IMO: Kenny Dalglish would not even contemplate taking the England manager's job even if it was the last one on Earth for the very same reason that Sir Alex Ferguson would not want it: the prospect of a Scotsman leading out the England national team out at Hampden Park against Scotland.

Di Natale? Cassano? Borini? Giovinco? I like their forward options a lot.

Apparently Chiellini is out injured and they'll miss him. That could prompt Prandelli to drop de Rossi back into the defence

Did Mark's love child play last night? Anomynous.

They are good players, but none of them offer what Balotelli does. He holds the ball up, asks questions physically of the defence and provides a 'target' for them if they need it. Di Natale is a class player but I've never been that convinced by him when he plays for The Azzurri; he's a good option off the bench. They are all good players, Cassano is class but they definitely need that 'outlet' that Balo can be. If Balo has his head screwed on, Italy should beat England but it will be a close game. Not sure why people are being so dismissive of the Italians.

Agree to an extent, certainly about Balotelli. Think you're a tad harsh on di Natale. He's all class, but age and persistent injury mean he is restricted to a supporting role.

And no, I don't know why Italy are being so casually dismissed.

Completely agree. Milner may not be the fastest, most inventive player but they hardly had a sniff down his flank until he started to run out of steam. If we play Walcott down there we'll effectively be playing 4-2-4 which will see us get torn apart.

That would have made him 24 when he signed for BPA. Incredible! He looked about 40.

We were far from at our best yesterday but we got the result. I fancy us against the Italians.

Every report I've read about the game says that Ukraine were unlucky with the Terry clearance and now Sepp is calling for goal line technology, but nobody has mentioned that the guy was a mile offside. Why isn't Sepp criticising his officials?

Always has to be an MUFC scapegoat, even when the team are doing well.

By who?

I don't think anyone is dismissing them at all. I think people are understandably happy that England have avoided the arguably more difficult task of facing the World & European Champions.

Seen and heard plenty of comment suggesting that England just need to show up.

I think it must be a minority viewpoint, because the comments I've read and the opinions I've heard all agree that England are in for a tough game, and will have done well to progress any further.

I always find it amusing that people always seem to see/hear these sort of comments or know these sorts of people. Are these from the same people that supposedly claim that it's Liverpool's year every year?

I haven't.

Its simple, they aren't Spain....We had all got ourselves prepared for being runners-up in our group and having to face the 'unbeatable' Spain, not expecting the French to muck up versus the Swedes, so to suddenly be up against a seemingly inferior (to Spain) side like Italy, has given everybody a realisation that this hotch-potch of a team, that Hodgson has squeezed 3 decent results from, might suddenly be just 1 game from a major final.

I don't think Italy are being dismissed by anybody, but I think its more that the arrogant, nauseating bullishness, that the English media is famous for, has reappeared and now a side that originally had no pressure on it, will now have the huge weight of expectation plonked right on its shoulders by all and sundry.

Personally, I'm happy enough with the results - Hodgson has obviously realised we are pretty dire, and has adjusted accordingly - but its apparent that a decent side should be able to pick them apart. Our passing is rotten, our ball retainment is no better. Only the spirit of the players gives England fans any hope, but you have to feel that a Germany, Spain, or even an Italy, should have enough about them to see off England.

Oh NOW Blatter wants goal-line technology....