England squad...

[winchester_royal]

Would probably prefer him to Walcott though, especially as it probably gives Ox more freedom on the other side.

Agree with Cmonurz, Carroll in for Welbeck and that's my team for France.

[Victor Meldrew]

Rumoured team for this evening:

Hart
Johnson
Terry
Cahill
Cole
Milner
Parker
Gerrard
Ox
Young
Welbeck

Would be more than happy to see us line up like this against France

Big chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain with Belgium likely to start with no recognised full-backs.
If Kompany and Vermaelen both play this would be a good test for Welbeck who IMHO has been hyped way above what he has achievedbut he is still young so there hopefully is much more to come.
Not sure why Milner is playing unless he ends up centrally with Parker and Stevie G and Young roaming behind the solitary front man.
This is a good fixture ahead of a competition unless it turns out to be an over-friendly friendly with loads of subs and no tackling.

The last games suggests Milner will not be playing in central midfield, but will be a wide man in a 4-4-2.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain is very much a right-sided player so why put him on the left for his first full international?

[winchester_royal]

He's played on the left pretty much throughout the season for Arsenal....

[Victor Meldrew]

He's played on the left pretty much throughout the season for Arsenal....

Not in the mood to argue other than to say that he is predominantly a right-sided player,was all through his short Southampton career and IMHO should play on the right today.
You can get away with being wrong-sided in club football but it is very much harder at international level where I can only think of the wonderfully balanced Iniesta as a mainly right-footed player often positioned out on the left.
There does seem to be a dearth of left-sided midfielders/wingers although the two Swansea men look comfortable going inside or out and in fact I would have had Dyer in the 23 ahead of Walcott.
Good luck to the youngster tonight.

[winchester_royal]

I disagree. I think he's better on the left as it allows him to cut in and influence play much more.

Anyway, I think we can all agree that he's a massively exciting talent (more so than Rooney at the same age IMO) and wish him luck tonight.

[Simon's Church]

He's played on the left pretty much throughout the season for Arsenal....

This, and there are plenty of player who play on the 'wrong' wing in international football.

I still think we'd do better with Milner and Parker central in a 4-2-3-1 though.

[Victor Meldrew]

I disagree. I think he's better on the left as it allows him to cut in and influence play much more.

Anyway, I think we can all agree that he's a massively exciting talent (more so than Rooney at the same age IMO) and wish him luck tonight.

But hasn't that been the problem with England for years-right-sided players having to cut back in and in doing so clogging up the midfield?
I prefer wingers going on the outside and getting crosses in away from the keeper.
Let's not expect too much of him tonight (remember the fuss over Walcott in that one good game he has had for England) and I would be happy if he had a steady game against what might turn out to be a decent Belgium team.

[Ian Royal]

The last games suggests Milner will not be playing in central midfield, but will be a wide man in a 4-4-2.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain is very much a right-sided player so why put him on the left for his first full international?

Milner is perfectly capable of playing left or right and has done both for England iirc.

I still think we'd do better with Milner and Parker central in a 4-2-3-1 though.

This I completely agree with.

[superreadingfan]

on this performance england going to struggle

[RobRoyal]

on every performance in the last 2 years england going to struggle

[TBM]

on this performance england going to struggle

Why? - we never looked like conceding, if we don't in the groups then we'll be ok

[Tails]

Its taken us around 25 years but we have finally realised how good we are as a footballing nation.

Now to play to our strengths.

[winchester_royal]

Looked very solid, with the occasional bit of quality. Obviously need to show much more of it to progress in the tournament..but encouraging signs.

AOC again looked like the best player going forward, but will probably be more effective coming off the bench. Welbeck took his goal well, but didn't really offer enough of a target in the build up. Carroll would be my preferred option. Walcott looked lively, I would start with him against France with Ox coming on with 30 to go.

Cole MOTM by a distance.

[Stranded]

on this performance england going to struggle

Why? - we never looked like conceding, if we don't in the groups then we'll be ok

This. Don't expect England to pull up any trees but until all the subs, we looked very disciplined and unlikely to concede. The problem could be when we need to chase a game but the gameplan seems to be stay tight and try to nick one.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

on this performance england going to struggle

Why? - we never looked like conceding, if we don't in the groups then we'll be ok

This. Don't expect England to pull up any trees but until all the subs, we looked very disciplined and unlikely to concede. The problem could be when we need to chase a game but the gameplan seems to be stay tight and try to nick one.

The Reading way..

[Victor Meldrew]

The last games suggests Milner will not be playing in central midfield, but will be a wide man in a 4-4-2.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain is very much a right-sided player so why put him on the left for his first full international?

Milner is perfectly capable of playing extremely moderately left or right and has done both for England iirc.

I still think we'd do nothing at all with Milner and Parker central in a 4-2-3-1 though.

This I completely agree with.

"

[TBM]

Terry having scan on hamstring

Too late to call up Rio?

[Uke]

Terry having scan on hamstring

Too late to call up Rio?

Gerrard said how much Cahill will be missed in his interview on the Beeb...

[Mr Angry]

Cahill having a scan on his jaw as it could be broken. FA to make announcement today.

If Terry is also out, then basically any English qualified centre half is in the frame for a sudden call and a mad dash to Poland.

What a shambLOLes!

[Stranded]

If the FA feel it necessary to announce an announcement then he's out, they are probably just waiting to see if Terry is out too so that they can call up Rio and one other. James Perch maybe?