England created three or four good chances so you're right, if every one of those had gone in they would have had three or four goals. Due to poor finishing from the dismal Heskey and SWP they didn't get them. How is that unlucky rather than poor play from players out of their depth? I've seen a few people say that but luck obviously had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Of course every team loses the ball, but a team as talented as England shouldn't do it so often. What, other than the assist, impressed you about Heskey? He didn't do anything else useful.

I didn't write the USA off, I just said they're not in the same class as England in terms of individual talent. No need to be condescending.

And could you, and any other English fans here, answer just one question: why are you content for your team to play the long ball up to the big man when they have such exceptional players? It's 1970s stuff. They tried it for so long last night and it just didn't work, against average defenders.

What you are talking about? USA lost against Italy 3-1 and against Brazil 3-2. Not only that, they lost Concacaf's Gold cup finals to Mexico 5-0.

Well on the evidence of the appauling Slovakia vs Algeria match, England are in for a few easy games to sort out our issues, so we shouldn't be too worried, we just need to score plenty of goals to make sure we go top

Serbia vs Ghana might be an interesting match, both pretty good teams, even without Essien

Now that's xenophobic, good man yourself! I'm Irish by the way. I had no idea that excluded me from criticising the English team though.

I know it wasn't a terrible result but surely you expect a win against inferior opposition? And to play more imaginative football? And to have sorted out the Gerrard-Lampard problem after all these years?

A draw means you actually have to try in the next two games, so it was important to win

I hate those horns. Seriously.

Someone hit another guy with one. Get them banned. Please!

Totally ruining it. I'm thinking about muting the TV and getting some Radio commentary on...

My apologies. It was Spain they beat. I meant to say they were 'beating' Brazil. The performance against Brazil was amazing by USA. And Mexico? Every team has a blunder much. Look at Algeria today. They were faves against Slovenia. Either way I expect USA and England to go through easily of the dire performances of Alg and Slov. That is a poor performance. What England did was good. World Class? No. But it's the first match. We never see world class in any first World Cup match from any team. Solid yes. 

Regardless, this talk of England being poor is unfounded. They played well. Had a wealth of chances. Sometimes in football the ball just doesnt fall kindly. It's football after all. Argentina played well and only scored 1 goal as well. 

I hope Green plays the next match to. That can happen to any keeper in the world cup. It was a freak moment that is very rare for a keeper to make twice in a season let alone a World Cup.

Can we have him?

We play long ball because we're shite though.

The Dutch are usually my team in Ireland's absence. I'm not sure why, maybe something to do with their unpredictability. The French hate here is so embarrassing I almost hope they do win it. All this crap from non-football dickheads who don't know Robbie Keane handled the ball into the net to give us the win over Georgia. Every pub has jumped on the bandwagon, there's posters of Henry with "Barred!" written on them everywhere. It's humiliating.

I would have called Englands play last night mixed. Not only long ball. I remember lots of times England playing short balls through the middle creating chances and causing lots of problems. I agree the times we played long ball didnt really work last night. But mixing it up, makes the opposition not knowing what you nay do. 

Defensively in open play, England pushed up well, defended high, and it was good to see the forwards attacking the ball with the mid fielders right up close. Something England hasnt done before. It worked much better. 

Dont get me wrong, it wasnt perfect. And not up to Final standard. But no team plays that well first match.

It was solid, which I'm happy with. Disappointing goal. Hell yes. Will get on Greens back? No way. It can happen to any keeper. No matter of talent. 

All I'm saying is there was alot more positives than negatives. But because of the quality of individuals we have, everyone expects perfection with England for 100% of the time.

Ha ha thats funny Kenny.

At least the beeb and ITV have lowered the volume levels of the crowds. Now it's not so much a buzz and if you listen really well you can hear the crowd. Sometimes.

You can also hear tunes from the vulvas. Still bloody annoying as you shouldn't have to lower the sound and listen intentively just to hear atmosphere at a footy game.