The Carroll header was little short of breathtaking, one of the best goals of its type you will ever see. Gerrard's cross, for the second game in succession, was perfect and the power of the header was nothing short of awesome. Brilliant and one of the goals of the tournament so far.
But it got better. I will say now that no other team in the competition could recover and win from going ahead and then conceding two goals to find themselves in arrears. Every other team would have been so psychologically scarred that, after pulling level, they would have played for the draw. But not England!
And who was responsible for triggering the recovery? Most would say Walcott, but in truth it was the much maligned John Terry. True his header was brilliantly saved, but the fact that he forced that save sent the adrenaline pumping and put the fear of God into the Swedes. Hope surged through the veins and England never looked back from that point.
True Walcott's goal was lucky - the keeper should have saved it - but Sweden's first was luckier. Our third goal was, in contrast, simply sublime. The move started deep in out half. We passed the ball superbly and Walcott's burst beyond the last defender and cross were breathtaking. And Welbeck's finish? Well if Zola meant his back heeled goal, then Welbeck meant this one! A truly brilliant goal and the best of the competition so far in my book.
There was still time, of course, for Gerrard to miss a sitter!
So, draw with the Ukraine and we are through. But we need to beat them and pray for Sweden to draw with France - the key now is to avoid Spain in the next round. Well done Woy!
29 comments:
Terry inspired fuck all mate another captains performance from Gerrard Walcott changed the game what the fuck were you watching Hf
You spoilt this article with that Terry nonsense, HF.
What was brilliant about Carroll's header was that it's very easy to mistime headers you have to put power onto, from crosses that are already travelling at pace. He connected beautifully. Unlucky to be dropped next game, but should keep him hungry and and confident after today's performance.
I agree, all things considered, Welbeck's goal is the best of the tournament I've seen so far. It was the quickness of thought that does it, as he had to improvise with the cross behind him.
Anony-mouse says,
00.54 has it right about Terry. He played OK, but it's several steps too far to credit him with turning the game.
That Carroll header was something else. It wasn't just powerful and accurate, but had a wonderful deftness about it too.
I don't think we're brilliant by any means but for once it feels like we've got a side who won't underachieve or let us down. We won't beat Spain, but then I suspect no one can, so let's just enjoy it for what it is- us playing our part in a very decent competition.
Scott Parker was my motm last night- the ground he covered and the blocks he put in were typical of him. He outshone and carried a disappointing Gerrard who was anonymous for the first two thirds of the match. Had that wonderful shot he'd hit gone in I'd have won my bet with you already HF, as it is both of us can still win that tenner in the final group game.
For the most part John Terry has been immense for England and is our best defender. Still the leader of England in my eyes and probably the players aswell. France to beat Sweden looks nailed on now but if we can match their goal difference then we could top the group. Big ask but its obviousley very important to avoid Spain. Italy look like a team we can beat, nothing amazing about them. A 2.0 win against Ukraine couples with France beating Sweden 1.0 should hopefully see us top the group on goals scored, can be done
Hyper expectation. Mega deflation. Indignation. Disappointment. Repeat again in 2 years. The English will never learn.
To be fair, I am not calling Terry the man of the match or anything stupid like that. He was at fault for the second Swedish goal in my book. But my mood and the mood of everybody in the pub I was in changed when Terry, in typical style, led from the front, literally, with that header. People around me were talking about how we could still qualify if we lost but suddenly the lions roared because of that JT header. Would Ferdinand have led in the same way? No chance!
As for Parker, he has been a revelation so far. However, as ordinary as Gerrard has been for much of both games, he does have two brilliant assists to his name!
What's so exciting is that younger players are looking the part. Hart, Welbeck, Carroll, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott - add to that lot Rooney, Wilshire, Rodwell, Jones, Smalling...
just shows how liverpool have messed up with andy carroll, he is the best headerer of the ball in world football, he might not have pace, passing ability or much skill, his shooting is hit and miss so if you don't play to his strengths he obviously looks very average, but pump the ball up to him back to goal he will torture even the biggest 6'2 dominent cb, just look at the two games against chelsea last season when liverpool finally clicked (or stopped taking any notice of king kennys tactics) and he destroyed terry and put the ball in the box to attack and he can bullet headers in for fun
9.09- That's the old recipe, but you've got it wrong if you think thats what's happening this time. Our previous experiences and the fact that none of the players have wanted to/ been allowed to mouth off about winning stuff we're not good enough to win means that expectations this time round are not unrealistic. We're an OK team who are giving it a go.
HF- I largely agree with your last comments, apart from the Terry/ Rio bit but who knows who's right on that one. The young players are a bit of a mixed bunch- Oxlade-Chamberlain is a raw talent but not able to consistently make his mark on a competition like this just yet.
