Hmm, I think I've got an idea what your version of fair and balanced journalism would be with regards to England. I think this discussion has run its course

It's been an absolute pleasure my friend. I hope tonight, when/if Italy and Costa Rica play out a mutually beneficial bore draw, and therefore nudge the final nail into Englands coffin at a glacial pace whilst thousands of outraged England fans watch on, that you retain some of your famous 'impartiality' and sense of sportsmanship. Just remember where the blame lies at the end of it all.

Why is a draw mutually beneficial? Italy could then go out if they lose to Uruguay and Costa Rica beat England.

What disappoints me about English players is summed up in Jack Rodwell, here is a player who had a career ahead of him at Everton, and could possibly have become a good holding midfielder for England, and yet he would rather take a contract at Man City and not even make the bench, yes he is earning more money, but his footballing career has stalled to a halt, if a lot of English players were more interested in their career and getting better as footballers, they would get first team football abroad or at lower teams, instead of sitting in the stands not playing and earning more money. this is where the money at the top clubs has ruined English football imo.

Yeah, THAT'S the part to focus on! Anyway, who's gonna lose to Uruguay, nobody's THAT bad.......erm...oh wait.....

We need more arrogant players. I think it's time for English players to change their mindset. Even if they're not 'world class' the players need to adopt a new approach. Just be arrogant. It may not make the players better, but it's better than the usual claptrap the managers come out with to inspire the players. Screw the manager and his wimpy post match talks, just show some arrogance and bravado!!! Who cares about the other great foreign players and teams, we're England, we can beat those foreigners! The British Empire was founded on arrogance.

That's part of the issue. So many players from all over the world come to England because the money is big but the English players aren't bothered to move out of their comfort zone to develop their games. Teams are also reluctant to buy English players because they absurdly seem to cost far more money than their continental equivalents and even superiors.

Absolutely agree with you. But you'll then get an argument saying that the Premier League is the most cosmopolitan in the world, which is akin to saying, "Why bother learning another language, because English is the most widespread language in the world." The argument against that is that it widens your scope and makes you more flexible.

If the young English players can't play at a decent level here because foreign players are preferred over them, then if they want to play top class football and benefit themselves and the sport, go abroad and ply your trade there, instead of whingeing about foreign players. It's a convenient defeatist and insular attitude. It also has to be said that agents and the media share the blame for hyping up the prices of upcoming English players.

Why are you so obsessed about England? Scottish I am assuming.

It may seem a silly question to some but why were some of the footballers wearing different coloured football boots?

Odd that as I was thinking the same !..isn't it in the goalkeeping book to stand up rather than dive low as with Harts height he would have surely got to that shot !

No reason other than somebody was at Nike, Puma etc was bored so thought it would be a good idea to make it easier for players to know which was their left and right by colouring them differently.

Wouldn't that be confusing for the other footballers, seeing as they are looking at the ball and seeing the colourful football boots.

To make sure they put them on the correct feet as L and R on them was too confusing