ontd_football | Just an excuse for me to spam you with mini-England... (Reply)

As you're all well aware next week brings the start of the bb Euros! And last night, my bb England boys played a friendly against Azerbaijan. As they scored 7 goals I figured we needed some bb England appreciation :D

Last night saw the return to football of Joe Hart.
(Oh shush, I know he wasn't dying or anything but this is a big thing!)
Recently, Joe has looked a little bit like this, thanks to the wonderful managerial skills of Sir Mark Hughes...

But we all know that this is where he really belongs!

(This is where I point out the lack of goalkeeper crisis *yawns in the face of everyone who likes to moan about lack of English goalkeepers*)

Scott Loach trotted onto the pitch before the end of the game although nowhere will throw me up a picture of him in an England kit so... Scott Loach also trained with the U21s. Odd, as he's part of their squad, no?

And they weren't the only keepers on the pitch. With Wigan's Lee Cattermole taking a bit of a knock, and Stuart Pearce's side trying to rest a few players carrying small injuries, Peterborough 'keeper Joe Lewis came on! As a centre forward...

He looks slightly disturbed but that is of little importance as England now have what they need to win the Euros.
Oh fine, he was absolute crap but hey, at least he tried!

But enough about our 'keepers. There was a lot going on at the other end of the pitch too!

Michael Mancienne scored the first goal in 48 seconds and looked like he'd been scoring all his life. Apart from his celebration, which showed about as much shock as Joe Lewis when told he couldn't pick the ball up.

The second goal was an own goal but I am a 'keeper lover and deny the fact that the Azerbaijan 'keeper palmed it into the back of the net. Besides, if we don't credit Noble with it, we can't look at his child-catcher impression celebration!

Creepy.

The third goal came from Aston Villa's Craig Gardner and was rather spiffing...

My attempts to hate everything to do with that club are put on hold.

Apparently the fourth goal was Cattermole's. It wasn't, really... their centre back had a terrible day. It got to the point where I felt sorry for him, but then I realised that my bbs were excellent and laughed.
I'm afraid I don't have a picture of Catts so let's look at his cousin, who plays for the U2s

The next two goals for scored by Kieran Gibbs. Who was absolutely outstanding :D

Jeden!

Dwa!
(HAI DANNY ROSE!)

So that makes... six! And the seventh was scored by Everton's Jack Rodwell. Although, to be honest, it probably wasn't but I'm not taking it away from him!

Ok, Azerbaijan were... erm... not overly brilliant but that doesn't take away the fact that England played rather well and made some good opportunities for themselves. Personally, I think they can do very well at the Euros.
Thanks to this man, who is a genius.

England 1 Joe Hart (22 Scott Loach 82), 2 Martin Cranie, 3 Kieran Gibbs, 4 Fabrice Muamba (15 Jack Rodwell, 46), 5 James Tomkins, 6 Michael Mancienne, 7 Craig Gardner (12 Andrew Taylor, 46), 8 Lee Cattermole (13 Joe Lewis, 76), 9 Fraizer Campbell (14 Richard Stearman, 62), 10 Mark Noble (c), (16 Danny Rose, 55),11 Adam Johnson

Azerbaijan 1 Elchin Sadigov, 2 Maksim Medvedev, 5 Tural Narimov, 7 Parvin Pashayev (6 Tagim Novruzov, 68), 8 Emin Jafarguliyev, 9 Elvin Mammadov, 11 Rauf Aliyev, 13 Shahriyar Rahimov, 14 Bahtiyar Soltanov (10 Javid Imamverdiyev, 57), 15 Nodar Mammadov (c), 17 Araz Abdullayev (18 Afran Ismailov, 57)
Substitutes 16 Osman Umarov, 3 Huseynov, 19 Javid Rahimov, 20 Anar Gasimov, 16 Farrukh Rahimov, 27 Mikhail Zaytzev

And... erm... James Tomkins made his U21 debut! Which made me way too happy. So here, look at him and think of Euro glory for the bbs!