I know this is about England but from what i can gather we have a few English born fans in our ranks so i think they deserve a thread on their teams chances. I think they have a very hard group with thousands of miles travelling between games and its going to be hard to qualify but not impossible. The way the draw has gone will also see Brazil could face the european champions Spain very early in the competition and i'm sad about that as it would make a cracking final. What are your thoughts on England's chances and how far will they get...For the non English will you be supporting them or do you want them to get knocked out early..
I hope this doesn't degenerate into the usual ****fest (though Mabon's gone so let's hope). Comments about flags and English oppression should be banned. I understand why Welsh fans want nothing but failure for them but I find that small minded. Sorry. I always support the home nations in tournaments ant that includes supporting England in the World Cup. We're happy to have some excellent English players in our team's ranks aren't we? I also hope Ivory Coast do well because of our resident African. As for their chances? Well until they get a manager who is willing to let go of the past and also pick players from outside the big clubs they are slim I'm afraid. I know he's picked some Saints players recently but whether they'll make the cut is anyone's guess. Hodgson looks no further than the big boys imo and he would have been better laying down a marker as a transitional Manager willing to take a punt on some of the younger English talent coming through. I've admired Lampard and Gerrard but there comes a time when you have to let go. I'd take them but not necessarily start them. No doubt Hodgson will disagree. I actually think this campaign will be a disaster.
It would be nice if the likes of Leon, Jonjo, Routs and Dyer got a look in. Very much doubt it but, if those lads play out of their skins for the rest of the season, who knows? It would help us a bit as well.
Not a chance Ivor. Leon' stats were better than Xavi's at one point and he didn't get near the team. If you play for a smaller colub you've no chance, sadly.
Our chances are exactly the same as before the draw... Zip... We just simply don't have the players. Danny Welbeck gets a game for Michu's sake
QF at least Uraguay are crap, oops there again so are England if they keep their aging so called legends
There are two crucial factors that could help England. The only way they have a chance (and even then a small one) is if they get off to a flier against Italy who traditionally start slow as do Uruguay. Costa Rica can take points off anyone on their day as well. Klinsman manages the USA and has already said they are very decent indeed. Secondly, expectations for this England side aren't high and that could put less pressure on them. But they'll need a lot of luck to progress and I don't see it. This is the full draw. France look as if they've struck lucky. Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon. Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia. Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan. Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy. Group E : Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria. Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA. Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea.
How many of you watched Chile pass England off the pitch? Italy will make mince meet of England, and I don't see England going anywhere but home early. The real shame of this is that England do have some promising talent and given the right manager and strategy, they could at least get to the quarters, but they have Hodgson's choice?.................. If they had run with Harry, who had already primed Rodgers as his number 2, then England would have been groomed in how to pass and keep the ball, and that would have given England the system to overcome their player weakness against teams like Brazil and Spain, etc. Pretty much like Swansea to be honest, we don't have the Multi Million pound whizz kids, but we can more than match them with our system, and it's that system that England need if they are ever to compete with the big boys on the international stage. They are going nowhere under Hodgson
If they get through they'll have a last 16 game versus a team from the weak group C team, however but will probably have to face Brazil or Spain in the quarters.
Group H looks a nightmare, there are no weak teams in that one. I fully disagree with Talksport that Ghana are the rollover country, they were impressive in South Africa and have a couple more players who have matured since then and the USA are far stronger than most in the UK believe. Why is it only in this nation that the US is seen as being weak because it is the US? Go to Portugal and Germany where they have a bigger interest in international football affairs and they instantly rank the Americans as a Top 20 team.
For me the groups that are there for the taking are C (the easiest by far), E (which the French should take, unfortunately - that's a travesty) and F which the Argies will stroll. The rest are all pretty tough. Spain's group is harsh and Germany's is horrific. One thing on England - if they do by some miracle get out of the group they could meet a much weaker team next up.
