a shoot-out, where a player was given the ball 35 yards from goal, and had about 12 seconds to beat the keeper by whatever means they could. FIFA stopped them purely in order to keep the laws of the game uniform throughout the world. That's worth looking at again. There's a strong element of luck with penalties, because if the keeper guesses the right way, it becomes much more difficult to score. Added to that, refs don't enforce the rule about keepers staying on their line until the ball is kicked. It becomes a matter of how much the keeper can get away with, and for some reason no ref seems to have the nerve to order a kick to be re-taken any more.

Germany have always had the potential to be the most complete side of the tournament. Now that their manager seems to have stopped jerking them around, I think they'll hit their best form and go on to win.

I'm quite surprised. Getting MK Dons promoted from the bottom division isn't the most startling achievement, and I don't know what it is that would have pushed him to the top of the list. The guy has always struck me as a rather mouthy, arrogant character. He might be able to push around players from the lower division, but it'll be a different story at Blackburn.

Considering his size, shouldn't Toni be winning virtually everything in the air? He seems to struggle more than you'd expect.

Flair? They're only showing it in flashes, but there's no shortage of individual ability there. As Brian Clough said, it only takes a second to score a goal, and they're well capable of producing a moment of brilliance to win the game.

The Italians are showing their traditional mixture of flair and caution. As in the past, it can be a very effective combination and you can see them nicking it.

Already you can say that this is a game which badly needs a goal.

I can't see Russia as likely overall winners. Spain, Italy or Germany would be able to exploit their weak defending. (Cue for everyone to put their money on Russia) The big question for me from last night was why were Holland so bad. Mentally, they didn't look up for it at all and their manager looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. It's not going to be aired much, but you have to wonder about the decision to play Boulharouz so soon after the death of his child. A tragedy like that can affect the whole team, not just the player. For long periods, Holland looked like their minds weren't fully on it.

Fuck me them shorts are rather on the longish side.Tino could've played in those without having to strap the old man down! Sorry, but he still looks like he'd rather be wearing a Liverpool shirt.

Lennon's facing the same challenge as a lot of young players. He has an initial impact, defenders then suss him out a bit and learn how to play him, he then has to work on the weaker parts of the game in order to still be effective. That last bit doesn't seem to be happening with Lennon. Not yet anyway. I don't want us to slip back to an orthodox 4-4-2, which is what I think a move for Lennon would mean. It may be the familiar ground where Keegan feels confident, but other teams are playing with a bit more imagination.

I agree. They completely ran out of ideas.

After the first half, Holland were like England on a bad day. No pace, no creativity, no confidence. Perhaps no leadership either.

Sneider has pulled them back into it. He was the only one among them who seemed to still believe. Okay, no more predictions for tonight.

Just to give Russia the kiss of death, Holland look like a beaten side.

The Dutch defence looks a bit dodgy to me, but I don't think Russia will be able to get at them. Should be a good game. Eh? So far in the tournament the Russians have looked very creative going forward... just had several Emile Heskey's upfront. But they can't defend very well either.. Arshavin is some player. Well I was thinking that the Dutch midfield was very strong and good at protecting their back four. Having said that, it's turned out that the Russians have been able to get through a few times. Can't help but feel though that the Russians, for all their skill, are a bit powder puff and if the Dutch raise their game they should do it.

The Dutch defence looks a bit dodgy to me, but I don't think Russia will be able to get at them. Should be a good game.

This may just be the reason the bigger clubs don't seem to be pushing the boat out for him as you'd expect.

Schweingstager ought to have started. The manager is making some strange decisions.