That is more or less as I saw it too Vinders. It was a very poor match and there was not a lot of football played by either side, BUT I did think that of the two teams Portugal played slightly the better football. If they had got a better strike force they would have won it.

Hang on a minute I will just give my old mate Jimmy Calderwood a ring at Aberdeen!!

Not wishing to appear pedantic Bob, but I think you will find it was Roberts that scored first for Wigan, and Kuqi that scored the equaliser for us. Sorry!!

Do you mean like the old time Gelders used to do it to horses? - with a couple of bricks. Ouch!

Grabbi?

Just wondering if (assuming all else fails) Bentley could carry out that role, or possibly MGP (with Peter on the left MF role). MGP probably not quick enough but has all the other attributes for the support striker role.

Hughsey have you been on the crack cocaine? You naughty boy!

Absolutely right there Oklahoma. The lad may not be what we were all hoping for (and that may be still to come) but now he's here and one of us, so let's all trust in the MH effect. And looking on the bright side; IF it works out and Jeffers becomes the striker he once was, just think of the benefits. Every once top striker in the world will be queuing up to come to Rovers and get their carreers re-vitalised. Just as long as they dont all have the "dreaded clause" in their contracts!!

At least they have had the sense to do that this time. I am not very uplifted by this signing, but as always I HOPE the lad finds his form and does well for both us and himself. Anyway enough of the negative stuff. Welcome to Blackburn Rovers Francis, I really do hope you will justify the faith shown in you by MH and JW. Get in there lad and show us all what you can do!! P.S. I hope you have not got a clause in your contract letting you go to any Champions League club for peanuts!

I agree wholeheartedly with all of that RTH and seriously would like to see it happen. However I wont be holding my breath; just my contributions to Sky Sports and to all Prem and Championship level clubs, as discussed on this board last week before this latest incident which seems to have made a number of other people realise what mugs we are all being taken for. Just one question with regard to your first paragraph: who is going to do the reviewing at Arsenal? Whoops! silly question: has to Ashley Cole!

Damned good question that Abbs! I never read them and I had no idea what they were saying.

I thought overall England did pretty well today. Up to the sending off of Rooney we had threatened to score as much as Portugal had; which is next to nothing. Beckham to me was very disappointing, he hardly made a decent pass or cross all the match up to were he got injured. But generally speaking we were certainly well in the game and as good as them. Then after the sending off, and down to 10, we started to play. We were far better at getting at them and in behind their back four with Lennon and Hargreaves both creating panic on several occasions. Crouch was doing a good job of holding the ball up and getting round their defenders on a number of occasions. The only problem was that there was nobody making any effective runs for him to release to. The defence did well all afternoon. We held them off right through extra time and when we got to penalties I felt sure we would not blow it this time. Surely they will have been practicing taking penalties for weeks, in the light of past experiences and this time it will be OK. How wrong can you get!? Only Hargreaves got it right, and for me he was England's MOM, with honorable mentions for both Lennon and Crouch.

You just beat me to it Lathund; I was about to say the same. That guy is absolutely brilliant at stopping penalties! How many is that now? Fantastic!!

stick to debate and cut out the abuse Here, here! C'mon people we are all disappointed and this can come out as anger. But please everyone take a deep breath and ask yourself "who am I angry at"? Then let's remember we are all pals together on this site, and then we can get on and have a sensible or at least a good humoured discussion on the various events and comments we have seen. Remember it is not the end of the world; just the end of the World Cup for England. We will be back!!

NO! NO!! NO!!! NO!!!! At least we can claim to still be one of the few Nations in World Football that does not stoop to these gutter tricks to con a way to victory. Let's just keep it that way.

We're used to it!

Just wait until the final whistle is blown before singing that one!

I really don't think this present England squad is capable of beating Germany in a final on their own soil. I would love to be proved wrong, but I would rather we don't have to find out. :ph34r:

I feel the same as you Greg; much better if both those teams had lost!

I realise you're only kidding Pleasure, but now getting serious. I really don't think Matt would be so silly as to do anything like that when he is desperately trying to resurect his carreer. I hope the lad gets settled with a good club and finds some decent form on a regular basis.

Starting to sound rather like the mafia have got involved in this football scandal. Could have the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster before long!

I like your summary of the situation, and I tend to agree with it. Certainly on the results so far, and given a fairly large portion of "lady luck" we just might go all the way this time. BUT given the original squad selection, and the injuries sustained so far, combined with the performances on the pitch I would say we are looking at a bit more than "lady luck" to actually win the trophy; more like a miracle!

I certainly would; they are no use to me now!

What about the two penalties that Poll missed for the Aussies. First one where the Croat defender did a rugby tackle on Viduca in the area and got nothing for it. Second one where a Croat defender clearly handled to clear a cross into the box. Both of them absolute certs; not even a shadow of doubt.

Oops! Looking back I can see what you mean. Thanks for pointing that out; I have led a rather sheltered life