Enjoying it too Marine. Germany look like finalists to me, very impressive against the Dutch, who I still see sneaking into the quarters as they only have to beat Portugal and hope the Danes can't beat the Germans.

Who will challenge the Germans? Spain probably. They are simply too good at keeping the ball, and working to get it back should they lose it.

In their first game, I liked England and like the attitude of the squad out there (already more than can be said about South Africa). They haven't torn up any trees but look well drilled and very organized. Against the likes of Germany, Spain and the Dutch this is the only chance we have. Need to win against Sweden tonight as I think this is an easier game than the next one. Easier but not easy.

C'mon England!

Enjoying it and loving it. Not for England, who I think are drab and lifeless (I'd have liked to have seen more of the youth coming through and no Gerrard, Terry etc in sight, they've had their turn and blown it).
Agree Germany look very impressive, Spain look efficient (but come on playing 6 midfielders is a little arrogant), France are a threat once again, but I fancy Russia to do well.

Perhaps a Germany Russia final?

An amazing amount of interest here in Portland, sometimes called "Soccer City USA". Many of the drivers from my wine distributors are football fans - often supporting Spain because of their Hispanic background. They like me because I predicted Spain would win the 2010 World Cup, and now show some support for England (except against Spain!).
Some of my customers are rabid Portland Timbers fans, but others have said they had never watched a soccer match before they met me. One of these has invited me to join him and watch the Timbers and the LA Galaxy on July 14. Another invites me to watch the England games on his 60 inch TV against my 32 inch!
As far as my thoughts, I agree with most of the comments - Spain are beginning to look the team they are, and Germany looks very good. The dark horse - Russia. France's inability to penetrate our defence lowers my opinion of them.

So long as England beat the Swedes today I'll be happy.

Yeah, Gerrard is rubbish isnt he.
Another quality cross from him produces a goal.
He is running the game for England.

But who scored the goals hound, the youngsters, we'll win nowt using old timers, Milner, terry. Yes Gerrard did well tonight but you forget the shocking display he & parker put in against France, sat far too deep & invited pressure!

I think a team of youngsters would get battered out of sight.
A blend of youth and experience is always the better mix.
Terry had a good game tonight too.
As for Parker, how can you say he was poor against the French?
He gave his all, as he did tonight.
You seem to have forgotten that the French are a very very good side and in your condemnation of the team you have to realise that it was them who pushed us back, not us who invited them on.

Ball retention is what we've lacked so far, as our central midfield pairing, this should be bossed by Parker and Gerrard. And no I don't accept that France pushed our central midfield pairing into 3rd & 4th centre backs, they sat far too deep and invited, what I accept is a good French side, on to us.

I would rather, for this tournament, we took a leaf out of the German way and threw more of our youth in to get the experience. They gave up the euros 4 years ago to bring much of their under 21 side through with a view to the future, I'd say it worked for them, so why can't we try it?

We have to accept that the French came on to us and forced us back.
Everyone said that a draw against them would be a good result and we got it.
So, out of interest, give me your preferred starting eleven of youngsters.

Phew that was close
not quite sure that i loved it though
the brazzos here were shaking their heads half way through the second half but were suitably impressed by the end
off to watch it again now and see what really happened

Based on a system of 4-2-3-1

GK Hart 25yrs Man City

RB Walker 22 yrs Spurs
CB Richards 23yrs Man City
CB Jones 20yrs Man Utd
LB Bertrand 22yrs Chelsea

DM Henderson 21yrs Liverpool
DM Wilshere 20yrs Arsenal

MID Young 26yrs Man Utd
MID Oxlade-Chamberlain 18yrs Arsenal
MID Sturridge 22yrs Chelsea

FW Welbeck 21yrs Man Utd

Not forgetting a strong bench:

GK Carson 26yrs
DEF Gibbs 22yrs
DEF Taylor 26yrs
MID Johnson 24yrs
MID Milner 26yrs
MID Walcott 23yrs
FW Carrol 23yrs

Not a bad squad really. The 1st XI has experience, talent, pace, excitement and is the future, i cant see why after this euros we cant get this squad playing together and building towards brazil 2014 and beyond. The players are part of top 6 premier league sides and play regularly in those sides too.

