Well, based on that match, England shouldn't have a problem qualifying. Both teams were very poor in a very dull match. Switzerland were down to 10 men just after half time, and apart from a near goalkeeping cock up, Switzerlands keeper was barely troubled.

Another poor match for refereeing, 7 yellows and a red I think in another match without a bad tackle.

Now for the big one... C'mon Engerland!!!!

At least you got to watch it. Over here the match was preempted by fucking car races. France/England will be on in just over a 1/2 hour though.

I intend on watching every single match in Euro 2004. Yes, I am sad. Yes, I have no life. Yes, I am going to have 1 very very pissed off girlfriend over the next 3 weeks.

Replace girlfriend with "boyfriend" in that post, and you've got my month mapped out.
Unfortunately, i have a class during tmrw's Italy match, so i'll be taping it.

Well if these performances are anything to go by, England (should) have absolutely nothing to worry about.

The game was a scrappy, slow, boring affair which looked like neither team were ever going to score even if they had tried for two weeks. Ok it was very hot down there (30 degrees) so a possession game was expected, but gah it almost cured my insomnia !

The first half mind started off ok with the Croatians have alot of joy down the flanks with Olic and Mornar really stretching the back line. Also with Prso dropping deep he was also causing another problem for the defence whether to follow him or not.

But still there wasnt really anything clear cut for the Croations. Towards the end of the 1st half they had a freekick by which the Swiss tried to play an offside, but instead Haas kept them on and it was left with four Croatians against the goalie. But Prso's header was well saved by Steil and Olic's follow up should of at least made the keeper work but ended up over.

Nico Kovac for croatia did have a couple too, with pretty much a free header from a corner which he just couldnt get under, and a 35 yard drive which went about 3 yards over the bar.

The Swiss did get a chance mind from a corner, and if Bernt Haas hadnt tried to glance it in it would of caused problems.

The second half though was a different story. The Croatians did start off as they finished the first half getting a few half chances, but the game changed when Voggel got sent off for the Swiss by kicking the ball away...which i thought was pretty stupid as he was already on a yellow and he did it right in front of the ref.

After the sending off though the Swiss quite undertandably sat back then and played one upfront (taking off Chapuisat, who by the way looked nothing like the great striker of old) to try and take the Croatians on the break.

So what followed then was possibly some of the most boring and clueless football ive seen in a while. The Croatians with the one man advangtage should of gone for it, with their fullbacks running down the wings stretching the 10 men apart. But no instead the back four stayed flat up the back and the Craotians went very narrow and showed no ambition what so ever.

In the late stages of the second half it was the Swiss who had the best two chances and could of stole it, even though both teams didnt deserve to score.

The highlight of the match though was Steil's misjusdgement of the ball which almost resulted in a very embarressing goal for the Croatians as he scampered back just to stop the ball going in the open net from about 6 yards.

Overall the Swiss played too narrow and have no real attacking options what so ever. Hakan Yakin is really the only shining light in what is a very poor Switzerland team, but even he went disappearing in the game. While the Croatians were stronger, bigger, more aggressive and had more options upfront in the first half, but in the second half, they looked clueless, shapeless and scared of conceding. Also with the highest scorer in their team with only 6 goals (shared by Olic and Nico Kovak) it was plainly obvious why as there just was nospark or flair in the team.

Thats really it.....i can sum it up in one word, crap !!

Which is obviously good news for us English, especially if he game against France dont go our way.

Piss off uno i do the write ups ;)

Yeah, what happened to you today, Royster? I was looking forward to more of your invective!

ive just posted it at the same time as uno

Another fine synopsis (although i the game was pre-empted here, but i can imagine it). Good job.

Merged both threads.

Cool good stuff uno :D

I enjoyed the first half, second was a bit shit.
Again the ref was a bit card happy - good to see him giving bookings for diving (even if the Prso one wasn't justified)
And England fans saying both teams were crap - you're just making a rod for your own backs: Croatia haven't got much up front but they can move the ball around well and there aren't too many better players than Yakin. You should beat them, but if you don't ...

Well, this result has more significance now. England should comfortably beat these two, but after tonights events, I'm taking nothing for granted.