ENGLAND vrs PARAGUAY

[HAYDON]

Don't like all the negative stuff about England. I would not have been happy had they run themselves into the ground to try and win 3-0. All you have to do is win in the group stages. Some England fans on the Tv were predicting 3-0, 4-0 to England. They had not done their homework.
Paraguay had beat Brazil and Argentina away from home in qualifying.

The result will look good after a week. Yes, they lads did tire, They should have kept Cole on.
But he was right not to throw Walcot on in the first game. I would use him from the start of the third game. Then there is minimal pressure on the player.

Ecuador looks a useful side. I think they will get to the next stage.

Argentina stopped playing after the 2nd goal went in. But better sides will not give them acres of space to run into.

Mexico could be a surprise winner. Last year they played Brazil off the park.

[Steve (Moderator)]

A detailed analysis Haydon.

However, Paraguay could so easily have sneaked a goal in that second half. The second half was horrible to watch, its too risky to sit back like that IMO, especially with the new ball! We were so deep, taking off Owen was a mistake, I cant stand Hargreaves either.  We needed an offensive threat to stop them getting so advanced and penning us back. I think the heat was a big factor, the T&T game v. sweden was pretty good.

England are now in a great position though, bring on T&T!

Steve

[Meriades]

Ultimately, the three points are on the board, and that's the important thing. But my concern regarding the game was that certain players - Beckham, Gerrard, Ashley Cole - were dead on their feet with fifteen minutes to go, and Sven didn't replace them. We only used two substitutes - when the heat and fatigue is that bad, why not take off a midfielder and stick on Lennon? The threat of his pace would have given us an outlet for long balls into space, and made Paraguay think twice about pushing forward en masse.

I think the negative rumblings stem from what fans know of past experiences. France, Brazil, Portugal - all ended in defeat from a position of initial superiority. On one hand, Sven was trying to close the game out - and succeeded - which suggests he learned something from those previous defeats, but on the other hand Paraguay aren't as good as those other teams. A good team would have put away one, maybe two, of the chances they created in the second half, raising the question of has Sven learned nothing at all? I, personally, find myself leaning towards the latter view. *That's* the worry.