World Cup Play-Offs (European)/International Friendlies Friday and Tuesday Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

European Play-Offs First Leg:

Iceland v Croatia (19:00)
Greece v Romania (19:45)
Portugal v Sweden (19:45)
Ukraine v France (19:45)

International Friendlies:

England v Chile (20:00)
Ireland v Latvia (19:45)
Scotland v USA (20:05)
Turkey v Northern Ireland (19:00)

Obviously the stand-out tie for the play-offs tonight is Portugal v Sweden, or Zlatan v Ronaldo if you prefer. That tie looks to be the most balanced of the four, with just one spot in the World Cup Finals up for grabs. Ukraine will remain hopeful of catching France off their guard, but France will start as strong favourites. Greece should seal their place over a potentially dangerous Romanian side. Lastly, Iceland will be aiming to spring one of the biggest surprises in World Football - by defeating Croatia. I imagine that, should Iceland get there, they will be the smallest nation to ever make the World Cup.

On the friendlies side, Ireland (under new management), Scotland, and Northern Ireland will start their building process to next autumn's Euro 2016 qualifiers.

For England, this is the first of five friendlies in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. Chile will provide a test, one that England should overcome, against an injury-hit and virus-hit home team. During qualification, Chile averaged the most possession amongst the South American teams - surpassing the likes of Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay - and an average of 3.4 goals per game were scored in matches involving Chile. High tempo, high pressure - that's the Chile way. England are suffering with the absences of Gerrard, Wilshere, Lambert and Walker. Nevertheless, I expect England to triumph 2-0.

Expected England team (the Times): Ruddy, Johnson, Jones, Smalling, Cole, Lampard (C), Cleverley, Milner, Lallana, Rodriguez, and Rooney.

[super_realist]

Architecturally I would, like a lot of UK cities. Just don't have much charm.

[mystiroakey]

I would say load s of our city's have charm, Birmingham however!!

[super_realist]

I think many of them used to, our short sited councils and planning offices tore a lot down and replaced with some truly repulsive 60's architecture.

[mystiroakey]

Infact out citys have loads more charm than your standard European dreary towns/citys..

I have driven all over northern Europe and seen so many towns, they are very samey,staid and suburban

[mystiroakey]

By the way I would still move to Europe in a shot- But the landscape , scenery and architecture in southern/south west England is on another level to the countries directly across the channel.

[Steffan]

Nice booing of the German anthem by the English fans

Come on Germany

[Stella]

England may not have the best footie team, but does have some mindblowing countryside, and coastline. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

[super_realist]

I don't see the justification for Anthems. By and large they are total dirges.

[super_realist]

England may not have the best footie team, but does have some mindblowing countryside, and coastline. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Not very imaginative Stella. Never say never.

[Stella]

England may not have the best footie team, but does have some mindblowing countryside, and coastline. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Not very imaginative Stella. Never say never.

Well, who knows what the future holds hey, but I'd like to think it sees me living on the south coast, enjoying retirement.

[super_realist]

South West is beautiful. Had a training course in Devon and Cornwall last year. Lovely. Full of scone munching, pigeon feeding old coffin dodgers though.

[Stella]

It is beautiful, but straw dogs comes to mind. I prefer dorset. Weymouth perhaps.

[Steffan]

Cornwall and Devon are nice. Seen lots of Dorset on the weekends when working in Somerset. The south west of England is very nice fair do. Just a shame it is in England

[mystiroakey]

Not a bad start i suppose, pretty decent game so far,

we look a different team with gerrard and townsend starting

[mystiroakey]

I deffo see myself moving further west as i get older

[mystiroakey]

Sturidge's touch is getting better and better..

[Stella]

Wales? Somerset?

[mystiroakey]

I doubt i will go that far west, but Dorset and wiltshire are possibilities

[Steffan]

Pembrokeshire still gives everywhere a run for its money with the country lanes and seaside towns (the words of English people I know not mine). I find seaside towns are lovely in the summer but a bit miserable through a lot of the winter. I still prefere city life although that may change as I get older

England are playing ok. Can still see Germany knicking the first goal though

[mystiroakey]

Yeah we are bossing position- but you just have that feeling that the first clinical move will come from Germany.

Good to see mertesacker back playing again..

[super_realist]

Cornwall and Devon are nice. Seen lots of Dorset on the weekends when working in Somerset. The south west of England is very nice fair do. Just a shame it is in England

Weymouth's a bit ropey actually.

[Stella]

Hey, I like weymouth. Lovely seaside resort anyway.

[mystiroakey]

I have to admit cleverly looks like he deserves to be earning a living as footballer for once.

