Which hulking be-ponytailed striker will be dominant today?
After its loss to Ukraine, the Swedish coach Erik Hamren berated his players as “cowards,” and Captain Zlatan was reported to be furious with his teammates for their lackadaisical play. Not the customary headlines from that pacific nation.
No less uncharacteristic is the quiet and harmony issuing from the English camp. Who knew that Frank Lampard was such a troublemaker!
A draw is not in the best interests of either team, though of course with a loss, Sweden joins the Irish in the early departure lounge.
As disclosed previously, I will be watching this match in my Swedish national team jersey.
The president was heckled by a reporter twice today.
Obama answered the first time and the second time he said in effect that he wasn’t there to argue.
4.
Linnaeus
No particular loyalties in this game, although my great-grandfather played football as a young man in England, so I guess I lean toward England here.
5.
Amir Khalid
@Maude:
I wouldn’t worry about Obama, and I doubt any commenter here would either. But as a former journalist, I feel very strongly about this: heckling a speech, disrupting an event you’re supposed to be covering, should be a firing offense for a reporter. Then again, given that it was the Daily Caller he works for, I doubt anything like that is going to happen.
6.
SRW1
Personally no dog in this one, but I’d love for Ibra to do a Sheva.
7.
MikeJ
Engerland! Engerland!
8.
SRW1
So, did Carrol just earn the first of his £35 Million?
What the hell is up with England wearing those navy blue kits? Surely they could merchandise a different take on red and white just as well.
15.
SRW1
Strictly speaking an own goal.
16.
MikeJ
That’s the England I know.
17.
burnspbesq
The blue unis are for Andy Carroll. “Blue” doesn’t rhyme with “row zed.”
18.
MikeJ
It’s like cheering for PG Tips. Five minutes in the cup.
19.
Onkel Fritze
Just been reading up on the statistics: England have never won against Sweden in a tournament; they haven’t won in 44 years.
And now….2:1
20.
burnspbesq
Hart has to go get that.
21.
Mark S.
England, it works better if you have your defenders between your opponents and the goal.
22.
Face
Sweden quite cocksure
23.
curiousleo
@burnspbesq: The English defense has to mark Olaf there. How is he completely unmarked?
24.
Amir Khalid
And Sweden come from behind to take the lead. I said from the beginning that England would find a way to raise fans’ expectations and then dash them. See? See?
Not disagreeing, but Hart has the play in front of him and should be able to see that Mellberg is unmarked. American keepers are trained to go in that situation. Timmeh would have gone and gotten it off Mellberg’s head. Worst case, you give up a PK.
@burnspbesq: Timmeh wouldn’t have taken that silly shuffle left to then be out of position for the reaction save/dive to the right. I don’t disagree that Hart could have done better. But that’s not the first or even 2nd miscue that resulted in a goal.
Even b/f Hart was needed, the English defense should have done MUCH better. It was a ridiculous slide by Milner that gave the free kick. And then to leave Mellberg *completely* open?
38.
Amir Khalid
In keeping with my pre-tournament prediction for England, I expect Sweden to score a winner just as the ref is about to blow for full-time.
I will never diss Theo Walcott again. Until next season.
44.
otmar
I haven’t seen the first games of this group, but based on what I saw today:
How in god’s name did Sweden manage to lose vs. the Ukraine?
45.
pete
In light of the political news, I had to enjoy the US commentators saying “England is DREAMing.”
Ukraine could be tough, and England needs something out of that game, right? I mean, other than Rooney not getting sent off.
46.
WindyCityCat
The match tonight was fantastic. My seats were right next to the English section, and now i’m at a pub in Kiev celebrating the England victory. Good times all around.
As one rooting for Sweden, I must say this was a thoroughly deserved defeat. Allowing in two goals in less than 20 minutes after taking the lead is simply unacceptable for a squad of such seasoned veterans. Midfielder Kim Kallstrom, in particular, with 94 caps to his name was atrocious.
After the success enjoyed and offensive flair revealed in friendly matches since spring, it was all the more puzzling and dispiriting to witness Sweden’s erratic and anxious play in this tournament. Following Mellberg’s goal when England should have been on the back foot, it deteriorated to the primitive: simply hoofing the ball forward. With such ponderous play and a defensive corps known to lumber, Sweden risks embarrassment in its final match against France. Zlatan may well look into dual citizenship options before the 2014 World Cup.
And England, while appearing decidedly average in both matches, looks to advance with a draw against Ukraine (current goal differential makes that a reasonable option). Much credit must be given to Danny Wellbeck for his delightfully inventive goal today and to Ashley Young whose pace and wiles unnerved Swedish defenders throughout the match. Perhaps it was canny after all to discount English prospects at Euro2012.
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Yutsano
Sverige.
handsmile
Which hulking be-ponytailed striker will be dominant today?
After its loss to Ukraine, the Swedish coach Erik Hamren berated his players as “cowards,” and Captain Zlatan was reported to be furious with his teammates for their lackadaisical play. Not the customary headlines from that pacific nation.
No less uncharacteristic is the quiet and harmony issuing from the English camp. Who knew that Frank Lampard was such a troublemaker!
A draw is not in the best interests of either team, though of course with a loss, Sweden joins the Irish in the early departure lounge.
As disclosed previously, I will be watching this match in my Swedish national team jersey.
