Sweden 2-3 England: The game that made my heart almost give out

Wow... Now, I'm not known for my long term memory, but that was the most nervous I've ever been watching an England match, no scrap that, a football match in my entire life. No one can say that 'Woy', as he's now affectionately known by the England faithful, doesn't provide you with interesting games.

It started well for England in all fairness, the system that Hodgson had set out, sitting the two central midfielders just in front of the defence and allowing Sweden to come onto them (you shouldn't be thinking that...) was working well. The Swedes looked an average team in the early parts and there was actually talk of a simple England victory. Unfortunately, such a thing doesn't exist.

However, Roy proved his inclusion of Andy Carroll in the starting XI to be a clever move as he powerfully headed home a deep cross from his Liverpool counterpart, Gerrard, past Isaksson. Hodgson's tactics then played their part as England sat back and seemed in control as Sweden tried but failed to break them down. At half time all seemed in order, but the England we know and love/hate/despise managed to shoot themselves in the foot once again.

Two poorly defended set pieces early in the half put Sweden in the lead, both scored by Melberg, although the first should clearly go down as a Glen Johnson own goal. Like so many times before, all English minds thought in unison, 'here we go again', the BBC commentators wouldn't leave us alone with stats about how we've never beaten Sweden in this competition, or for this many games. It was tiresome and pointless commentary, but still it manages to beat ITV all ends up.

When all hope was lost though, there was only one man that Hodgson could turn to, Theo Walcott. I, as I'm sure many others sighed at the prospect of Walcott's impending arrival, but for the second time during the evening, Roy proved us wrong spectacularly. Walcott's first involvement was to smash the ball from the edge of the box over a helpless Isaksson. But his night didn't end there, after receiving the ball from Johnson, he took on two defenders with his pace and dinked a cross over to the awaiting Danny Welbeck, who managed to pull off one of the best finishes I've seen for a while.

It was now 3-2, I certainly couldn't believe that England had shown the character to come back, but Hodgson's got them working as a team in a short amount of time, I was indifferent about his appointment, but to be honest I wasn't too overly keen on 'Arry either. I'm now warming to the Hodgson regime, hopefully we can push on and beat Ukraine and hope that the Swedes, now with nothing to lose, absolutely hammer the French.

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Euro 2012: My thoughts so far - Group A

So we're well into the tournament now, so I thought since I've failed on my promise to deliver a few match reports I'd do this instead. So without further ado, here's my general thoughts on each team and who I'm tipping to reach European glory later this month. Here's the first of four instalments.

Group A:

Poland - Tournament co-hosts and one of the lesser teams in the competition with all due respect. They've shown glimpses of being contenders to progress from their group, but then they've fallen away towards the end of matches. Most notably during the Greece game, after going 1-0 up and facing a Greek team with 10 men, they lacked that experience needed to close out games.

Key man

Robert Lewandowski - The Borussia Dortmund striker leads the line excellently for the Poles and is clinical when he gets the chance, he needs to be playing well for them to succeed.

Greece - The Greeks look like they won't be able to emulate their 2004 successes any time soon. They look sloppy on the ball and are lucky to have the one point they sit bottom of Group A with. There's very little chance that they will qualify, but that would hardly hold any injustice about it. Their main player, so to speak - Georgios Samaras, has been ineffective to say the least and the team look like they just don't hold enough quality to compete at this level.

Key man


Granted, I don't know much about Greek international football, but due to his pride salvaging appearance off the bench in the opening game it has to be Dimitris Salpigidis, he just looked to have a certain cutting edge that the rest of the team lacked.



Czech Republic - After racking my brain to try and recall their two matches I realised why I couldn't. The reason being that they've been the most average team in the tournament, no-one's really stood out for them, while holding the second qualification place, they still have to face Poland which I can only see going one way.

Key man


Petr Cech - The Chelsea goalkeeper has had two poor matches so far, for the Czechs to qualify, he needs to stay solid between the sticks.






Russia - By far the stand out team in the group. They're quick and fluent in attack and a rejuvenated Arshavin has looked at his best playing in a more favourable central role for him. While drawing with Poland, they can confirm qualification with a win over bottom of the table Greece.

Key man

Alan Dzagoev - Currently the tournament's joint top goalscorer and the only Russian ever to be called Alan. He's looked sharp on the ball and has the ability to finish when he gets the chance, expect a few more goals from him in the latter stages.

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Euro 2012 Match Reports: Poland 1-1 Greece

In a match that looked like it would spur the joint host nation to push on and challenge in their group, Poland were soon brought crashing back to earth by a lacklustre Greece team who at times, looked like they should be playing Sunday league football, as far away from the international stage as possible.

Poland were clearly the better team from the off, they looked a sleeker team than the Greeks and were able to put a few passes together, the latter can't be said for the team in blue. Poland pressed and were rewarded after some repetitive sloppy play from their opposition. A cross from the right wing was calmly headed home by Lewandowski after the Greek keeper, Chalkias was left in no man's land.

It looked from then on that the crowd would push the Poles on to their first victory in this years competition and that task soon appeared easier after Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off for two very harsh yellow cards. The Greeks seemed dejected and you sensed that their tournament may have been over before half time.

But that wasn't to be the case as a slightly rejuvenated Greece looked to push for the equaliser, and that came in the 51st minute when super sub Salpingidis entered the fray to slot home after some sloppy play from Scezney. It wasn't to be the Arsenal goalkeeper's final mistake of the day as he was sent off shortly afterwards for tripping Salpingidis who really changed the game after his introduction.

It looked as if the Greeks would snatch the 3 points from the jaws of defeat, but the captain's penalty was saved by the replacement keeper Tyton who looked solid between the sticks.

A point was probably a fair result for the two teams but that has severely hindered both team's chances of qualifying in a group that is completed by Russia and the Czech Republic.

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New segment: Euro 2012 match reports

Since this blog should probably focus on serious football as well as comical exploits, I will try and do as many match reports as I can, of course I won't be able to watch every game due to other commitments but I'll try and put out as many as I can. The Poland v Greece game is currently under way so that should be out later tonight.

I can feel your excitement.

Ps. Who knows, there may even be some extras for you, go, tell your friends.

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Ilkeston, remember them?

I apologise greatly to the fans and supporters of Ilkeston FC, the club that Football Hearsay claimed they would follow the progress of the club until the end of the season.

Of course as you may have seen, this didn't happen. But, and that's a big but and I cannot lie. The mighty Ilkeston were promoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division as Play-off winners. I congratulate the team and attribute their promotion to the very little support we have given them. I apologise again.

Promotion was secured through two Play-off games, the first, beating Sheffield FC 7-0 in a resounding win to reach the final against Leek Town. The Robins won 2-0 with goals from Matt Richards and Daryll Thomas.

This means that Ilkeston will be taking on the likes of North Ferriby United and Kendal Town next season, I don't see how they can't secure back to back promotions.

Up the Robins

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