The England thread

[Matt]

To be fair, a side like:

GK: Hart, LB: Cole, RB: Walker, CB: Cahill, CB: Jones, CM: Cleverley, CM: Milner, RAM: Ox, LAM: Young, CAM: Wilshere, ST: Carroll.

would probably stand a shot of winning the World Cup if they got lucky (though ideally we need a better striker). But with the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Walcott, G Johnson, etc in the side... not a chance.

[stokeriño]

Ashley Cole will be 33 years old by the 2014 World Cup. Still first choice?

Not that I'm inferring that he should/shouldn't be. I'm just wondering aloud.

[9 to 5]

Could be yeah.

[Lineker]

If he's still good enough then why not.

[Matt]

Ashley Cole will be 33 years old by the 2014 World Cup. Still first choice?

Not that I'm inferring that he should/shouldn't be. I'm just wondering aloud.

Unless his form dips substantially before then I can't see why not, not like there's anyone better waiting in the wings... certainly wouldn't be confident with Gibbs or Bertrand unless they come on leaps and bounds.

[badotori]

Would like to see Leighton Baines get a few more opportunities for England - think he's improved at Everton defensively, would give us an extra option at set pieces and he's another player who can whip in a cross for Carroll. Gotta admit though that it would take a dip in form, like Matt said, or a long-term injury to Cole for him to lose his place - if he were fit for this game, Leighton'd be on the bench, after all.

[Lineker]

Moldova: Namasco, Armas, Epureanu, Bulgaru, Golovatenco, Sergei Kovalchuk, Sergei Kovalchuk, Gatcan, Onica, Suvorov, Patras, Picusciac.

Subs: Serghei Pascenco, Racu, Ovseanicov, Cebotaru, Bordiyan, Doros, Sidorenco, Alexandru Pascenco, Dedov, Ivanov, Alexeev, Negai.

England: Hart, Johnson, Lescott, Terry, Baines, Milner, Lampard, Cleverley, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gerrard, Defoe.

Subs: Ruddy, Walker, Bertrand, Cahill, Carrick, Jagielka, Walcott, Sturridge, Welbeck, Butland.

Referee: Paul van Boekel (Geboren)

[therockbox]

Roy says Carrick is a similar type of player to Gerrard.

hmmm

[Lineker]

Penalty to England!

[Lineker]

Lampard makes it 1-0.

[therockbox]

that was never a penalty.

[Gazz]

Ashley Cole will be 33 years old by the 2014 World Cup. Still first choice?

Not that I'm inferring that he should/shouldn't be. I'm just wondering aloud.

Well, it would seem that we will be taking 34 year old Steven Gerrard and 97 year old Frank Lampard, so why not...

[Lineker]

2-0; Lampard makes it a brace.

[Berober]

Lampard again, 2-0

[Lineker]

3-0; Defoe.

[therockbox]

We're gonna win the World Cup!

[Summers]

Easy.

[therockbox]

They think it's Maldova, it is now!

[Lineker]

World of Sport advert

Here comes Carrick, on for Gerrard.

[Lineker]

Now Walcott on for Oxlade-Chamberlain.