Maude
The president was heckled by a reporter twice today.
Obama answered the first time and the second time he said in effect that he wasn’t there to argue.
Linnaeus
No particular loyalties in this game, although my great-grandfather played football as a young man in England, so I guess I lean toward England here.
Amir Khalid
@Maude:
I wouldn’t worry about Obama, and I doubt any commenter here would either. But as a former journalist, I feel very strongly about this: heckling a speech, disrupting an event you’re supposed to be covering, should be a firing offense for a reporter. Then again, given that it was the Daily Caller he works for, I doubt anything like that is going to happen.
SRW1
Personally no dog in this one, but I’d love for Ibra to do a Sheva.
MikeJ
Engerland! Engerland!
SRW1
So, did Carrol just earn the first of his £35 Million?
Mark S.
Wow
Amir Khalid
Liverpool 1 Germany nil.
SRW1
John T going for the ball(s).
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
Idiot. That should be
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
Well, in the spirit of handsmile’s question at #2 it probably should be
Liverpool 1 Milan 0
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
What the hell is up with England wearing those navy blue kits? Surely they could merchandise a different take on red and white just as well.
SRW1
Strictly speaking an own goal.
MikeJ
That’s the England I know.
burnspbesq
The blue unis are for Andy Carroll. “Blue” doesn’t rhyme with “row zed.”
MikeJ
It’s like cheering for PG Tips. Five minutes in the cup.
Onkel Fritze
Just been reading up on the statistics: England have never won against Sweden in a tournament; they haven’t won in 44 years.
And now….2:1
burnspbesq
Hart has to go get that.
Mark S.
England, it works better if you have your defenders between your opponents and the goal.
Face
Sweden quite cocksure
curiousleo
@burnspbesq: The English defense has to mark Olaf there. How is he completely unmarked?
Amir Khalid
And Sweden come from behind to take the lead. I said from the beginning that England would find a way to raise fans’ expectations and then dash them. See? See?
Randinho
The beard is beating the ponytail
Yurpean
Get in there!
Paula
Who the bleedin’ fuck is this Olaf person?
In related topics, how the fuck do FIFA rank Blighty in the top 10 permanently? Is the whole “we codified football” thing constantly grandfathered in?
MikeJ
Ok, we have an actual game now.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
What a cracker!
Onkel Fritze
Excellent goalkeeping.
SRW1
Atrocious goal keeping at both ends this.
Mark S.
Goalapolooza
SRW1
There’s no way this game ends two all. Nerves are all over the place here.
Leeds man
Wrong week to quit smoking, and drinking.
burnspbesq
@curiousleo:
Not disagreeing, but Hart has the play in front of him and should be able to see that Mellberg is unmarked. American keepers are trained to go in that situation. Timmeh would have gone and gotten it off Mellberg’s head. Worst case, you give up a PK.
Onkel Fritze
@Leeds man: Wrong week to quit sniffing glue
curiousleo
@burnspbesq: Timmeh wouldn’t have taken that silly shuffle left to then be out of position for the reaction save/dive to the right. I don’t disagree that Hart could have done better. But that’s not the first or even 2nd miscue that resulted in a goal.
Even b/f Hart was needed, the English defense should have done MUCH better. It was a ridiculous slide by Milner that gave the free kick. And then to leave Mellberg *completely* open?
Amir Khalid
In keeping with my pre-tournament prediction for England, I expect Sweden to score a winner just as the ref is about to blow for full-time.
curiousleo
And now it’s 3-2 England.
SRW1
That goal’s gonna be in the tournament top 5.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
Goddammit! I have to go to work.
Why can’t Welbeck finish like that for Utd?
Amir Khalid
@curiousleo:
Curses! Foiled again!
Leeds man
I will never diss Theo Walcott again. Until next season.
otmar
I haven’t seen the first games of this group, but based on what I saw today:
How in god’s name did Sweden manage to lose vs. the Ukraine?
pete
In light of the political news, I had to enjoy the US commentators saying “England is DREAMing.”
Ukraine could be tough, and England needs something out of that game, right? I mean, other than Rooney not getting sent off.
WindyCityCat
The match tonight was fantastic. My seats were right next to the English section, and now i’m at a pub in Kiev celebrating the England victory. Good times all around.
Randy Paul
@pete: All England need is a point.
handsmile
As one rooting for Sweden, I must say this was a thoroughly deserved defeat. Allowing in two goals in less than 20 minutes after taking the lead is simply unacceptable for a squad of such seasoned veterans. Midfielder Kim Kallstrom, in particular, with 94 caps to his name was atrocious.
After the success enjoyed and offensive flair revealed in friendly matches since spring, it was all the more puzzling and dispiriting to witness Sweden’s erratic and anxious play in this tournament. Following Mellberg’s goal when England should have been on the back foot, it deteriorated to the primitive: simply hoofing the ball forward. With such ponderous play and a defensive corps known to lumber, Sweden risks embarrassment in its final match against France. Zlatan may well look into dual citizenship options before the 2014 World Cup.
And England, while appearing decidedly average in both matches, looks to advance with a draw against Ukraine (current goal differential makes that a reasonable option). Much credit must be given to Danny Wellbeck for his delightfully inventive goal today and to Ashley Young whose pace and wiles unnerved Swedish defenders throughout the match. Perhaps it was canny after all to discount English prospects at Euro2012.