Is it me or is Welbeck the attacking equivalent of Parker- a selfless, workaholic who harries and disrupts the opposition to the point of distraction. Like Scotty though he's got more to him than just that as that sublime improvised finish shows.
With Rio in, the defence would have been more organised in my opinion. No way would they have let silly goals like that in. Massive holes everywhere
You must be well dosed up HF,from what I saw ENGLAND looked very average .
All due to an epic blunder by the Swedish goalkeeper really! If it was Green that did this for England there would be nothing else to talk about in England for the next few weeks!
Souns like the words of a jealous Greek Cypriot to me! England's first and third goals were two of the best in the tournament so far!
My racial background has nothing to do with my comments. You should know that by now. Only YOU can bring this up. You forgot to say that I am also a British national and the biggest supporter of England in 1966. But that was a different England team from the one we had today.
By the way, I am not at all sure that Welbeck meant to score like that as he was doing his impersonation of a ballet dancer in front of goal. My point is, that if it wasn't for that horrenous gaffe by the Swedish goalkeeper England would never be back in the game and we would be all talking now how bad that team was. That's all. By the way, as a Greek, I have nothing to be jealous of England, because we won the Euro!
09:09 at least we get to the tournament you sour jock.
Chill Sav, chill. Sweden wouldn't have been back in the game but for two lucky deflections and Johnson putting it in his own net! That goal was far luckier than Walcott's. You are being churlish about Welbeck's goal. It was quality, as was Carroll's and we should have scored another when Gerrard's shot was saved.
Yes Greece did win the Euros but then Greece was once the centre of civilisation rather than the plug hole through which Europe's wealth is draining away! ; ]
I will not respond to your racial insults because I don't want to insult all my English friends which are nothing like you. This is not about Greece and England. I thought this was a football blog! Maybe I am wrong!
You are a sensitive soul Sav. What is racist exactly? Is Greece heading out of the Euros? Is Greece heading out of the Euro? Nothing racist about terming the Greek football team sub standard nor in terming the Greek economy bust. My initial comment was a throw away line because you were so churlish about our win, your reaction is way over the top! Insult England as much as you like mate, I think you will find that 99% of us will either agree or take it with a pinch of salt!
And the Greek women are no better it seems Sav, currently being licked 4-0 by Russia!
Why do you presume that I want to insult England? I have only posted some very true and honest comments about the huge blunder by the Swedish goalkeeper that turned the match around. And all hell broke lose from you insulting my race and calling me jealous and all that. I think you should read my initial comment and your responses to it once more.
I do think that Greece is terrible this year and I have stated that in another comment in one of your posts. But this is not about Greece vs England that you are trying so hard to make it about!
Also, can you please tell me how the Swedish goalkeeper's dreadful mistake for his team is any different from what Green did in the World Cup and he was totally crucified? At least Green was moving towards the ball rather than away from it!
I expect the Swedish keeper is being heavily criticised in Sweden Sav. How was it different? Walcott's shot went through a crowd of players, Green had a perfect view. Walcott's shot was also deflected wasn't it?
The point is though, both Sweden and England scored a lucky goal. They cancelled each other out. We still scored two excellent goals to Sweden's one reasonable, but poorly defended, goal.
I don't think Walcott's shot was deflected and it was straight at the keeper and with not too much power. Also, Green had to dive to save a shot at the corner of the goal.
LOL Sav, you've been on the wacky backy! The memory's gone mate. Green dived to save a shot at the corner of the goal? Watch it via this link! A mid terrace is on the corner of the street is it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo5GyRnDtMY
You make me sick to pit of my stomach with your racist comments, you are always very quick to mention my race, you do so time and time again.
Anyway I shall go back to my celebrations tonight, good luck on Tuesday hahaha
Your race? That would be the Marathon presumably? Do you want to correct yourself about that USA shot heading for the corner?
That is not my comment. It is by an imposter "Sav".
I have posted a comment admitting that I was wrong about the position of the ball in Green's howler at the World Cup which you didn't post though.
Bloody imposter Savs! You must have hit the wrong button mate, it's not in Spam either. Anyway, enjoy the victory! I'm toasting Greece at the moment. I laid both games to finish 0-0 on Betfair so have made a decent profit. But I was worried until Greece netted!
You didn't have my comment?! So where did it go?
No idea Sav, there is the odd glitch on blogspot from time to time. What about the vote then? Opted for slow death rather than the swallow dive then?
The so called "Real Sav" is the imposter again HF. Sorry I didn't post that comment.
Greeks have voted for what they thought is the lesser of two evils. But I can't see the Euro surviving. Not with the Germans wanting to impose the 4th Reich in Europe. Wait for the real problems now showing up in Italy and Spain.
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