But Rooney looked below par; Stevie Gerrard is getting better and better though - I always liked that guy.

Mind you - if we beat Italy; how on earth will we beat Germany.

Incidentally - I was watching both games on 2 screens and the first Swedish goal was fabulous.

I thought that was an woeful display of football. A local pigeon could have scored Rooney's goal. I think all fans deserved a better effort than what we got tonight. That was supposed to be the top level of the game. Very poor. A waste of 90 mins.

I agree about Rooney, but the options/alternatives are so limited - as is his skill level. A good player in England, elsewhere mediocre.

Yes - the downside was I saw very little individual talent. The upside is that Gerrard really has grown into a superb Captain and leader; he's always been great at Liverpool but hasn't sparkled internationally; if we progress it will be down to Stevie and Roy (loved him at Fulham).

Incidentally, anyone else feel Sweden, not France, should be the other qualifier?

Alliana wrote:
I agree about Rooney, but the options/alternatives are so limited - as is his skill level. A good player in England, elsewhere mediocre.

His first goal at a major competition since the win over Croatia at Euro 2004.

He simply does not deserve his place !

JK2006 wrote:

Incidentally, anyone else feel Sweden, not France, should be the other qualifier?

On the football side no because they didn't score enough points ... but on another side, yes, because Swedish people are generally better to look at than the rest of the world. They are a beautiful nation.

Just fill the stadium with Swedes and we can watch crowd when the game gets boring.

Ah, now that's an interesting point PH - I was thinking Ukrainians are far better looking than us Brits too. And on the other side - I think Rooney is getting better looking as he gets older and surely the ugliest footballer in the world must be France's Ribery!

As for skill - that's why I favoured Sweden - I thought they actually were good players - but I think the greatest footballer of recent years has to be Zidane.

JK2006 wrote:
- but I think the greatest footballer of recent years has to be Zidane.

I agree - and probably followed by Figo and Messi.

They say there's no guarantee of happiness, but if you're Scottish and stick money on England to win the Euros, you're pretty much covered.