seanie

In the first half England didn't look like they were trying. It's pressure time in the season and the Champions league is coming up. They were going through the motions.

Dibble Helix

I think the truth is that because Erikson doesn't take 'friendlies' seriously, neither did the 1st eleven (the first-half team).

I personally think it's time for Sven to piss off back to Sweden!

On the other hand (although I hate to say it) Well done Australia! Your team gave a very creditable performance.

Dibble the sightly embarrassed

Xeluan

One report about the game stated that the English crowd started to give the Australian supporters grief over the Shane Warne affair as the Socceroos gained ascendancey.

3000 Aussies simply replied with the chant "You'll never win the Ashes"

seanie

I don't see how it's Eriksons fault if players don't take it seriously. He needs friendlies to check out his team. It's players and clubs that don't like friendlies.

It interferes with club football and that's where the money is.

Dibble Helix

Yes but the most successful managers do not use friendlies in this way. As an international manager you can either use friendlies to try out new players or to cement your strongest team.

If you select the latter then your whole emphasis will be on winning the game in hand.

I think it is less likely that players will take a game seriously when they know they're going to be taken off at half-time. Its like the manager saying - this isn't really a proper game.

On the other hand, if you're saying that premiership players are a bunch of overpaid ponces - I would have to agree.

PS: If Zamora had played we might have got more than the one goal!


Dibble - the Seagull

mecca777

Having seen the "highlights" again this morning, I reserve my greatest vitriol for England's worst player. David James should never get near the England team again. I will personally fund snipers from my own pocket if the FA feels unable to act, but this man is not an international-quality keeper. He's barely Premiership material.

I remember seeing a picture in a now-forgotten UK footie fanzine, depicting him as the superhero "Crap-At-Crosses-Man", about ten years ago. Those words came flooding back last night. He flaps! He panics! He freezes like a deer in the headlights!

Congratulations to the Aussies, though. The difference in attitude for the first 45 minutes was clear to see; Beckham, Owen, Lampard and James might as well have stayed home. The tactic of substituting your entire team is worthless: how can young players learn anything in that situation?

I'd like to think that David Beckham will compare his performance to those of Francis Jeffers, Wayne Rooney and Jermaine Jenas in the second half, and think about what being captain of one's country should mean.

Harpy

The match was played at Upton Park. If any ground is F**king jinxed for the home side this season it's West Ham's ground.

Howay the Toon

I have played Croquet for Great Britain. The last time we played Australia we won 19 games to 2.

Bloop

Hah! We haven't seen him here in the last 20 years or so. If only the England players weren't such crap you could probably land a trophy or two some day.

Sweden lost 1-0 to Tunisia so what the hell are you complaining about anyways Anders Svensson blew a penalty kick late in the game.

Owen hasn't exactly been on fire in the Liverpool shirt either this season.

BigBlue2

Dead right on all counts. I found the idea of substituting the entire team at half-time disrespectful to the Australian team. This wasn't a training run against the Liechtenstein Youth Squad, for cryin' out loud. As Dibble Helix said, you use friendlies to either test new young players or give the senior players an opportunity to gel. What Eriksson did was a waste of time. Also, I think the English seriously underestimated Australia. When Australia manage to get their best team on the park they are a lot better than their 50th position on FIFA's table indicates. The reason Australia hasn't played at the last 2 World Cups is because their ability to stumble at the last hurdle borders on genius. The Oceania confederation gets it's own spot for the 2006 World Cup, so unless New Zealand screw us over (always a possibility), Australia will be there.

PS. The English tabloids must be foaming at the mouth . Lawd have moicy .