England vs Wales

So here we go the teams are out, just the anthems and then we are away. It will be a massive shock if Wales get a goal, let alone a point, but this is International football and as everyone knows there are no easy games in International football.......

Not everyone delighted with the return of Lampard on the forums! Johaldo8 writes: "I'm disgusted with this decision, and not because our new Yiddo Parker has been the fall guy. I'm disgusted because I thought Capello was a man of integrity and his own mind, but this clearly is a decision based to appease the old guard of the squad."

Just thirty minutes to go and Wembley looks like it's preparing for the FA Vase Final. There were still 12,000 tickets left this morning and it doesn't look like too many of those have been snapped up. Still a crowd of 80.000 is not to be sniffed at and is likely to be the biggest crowd of the night. Certainly better than the 109 that watched Andorra v Armenia on Friday night!

England record v Wales: Played: 100 Won: 65 Drawn: 21 Lost: 14 Goals for: 244 Goals against: 90

No great shocks in the Wales line-up with just Blake replacing Collins from what was the predicted line-up. Subs to follow as we get them.

Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Taylor, Blake, Williams, Ramsay, Crofts, Ledley, Bale, Collison and Morison

Capello is leaving himself open to criticism by changing a winning formula. Walcott and Parker were at the centre of much of England's build up play on Friday, so these changes will need to work tonight. We are hearing that Walcott has a slight hamstring strain whereas Parker's demotion to the bench is tactical. A big call from the Italian when qualification is within his grasp. Still waiting for the Welsh team.

England - Hart, Smalling, Cole, Terry, Cahill, Barry, Lampard, Downing, Milner, Rooney and Young. So rumours of Lampard's demise are found to be greatly exaggerated

Approaching 90 minutes from kickoff and the team news is eagerly awaited, will Walcott start or perhaps it will be Milner? Shouldn't be long now, team news here as soon as it isout. Final score from Moscow is 0-0, not a bad result for the Irish, but leaves them lagging behind Russia and only a point ahead of Slovakia having played a game more. With two straightforward games of their own left,the Irish will be hoping that Russia get a result in Bratislava in October.

Steely Hill is rather confident of an England win and writes on the football forums: "we will totally dominate them as we are infinitely superior to them. it is barely even a competitive game for a nation of our might. another home nation minnow brushed aside while we bear the burden of being the sole representative of the United Kingdom at a major tournament once again." Any Wales fans out their expecting some giant killing? Give us your views. [url]http://forum.football.co.uk[/url]

Two hours until kick-off and although there is a modicum of tension around Wembley, the atmosphere is not what would have been anticipated when the draw was originally made all those months ago. Half time at the Luzhniki where somehow the Republic are still on level terms. Shots have rained in on Given's goal, but so far a mixture of skill and luck has kept the Russians out.

A little over two hours until kick off at Wembley, but it's already half way through the first half in Moscow where the Republic hope to maintain their push for the play offs. Russia have had the best off the opening exchanges with Given keeping the Irish in the game on at least two occasions. Still 0 - 0.

Of course the biggest talking point of the last match was the relegation of Lampard to the subs bench. Lots of chat on the footymad website [url]http://www.footymad.net[/url]

So predictions and adjustments to the likely line-up...Hams on the football forum thinks "I don't think it will be that easy but I still think we will come away with the 3 points! I hope that Fabio Capello leaves out Frank Lampard again and keeps Scott Parker in the line up. I also think that Ashley Young should move back to the left side of midfield as he isn't really a striker. Stewart Downing should be the man to give way and Jermaine Defoe brought in to partner Wayne Rooney. My Prediction - England 2-0 Wales " [url]http://forum.football.co.uk[/url]

Capello plots to stop Bale - The plan appears to revolve around Manchester City midfielder James Milner being recalled in place of Theo Walcott and a change of formation to the one responsible for England's outstanding victory in Bulgaria on Friday. [url]http://www.football.co.uk/england/capello_plots_to_stop_bale_rss1831765.shtml[/url]

Likely Line-Ups - Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Taylor, Collins, Williams, Ramsay, Crofts, Ledley, Bale, Collison and Morison

Likely Line-Ups - England: Hart, Smalling, Cole, Terry, Cahill, Barry, Parker, Downing, Milner, Rooney and Young

Wales come into this game as huge underdogs but on the back of their biggest win in recent times but remain at the bottom of Group G with 3 pts. In comparison England are 3pts clear of Montenegro with 14 pts but have been less than convincing playing at Wembley with Capello calling for a return to 'Fortress Wembley'. We will be building up to the match with the latest news and team information before kick-off at 7:45

Elsewhere in the group it's half time in Basel with Switzerland and Bulgaria tied at one a piece.

Credit to Wales they have largely been organised in defence and have shown they can threaten England. Still not convinced by the impact Lampard as yet and in my book he has 45 minutes to stake his claim. View on the forums is its a fairly typical home performance and Rooney going so deep to receive the ball at times is never a good sign...3 pts is what we need however...

A quick word for the Irish fans out there and a good one it is - Slovakia have conceded a second goal at home to Armenia and with less than 20 minutes left are losing 0-2 leaving the path to the play offs wide open for the Irish,

It may be time to take Milner off before he gets a second yellow card. Win, lose or draw tonight, a scoring draw in Podgorica next month will see England through regardless. Capello will want his strongest team out that night - for sure.

So England will travel to Podgorica on October 7th six points clear of Montenegro and needing just a draw to progress to next summer's finals. For Wales it is time to plan for the qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014. Not the most satifying night for the Three Lions, but the points were collected and sometimes that is all that matters. Get on to the forums now to discuss.

A disjointed sloppy performance by England but Wales played extremely well and were unlucky not to take something from this game. Feel Capello got it wrong on this one. Are Capello and the 'Golden Generation' now stunting progression? Is it simply about 3 points in the bag? Your thoughts as always welcome on the forums. [url]http://forum.football.co.uk[/url]