Euro 2012

[SammiValentine]

Haha forgot how shit Voronin was/is......

hahaha i havent

[robertlouis]

hahaha i havent

Amazing the change when he cut off the ponytail.

How about a short back and sides for Carroll, then?

[Stavros]

caught most of it sat in airport, thought gerrard,lescott,johnson,milner played well. parker seemed to struggle, welbeck seemed a bit lost without rooney. I like that chamberlain hes gonna be boss.

I think Parker is unfit, he barely lasted the game; Milner had a chance to score and failed; Rooney I think would have scored at least one but France also went for a defensive strategy with no key strikers -cautious opening. I think England will draw with Ukraine and, with Rooney and Sweden needing to win opening up at the back, he ought to score a hat trick. France will beat Ukraine -this looks like a tight group. Spain, Germany and Croatia look to me three of the semi-finalists.

[SammiValentine]

I think Parker is unfit, he barely lasted the game; Milner had a chance to score and failed; Rooney I think would have scored at least one but France also went for a defensive strategy with no key strikers -cautious opening. I think England will draw with Ukraine and, with Rooney and Sweden needing to win opening up at the back, he ought to score a hat trick. France will beat Ukraine -this looks like a tight group. Spain, Germany and Croatia look to me three of the semi-finalists.

umm Benzema?!? Not a key striker!?

[jimbo1974]

I have a prediction

England will be shite

To be fair, we weren't shite. We did ok - defended very well although some players looked knackered.

I just wish we'd play with more freedom - pass the ball around more. All of the players in the front 6 play in teams that play nice free flowing football, so its not alien to them.

Thought Wellbeck did really well.

Not a bad start.

[robertlouis]

I think Parker is unfit, he barely lasted the game; Milner had a chance to score and failed; Rooney I think would have scored at least one but France also went for a defensive strategy with no key strikers -cautious opening. I think England will draw with Ukraine and, with Rooney and Sweden needing to win opening up at the back, he ought to score a hat trick. France will beat Ukraine -this looks like a tight group. Spain, Germany and Croatia look to me three of the semi-finalists.

One flaw in that, Stavros. England's next fixture is against Sweden, so no Rooney - and hence also my suggestion that Hodgson should play Carroll to show a robust physical threat against Sweden's big defenders.

By the time Rooney comes back into play, therefore, I reckon we (feck, a Scot just said "we" about England! ) will need a win against Ukraine to stand any chance of going through.

[beaufont]

I believe Rooney being suspended for these first 2 games will be a blessing in disguise for him - he will be like a caged animal released come the Ukraine game....he will be hungry & that can only be good for England

Also think we will certainly play a more expansive game in the next 2 games, don't think either will be easy but our group could end up being the tightest one with goal difference deciding which team go through in 2nd place

Cannot wait for the Holland v Germany game...that's gonna be tasty just a shame there are no mullets to grob into this time lol

[Stavros]

umm Benzema?!? Not a key striker!?

Zut, alors!...looks I missed that one -but not very effective as their striker I think you will agree.

[Stavros]

Some great moments last nightl, but it looks to me like the Russians are a flawed side -they can break quickly and pass well, but they were exhausted before the end; I think if somoene can score against them first they can be beaten; Poland had great passion but I can't see them being a threat, all of which promotes Spain and Germany as the top teams so far.

[robertlouis]

So far it's been a good tournament, with mostly open games despite the frequency of draws. No arid 0-0s at least, although there could be some tactical cynicism in the final round of group games as tends to be the case in most championships.

Some great players on show too.

Dark horse: Croatia, Italy

Favourites: Spain, Germany

Losing quarterfinalists on penalties: England, of course!