Euro 2012 - Knockout Stages

[6ft Kerplunk]

"Powers one into Ashley Cole's backside", best bit of commentary so far.

[superreadingfan]

is gerrard injured?

[Bumblebee]

If you're enjoying this match as a spectacle then I'll dig out the Gary Kasparov's 101 Greatest Chess Moments for you.

[Ian Royal]

Rooney the weak link again.

Far far from being a bore fest though. Jeez, which fool said that?

The one who thinks Reading are awful for trying to sign Pog.


Rooney's not up to his normal standard still. But he's doing a good job defensively (with Welbeck) on Pirlo and is linking in with midfield well. Even if he's not finishing off moves as well as he should. It would be a stupid decision to start with Carroll in this game just so you can use him as a battering ram.

Johnson is confusing me, goes from sublime one minute to a liability the next. And I've not been particularly impressed with Terry so far this tournament... looks quality a fair amount and then drops the ball a bit at worrying times.

Looking forward to seeing Walcott and Ox coming on in the latter stages to really stretch them with pace and skill. Maybe Carroll coming on for Welbeck to go for that late stage battering ram as well.

I think Young has actually been very underwhelming this tournament. Milner doing well today.

[Ian Royal]

My word, we're riding our luck at times.

[Bumblebee]

Well, I'm hoping they break out the battering ram towards the end of the 2nd half, the italians would be panicked, their defenders seem awful at heading the ball!

Would work with CarroLOLLOL on the pitch, but not with Rooney.

[Ian Royal]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK

[superreadingfan]

Italy looking very strong, could see them beating Germany

[sandman]

FFS come on Italy. Get Di Natale on.

[NTRoyal]

Milner has been quite good today, but he really can not shoot

He has? Him and Young have both been very poor.

[Tails]

Cole's positioning has been [as always] quite excellent.

[NTRoyal]

Theo and Carroll coming on. Young and Rooney?

[AthleticoSpizz]

feeling the love for John Terry right now during the Italian deluge

[NTRoyal]

He's in a Quater Final of a major tournament, scuffing shots and crosses, with time and space is not good enough. Neither is just being a good worker.

Young has been poo aswell though.

[AthleticoSpizz]

agreee Ideal

[Ian Royal]

Milner unlucky to come off when the ineffective Young stays on. Young's good off a striker, but I'm not so sure on the wing. Hope to see Ox for him with a good few minutes to have an impact.


Milner's put in more good crosses than he's scuffed. And a good worker is EXACTLY what you need to start in a game like this. No good putting in a few more good crosses if the Italians are rampaging all over the place in total control.

[Tails]

Laughable decision there in the box.....

[Ian Royal]

Just get the impression that if England can create the sort of chance Italy have been missing, it'll get put away.


Should we lose, this has been a very impressive and controlled England performance and a lot of positives and credit can be taken from it for the future of Hodgson's tenure.

[superreadingfan]

expect to see Nigel Quashie playing for England at this rate

[Bumblebee]

Is there any point in taking corners these days? Every time the ref signals a corner, just let the 'keeper take a free kick to save some time.


Gerrard cramping up as I type. #alarmbells