buster.

Hodgson was still experimenting and took risks coming into the tournament, eg. bringing only one wide player and loads of centre forwards (said this weeks ago) so when you have to break a tight defence down he is more or less forced to go with Sterling. It wasn't just personel, it was shape and forcing Rooney into the side. Although tbf, Rooney didn't do badly in the midfield over the piece. With all the force-fitting and changing of players, it wouldn't surprise me if there was a bit of a disconnect/tension that eventually affected the group on-field when in adversity. This leading to what was a pathetic team effort last night. All that aside, England aren't as good as they think they are and despite their bi-annual embarrassment, the arrogance and unrealistic expectation levels with which they every tournament always returns 2 years down the line.

England in shock, maybe but they simply aren't as good as they think they are. Not in the present or historically Since 1966 this is how the trophies have been divided WC Brazil 70, 94, 02 (W).Germany 74, 90, 14 Argentina 78, 86 Italy 82, 06 France 98 Spain 10 EC Italy 68 Germany 72, 80, 96 Czechoslovakia 76 France 84, 00 Holland 88 Denmark 92 Greece 04 Spain 08,12 Now the beaten finalists WC Italy 70, 94 Holland 74, 78, 10 Germany 82, 86, 02 Argentina 90, 14 Brazil 98 France 06 EC Yugoslavia 68 USSR 72, 88 Germany 76, 92, 08 Belguim 80 Spain 84 Rep.Czech 96 Italy 00, 12 Portugal 04 Number of Finals for European nations since 1966 (both WC and EC) Germany 12 Italy 7 Spain 4 France 4 Holland 4 USSR 2 Czech 2 Belguim 1 Portugal 1 Denmark 1 Greece 1 Yugoslavia 1

"So much effort being put into posts that so few will read." Churchill

England 1-2 Iceland Comedy Gold

Rousseau: Changed Pred for England game Glad Italy got that second goal The Italian tournament side has arrived and the Spanish era is well and truly over.

Lee Hodson Snipped from his wiki page "Following two separate injuries to (Watford) club captain Jay DeMerit early in the 2009–10 season, Adrian Mariappa moved to central defence, and Hodson started to play regularly in the Championship at right back" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hodson

8 groups 12 qualify (ie. 4 best 2nd placed sides) 12 + 4 (teams in Europe) = 16 for next round

Fine, I'll change a prediction BEFORE a game whilst you can keep looking for non-existant points AFTER it. ....

I think all tables throughout the prediction threads update to the latest scores, so nae luck

Rousseau Changed Pred for tonight

I'm a nobody on a messageboard but I think this is one issue that could be left out of the ongoing series of Q&A. The general position was already known, people have their opinions on it and it's up to AMcC, if/when he wants to attend Ibrox.

Not watching the game but a glance at the teams and I see that Coman is on the bench. He might be the player that gets in behind a tired Irish defence in the second half.

Just had a butchers and it seems set up nicely for those in between you and me ! Very early goals have a habit of being the only goal but it's a longtime to have the French battering on the door.

Poland are a difficult side to beat. Since November 2013, they have been beaten only 3 times in 28 matches, by Germany, the Netherlands and.... Scotland The loss to Scotland was a friendly in Poland and the two group games in qualifying were draws. The Scotland win came in Strachan's 'honeymoon period' where he actually seemed to be taking us forward but it seemed to end half way through the qualifying process after the win against Ireland. Poland against Portugal promises little in terms of entertainment.

The authorities have tried to address a number of issues in one fell swoop. - format of League Cup (+ sponser) - Summer football - Winter break But it seems like a half hearted, desperate, marketing push in several directions that doesn't really solve any problems. Or rather offers new things and throws up different problems. eg. As MW has said, the winter break of 3 weeks is of little benefit as far as he is concerned and brings up a similar situation as to the break prior to the SC Final. This should be the first and last time we enter at this summer group stage, so the "Blue pound" wasn't a material factor in this set-up, not to mention had we won the SC Final, we wouldn't be playing in it.

Lewondoski Muller Pogba Hazard Ibrahimovic 0 goals Will Muller and Pogba break their ducks today ?

4 games in 9 days Play a mix of under 20's and first team players (rotating). If we go out then so be it, the priority is being ready for the League.

...........:drum: :flute::flute: :cheers:

Marko Pjaca, the Croatian sub looks another cracking prospect. Just turned 21, over 6 foot, strong with obvious ability will earn Dinamo Zagreb a fat transfer fee if his contract still has a couple of years on it.

Renato Sanches started the season in Benfica reserves and now is an important player for Portugal in the Euros and new 35M euro Bayern Munich signing !! He is still 18 years old

Had been looking forward to this game thinking they were two sides who would go looking to win it. If I was heid yin at UEFA I'd tell both reams to pack their bags and give Poland a bye to the semi-finals

Thank's FS. I guess that would be a logical tendency given how the bigger leagues have developed financially and the smaller leagues like Scotland have fell away off the pace and profile. It would suggest that NARSA may become a pale shadow of what it currently is within a couple of decades. 'Superclubs' are hoovering up the money, the players and many young fans all over the world and they have become an almost irresistable force operating on a different planet. Collectivelly they'll definately be looking to play each other more and restrict 'smaller clubs' when it comes to the CL now that a new format is on the agenda. Playing in Scotland means it's simply not realistic to think we can compete at that level or hope to reverse trends wrt young supporters in Nth. America.

Mrs Craig knows more about the fitbaw than Lennon

Sometime's happens that way but I doubt it. Lewandoski is surely due a goal though.........

Switzerland and Poland Two teams who between them have scored 4 goals and conceded 1.......... in 6 group games. I'll pass on watching this one !