What a FLUKE !

Anyone who thinks they have an earthly chance of lifting the World Cup must be entirely delusional !

Sample quotes from BBC -

88 mins: The crowd are singing 'Football's Coming Home'. Not on this evidence, but at least it means the team won't be coming home early.

81 mins: The last 10 minutes and Trinidad and Tobago are passing the ball around with aplomb. The game was supposed to be dead and buried for them by now but they are within touching distance of a fantastic result.

59 mins: "At least this substitution shows more imagination than against Paraguay, but it also hints at growing desperation."
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Nuremberg

54 mins: "Every misplaced pass or stuttering passage of play is the catalyst for calls for the introduction of Rooney - and it is nearing the point when the idea of risking the youngster must surely be going through Eriksson's mind."
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Nuremberg

47 mins: The early signs are that England did not get a half-time rollicking from Sven-Goran Eriksson or find a secret stash of kryptonite in the changing room. It's moribund stuff summed up by an aimless Ashley Cole pass to... nobody.

Bad omen of the day for England fans. They have never scored a second-half World Cup goal under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"I've hardly seen any one-twos being played and without them you're not going to open them up. You've got to pass the ball and go for the return. Take your man away and create some space. The passing is not hurting Trinidad and Tobago."
Graham Taylor, BBC Five Live Sport

"England have won a reputation for delivering their best football in the first 45 minutes of matches - a disturbing prospect on this grim evidence."
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Nuremberg

"The passing has not been slick enough and this showing has not been good enough."
Terry Butcher, BBC Five Live Sport

Well I thought we were bloody awful for the first 70 minutes and then we sprang to life when Lennon, especially, and Rooney to a degree came on.
I think some radical changes are needed for our approach in the next stages or Spain will kill us, so probably will Argentina, Italy, Brazil and the Czech Republic... all far superior on the present showing.
But please don't forget - Beckham was responsible for our two key goals and Stevie G for the other.

On Tuesday Jens Lehmann said that he was "worried" about England: "They are playing like the germans used to do, not good, but at the end they win."

Today's game proves his point! So don't give up your hopes too soon!

Given that Paraguay scored for us in the first game.

That's NOT how you win World Cups.

Erikkson sticking by Owen - who has not played a full match now this year ! - was a disasterous mistake, as was bringing Walcott (who may as well not be there if he's not going to get a game). Rooney was a massive gamble - which may, or may not, pay off.

That's NOT how you win World Cups.

Remember, yesterday was the first time (under Errikkson) that England had scored a second half World Cup goal ! They usually storm out and hope to score in the first few minutes and then sit back and defend. They haven't really changed their tactics at all really.

Its 40 years since they won anything - and at the end of this month, it will be 40 years and 1 Month !!!!

other really good sides?
Czechs, Argentina, Italy, Brazil...
I totally agree about England and Germany (and Sweden come to that) - bloody awful until desperation at the end.
The only thing I did feel was agreement with Terry Venables who said when you've got talent like Lampard and Gerrard in the side you must build a structure around them that puts them in positions where they can score.
I'd keep Lennon in and Beckham looked far more comfortable in his new position. And I reckon I'd let Theo have a go. Adding youth seemed to work well with Lennon.

Both teams play well over 90 minutes, although Germany have taken a while to start scoring. Both will provide a stronger challenge than either Paraguay or T&T.

Rooney didn't look fit, and I wonder if he'll last the distance. Back too soon, I think. Owen also isn't fit. We needed to take two fit strikers who can do the job, rather than rely on reputations. We were handicapped from the start.

Bad management.