How the Hell did England lose!!!!!

[Back Burner]

With a chance to go up 2-0

Beckham blows a penalty and them .......WTF!!!!!

[Kev]

Because the only thing England can do is chase the ball. And thats not enough when you are playing the elite in European football.

The cross and goal by England was awesome, but thats not enough.

The save by Barthez was huge. Beckham will be kicking himself over that one. --- Kev

[n_v]

Beckham won't be and should not be kicking himself for the missed penalty. The person taking the blame should be Sven himself for allowing Beckham take it. NEVER allow two team mates (or former team mates) face each other on a penalty shot. The goalie always comes out on top (as proven today). The England penalty was manufactured by their good play. France had their's from an England brain cramp. Yes the final two minutes was quite some turn around, but the play of the French didn't leave me impressed at all.

[Squatting Tiger]

Originally posted by n_v
The person taking the blame should be Sven himself for allowing Beckham take it. NEVER allow two team mates (or former team mates) face each other on a penalty shot.The problem is, who else could have taken it?

Vassel? Maybe fresh legs would help, but he's not a starter and is not really placed in these important situations. Scholes? Falls in the same category as Beckham (former teammate). Rooney? Probably could have made the kid a superstar if he made the shot (he did play well enough through the game to deserve the shot), but most coaches would still pick Beckham over Rooney.

Nah, in a pressure situation I think Beckham was the best choice. Maybe if Owen was still on he could have been the one, but then again he seemed ineffective for most of the game.

This isn't the end for England. They just have to walk all over the Swiss and Croats.

[Kev]

I agree Squatting Tiger. Beckham was the best choice. If you've seen the shoot that Beckham took there was nothing wrong with it. He had i labelled into the corner, Barthez just guessed right and made a brillant save. --- Kev

[drd]

Lets not forget this is the second time he's missed a penalty shot in as many occasions..also I cannot seem to understand why Sven put Emile "I'ma fall before I even touch the ball each time" Heskey" on the pitch..

STILL FUMING

DRD

[Snook.fr]

Jumping around screaming "ALLEZ LA FRANCE"

I think that the victory was well deserved. France played very well in both Midfield and Offense...just couldn't get it in....
England was a BIG disappointment to me, they played defensive while they could have done so much Better... Owen was invisible, Gerrard played too far back to have any influence on the Game (like he does with Liverpool) and Scholes just was making Fouls here and there.
I knew the French would have the Ball most times, but I was expecting a more offensive game .... like the ones you see in the Premier league.

To me, It is a Well deserved Victory.

Frenchy

[n_v]

Originally posted by Kev
Barthez just guessed right. --- Kev
That's my point!!!!!!!!!! Beckham NEVER should have taken the shot. As a former teamate Barthez read him like a book and guessed correctly. When a player makes it to the national squad on a team of England's standing everyone is a gifted player. As a result Sven had choices for the shot. Lampard had the confidence from scoring earlier in the game.

[Snook.fr]

Originally posted by n_v
That's my point!!!!!!!!!! Beckham NEVER should have taken the shot. As a former teamate Barthez read him like a book and guessed correctly.

I disagree... I think that Beckham was the Best Possibility for this Shot. He is a great shooter, just unlucky. Barthez himself said that stopping a Penalty is 90% chance for the Goalie and 10% concentration and Leg push.



Originally posted by n_v
When a player makes it to the national squad on a team of England's standing everyone is a gifted player. As a result Sven had choices for the shot. Lampard had the confidence from scoring earlier in the game.

Mmhh, I think being a Professional doesn't mean you are a Good Penalty Kicker. Some Guys would never shoot a Penalty even though they are fabulous players...

[n_v]

Originally posted by Snook.fr
Barthez himself said that stopping a Penalty is 90% chance for the Goalie and 10% concentration and Leg push.
And being former team mates the number shift to 80-20 or maybe even as much as 60-40. Point is the odds descreased as soon as he stepped up to the ball. Nothing against him, but those are the odds.



Mmhh, I think being a Professional doesn't mean you are a Good Penalty Kicker. Some Guys would never shoot a Penalty even though they are fabulous players...
My point is that there were options, not everyone else on the field at the time but certainly 2 or 3 others could have taken it.

[Sancho]

I think I would've rather have had Beckham take the penalty, even if he has played with Barthez before at United. I'd certainly have him take it over Owen. The actual number escapes my memory now, but from what I remember his conversion rate in taking penalties wasn't greatest. Danny Murphy takes Liverpool's spot kicks now, doesn't he?

[Benhur]

I just heard on RDS, the Montr. sports chann. (England 1 - Switz. 0)....that , prior to the game with France, David James had seen on video all the french free-kick takers.......except Zidane was not on the tape, he had not had the opportunity to take a free-kick for France for a while.

[Back Burner]

Please give the young 18 year old Wayne Rooney some love. He's been playing awsome!

Back Burner

[Kev]

Originally posted by Back Burner
Please give the young 18 year old Wayne Rooney some love. He's been playing awsome!

Back Burner

Rooney is an awesome talent for England. But i do see Bertuzzi 'like' characteristics in him. My 2cents --- Kev

[Back Burner]

Originally posted by Kev
Rooney is an awesome talent for England. But i do see Bertuzzi 'like' characteristics in him. My 2cents --- Kev

LOL...you have a point!