So, a really entertaining game against Ecuador, even if the result is a reminder that England are capable of "not beating" almost anyone on their day. Frustratingly excellent performances from many of the squad who probably won't be lining up against Italy, but without doubt the most entertaining England game for some time.
The inevitable injury came - with Oxlade-Chamberlain doing grim things to his medial ligaments and surely forfeiting all but a cameo appearance in the group stages as a result. With John Stones his potential replacement I fully understand Hodgson's stance of sticking with the Ox in the hope he recovers. Nothing against Stones (for he has an awesome surname) - but he just isn't a like for like replacement and so would not offer anything to the squad.
And whilst England acclimitise to the heat by playing in Miami - I do the same from the sofa, dipping into the first taste of slightly late night football - with the 9.45pm kickoff. I'll blog specifically, another time, about the perils of losing 3 hours sleep per night for the lion's share of the tournament. I expect new fathers out there are ideally built to cope with a World Cup schedule like this - already finely tuned to sleep less and broadly hold it together.
My prediction tonight - a meaningless but confidence swelling 4-0 victory to England, Rooney to score again, Barkley to stake a firmer claim on that advance midfield role and Honduras to look like they'd rather be/just have been on the beach.
My next job, before kick-off, is to complete full predictions - match by match for the entire tournament.
The inevitable injury came - with Oxlade-Chamberlain doing grim things to his medial ligaments and surely forfeiting all but a cameo appearance in the group stages as a result. With John Stones his potential replacement I fully understand Hodgson's stance of sticking with the Ox in the hope he recovers. Nothing against Stones (for he has an awesome surname) - but he just isn't a like for like replacement and so would not offer anything to the squad.
And whilst England acclimitise to the heat by playing in Miami - I do the same from the sofa, dipping into the first taste of slightly late night football - with the 9.45pm kickoff. I'll blog specifically, another time, about the perils of losing 3 hours sleep per night for the lion's share of the tournament. I expect new fathers out there are ideally built to cope with a World Cup schedule like this - already finely tuned to sleep less and broadly hold it together.
My prediction tonight - a meaningless but confidence swelling 4-0 victory to England, Rooney to score again, Barkley to stake a firmer claim on that advance midfield role and Honduras to look like they'd rather be/just have been on the beach.
My next job, before kick-off, is to complete full predictions - match by match for the entire tournament.
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