Jungle Jumbo
International Vice-Captain
Lifeless football. When it became clear that Israel were not going to come out and play, why did we stroll around at the back for most of the game? Why did Lennon not give a chance to run down the right? Why did we once again to resort to lumping balls into Rooney and Johnson on the edge of the area?
This is going to become more and more of a problem. For most of these teams, a qualifier against England is just about the biggest game they will ever play - everyone wants to beat England, so everyone raises their game to play us. They then play for the 0-0 or breakaway 1-0, as they should do. Israel defended very well today. But nowadays the lesser nations are much better organised and disciplined, so they are difficult to break down. Unless we are prepared to give the ball to the two genuine creative players on the pitch today - Rooney and Lennon - we will get nowhere.
The match against Andorra on Wednesday will do us no good, either.
This is going to become more and more of a problem. For most of these teams, a qualifier against England is just about the biggest game they will ever play - everyone wants to beat England, so everyone raises their game to play us. They then play for the 0-0 or breakaway 1-0, as they should do. Israel defended very well today. But nowadays the lesser nations are much better organised and disciplined, so they are difficult to break down. Unless we are prepared to give the ball to the two genuine creative players on the pitch today - Rooney and Lennon - we will get nowhere.
The match against Andorra on Wednesday will do us no good, either.