England Friendlies

[Ian Royal]

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

Worth celebrating it just for being the first time we've ever beaten the top ranked team, apparently.

[cmonurz]

BBC says first time since 1980 that we have beaten the World Champions.

[rhroyal]

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.

I'm glad we won and disagree strongly with what you're saying.

At last a hard, working team performance from an England team. And look at the reward, even if the result could have been different and Spain could have been a little better. No surprise to me that it's coincided with a big absence from our "golden generation". Seems to be a more humble, team orientated younger generation.

I'll still be very surprised if we win anything soon, but I'm hopeful we can put on a good showing in 2012. The sort of tournament where you feel like the team couldn't have done much better.

[sandman]

Thank you very much Fabregas. Now I have to live in the most deluded country in the World with them all claiming they're the World Champions (That Brummie d1ckhead Chiles has already started). Cheers.

[cmonurz]

Thank you very much Fabregas. Now I have to live in the most deluded country in the World with them all claiming they're the World Champions (That Brummie d1ckhead Chiles has already started). Cheers.

You do struggle with positivity don't you.

[sandman]

I don't support England so why would I be positive about them winning?

[Bandini]

Hard to see who can stop us in the Euros now.

Not sure how Spain can recover from this.

[cmonurz]

I don't support England so why would I be positive about them winning?

Your positivity/that of those around you/that of the country you live in. You brought your miserableness to the cricket thread too.

[cmonurz]

Hard to see who can stop us in the Euros now.

Not sure how Spain can recover from this.

Jones >>>>>>>>>> Iniesta, Xavi looks past it, and David Silva is over-rated. Jack Rodwell is the new Zidane.

[Royal Rother]

I'm glad we won and disagree strongly with what you're saying.

At last a hard, working team performance from an England team. And look at the reward, even if the result could have been different and Spain could have been a little better. No surprise to me that it's coincided with a big absence from our "golden generation". Seems to be a more humble, team orientated younger generation.

I'll still be very surprised if we win anything soon, but I'm hopeful we can put on a good showing in 2012. The sort of tournament where you feel like the team couldn't have done much better.

England teams ALWAYS work hard. We just play a predictable boring style of football that is miles away from being capable of winning tournaments. Odd matches yes, like tonight, but all it does is create unfounded optimism imo. But I've earned the right to be cynical having watched 40 years of almost unremitting crap from England.

And no, (not that you suggested it!) we would not have been better with Rooney - his inevitable petulance and aggression would have undermined the team ethic that did us well tonight.

[rhroyal]

I'm glad we won and disagree strongly with what you're saying.

At last a hard, working team performance from an England team. And look at the reward, even if the result could have been different and Spain could have been a little better. No surprise to me that it's coincided with a big absence from our "golden generation". Seems to be a more humble, team orientated younger generation.

I'll still be very surprised if we win anything soon, but I'm hopeful we can put on a good showing in 2012. The sort of tournament where you feel like the team couldn't have done much better.

England teams ALWAYS work hard. We just play a predictable boring style of football that is miles away from being capable of winning tournaments. Odd matches yes, like tonight, but all it does is create unfounded optimism imo. But I've earned the right to be cynical having watched 40 years of almost unremitting crap from England.

And no, (not that you suggested it!) we would not have been better with Rooney - his inevitable petulance and aggression would have undermined the team ethic that did us well tonight.

Perhaps hard working was the wrong term. "Humble and team orientated" was definitely the right term from me though; no petulance as you said. No great lack of understanding between Gerrard and Lampard. There was no stand out player in the line up pre-match. Our eventual MOTM, Parker, epitomised the attitude. Will be interesting to see how Capello acts when Gerrard, Terry and Ferdinand are available, and Rooney if we get past the group stage.

As you said, I don't believe for a moment they'd improve us.

[Bandini]

The key to England's victory was the lucky black armbands. Let's hope one of the Royal Family die on the eve of the Euros.

'greed

[sandman]

I don't support England so why would I be positive about them winning?

Your positivity/that of those around you/that of the country you live in. You brought your miserableness to the cricket thread too.

Did I? I think that the English cricket team are very good and great ambassadors for their country.Insufferable, Ingerland tw@ts revelling in a friendly win and claiming they're the de facto World Champions are the reason I don't support the football team. Perhaps if the fans and newspapers were more humble and realised their real standing in world football I'd have less of a loathing for them.

[Ian Royal]

TBF Rother, I doubt we'd play that way against many teams. I mean it was hardly typically England.

There is usually a lack of cohesion under pressure and against quality with England teams, whereby the second they have to work hard and can't dominate they fall to pieces. I'd like to see us working on our passing and movement, but that was a decent step in the right direction in terms of our chances of making a Final.

Parker really is turning himself into a lynch pin and epitomises what's good about English football. He's not the most technically gifted, but he's organised, dedicated and works within his limitations. And most importantly he's a team player.

[cmonurz]

I don't support England so why would I be positive about them winning?

Your positivity/that of those around you/that of the country you live in. You brought your miserableness to the cricket thread too.

Did I? I think that the English cricket team are very good and great ambassadors for their country.Insufferable, Ingerland tw@ts revelling in a friendly win and claiming they're the de facto World Champions are the reason I don't support the football team. Perhaps if the fans and newspapers were more humble and realised their real standing in world football I'd have less of a loathing for them.

Who are 'the fans', out of interest, and who determines what our real standing in world football is?

[sandman]

Look England worked hard and nicked the win so well done to them. It's the inevitable crowing and back-slapping that will go on in the next few days that is going to be unbearable.

[rhroyal]

Look England worked hard and nicked the win so well done to them. It's the inevitable crowing and back-slapping that will go on in the next few days that is going to be unbearable.

Why? Beat the world champions and you deserve respect.

Inevitable predictions that we'll win the Euros and the unbearable pressure for the Sweden friendly will be tedious though.

[Tails]

Thank you very much Fabregas. Now I have to live in the most deluded country in the World with them all claiming they're the World Champions (That Brummie d1ckhead Chiles has already started). Cheers.

I'm not sure you quite have the intellect to understand Chiles' tone.

[No Fixed Abode]

It's a shame Parker gives the ball away so much.

[sandman]

Like I said they worked hard, nicked it and well done but I just can't respect a team playing football like that especially one who were supposed to be at home.