England 3 - Russia 0.

Now that’s more like it. If the senior squad played like that I wouldn’t feel so worried.

football, soccer, england, holland

Yes, I was disappointed when England went out on penalties yet again but at no point in the competition did England play as if they deserved to go further than the quarters.

Germany on the other hand thoroughly deserved to be in the final and were desperately unlucky to be knocked out by two superb Italian goals in the final minutes of extra time.

Germany played with energy, passion, positivity, belief and a great team spirit. Everything England lacked. I’m so sad they’re not in the final. My heart is with Germany today.

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What a shambles. Portugal next. Oh dear. I can't even say it was nice while it lasted since England's performances have been so painful to watch.

A nation yawns. If we can't beat Sweden then . . .

What I don't understand is why Theo Walcott wasn't brought on. He's in the squad as back up and thus there to be called on should the need arise. With Owen out the need has definitely arisen. He should have been given a run out so that when he is finally called upon it won't be his first time on the pitch.

Again, I still fancy us to get past Ecuador on Sunday but, as ever, I expect we will huff and puff our way into the quarter finals.

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Hello. Now that's what we've been waiting for. World Cup winners? I think so.

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I don't think so. Certainly not on the evidence of their poor display against Trinidad & Tobago. OK, so we won but very unconvincingly and we were lucky not to have had to come back from a goal down thanks to John Terry's desperate clearance off the line. It doesn't bode well for the next round.

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While I expect England to win their match against Trinidad & Tobago I also expect to feel disappointed in their performance. They say football is a game of two halves. The England squad too are a team of two halves. Usually a pretty good first half and then it all falls apart after half time. I just hope they score before the interval otherwise the pure hunger for an England scalp of Trinidad & Tobago might end up making us need a result against Sweden.

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