[Stella]

Cleverley is a neat player isn't he. Are we playing well?

[mystiroakey]

yeah we are- just a friendly- but very nice football on show- just no final ball

[mystiroakey]

bulls..

[Steffan]

[Fernando]

Mertesacker 1-0

When im old im off to Llangrannog  

[mystiroakey]

Yeah we are bossing position- but you just have that feeling that the first clinical move will come from Germany.

Good to see mertesacker back playing again..

I really shouldn't have said the above.....

[super_realist]

     

[Stella]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

[Fernando]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

Don't worry Stella just gives the Welsh/Scots & Irish something to cheer since their sides are such failures  

[Steffan]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

Don't worry Stella just gives the Welsh/Scots & Irish something to cheer since their sides are such failures  

Yep. When it comes to international football cant beat a good old laugh at England

[super_realist]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

Don't worry Stella just gives the Welsh/Scots & Irish something to cheer since their sides are such failures  

Collectively as the British Isles we are pretty gash, just England are the least sh*t out of a sh*t bunch.

[Fernando]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

Don't worry Stella just gives the Welsh/Scots & Irish something to cheer since their sides are such failures  

Collectively as the British Isles we are pretty gash, just England are the least sh*t out of a sh*t bunch.

Yeah pretty much  

Sweden 0-1 Portugal - Ronaldo 0-2 on agg - Sweden need 3

[Guest]

townsend too predictable cutting in on left foot, yeah we looked okay in possession but didn't create anything special. Germany look like us vs Chile, patched up side, not playing great, but the difference they can still end up winning. Says it all.

France 2-0 up. Giroud out/Benzema in  . Nice to see Cabaye in the starting line up this time.

[Steffan]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

Don't worry Stella just gives the Welsh/Scots & Irish something to cheer since their sides are such failures  

Collectively as the British Isles we are pretty gash, just England are the least sh*t out of a sh*t bunch

Given the population size, lucrative football league and far better infrastructure than most other footballing countries...England are probably the biggest underachieving failure of the lot of us

[monty junior]

Nasri is a mug for France, bringing in Cabaye and Valbuena has made a big difference.

Spain have just lost to South Africa 1-0  They had pretty much all their top players playing at one point or another too.

[mystiroakey]

We are crying out for a beckham type.

Someone that can hit that quality final ball. And I just can't see where that player is at the moment.

[owen10ozzy]

Same old stuff from England really, summed up well by Dixon on ITV of all people. No idea how to really attack...all well and good having possession but need to know how to use it and England don't...lots of passes going backwards or out wide but no ability to play the intricate passes and get through the back 4.

Duty still think we can win it next year...even though were struggling to break down a half 2nd string German team?!

[mystiroakey]

Nasri is a mug for France, bringing in Cabaye and Valbuena has made a big difference.

Spain have just lost to South Africa 1-0  They had pretty much all their top players playing at one point or another too.

That's what they do in friendlies mate..

[Hammersmith harrier]

Are we losing? Only a friendly ;-)

Don't worry Stella just gives the Welsh/Scots & Irish something to cheer since their sides are such failures  

Collectively as the British Isles we are pretty gash, just England are the least sh*t out of a sh*t bunch

Given the population size, lucrative football league and far better infrastructure than most other footballing countries...England are probably the biggest underachieving failure of the lot of us

We're also less interested in the ovine population so another reason for use to be better.

[mystiroakey]

I hope the citeh manager is watching. Hart doing ok, hopefully he will get back  starting soon.

[owen10ozzy]

England are so slow getting forward and supporting! It's actually embarrassing to watch..if your going to play counter like that you need at least 1 mobile centre midfielder! Cleverly and Gerrard are not that!

[mystiroakey]

We are not playing counter Owen.. They are. What game are you watching mate?

This is not embarrassing at all. Yes we haven't quite got that final ball away, but the build up is ok

[Hammersmith harrier]

Move over Roy Hodgson, Ozzy knows better than you do.

[whocares]

townsend too predictable cutting in on left foot, yeah we looked okay in possession but didn't create anything special. Germany look like us vs Chile, patched up side, not playing great, but the difference they can still end up winning. Says it all.

France 2-0 up. Giroud out/Benzema in  . Nice to see Cabaye in the starting line up this time.

Cabaye rules tonight. To be fair 2nd goal was offside and Ribery just milked a red card so Ukraine are playing the whole second half with 10 men.

[mystiroakey]

Lallana has been non existent tonight though

[mystiroakey]

Great shot Townsend . Unlucky

[Stella]

Sweden 2-1 up.

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