Andorra--England

[The-Red]

first half ended 0-0
I think this coach is destroying the spirit of the English team and all this talent is going to waste....
If ENG doesn't win this game, the coach is done, but so might be ENG and their chances of qualifying...
2nd half about to start....

[The-Red]

Goal England--

1-0 Eng min 54

Gerrarld. nice goal actually assisted by Rooney.

[KasraKhan]

lol squeaking by andorra...

[The-Red]

lol squeaking by andorra...

it's sad...

0-1 min 73

[The-Red]

Gerrarld again
2-0 now min 78

[1Heesham1]

Rooney's immense as always!!

[The-Red]

3-0 now but I did not see the goal so don't know who scored....

it's almost over now.

[The-Red]

game over

Andorra 0 Eng 3

[1Heesham1]

was Dave Nugent (on debut, plays for championship side Preston NE)

[Daei_The_King]

no offence guys, but its gerrard. no 'L'.

After a quite rubbish first half, after which pubs across teh country were being shouted at to turn teh television off, the players came in from half time with a renewed urgency to win the game. Then came Gerrards excellent finish (assisted by a very good decision to tap it on, rather than go for goal - by Rooney) which found its way SOMEHOW through at least four pairs of legs, both English and Andorran.

Gerrard came again a little later with pure inspiration. He ran incredible distance with great pace, getting a few taps on by his team mates who, when he passed to them, decided that he was best to keep going, and after edgin it in front of the goal, let rip! and just like that, 2-0

the third goal was a bit of a laugh. Jermain defoe wacked it at the keeper, who got a hand to it but it slipped under his arm and into the net. HOWEVER, David Nugent (not from offside position) ran forward and, from video evidence, it is clear that he nicked the goal as he tapped it in just a nano-second before the whole of the ball had crossed the whole of the line (standard football rules).

Defoe did all the hard work, but Nugent will go down in record books as having scored on his debut. It was funny though, as Defoe and him had a laugh about it and were playfighting about it after the match, in th changing rooms (not violently though!)

All in all, the second half had flashes of what fans expect England to be, but McClarren and his boys till have long way to go to convince teh public that they are 'worthy' of wearing England jerseys.

[persian boy]

too bad lampard couldnt play in this game, he fractured his wrist during practice because rooney was shooting and it accidently hit frank's wrist. stupid rooney, he probably wanted to take out one of chelsea's best players to avoid having them catch up to man united

[Daei_The_King]

im glad lampard wasnt playing. It is true that he cannot play alongside gerrard, and that was proved today. What was also proved today is that the team is better off without Lampard, and we already knew that Gerrard > Lampard, so I think Lampard should no longer be such a regular for England. I think he should still be called to all training sessions, but just for the benefit of teh rest of the team - not to actually play himself. (Fat Frankie Lampard )

[persian boy]

lampard is one of englands best players, sure he has off days and on days but so does every player. it doesnt mean he should be benched...you never know, next game might be an offday for gerrard

and are you saying that if lampard had been playing, england wouldnt have won?

[Cyrus_da_virus]

lampard is one of englands best players, sure he has off days and on days but so does every player. it doesnt mean he should be benched...you never know, next game might be an offday for gerrard
and are you saying that if lampard had been playing, england wouldnt have won?

Im trying to remember the last time Lampard had a good game for England.im trying i really am.

[Daei_The_King]

Im not saying England wouldnt have own - far from it. I just think that Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard DEFINITELY cant play together with most teams. Not all, but MOST. Them playing together brings about a different rhythm than that which England need to play with to beat most teams. However, the rhythm that a formation including both Gerro and Lamps brings is often the key to winning big matches - im not saying they can only play together against minnows!

But I do think that, when there is a team with which England have to play, and its one where we know Lams and Gerro wont be good together, Gerrard needs to be given teh upper hand. Simply because he is better than Lampard at far too may aspects of teh game. No offence to Lampard, he's great when at his best. Its juts that Gerrard has a certain spirit, a fighting resolution, a desire to win, and never gives up, not to mention that even when he has 'off-days', the dip in his form isnt as noticable as it is with other players.

Basically:
Gerrard = good
Lampard = good

Gerrard+Lampard = rhythm 1
England - Lampard = rhythm 2
England - Gerrard = rhythm 3

rhythm needed for most teams = rhythm 2
rhythm needed for some games = rhythm 3
rhythm needed for a few games = rhythm 1

do you see what I mean? or is that all completely confusing....?