Zidane's Headbutt Discussion and also some stuff on that FIFA World Cup 2006 thing

[Resha]

Yes indeed! Congrats very much! Klose and Lahm were ace!

[Croyles]

Thank you!
Im also happy because I had Klose on fantasy football as captain, 40 points from one player in one day!! I wont be getting them till the day is over though.

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

who does lahm play for

[DK]

Joe Cole, I could kiss your face.

[amratis]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! OWEN!!

On the other hand, Joe Cole = God.

[Russielloyd]

YES! come on England!!
Joe Cole's scores an amazing goal! Best goal of the tournament so far!

Lahm plays for Bayern Munich.

[Loony BoB]

Paul "I'll take my full six seconds" Robinson
Jamie "He'll do" Carragher
Rio "Slip'n'Save" Ferdinand
John "I think I saw him for a couple of seconds" Terry
Ashley "That totally was not a handball" Cole
Owen "The first time I've noticed him doing well" Hargreaves
David "Why won't the strikers collect my crosses" Beckham
Frank "It's my birthday and I'll shoot if I want to" Lampard
Joe "Dan wants to kiss his face" Cole
Wayne "Oh, bugger, he lost it. Oh, wait, he's got it back!" Rooney
Peter "The commentators get surprised every time he does something other than a header" Crouch

and Michael "We're only allowed three fit strikers, you see" Owen.

Not a bad first half.

[Cz]

That's more like it. England have looked consistently threatening during this half, and with Rooney back in the team we've now got a number of routes to goal, making us far more dangerous in the final third. Cole's strike was amazing, and even Hargreaves has done a pretty good job. Sweden haven't done much, but that shouldn't take anything away from England's showing.

However, Owen's injury is extremely worrying. Not because he's critical to our success, but because if Crouch finds himself booked, or Rooney's fitness isn't up to scratch, we're left with very little option but to start with Walcott. Personally I'd rather see us start with a five-man midfield (with Aaron Lennon on the right) but I doubt Sven would try something like that. This is where the decision not to take a fifth forward could really hurt us, so here's hoping that Owen's injury isn't too severe.

[Loony BoB]

There is the possibility of Gerrard getting a game as an all-out forward, a la the warmup matches.

[DK]

I have to say, that goal looked like it had been coming from a Swedish Set Piece. However, why the arse was 3'7" midget Ashley Cole covering the back post?

Edit: YESSSSSSSS STEVIE G YOU ARE THE SEXIEST MAN IN THE WHOLE WORLD

Edit2: That was hot. I said "Henrik needs to score now " in chat and literally 3 seconds later he scored xD even though who the actual goalscorer was is up for debate. Anyway, I'm happy with that, we went through on top of the table. We're lucky we got Ecuador over Germany 'cause our team isn't anywhere near fullstrengh/on top form.

[I Took the Red Pill]

Larsson is mah hero.

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

Big up the Swedes. Who didn't see that coming? England just can't beat them

[Loony BoB]

Things of note:

1) I love how every time ITV's commentators mention Walcott, they sound disgusted at the idea of him playing at all, at any point. He's spoken of like a 12th player for the other team. It can get kind of amusing after you get through the phase of finding it annoying.
2) "England are contendors" - ITV's last words before the ads. Yeah, they're as good as Sweden.
3) All this talk about avoiding Germany just kind of shows that England aren't very big favourites at all compared to what they used to be before the tournament, regardless of the fact that everyone is still hyping them up. Fact is, if England play Ecuador, the jump in class that they're going to have to make if they get to the semis is going to be insane. Right now they've faced a whole lot of decent sides but not a single great one. I'm not sure if they'll be able to make that giant step up at this rate.
4) Oh, poor Lampard. You want a goal so badly, don't you? Kicking the ball into the net after the goal was scored, the subdued celebrations before looking down with an almost sad look after a very quick pat on the back to Gerrard... he's visibly jealous. xD I really, really want Lampard to get a goal, because once he does, hopefully he'll be able to put more concentration on just playing his game.
5) Does anyone not like Larsson? I don't think it's possible to not like the guy. I don't know anyone that doesn't, and I know a lot of Rangers fans, too.

[Russielloyd]

I can not, F**KING wait till Sven leaves and pisses off back to Italy, i'm fed up of these defensive tatics

Saying best defense in the f**king world and they had no clue at all on how to defend their 2nd goal.

We're not going to get far if "i'm a moron" Sven doesn't realises we're not a defensive team!

Sweden had trouble scoring past Paraguay and T&T, yet they can easily put 2 past England.

We take the lead 5 mins left, and can't even hold on, useless.

I'm furious!

[I Don't Need A Name]

However, why the arse was 3'7" midget Ashley Cole covering the back post?

You call that covering the back post!?!?! i call that, stood behind the goal line!! he could have stopped the last goal, but he was stood behind the line!!