England Friendlies

[sandman]

It's all Spain but knowing England they'll nick it 1-0 and won't shut up about it for the next decade.

[Simon's Church]

It'd be good if England were allowed to bring on Spain's subs at half time to make a game of it.

[cmonurz]

It's all Spain but knowing England they'll nick it 1-0 and won't shut up about it for the next decade.

Very good. I mean it's bad enough Spain are light years ahead of us in terms of ability, but if we do somehow manage to beat them, there will be the usuals ready to denounce it as meaningless, lucky, pointless, typical England or whatever.

[sandman]

Has there ever been an International friendly that hasn't been meaningless or pointless?

[cmonurz]

Probably, at some point, but nevertheless, an England win over a near full strength Spain side would be a significant boost to us ahead of Euro 2012.

That said...

OptaJoe on Twitter: "Spain have touched the ball 348 times in the opposition half, while England have managed to do this only 75 times."

They are pretty good, aren't they? 348 times, that's once every 8 seconds if you assumed the ball was live for the whole half.

[cmonurz]

I love Fwank and his wobbly belly.

[Tails]

Greens out*

[Simon's Church]

Yeeeeeesssss we're gonna win the Euros 11!

[boycey]

We look v good at the back tbf.

Add Rooney and wilshire into the attacking mix and we start to look like a reet treat.

[No Fixed Abode]

Lamps.

[Tails]

Ramos should have seen red.

[boycey]

Spain rattloled.

[rhroyal]

Defend well, work hard, take chances, ride luck. How to beat Spain.

[Tails]

I think A Cole has been pretty poor. Other than that, the centre halves have done very well, as have the centre midfield who have helped protect them.

[Royal Rother]

It's all Spain but knowing England they'll nick it 1-0 and won't shut up about it for the next decade.

Very good. I mean it's bad enough Spain are light years ahead of us in terms of ability, but if we do somehow manage to beat them, there will be the usuals ready to denounce it as meaningless, lucky, pointless, typical England or whatever.

And it'll also fuel the usual fires of stupid optimism ahead of the tournament. I don't think I could stomach all that tabloid rubbish again when anyone with a brain knows we haven't got a hope in hell of winning the Euros or WC (or anything much) playing that style of football.

Still, fair play, at least some of the youngsters look like they have an appetite for the challenge and the defenders are reading the game rather well.

I'd have preferred to watch 0-5.

[Ian Royal]

And this Ladies and Gentlemen shows you what a team of workmen like plodders can do against the best in the World if they play as a Team.

Must bear this in mind for the squad to take to the Euros.

Good result as this is (at time of writing), I suspect it would be a different scoreline in a competitive match. Spain's competitive record is superb, their friendly one rather less so.

[cmonurz]

It's all Spain but knowing England they'll nick it 1-0 and won't shut up about it for the next decade.

Very good. I mean it's bad enough Spain are light years ahead of us in terms of ability, but if we do somehow manage to beat them, there will be the usuals ready to denounce it as meaningless, lucky, pointless, typical England or whatever.

And it'll also fuel the usual fires of stupid optimism ahead of the tournament. I don't think I could stomach all that tabloid rubbish again when anyone with a brain knows we haven't got a hope in hell of winning the Euros or WC (or anything much) playing that style of football.

1:50

Approximate ratio of a) posts I have seen on here/twitter/various other places suggesting we are now a very good team who can beat all-comers, to b) posts saying 'well now everyone is going to say we can win the Euros'.

[Ian Royal]

Give it time cmonurz.... It'll build to a peak in Spring. We haven't even finished the game yet.

[winchester_royal]

Welbeck's been a pile of vvank since he came on.

[boycey]

Who is sugar coating this and saying we are now world beaters?
Is a firkin good result. As an Englishman . Enjoy it!