Euro 2012

[pdupre1961]

I missed 4.2...

[Euler]

Oh well here goes the lottery!! time for some composure.

No lottery when England are in a penalty shoot out.

[lilgreenback]

That's true will re-phrase, Normal service has been resumed; that was lame! always a shame to go out on pens, good luck to the Azzuri.

We only turned up for the 1st half why no one was picking Pirlo (him being the playmaker and directing traffic up) and harrassing him I don't know. He was cool chipping it down the middle, that's takin the rip!

Was Rooney injured or banned at the end of the season as the only time he got near the ball in time was to take his pen.

[cloud88111]

I know that this will be the time when people change from being behind England and thinking they can go all the way to criticising, so let me be the first.

England are a team with world superstars, Rooney can be, Gerrard, Cole, Terry, even Parker takes a ball to the face better than anyone in the world. Why we play such a defensive game with this calibre is beyond me. The few chances we had could have so easily been replicated and multiplied by sending a couple players forward.

Milner and Young were such a disappointment in every match, England noticeably missed Wilshire and even the like of Adam Johnson. I know we didn't deserve the match but the saddest thing of all is seeing England not being second best but playing as if they think they are second best.

Good luck to the teams still in and to Hodgson who will no doubt turn this England side into the world class team it should be.

[Iron]

If there is one constant in world football, it is this: England always underperform when it really matters...

Despite having had some of the most expensive players and managers in the world, our lads always play like they're wearing concrete boots when they're on the big stage.

Tonight's result doesn't really matter, in that we'd almost certainly have been thrashed by Germany (even though man for man, we are probably at least as good as them)...

Jeff

[giulio2010]

oh my god.......yess.......Fair play to England tough..Some of english fans have underestimated Italy all the way but the English players left the quarter final with a big applaude from all europe. You should be proud of it.trust me on that....

[Iron]

Some of english fans have underestimated Italy all the way

Not me - See my posts this morning! My days of thinking 'this time it will be different' are long over as far as England are concerned!

but the English players left the quarter final with a big applaude from all europe. You should be proud of it.trust me on that....

We played with passion in the first half, but the second half was a disgrace IMHO.

Jeff

[Euler]

It still endlessly confuses me why England just can't win a penalty shoot-out.

[pdupre1961]

Yes Adam Johnson, and Defoe...

When Defoe came on in the World Cup he scored...
England are too slow up front - we needed Walcott, Oxlade and Defoe from the start...
And Welbeck is rubbish - his goal was luck as was Rooney's.

When I first saw Rooney - I thought he was the real deal - now I realise he's not a patch on Gary Lineker as a goal scorer. Virtually the same number of games Lineker 48/80, Rooney 29/76. At 26 his England career is over - I hope. He's far too casual.

I really hope Italy win Euro 2012 as all the other three are damn cheats.

[smartypants59]

it must be said that in the first half they played well, england sadly missed the class they normally have, im not english but when the big names in english football show up im interested i was surprised that they didnt take their chances and put more pressure on the italians....
think italians will give the germans a run for their money... spanish are the team to beat as we all know what out for twinkle toes "ronaldo".... i cant wait

[superfrank]

Cack. overrun in midfield as usual. we must accept that others have moved on while the typical English player has stood still. Ashley Young did nothing in 4 games; Rooney overrated in an England shirt; Parker workhorse; Milner workhorse. we can defend as well as the others, but it ends there. feel sorry for Gerrard - the only player we have that would get in the Spain team.

[pdupre1961]

I don't think it's good comparing the English players to the Spanish team.

Look at it the other way around would any of the Spanish cheats prosper in the England set up. No, because in Portugal and Spain they think it's good to pretend to be shot by a sniper, and then get up as if it was just a comedy sketch.

That's why I don't rate Ronaldo, Iniesta, Xavi, Alonso. Watch if they lose the ball it's ALWAYS as if someone has cheated them...

People say they love watching Spain play. Me, I hate it. It's so corrupt, so much lies and deception.

[Dublin_Flyer]

On the bright side of England getting knocked out, Howard Webb must be a sure thing for the final now. Some of the games have been like watching Aussie Rules with the whistle blowing every time the ball moves more than 20 yards and there is a tackle. Except Aussie Rules players don't roll on the ground crying like someone kicked their kitten.

[CaerMyrddin]

I thought Peter's post on the blog was really interesting. If you think about it, would England be able to beat Italy on their own game? Doubtfully.

Having a soft spot for Italy (my grandfather was italian!), I think it's possible for me to watch the game without too much emotion, and imho, Italy deserved to win in the 90' and again in ET. Justice only came in the shootout, but well, that's football.

Looking to the remaining teams, all of them have solid solid tactic's systems, and imho that's what England is missing some time ago...

[giulio2010]

I hope you don't find this too offensive..If we lose against Germany will do the same to us. We need humor in life....