Ben, I agree, BUT I think we're pretty dependent on Rooney to achieve that. I read over the weekend that he's still struggling a bit with his ankle. If he's not in good form, we'll be a lot worse as a team.

A world cup thread, and a world cup fantasy thread. Nice. Well done Smith.

Have to say I'm less optimistic than I was in 2006. Think we have uncertainty over the fitness (Rio, Rooney, Barry, Terry, Lennon) and form (Gerrard, Walcott, Rio, Terry, the goalkeeper, the right back) of so many key players that we would need a huge slice of luck for everybody to play to their potential. If we get that slice of luck, then I agree that the semis would be realistic and who knows what we could sneak from there.

That said, I think we have a better Manager this time round, which could count for a lot.

Think tonight's team selection will be very interesting. Expecting A Johnson to get a decent run-out, as will Milner. Not going to be an easy game by any stretch but the big concern, depressingly, is whether there will be any injuries caused by the pitch at our flagship national stadium.

Crofty, that's a ridiculous statement. On fire? Yes, but no way can you say we'd definitely have won the Euros. I don't think we would have, although we were worse off for not having him.

So after last night's friendly (disclaimer: which I watched in between putting daughter no.1 repeatedly back to bed whilst trying to keep daughter no.2 happy), my thoughts.....

Goalkeepers
I thought both Green and Hart did well. Green made a couple of very good saves, and had one dodgy moment when he badly spilled a shot. Couldn't do much about the goal. He still makes me nervous though. Hart didn't put a foot wrong that I saw, but had less to do.

Defence
Johnson obviously scored a good goal. I think he did ok defensively, without being outstanding. Rio looked dodgy to me, probably the result of the lack of football he's played. King I thought grew as the game went on. Leighton Baines doesn't look like an international player to me. Beaten too often and too easily by their right mid (who did look a good player in all fairness). Surely Warnock will get a chance in the next game, although I'm not convinced he's any better. Thank goodness Cole is fit again. Good to see Carra on the pitch (eh Kirby? ). Thought he was quietly efficient. Biggest plus: King completing 90 mins. Biggest loser: Baines.

Midfield
Playing Milner in the centre in the first half didn't seem to work. Carrick was fairly quiet too. Gerrard's set piece deliveries were very good, and we looked better when he switched with Milner for the second half. Walcott was hit and miss. His pace is always going to cause problems, and did. His delivery wasn't always good though. Lennon had little chance to show what he can do, but did make one excellent run when he got the opportunity. Huddlestone did ok I thought. Adam Johnson didn't get much time, but was involved in one very good attacking move. Surely he'll get more of a chance in the next game? Biggest plus: Gerrard finding a bit of form. Biggest losers: Carrick and Milner.

Strikers
Crouch again showed his effectiveness for England with an assist and a goal. Rooney looks short of match fitness, although showed some nice touches. Would the Rooney of two or three months ago have not scored from a free header 10 yards out though (in build up to 2nd goal)? He'll surely play at least a half in the next game. Defoe worked hard when he came on, but didn't really have the opportunity to score he would have wanted. Biggest plus: Crouch I guess. Biggest loser: Heskey and Bent, for not being able to show what they can do. Both must fear for their place in the squad given that Capello could view Walcott as a striker.

As the commentators said last night, had a brazilian scored Johnsons goal people would have been salivating over it for weeks! Pretty average performance by all accounts (I only saw parts of the 2nd half).

ITV showed it after the CL final, but cut the last 10 seconds so Nike are refusing to pay them the 1.5mil! ITV are useless.

So after last night's friendly (disclaimer: which I watched in between putting daughter no.1 repeatedly back to bed whilst trying to keep daughter no.2 happy), my thoughts.....

Goalkeepers
I thought both Green and Hart did well. Green made a couple of very good saves, and had one dodgy moment when he badly spilled a shot. Couldn't do much about the goal. He still makes me nervous though. Hart didn't put a foot wrong that I saw, but had less to do.

I agree with this, but I think that if a keeper has little to do he has to take some credit for that as he probably means he organises his defenders better, I feel much more comfortable with Hart in goal and if he gets picked I wouldn't be worried, Green is just not solid enough for me.

Defence
Johnson obviously scored a good goal. I think he did ok defensively, without being outstanding. Rio looked dodgy to me, probably the result of the lack of football he's played. King I thought grew as the game went on. Leighton Baines doesn't look like an international player to me. Beaten too often and too easily by their right mid (who did look a good player in all fairness). Surely Warnock will get a chance in the next game, although I'm not convinced he's any better. Thank goodness Cole is fit again. Good to see Carra on the pitch (eh Kirby? ). Thought he was quietly efficient. Biggest plus: King completing 90 mins. Biggest loser: Baines.

I agree about Baines he was awful and I like him as a player but maybe this level is a step too far. Having said that Cole has grown into the role after a few shakey years first. Think King and Ferdinand were very rusty looking in first half but King got better, carra was solid and may have booked his spot on the plane. Think this shows that Dawson isn't going to SA.

