Thoughts on the game: well, it was certainly entertaining! Had I been a neutral, I'd have thought it was the best game of the tournament so far in terms of unpredictability. Yes, both teams were shit but it made for a pretty exciting second half as you couldn't really call it for the majority of the last 45.
Thoughts on England: positives first - Carroll cracking header. Was nice to see him playing a LITTLE like he used to play for us in that he seemed to remember that he is built like a brick shit house and used his strength more, put himself about and let the Swedish CBs know they were in a game. Rather than his Liverpool style of play which consists of falling over every time he is within a 5 yard proximity of an opposing player, looking for the free kick. Walcott saved and then won us the game Acted as a great foil for a lot of the style of play we had been playing up to that point. He has to start next game. Great goal and great setting up of Welbeck's goal, which, I thought was a right messy accidental goal when I initially saw it (thought he was trying to use the first touch to swivel and hit it on the half volley after), but on the replays, fair play Danny boy was a great finish.
negatives... GLEN FUCKING JOHNSON. Ive said it before, he is fucking dogger. Can't cross, pass, mark, or move at all. Apart from the last ditch challenge he made in our box against a swedish player (forgot who) - which i hold my hands up and admit was a great tackle - he was woeful. I get nervous when any opposing side tries it down our right hand side. Which leads me onto the second negative - Milner. I find Jimmy frustrating at the best of times, but yesterday was baaaad. Passing was atrocious. As was Parker's, who I thought had an awful game. Hart needs to pull himself together a bit I think. Obvs he is still young but he seems to lack the authority he shows at Man City. Young was pretty shite as well.
All in all, the game taught me several things. Firstly, I am pretty certain that England will not get past the quarter finals. This may be a bit patent but we are not a good team. We aren't shit like, but just too weak in terms of giving the ball away. Secondly, Hodgson clearly does his homework then revises it over and over. Bringing on Walcott was a great move and as well as he played, the manager must take credit also to see where and how the Swedes could be exposed at that point in the match. I think that we will get better and better with him as manager, though I think he can only be judged fairly after 2014 world cup. Finally, we have missed Rooney and it will be a huge boost that he can start against Ukraine.
Essay over.
