International sheeeeeet Oct 11th/15th

[Theoperator]

Didnt end up so bad, felt a bit embarrassed for Wally in the commentry box though, cant someone media train him out of starting each thing he says with

yes.........no.........

So its Poland to get through again, hope their goalies not "a clown!"

[SteveO 35]

Another average England team will beat the world beaters that are Montenegro...just and then all the crap about them being good enough top win the WC in Rio.

Hopefully with their low ranking they'll get a couple of top teams in the group and go out at the group stage or 1st knockout round and then we can all actually enjoy watching decent teams and no over rated,over hyped players.

Nah, I think most people - even the press - are being quite realistic about this England squad and I certainly haven't heard many people talk us up at world cup winners.

Exactly ! I always laugh at this Scottish / Welsh / Irish theory that all of us arrogant Englishmen go round predicting success at every major tournament. Couldn't be further from the truth. Most of my mates gave up on the national team ages ago and apart from some of the "50 somethings" who follow the Shammers and the Chavs nobody really gives a shite. I can't remember expecting us to win a tournament ever. In 2006 I thought we might make it through to the semi finals but in my lifetime there have always been at least 3 or 4 teams streets ahead of us

Still, it's good for winding up the Jocks. We just need Jimmy Hill to come out with a World Cup winning prediction so they can get all bent out of shape for another 47 years

[Bradywasking]

Irish interim manager Noel king lashes the RTE panel calling them a comedy show.... The same Noel king who while working for the the dreary TV3 on a Champions league game which Arsenal lost said " there will be some slagging with the United fans in the pub tonight"...
Ireland were outclassed by a German team not at their best...Ireland created a few chances around half time band one late one for Stokes, but it took several world class saves by Forde to keep the German score down. Yes Ireland played with their usual spirit but without any great creativity , but they are miles behind the bigger teams in Europe.
King tried to play the moral victory card after the game, but as John Giles said it was the farmer describing his geese as swans, which is something akin to Wenger's "everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife "

[SteveO 35]

I have the same expectations watching Arsenal play in the CL as I do when I watch England

I fully expect us to qualify. When we get there I expect us to get through the group especially as both are normally generously seeded.......then as soon we play Madrid / Barca / United / Bayern / Milan / Chavs or in England's case Spain / Germany / Italy / Holland / Argentina / Brazil, I expect us to get a good pasting.

Both teams then have a massive inquest and make headlines for months on end before sleepwalking into the same disaster next time round

[Steve_I]

I have the same expectations watching Arsenal play in the CL as I do when I watch England

I fully expect us to qualify. When we get there I expect us to get through the group especially as both are normally generously seeded.......then as soon we play Madrid / Barca / United / Bayern / Milan / Chavs or in England's case Spain / Germany / Italy / Holland / Argentina / Brazil, I expect us to get a good pasting.

Both teams then have a massive inquest and make headlines for months on end before sleepwalking into the same disaster next time round

Ah, but this time (I think) we [the England 'we' that is] might not be seeded should we get there. we're 17th in the world on fifa list which is much more realistic than the usual 6th or somesuch nonsense. This could mean we don't even get out of the group in Brazil (should we get there)

[beck]

serge gnabry has just assisted werder bremans davie selke twice as germany under 19,s beat latvia 5-0 in a european championship qualifier in belarus
gnabry played an hour before being replaced

[GranadaJoe]

How is Fat Frank still in the national team? He was slow, barely made a tackle and regularly gave the ball away. Even Carrick was a distinct improvement.

Townsend showed Theo that if you've got pace you should use it. Run at your defender. Dribble past him. I wouldn't put Theo back in the team on current form.

[LDB]

How is Fat Frank still in the national team? He was slow, barely made a tackle and regularly gave the ball away. Even Carrick was a distinct improvement.

Townsend showed Theo that if you've got pace you should use it. Run at your defender. Dribble past him. I wouldn't put Theo back in the team on current form.

Even in his prime lumpolard was a liability for England.

The problem with Townsend is he tends to shoot from distance too much, it's about knowing when to do it. That and he's a fucking window licker

[SteveO 35]

I have the same expectations watching Arsenal play in the CL as I do when I watch England

I fully expect us to qualify. When we get there I expect us to get through the group especially as both are normally generously seeded.......then as soon we play Madrid / Barca / United / Bayern / Milan / Chavs or in England's case Spain / Germany / Italy / Holland / Argentina / Brazil, I expect us to get a good pasting.

Both teams then have a massive inquest and make headlines for months on end before sleepwalking into the same disaster next time round

Ah, but this time (I think) we [the England 'we' that is] might not be seeded should we get there. we're 17th in the world on fifa list which is much more realistic than the usual 6th or somesuch nonsense. This could mean we don't even get out of the group in Brazil (should we get there)

Probably the case and rightly so because at the last world cup we were an absolute joke, scraping through a pathetic group scoring 2 goals before being stuffed by the Germans. Our tournament record against anyone of note has been shit for ages and our ranking falsely inflated by meaningless friendly wins over Spain and Brazil. We might be lucky enough to scrape through a group in 2nd place if we're not seeded but that will be the end of the line

Its pretty much the same Last 16 / maximum QF expectation that I have for both England and Arsenal

[beck]

isaack hayden just assisted a bennett goal for england under 19,s in a euro qualifier v andorra in slovenia
england have won 7-0

[Midz]

I have the same expectations watching Arsenal play in the CL as I do when I watch England

I fully expect us to qualify. When we get there I expect us to get through the group especially as both are normally generously seeded.......then as soon we play Madrid / Barca / United / Bayern / Milan / Chavs or in England's case Spain / Germany / Italy / Holland / Argentina / Brazil, I expect us to get a good pasting.

Both teams then have a massive inquest and make headlines for months on end before sleepwalking into the same disaster next time round

This is spot on.

[1989]

Just seen Giroud's goal for France....take a bow son!

[TurnipMasher]

Just seen Giroud's goal for France....take a bow son!

Nicely done, but it was against Australia and we make the England team look like Brazil!

[1989]

Just seen Giroud's goal for France....take a bow son!

Nicely done, but it was against Australia and we make the England team look like Brazil!

Yes but you can't dismiss the sheer quality of his goal...shades of Dennis at his lobbing best.

[TurnipMasher]

Just seen Giroud's goal for France....take a bow son!

Nicely done, but it was against Australia and we make the England team look like Brazil!

Yes but you can't dismiss the sheer quality of his goal...shades of Dennis at his lobbing best.

Oh yeah I know, great goal!