Out of Europe again!

[AucklandRover]

That was horribly disappointing. This England team plays more skilful football than any I can remember, yet we were beaten today by a team playing the way England teams used to play!
Saxo would probably say we should have gone back to a more traditional style, but I don't think we'd have got much change from that brilliant Icelandic defence if we HAD pumped it up the middle.
I haven't seen too much of Kane, but I assume he is normally a lot better than he has looked in this tournament. He has appeared sluggish and slow in every game. I've never been a fan of Sturridge at this level. He doesn't look up often enough. Was Lallana injured? His ability to do the unexpected on the edge of the box was just what we lacked. I know Sterling was there for that, but he always tends to be wide, and his marker was brilliant.
As my wife observed, England looked nervous and lacking in composure. How many crosses went straight out? Even Rooney was guilty.
In the end, though, just one of those games. If we played them ten times, we'd probably win eight.
Incidentally, is shirt-pulling now officially allowed? I saw at least four penalty-area examples today - one of them about two metres away from one of the officials.
It's like feeding the scrum in rugby: referees just seem to turn a blind eye.

[Turfmoorspirit]

Expected...

[Despair]

And deservedly so. No one in their right mind could say we deserved to progress.
I have watched virtually no 'top flight' ie Prem football for some time now, but that says it all for me. The illusion that we have the best league in the world, the pound signs are blinkering us. In this I am focussing on our own 'talent'.
Truthfully, that is the first time I have seen this Harry Kane (and a fair few others) and well what can I say. Yes its just one game and yes it was in a team of failures. But all the same. I am not though using him as a scapegoat, far from it.
Rabbits caught in the headlights perfectly sums it up. It was all there in their faces/eyes.
Iceland were brilliant in their execution of their game plan. Probably knocked up on the back of a fag packet.
But we were utterly awful.
Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that the aftermatch 'announcement' by Roy could have been written some time before that game??? His demeanour to me mirrored those guys on the pitch.
I'm with Wrighty on the condemnation ie any / all ctiticism they get is fully deserved. Opposed to Crouch's 'lets not be too hard on them coz they'll be upset'! Give me strength.
I hate to say it but, I watched Italy prior to and oh what a comparison! It did not even appear to be the same sport.
I actually feel sorry for JR12 over there in France today (if he is), how the hell could he hold his head up and defend that. Especially with them being the competitors in waiting.

I will never criticise a performance at Ewood ever again.