Day Eight - Uruguay v England

Pre-Match Thoughts
National expectations are pretty high in England. After the Italy defeat, Wayne Rooney copped for most of the flak, unfairly in my view, as Steven Gerrard, Leighton Baines and Joe Hart all contributed more to the defeat. All the same, Rooney finally has to make some kind of impact on the World Cup on his third (potentially last) attempt.

The England team is unchanged, which isn't a surprise, but also shows Roy Hodgson's lack of imagination. He'll be hoping the Uruguay that was beaten by Costa Rica turns up tonight. How much that works out depends on the fitness of Luis Suarez. One of the best in the world at top fitness, there's questions over just how fit he is. If he is, he could easily punish a slow English defence. But if not, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him limp off having had a totally ineffective game.

If England get beat, they're not out unless Costa Rica get any result against Italy tomorrow. Which is just as well, as I'm struggling to see them winning today. I'll go with 1-1, which with my form, means they'll probably win 4-0.

Drink?
Best had, watching this shower. Corona!

First Half
Though England dominated possession and came close through a Rooney free-kick early on, there was always a suspicion that the poor quality of the back four was haunt them eventually. Which came to pass when Suarez breezed into an unmarked position to nod home, concluding a good move that exposed all England's weaknesses. The Liverpool man is looking on top form here, and if there's more goals to be found for Uruguay, he's likely to snap them up.

In midfield, England have been weak and ineffective, doing little with the ball. Hodgson's system is clearly not working with the players he has, but so far he's been too weak to adapt. Whether staring humiliation in the face (the last time England made the finals and were knocked out first round was 1958) will change that will soon be seen.

Second Half
Like against Italy, England have been undone by poor midfield and defence. Steve Gerrard is clearly too old for this shit, and his fuck up cost England the game. His bizarre back header to his club teammate Suarez saw the winner put away, and fate remains in the hands of Italy now.

They had got themselves back in the game, with Wayne Rooney finally getting his goal at the World Cup. Glen Johnson at right back, who had been poor, did well to beat a man and get a ball in for the tap in. From there, Uruguay looked knackered and there to be taken. And then... a long punt up field, which should be meat and drink for any quality defenders, leads to disaster. England deserve to get knocked out, for total lack of imagination on every level.

Token Northern Utterance
'ecky thump!