International Friendlies - England vs Norway/Belgium [May 26th - June 2nd 2012]

[Robbo]

Norway vs England - May 26th, ITV1 HD

England vs Belgium - June 2nd, ITV1 HD

Other international friendlies:

Discuss all other international friendlies in here too! List of fixtures:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/fixtures/_/league/fifa.friendly/international-friendly

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/fixtures

 

[Robbo]

Wonder if Hazard will play for Belgium

Or if we will have signed him by then.

 

[Robbo]

Goal-line technology is to be tested at England's international friendly against Belgium at Wembley on 2nd June.

The Hawkeye system will be installed at the national stadium for the match, which will be Roy Hodgson's first home game in charge of England.

All the tests are being monitored by officials from EMPA, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology.

But if there are any close calls during the game, the referee will not be informed of the system's results as they are for testing purposes only.

FIFA are currently considering two systems of goal-line technology - Hawkeye and GoalRef - with the final decision expected on 2nd July.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/20876/7776323/Wembley-tests-for-Hawkeye

 

[Robbo]

Mohammed Abdellaoue is meant to be a pretty decent striker (for Norway).

It's absolutely boiling hot, I don't know who that will affect more, us or them!

 

[Robbo]

Any word on the team line up for tonight? It will be interesting to see which formation he uses.

Yep, it's most likely going to be this:

Not massively exciting really.

 

[Robbo]

I hope it'll be 4-2-3-1 as ITV suggest. Doubt it though, far too attacking.

 

[Robbo]

As Hodgson said in his press-conference yesterday (and when he was at Liverpool too), there's no difference between all these formations. They're all the same.

I think Jose Mourinho might have something to say about that...

 

[Robbo]

This is just retarded.

I understand some of the team choices but Downing, really? Milner?

Where is Jones playing?

Right back.

 

[Robbo]

My knowledge of Jones isn't brilliant but i know United have played him in several different ways...is he most comfortable with RB?

He's been played there quite a bit, they shift him around between RB and CB.

 

[Robbo]

Downing almost sets up Carroll inside 4 minutes.

God, the online stream on ITV.com is awful!

Use TvCatchup, they have a HD stream.

 

[Robbo]

Go on Young, beast.

 

[Robbo]

Good point.

Whenever i see Johnson play for City, he always seem to stand out amongst the other 'superstars' City have...especially for his age. Isn't he 21/22?

That's just because he hogs the ball, cuts inside, and shoots. Nothing else!

 

[Robbo]

I think that's where Fergie has designs on him playing as a forward rather than a conventional winger

But Hazard will be playing there...

 

[Robbo]

Bit harsh of them to boo Gerrard really.

 

[Robbo]

Barry on for Gerrard. Nice defensive substitution.

 

[Robbo]

Walcott on for Parker.

Need more attack really!

 

[Robbo]

This is all getting a bit dire now.

 

[Robbo]

Time for the Ox!

Henderson too.

 

[Robbo]

Great shot Theo.

 

[Robbo]

That wasn't by any means our best team, so don't worry too much yet. It will be for the Belgium game and that will be interesting, they've got a far stronger team too.