Azza, there are some potentially very good players in your list but the point i was making is that there would need to be some experienced players in the team also otherwise the team you suggest for example, would probably have a tough time of things against the top sides.
I think you are stretching the point by saying that they all play regularly for their clubs.
Appearance records on Wikepedia for example combine starts with cameo substitute appearances and certainly some of those lads dont get a regular first team start with their clubs.
Look at the Spanish, Germans, French etc and they all have a good blend of older and younger players.
However it is good to see the list of potential England players of the future that you list.
The problem for us is that the big clubs will continue to sign "big name" players from abroad and play them ahead of most of the lads that you mention, thus limiting their opportunities.
After this Euro Championship there will be another influx of players who did well for their respective countries and will end up in our PL.

Hound by the time Brazil 2014 comes along and the euros after that these will have had the experience of playing in the major tournaments and also mixing it with europes best. The blend is key youth/experience that's correct but what I've typed in is what you put to DR4E re what would be the best young XI we could field, whether that be a personal opinion or what we have available that's talented.

I wouldn't believe everything you read on wikipedia however the only 2players who have not played numerous games for their clubs is chamberlain and bertrand but I'm sure both we will see a lot of in the forthcoming season.

I can see your point about more foreign players coming in but unless they're really top class players I don't see fergie, mancini, wenger, di matteo and rodgers for example throwing out the youngers ones to make way. As I've said barring chamberlain and bertrand they all played a number of games for their respective clubs (in the best league in the world as we are always being told) and will continue to do so in the future.

You only need look at the under 21 squad from the last 3 or 4 seasons to find players that fit the requirements. They have, after all, been relatively successful during that time. All I'm getting at is, after the shambles of Sth Africa 2 years ago, it becam blatantly obvious that our so called golden generation of players believed far to much of their own press.
It's time to blood the youth and build for the next world cup. I'm disappointed that mr hodgson missed that chance by banging on with the golden oldies. Thank god lampard is injured otherwise we'd have him failing to team up with Gerrard yet again.

Oh and for a reasonable squad, I think azza has seen the light.

Good article Marine. If I had my time over again I think I would like to be a globe trotter like yourself and of course still support Donny.

Saturday came in from work and got out of the car, two guys waiting, held me and a friend at gun point and stole my car, together with my computer and all my work from the last three years, backed up on a external hard drive, which stupidly was in my computer bag. Everything gone. Later the car was used in a petrol station robbery. I had hoped they would use it and just leave it but nothing so far. Also all my documents, passport etc were in the car.
All this right outside my house. Anyway, what do do now, might just head home and watch Donny every week. Its hard work here sometimes.

I am very sorry to hear of the misfortune Marine, look on the bright side, you are alive.

Yes Alex, but he's still out there. they could use the gun next time.

Well i bet carrying that thought makes Marine feel much better!!!!!

Sorry to hear about this incident, Marine. I went through a similar incident myself (attempted mugging with a gun) in the Netherlands when I was working over there but fortunately, managed to get away unscathed and with property largely intact.
You have to think to yourself that this is really a one off and the chances of a repeat are extremely remote.
I hope that you find a way to recover your data - maybe, if you have sent documents via webmail etc., you can retrieve them.
Anyway, best of luck to you. If there is anything that your fellow Rovers fans can do to help, just let us know.

Yes Marine, I was not trying to be flippant, I hope you are OK and not too traumatised. As Crazy says, if anyone can help with anything just let us know.

Thanks Chaps, no physical harm done, so live to fight another day, just like England

Well Steve Gerrard has another blinder and JT save the day with an incredible (behind the) goal line clearance.
(It was never in was it).
Not too bad from the wrinklies was it?

lots of people going on about how bad we are playing, but having been waiting since 1970 for us to win something and watched us play incredible football and lose, (argentina, germany, brasil) its got to be better to keep winning like this. I seem to remember england generally getting better as the tournament goes on.
If we get past Italy on Sunday, then despite passing all expectations already, its a matter of anything can happen, and maybe we can win a major competition at last.