It does seem to be the case doesn't it.

i think the fact you had 3 points and a goal up sort of took the match the way it did, no huge pressure on Wales especially 1-0 up , i think they took the option to stick instead of twist and allowed far too much pressure,, i still think there could have been a sting i the tail if Wales had even thought about countering us as we were wide open when we went forward

Well we didn't lump the ball into the box. We played it up to the opposing box, then often instead of getting it in the box, we fiddled around with it.

We need faster ball if anything.

You could probably put the games where we were outstanding in a tournament on one hand ,, you can't let a win blind you to how the team plays , we all want to win games, but you have to do it consistently to win leagues and win tournaments,, we have never been able to do that

Agreed although we dont seem to have many players who are good at putting the ball in the 12 yrd box

Yes it was always a worry I had going into this game we may play for a draw, in my opinion a more attacking Wales performance would have caused England huge problems.
But after we scored that free kick, in the second half we allowed huge pressure on us and gave England the momentum, your point about the space behind England was spot on, I was screaming at the screen when their full backs bombed on to counter them but it was all too slow one paced and England just got back into defensive shape.
Hugely frustrating performance for me, Coleman got it wrong.

Didn't think we played particularly well to be fair but did enough and deserved the win. Can't remember Wales creating a decent chance bar the goal, although maybe I missed one in the 1st half when BBC Sport was constantly buffering!! :/

The fact is, England have proved for 20 years that we are not capable of playing good football... All I ask is to play with pace and positive intent... That's what we've done so far. I don't want to go out with a whimper as we have done every tournament since and including 2002

Where is the US English? Tell me so I can remind myself never to do it again.

to sum it up for me,, i wouldnt care if we played shite all tournament and won the whole thing ,, but it doesnt happen like that , if we play like we did today , we will get found out , that is my worry, that is why i look at the bigger picture instead of living game to game.

I used to do that, not give a damn how we won just enjoyed the atmosphere in the pub, and then be brokenhearted when we got found out against tactically better teams, i have to look at games more pragmatically now just for my own Sanity

Putting people into play and defence line conjure up images of the NHL in particular.

IT is extremely hard to play well vs a team who are literally parking the bus, the fact Sturridge broke through that huge wall of defenders requires tremendous applause. I do concede many players were sloppy and did not appear focussed but we should embrace the win and we have now learnt that sterling is officially about as useful as a 1 legged cat trying to bury a turd on a frozen lake. Hopefully woy will take heed and make the adjustments to the starting 11 for the next game. We can build on this.

Does anyone think England were any worse than France last night? I think Albania had far better chances against them and they were lucky not concede.

Ah yes, yesterday France proved what a great team they are by continuing to play till the final whistle, demonstrating their determination, fitness and superiority by scoring late for the vital win.

England do it today and it a demonstration of nothing but luck and only serves to confirm the fact that they are crap.

People bemoaned Hodgson's subs on Saturday and cried out for better changes. Today he brings on two strikers who both score and it only serves to illustrate that he picked a crap starting line up.

Wayne Rooney is rubbish, should have been dropped prior to the tournament and isn't fit to wear the shirt and certainly not from the middle of the park. Hudson keeps him and he's been among the best players on the park in both games. Any credit offered to either him on Hodgson on here? Nah.

Half the people here dont deserve a team thats in this tournament.

AMEN Cheese

I don't suddenly fancy us as champs or anything, but it's a bit galling to see people trying to explain an England win as anything to avoid giving them the slightest credit. It's as if people get more out of the failures and are willing them to come.

Rubbish,, people have different opinions ,, thats how football is, but every England fan wants England to win games,,, its just many people have been here before and let down by England at many crucial times, i'm not surprised many people have a negativity about how the team play , we have been let down so many times before.

Exactly... To the above post (I meant celesti one) ... Only change I would have had in the starting xi from game one would have been to start Vardy

Good post.

care to back that up with stats?

True, but even if you boil down to chances England were worth the win for me.

With their possession Wales had their goal, one header comfortably wide in injury time, a shot from outside the box by Williams that hit the camera tripod and I'm struggling to remember much else.

England had their 2 goals, a good chance for Sterling, Rooney with a half decent effort that Hennessey pushed round the post, a headed chance on target from Cahill and another that went just wide from Smalling plus a few shots similar to Williams' one.

One should focus not on the past, but on the present and future, this is the key to glory snd success young padawan.

Hoping he will pick the Vardy/Sturridge front line from the kick off next time.

1000000% Kane is quality but the movement around him was poor. I think Vardy and sturridge play better together they were both involved in the set up and scoring of BOTH goals hodgson would really be a donkey to leave them on the bench again.

I think Kane may get another start as he's got a bit of credit in the bank, but Sterling must have played himself onto the bench. Wales ought to be in the next round ok, I'd be surprised to see them lose to Russia.