Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

[GIMH]

Good luck to the Poms in the morning. Hope they go about it like they did in the first match.

5am kick off there isn't it? Take it you won't be watching.

 

[sledger]

Not sure if I'm feeling excited about this or not...

 

[wpdavid]

I just think that Sterling can do far more damage running at the heart of the Uruguayan defence than on the flank. If nothing else, they can foul him with impunity out wide - no yellow cards for 'little' trips etc when he's playing wide, and the resultant free kicks wouldn't be shooting opportunities. Harder to do that when he's running at their central defence. If nothing else, the free kicks would be more central.

I'd probably start with Lallana instead of Welbeck to provide more in front protection of the back four

 

[sledger]

Welbeck provides plenty of cover defensively though.

I'd go for more or less the same team and setup as the other night. Would probably put in Lallana ahead of Rooney mind you.

 

[Nate]

Carn Luis.

 

[GIMH]

Unchanged XI

 

[King Pietersen]

No Lallana again, but at least Rooney is playing central, and Sterling out on the right. Makes much more sense.

 

[fredfertang]

Unchanged XI

I fear that may mean an unchanged result, but hope not - we have to be better than Australia at something other than whinging

 

[grecian]

Well, bad back and losing £60s I can't afford means I'm not owt, c'mon England.

I maybe one of the few glad we've kept the same xi.

 

[Pothas]

I don't think it is a bad selection at all, I don't think Rooney should start but it is by no means an easy decision to make. He is bound to be all that is talked about come the end of the game of course.

 

[GIMH]

Rooney hat trick tonight

 

[grecian]

I don't think it is a bad selection at all, I don't think Rooney should start but it is by no means an easy decision to make. He is bound to be all that is talked about come the end of the game of course.

Yeah. Henry Winter tweeted this nonsense "This game could define Rooney's #eng career. Expected to play as a No 10. Stage set. 39 goals signals his class. A 40th would end any doubts". Yeah what if he scores in a 6-1 defeat and does nowt else in the match.

The hyperbole about Rooney reaching fever-pitch. People saying earlier in the thread about Shearer's retirement, now I don't much like people retiring prematurely from their country, yet when we lost 1-0 against Germany the last game at Wembley, I remember the vitriol from the 'papers aimed at him. The same 'papers that were praising him when he got the winner against the Germans in the Euros (first competitive win in god knows) and then were urging him to comeback after he retired.
'
It's the same with Rooney ATM, it reallt is **** or bust for him in the media's eyes, forgetting the other players on the pitch that may well make a difference one way or tother.

 

[Pothas]

Can someone explain how this is match is sudden death?

England could actually lose this and still go through.

 

[The Sean]

How deliberate was it that Tydlesley said of the match "it's not a beauty contest" just as we got a close up of Suarez?

 

[Tangles]

Have to watch 2nd half on delay. Director scheduled a meeting ffs.

 

[fredfertang]

Wish we wore red shirts - can't understand this desire to look like Leeds

 

[Tangles]

Deliberate that for sure.

 

[GIMH]

Oh my I thought that went in for just a second

 

[grecian]

Y'know I'm sure our consistent tactic of giving the ball away for no reason will work out at one tournament. I mean why else would we do it every ****ing time, with different players and different generations else.

 

[Ikki]

Rooney's turn and hold up play has been turgid so far. Nothing is sticking and England has been under pressure with Uruguay pressing high.