Midfield
Playing Milner in the centre in the first half didn't seem to work. Carrick was fairly quiet too. Gerrard's set piece deliveries were very good, and we looked better when he switched with Milner for the second half. Walcott was hit and miss. His pace is always going to cause problems, and did. His delivery wasn't always good though. Lennon had little chance to show what he can do, but did make one excellent run when he got the opportunity. Huddlestone did ok I thought. Adam Johnson didn't get much time, but was involved in one very good attacking move. Surely he'll get more of a chance in the next game? Biggest plus: Gerrard finding a bit of form. Biggest losers: Carrick and Milner.

I think Carrick had a game to forget too many poor passes and his place could be gone. Milner wasn't a loser he is a very honest and solid player for England and worked very hard in what appeared to be the holding midfield role . I think Gerrard was poor and that has to be down to his left sided role, think he wasn't as good as people are saying - why when lamps wasn't playing was Gerrard not used in CM and Milner (who has played LM most england games) on the left. Huddlestone didn't have enough time to make an impression but maybe it will be between him and Carrick. I am really gutted adam Johnson didn't get longer as he was brill in the 10 minutes he got and he may not get enough to go to SA. Lennon will go as will Walcott. Loser yesterday has to be SWP and scott Parker.

Strikers
Crouch again showed his effectiveness for England with an assist and a goal. Rooney looks short of match fitness, although showed some nice touches. Would the Rooney of two or three months ago have not scored from a free header 10 yards out though (in build up to 2nd goal)? He'll surely play at least a half in the next game. Defoe worked hard when he came on, but didn't really have the opportunity to score he would have wanted. Biggest plus: Crouch I guess. Biggest loser: Heskey and Bent, for not being able to show what they can do. Both must fear for their place in the squad given that Capello could view Walcott as a striker.

I think Rooney was excellent yesterday when the ball was played to his feet and hopefully will peak at the right time, crouch was crouch but does anyone think we were so poor 1st half because crouch was in the side and when we had defoe we then played more to feet and kept the ball.

My view on game yesterday, very poor performance 1st half but encouraging to be leading against a half decent side. Second half was much better and Johnsons goal settled us a lot. Pace of Walcott, Lennon, Rooney as well as Gerrard getting a bit more involved, was really good and all this without Terry, Lamps, and the Coles.

My 23 based on yesterday.

GK Hart, Green, James
FB Johnson Cole, Baines and Carr
CB Terry, King, Ferdinand
RM Lennon, Walcott
LM Gerrard J Cole and A Johnson (I hope)
CM Lampard, Milner, Barry?, Carrick (with Gerrard and Cole capable of CM)
CF Rooney, Crouch, Defoe and Heskey

Not going, Warnock, upson (can't see him being ahead of carra now), Dawson, Huddlestone, Parker, Bent (only non chelsea playing not on bench yesterday), SWP,

I'd like my starting 11 to be:

Hart
Johnson, ferdinand, Terry, A Cole
Lennon, Lampard, Barry, Milner
Gerrard
Rooney

Or if Barry not fit i'd play Gerrard holding with J Cole behind Rooney.

Hart should not be first choice until the qualifiers for the Euros.

On basis that Heskey doesn't go are you saying Bent will or that Walcott will be 4th striker in theory

Nath, not sure if anyone's mentioned this to you yet but the girls have been around a while now and its probably worth giving them names. Daisy got hers within an hour or so of being born. C'mon mate, do it for the kids.

Back to the football....

Agree with most that it was a disappointing performance last night. Obviously the absence of a holding midfielder was the most obvious issue (how many times were the Mexico midfield able to win position behind our midfield bankl of four???) but I thought the game also highlighted how crucial Ashley Cole is to the side. Not surprising bearing in mind his quality, but Gerrard looked hopeless out on the left in the first half despite being very effective there throughout qualifying. I think that position can only work for him when he has Cole to provide width and pull the opposition out wide. That gives Gerrard the space that he loves to attack so much.

Was impressed witgh all three orthodox wingers used (though disappointed that we didn't see more of Johnson). Walcott looked a threat up until an end product was needed (what is his big aversion to trying to score goals?) and Lennon was very lively in the short time he had. Pace out wide will definately be a weapon for us.

And the defence? Ooo-er! OK, you don't really want to be lining up with the full backs that started, but Ferdinand and King were shambolic. On this evidence we don't have any defender bar Cole whose form or fitness isn't a cause for major concern. Desperately need to hope that Terry plays to his full potential.

Looking forward to seeing the Chelsea boys back (can't believe I'm writing this!), especially Joe Cole. I know he hasn't had a great season but can't shake the feeling that we will need a player capable of the odd audacious, unexpected moment.

Anyway, later on today I'll be laying a fiver down on Argentina at 15/2. Genuinely think that they're stronger contenders than England (just) at this moment despite (or because of?) Maradona.