He didn't lack effort at all, he was just poor. You can play badly even if you try really hard.

And for the record, gerrard was our best creative player the last two world cups and he has scored in two world cups too

We played well at times, but never really knocked Italy out of their stride. They looked pretty comfortable for most of the game.

I really don't understand Hodgson's substitutions tonight. Every one of them was totally ineffectual. Why on earth did he take Welbeck off? He was having a good game.

Sterling was good, but his final ball or cross was poor at times and he faded badly in the second half, as did most of the players. Rooney was shite apart from one decent cross. Roy needs to play him in his natural, position or not at all.

I think we can still get through the group, but it's obvious we can't live with the big boys.

Based on the performance I think 'clearly not good enough' is a bit harsh.

Agree mostly with all three, at least attacking-wise. Feel for the fans who went out there, but the payoff will probably be in Euro 2016 not now.


Roy has got to at least face the possibility of dropping Rooney or at least subbing him. I think Wayne had a thankless task out wide and he should be played as a striker or not at all. And he has no divine right to stay on the pitch if he's labouring.


Andrea Pirlo take a bow, son. Oldest guy on the pitch but had the fastest mind and surest touch.

Shearer is exteremly highly strung and just talking nonsense now. We did have other chances apart from the goal (the Rooney chance being one of them)

He's one of the highest paid footballers in the premier league he should of buried both of them goals & should NEVER of had such a shocking corner kick!

One positive thing from that game was the complete lack of a certain band of trumpet *******, didn't miss their endless renditions of The Great Escape at all

He is no use out of position, either play him where he should or don't bother.

I watched the game in a pub and I won't repeat the things one person was shouting about Rooney! I hope he does score at some point though! I thought Wellbeck was very good tonight. I think overall we played well and it's encouraging going forward

It's all very well choosing Baines for his ability to "burst forward", Roy, but perhaps it's best not to do it when you're playing a side with a right winger as good as Candreva at getting behind his man?

Not happy with the ultra-positive spin Roy's putting on this defeat in general, to be honest.

Dock his wages!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought we played alright, much better than recent tournament performances attacking-wise.

A note for Thursday - take the bloody chances.

But it is true becasue we lost fair and square. Know it sounds harsh but we hardly ever seem to beat the big teams when it matters in recent times.

You have to say things sometimes and that has always been my thought about him. He is about himself in my opinion, I will never change that thought

Yes. And I was proved right

did hodgson really just say he thought Henderson and gerrard did what he expected of them ?

So why were so many of the England players looking totally knackered and suffering cramp in those last 10 minutes? The Italians didn't seem to be anywhere near as tired. Are they just less fit? Not as used to the humidity? Not enough time in Miami and Brazil to acclimatise, compared to Italy..?

Even at that he wasn't covering.

That cross that Welbeck was unlucky not to score with came from Sterling because Rooney had gone out of position.

Top 5 passers from each team (40+ passes):

Italy

Pirlo - 108 passes (95% accuracy)
De Rossi - 105 passes (94% accuracy)
Verratti - 67 passes (97% accuracy)
Barzagli - 51 passes (98% accuracy)
Chiellini - 50 passes (94% accuracy)

England

Gerrard - 67 passes (93% accuracy)
Johnson - 60 passes (90% accuracy)
Henderson - 50 passes (88% accuracy)
Jagielka - 47 passes (98% accuracy)
Cahill - 44 passes (93% accuracy)

In total Italy played 642 passes and England played 510.

So you were saying in 2004 that he was no good? Bollocks.

Last win England had against a "big" team was Argentina in 2002.

Definitely. I only focus on England's games in major tournaments (I casually watch the friendlies and qualifying games) but I've never seen us attack that much.

Why is the Uruguay game dubbed as one we cannot lose or we go home?
Isn't the below a possibility?

Italy 9pts
England 3
Costa Rica 3
Uruguay 3

He probably didn't expect much defensively from them - they were part of the Liverpool side that leaked like a sieve after all.

And going forward we were fine (no thanks to them, admittedly) bar the killer instinct so...