So any ideas what team Capello will field today? I'd like to see Bent start but it's hard to know what part he's gonna play in his plans and whether he's there to make up numbers and sit on the bench. Some reports i've read contain a quote from the man himself hinting towards Bent and Rooney to start though.

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Birmingham City).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas (both Tottenham Hotspur), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner, Ashley Young (both Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe (both Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

From the squad (that's still left) I would probably start with this:


I only select Crouch and Bridge because of their experience as I think Bent and Warnock are playing better in their respective positions at the moment.

Anyone else a little heartened by yesterday's performance?

Okay, so we sucked going forward and lacked the unpredictability/creativity that a Lampard/Cole/Gerrard would provide. Defensively I thought we were fairly comfortable and despite Brazil's pretty passing, I was never really concerned that they were going to score with every attack. It took a couple of lapses to let them in. Brazil had a few chances later on when hitting England on the break but that's to be expected given the energy-sapping heat (it won't be like that during the WC)

Anyway couple of thoughts on players
Foster - solid, looked confident. Distribution poor
Jenas - Potential but lacked vision going forward. Really noticed how much we missed Lampard
Wright-Phillips - Had a couple of moments but not international quality. 5th choice for me on right-side
Milner - Worked hard but no final ball. Would like to see him on the right though.
Bent - Tough times. No decent service and haven't seen a greater lack of understanding between two strikers in a long time

I thought Bent did his job but neither Rooney or Bent were getting any real service and there was little attacking threat at any point. I don't remember their keeper being worked hard very often at all.

I felt the midfield was very, very weak. Jenas had a poor game and i dont think he has what it takes at that level. Wright-Phillips is dangerous but just like Lennon and Walcott doesnt have much of a final ball which is why Beckham is still key for the World Cup for me, maybe not to start but to have on the bench for sure. Milner i felt worked hard.

Foster has lots of potential but is prone to mistakes and isnt ready yet. I don't think he had a solid game at all, had he been tested more frequently i think he would have conceded more. James and Green have to be considered as Capello's #1 and #2 at this point as far as im concerned.

All in all i dont feel theres much to worry about and really i think that result had to be expected. There wasnt much to get excited about but i dont think there was much to get overly worried about either. I think in a way it was encouraging that that side could avoid getting beaten by much more and once you bring Lampard, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Terry and a few other regulars back in it could have been a different story.

Shit clubs with even shittier fans, I can't understand why they haven't abandoned the game entirely and simply fought to the death at Parkhead live on Pay Per View.

I'm THAT fucking disgusted by the Celtic display disgracing the British dead

bunch of Cement heads, hope they go bankrupt

"I am not a cheat, and anybody in England who knows me will tell you that" (Thierry Henry, 2006)

Seriously he should hang his head in shame. I feel so sorry for the Irish tonight but hey failed to take their chances and paid the ultimate price.

Watch FIFA brush this one under the carpet as a major officiating (yet another) error has led to one of the big teams qualifying for their major money spinner.

Hand of Frog anyone?

Absolutely shocking decision. How that hasnt been spotted and that goal has been alllowed to stand is beyond me.

Without coming across as some idiot who believes in conspiracy theories, It's nothing short of shocking and I thought that the play off draws were particularly kind to the bigger teams as well. The amount of money swirling around football does make you wonder sometimes.

I know what you mean, i always find myself stopping and thinking about what im about to say in situations like this because i want to make sure i choose my words carefully and avoid coming across as something i dont want to be.

Of course there is every chance that tonight Ireland outplayed a far bigger and better opposition, took them to extra time, looked the better and more dangerous side and then....well, the ref has just showed complete incompetence, which happens, and made a bad call. I just dont get how its possible for a ref at this level to make that mistake though, there was 2 handballs in the box one after the other and if you watch Henry goes for it again. The handball was no mistake. Everyone in the stadium must have seen at least one of those handballs apart from the ref and his assistant.

If it hadnt had been so blatant, it would just be a bad call. It would suck, but thats life. With something like tonight it does set me off wondering, even though i know that makes me sound as though im looking for something that isnt there.

Anyone with eyes saw a blatant hand ball.
Anyone with a sense of fair play has to be left wondering how that goal stood.
All eyes on FIFA?