Alert: Euro 2012 Group D: France v England 11/06/2012, 17:00, Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine [R]

Discussion in 'England' started by BarryfromEastenders, Jun 5, 2012.

  1. BarryfromEastenders Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 6, 2008
    [IMG]

    V

    [IMG]

    P - 28 W - 16 D - 4 L - 8

    Last time England beat France was in 1997 -



    Starting team - Seaman, G. Neville, Campbell, P. Neville, Southgate, Le Saux, Beckham, Gascoigne, Ian Wright, Shearer (c), Batty. (Sub: Ince, Lee, Sheringham)
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  2. sendorange Member

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    Will be doing well to scrap a draw.

    I heard Downing and Milner lined up for the wings. Although probably better off going for Walcott -- Milner--Young.

    Seems to be a toss-up between Welbeck and Carroll upfront.
  3. The Potter Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 26, 2004
    Location:
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    Walcott is better as a super sub imo. I'll say it will be a typical cagey opening game 1-1, with France being the moral victors.
  4. Prenn Moderator

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    A draw would be a remarkable result. The reality is we need to focus on Ukraine and Sweden rather than France.
  5. sinner78 BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
    Nov 7, 2001
    With Downing and Milner on the wings we have no outlet. Their weakness is the fullbacks leaving space .
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  6. sendorange Member

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  7. barroldinho Member+

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    Maybe that's the thinking:

    Cole and Johnson overlapping to give us width going forward, while Milner, Downing, Gerrard and Parker give us a solid bank to shield the defence when we don't have the ball.

    Certainly seems like we're aiming for a counter-attacking system, conceding possession based on the warm-ups.

    EDIT: And at risk of drawing on my United support once more, Patrice Evra has gone from being among the best left backs on the planet around 2009 to a liability since the World Cup.

    Not sure if it's just coincidence, or if the calamitous events of that tournament effected him, but he's been nothing like he was. Defensively he's very iffy and while reasonable providing wide support in attack, his end product is lacking.
  8. Prenn Moderator

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    Our best hope is to stifle them and make them lose confidence then bash one in on the break.
  9. RobTheFool Member

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    If we start with Downing and Milner then I wouldn't bet on us scoring.. France have weaknesses in defence which we can exploit, and if we don't try and exploit them then we deserve to lose.
  10. barroldinho Member+

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    I'd be inclined to use a 4-2-3-1, with Welbeck up front and Young, Gerrard and Walcott as the three. If nothing else, it gives us flexibility and pace in attack.

    However, it's a moot point as Hodgson probably won't do this.

    The thing about France is apparently that their defenders don't seem to do too well as a unit. Attack would probably be the best form of defence. If we look for containment, we'll play to their strengths.
  11. three lions Moderator

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    A big cheers to Barry for the match thread.. he is the "Official Match Thread Starter of the England National Team."
    (but you forgot the [R] ):thumbsup:
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  12. three lions Moderator

    Member Since:
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    hmm.. What will Hodgy do...??? My gut feeling is he will lineup this way vs France

    --------------------------Hart-------------------------
    Johnson----------Terry-------Lescott--------Cole

    Milner--------Parker--------Gerrard--------Downing

    -------------------------Young-----------------------

    -----------------------Welbeck----------------------
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  13. FCSF Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 27, 2006
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    I too believe this, given the circumstances, to be our most likely line-up/formation. Personally, I think Jagielka is a better central defender than Lescott but he and Terry have not played much together so we will most likely see Lescott given the start.

    Keep it tight, hit them on the break and rack up another 1-0 win!
  14. barroldinho Member+

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    While Hodgson's tactics are far from revolutionary, we might get some benefit from the modern trend towards "keep-ball" possession football. For the first time in years, I observe many teams moving away from the more traditional solid back line and utilising pressing and possession as their first line of defence. This also means that ball-playing defenders are preferred, so they may edge out more natural tacklers and headers. More importantly, while there defenders may be excellent, we're probably seeing the first wave of continental defenders who don't often play against physical, aerial attacks.

    As Chelsea showed (and more effectively, Inter Milan en route to their CL win), allowing the opposition to possess the ball in less dangerous areas, while crowding the passing lanes to goal, can frustrate an opponent.

    However, the more important aspect of Chelsea and Inter's performances was sucking these teams in and hitting on the break.

    My biggest worry (and we'll look at Chelsea again) is that if your defence isn't on point, you're riding your luck in terms of your opponent creating and converting chances. You give them too much of the ball, they'll hurt you eventually. However, we might have enough about us to get something out of that system.

    As I said above though, I don't think France are a team you want to totally sit back against. Ribery and Benzema are dangerous, whereas Mexes and Evra aren't stellar for France lately.

    My issue with having Milner on the right is that a Walcott would probably both torment Evra going forwards and also curb him from coming from deep as often due to Theo's counter attacking threat.

    Given that France are undoubtedly more comfortable on the ball than off it, we can probably hurt them more with players that can possess the ball in their half. A Milner-Downing-Carroll combo against this team would probably result in too much emphasis on aerial attacks, which coughs up possession too freely.

    However, against Sweden and Ukraine, the old school "simple but effective" might give us more joy.
  15. thebigman Member+

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    I like the idea of mourinhos style but we don't have the quality to rely on that system. At Madrid he is loaded with talent and at inter and chelsea a lot of the players were at their peak.

    I like the 4231 but I don't like Gerrard as a cm...I guess the option is either go at their fullbacks or contain them, I think we should play lopsided, Milner protect Johnson but use ox to terrorize their backup rb
  16. Stretch Armstrong Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 15, 2004
    Also missed a player out from the starting lineup last time England beat France ;) Sheringham?
  17. fernb8 Moderator

    Member Since:
    Aug 12, 2002
    the issue which concerns with this talk of playing the Chelsea/Mourinho is that system requires very tactically disciplined midfielders to provide a shield for the two central defenders

    and while I do not doubt the passion and committment of our current crop of CMs I am very concerned about their application from a tactical perspective
  18. barroldinho Member+

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    Don't know why I blanked on Ox. He should start.
  19. Soccerballer14 Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 23, 2011
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    Manchester United FC
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    Oxlade-Chamberlain is too raw to start in a game of this importance. Either way, I see us frustrating France and winning 1-0.
  20. FCSF Member

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    In a 4-4-2 I would have an issue w/Walcott as I believe he lacks the the defensive discipline to track back and would be a liability.

    If we are playing 4-2-3-1 I wouldn't have a problem w/Walcott being part of 3 supporting Wellbeck
  21. Placid Casual Member

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    Seems that Terry is struggling to be fit for this game.
  22. sinner78 BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
    Nov 7, 2001
    Hart said that terry didnt hold back in training .
  23. The Guardian Member

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    It won't happen but Welbeck is suited to the no.10 role behind Carroll. The bonus would be Downing gets dropped and Young plays in his normal position.
  24. SyedZada Member+

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    Manchester United FC
    Wouldnt that make it 442 as Welbeck despite working hard is a striker and he will leave his defensive duties unattended some times.
  25. three lions Moderator

    Member Since:
    Apr 2, 2005
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
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    Not if he was given specific instructions from Roy on the defensive issues as well... The chances of Roy setting his lineup this way are slim to nil however....

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