The England thread

[Colly]

Did anyone else find Townsend's commentary after Sterling fouled a defender leaving him on a stretcher hilarious? I know he's one eyed, but to ignore absolutely everything he was seeing to focus on Sterling 'being more careful late on in games so he doesn't hurt himself' was bordering on parody.

[stokeriño]

Hilarious? I've heard that joke too many times to still find it funny.

[Gazz]

I find his England bias really odd considering he is as Irish as a Leprechaun shaped Emerald floating in a pint of Guiness...

[Lineker]

[Baddar]

Already seen some knobhead make that his cover photo on fb. :/

[Colly]

Probably a few posts after slating Townsend for being rubbish.

[Lineker]

Townsend is rubbish!

[Colly]

I know!

[lanky316]

David Nugent only ever played 1 England game didn't he? 100% goal ratio.

I still give the goal to Defoe using the "own goal" logic. I especially love him celebrating on his own while everyone else congratulated Defoe.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

We'd not win a World Cup relying on Kyle Walker at right back.

[The Lusophone]

Clyne should be the focus for right back, but Walker's not exactly terrible.

[Lineker]

England manager Roy Hodgson will be forced to make changes for Tuesday's friendly with Italy in Turin.

Raheem Sterling and James Milner are out with toe and knee injuries respectively, while Leighton Baines also misses the trip.

Danny Welbeck is also unlikely to be involved as he picked up a knee injury in the 4-0 win over Lithuania .

Southampton's Ryan Bertrand has been called up but England will still only have 17 outfield players on duty.

"We'll be short of a few players for a game that means a lot to us and to me," said Hodgson, who had spells in Italy as manager of Inter Milan and Udinese.

He confirmed an agreement had previously been made with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers for Sterling, who scored England's third goal on Friday night, to return to Merseyside after the Lithuania game.

"Raheem needs an injection in his foot to help him get through the rest of the season," said Hodgson.

Although Welbeck is yet to be officially ruled out of Tuesday's game, it is highly unlikely the Arsenal forward, who scored his sixth goal in five Euro 2016 qualifiers against Lithuania, will be involved.

"He has a tweak to the knee," said Hodgson. "The medical staff give me the impression they're not terribly worried about it, but that Tuesday may be too soon."

[Nerf]

Clyne should be the focus for right back, but Walker's not exactly terrible.

Uh, yes. Yes he is. Very terrible.

[Rafael]

He had that great season In 11/12 if I remember correctly, then became shit.

[Lineker]

Walker was very good at one point but has been wrecked by injuries.

He is, however, country miles ahead of Kyle Naughton.

[The Lusophone]

Clyne should be the focus for right back, but Walker's not exactly terrible.

Uh, yes. Yes he is. Very terrible.

Not really, one of the better right back's in the league.

And besides, at least he's not Glen Johnson.

[Szumi]

I'd put Ivanovic, Aspi, Zabaleta, Sagna, Rafael, Debuchy, Clyne, and Carl Jenkinson ahead of him. That's just the top of my head.

[Nerf]

Plus Coleman, Janmaat and Chambers. I do not rate Walker at all. All pace, no brains.

[The Lusophone]

....

Jenkinson?

Seriously?

[Cymbols]

Matt Lowton too