England 1-1 France: Official Match Thread

Here today, we will see the first introduction of the sport Woyball! Which consists of:

HOOF

NO OFF-TOPIC COMMENTS

Cameras Stats

England are without a win in five against France in all competitions, losing their last three.

England have only ever lost four consecutive games against the same opponent three times before; the last time this occurred was in 1976, when England lost a fourth successive game against Brazil.


England have met France twice before at European Championships, drawing 0-0 in 1992 and losing 1-2 in Euro 2004 (despite leading 1-0 going into injury-time).

England have played in more European Championship tournaments without winning one than any other side (seven).

England have scored in their last 10 European Championship group games, but have only won half of them (W5 D1 L4).

France have been eliminated from the last two major tournaments (Euro 2008, WC 2010) without winning a single game.(P6 D2 L4).

No side scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of qualifying games for Euro 2012 than England (6).

France hit the woodwork seven times in the European Qualifiers, more than any other side.

Only Italy (two) conceded fewer goals in qualifying than Les Bleus (four).

Thanks to Sheriff JW Pepper for this one: France have not lost in some 23 games.

Location: Donbass Arena

GOALS

Lescott 29'
Nasri 38'

Team News & Manager Quotes: England

Hart
Johnson Terry Lescott Cole
Milner Parker Gerrard Ox
Young
Welbeck

= Most dangerous players!

Bench: Green, Butland, Baines, Jagielka, Jones, Kelly, Downing, Henderson, Walcott, Carroll, Defoe


Some reports coming out of the England camp are suggesting that manager Woy Hodgson is considering starting 18-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the crunch clash in Donetsk. The Arsenal player only made his first England start in the team's last friendly against Belgium.

Danny Welbeck is expected to start up front, with Ashley Young in support of his Manchester United team-mate in the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney.

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott is set to partner John Terry in the centre of defence with Gary Cahill missing the tournament through injury and Rio Ferdinand not selected

Woy Hodgson: "Of course we feel the weight of history. As a top nation we haven't won as many tournaments as we should or done as well as we should. We all feel that weight and there's nothing we can do to take it off our shoulders except make certain we embrace the tournament, that we are not afraid of it and that we believe in ourselves. It's a fact of life. But I think before the very good French period we could have levelled a similar accusation against them."

France

Lloris
Debuchy Mexes Rami Evra
Cabaye Diarra
Malouda Nasri Ribery
Benzema

= Players to stop!

Subs: Mandanda, Giroud, Matuidi, Reveillere, Menez, M'Vila, Martin, Ben Arfa, Valbuena, Clichy, Koscielny, Carrasso.


France's injury concerns are in the centre of midfield. Both Yann M'Vila (ankle) and Blaise Matuidi (thigh) are major doubts, so it will be two from Alou Diarra, Florent Malouda and Yohan Cabaye playing at the heart of the French team with Lassana Diarra anchoring the midfield.

Laurent Blanc: "[We] don't have the same ambitions as Spain or Germany at the start of these European Championships. France, in terms of their results over the last few years, have not allowed us to retain our place in European or world football. People say I often bring this up, but I don't do that because I like to. It's the reality. People say we're favourites in the group, but I don't agree with that. We were in the fourth pot in the draw, and that means something. It's an open group. France, England, Ukraine and Sweden can all legitimately believe they can get into the latter stages."

LIVE THREAD!

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/126234

LINKS!

http://www.firstrowsports.eu/
http://www.sportlemon.tv/c-1.html
http://www.tvcatchup.com
http://www.vipbox.tv/sports/football.html

Kissing Cameras Prediction!

France will have no answer to the sport Woyball. 1-0 Ungerland.

Other Predictions

When will Parker make his first out-of-position block? 6 Minutes
When will Young first dive? 28 Minutes
When will Ribery first dive? 2 Minutes
When will Stevie G go studs up on a player? 39 Minutes
When will England first hoof the ball? 1 Minute


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