I think you're overlooking the awfulness of our defence this time. In past tournaments we've mainly been pretty strong at the back, but not in 2010 and even less so now.
Spain have it, by a mile. Casillas Azpilicueta Ramos Pique Alba Busquets Alonso Silva Pedro Costa Iniesta
We're told the South Americans will have an advantage with the climate but it's impossible to say how much of an impact that will have. Spain are always excellent at tournaments but their stars are getting on these days. It's wide open for me, it'll be exciting
I'm just saying that our front players are in good form and can surprise a few. Our back 5 isn't as bad as everyone is making out. True the back-up is shocking but; Johnson - Cahill - Jagielka - Baines isn't a bad back 4. It's not like the Spanish, Brazilian or German defences but its far from the worst that'll be there.
Let's just say I'm far more worried about Jagielka than I was before the weekend. And Johnson can't defend. Also, there's not much shielding them in midfield - it's far from being Gerrard's strong suit these days.
People go on about Johnson not being good at defending, and to a lesser extent people are cautious about Shaw as he's more of an attacking player but the top nations are the same. The South Americans in particular love a good wing-back and Spain play a back 2 half the time with the likes of Alba playing further up than European teams' wingers.
That couldn't be further from Roy Hodgson's style, though. He HATES full-backs getting forward and always has.
France have got a piss easy group England's problem is we haven't beaten a major team in a major tournament for over a decade. Argentina to win it for me
One of the main things for this tournament is for us to beat a good side. We always beat the lesser sides and lose the big games at tournaments and people have lost faith in recent years. We need one good result to get everyone interested again.
I'm not sure they do anymore, if Benteke wasn't injured Belgium at strength have a really formidable spine. Mignolet, Kompany, Vertonghen, Fellaini, Hazard x 2, Januzaj, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Mirallas, Dembele, Chadli.
Brazil are on the up and with the home advantage will be even harder to beat than usual. I agree Belgium are dark horses in fact I would say they are a significantly better team than us in most areas
1/4 final exit anyone? we will scrape through the group and then get put out by a South American team.
3rd in our group, I reckon. All this talk of Belgium being dark horses... they're 5th favourites to win the damn thing. Not a dark horse any more - barely even a grey one.
Who's getting a sticker book? You're either Panini or Merlin. I won't go into which one wins in the macho stakes, should be pretty obvious... My knowledge of international football, at this time, is probably even lower than my knowledge of continental club football. ****, basically. But I list my three favourites, in order, as below; Brazil Argentina Spain Is our first game in Manaus? Described as 'inhumane' to make people play a football game there, at any time of the year. Middle of the amazon, just south of the equator...expect a slow game. Have they finished all the stadiums yet? Didn't someone die this week? Seem to be cutting it a bit fine.
