A few more big squads have been announced today: Belgium: please log in to view this image Spain: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Think the fact that everyone is writing our chances off may just work in our favour a little. There is no cries of the squad been on a par with the class of 1966 etc which gets thrown at us constantly over the previous major tournaments. I dont believe we will win it or come close but flying well below the radar might be a good thing in that there is not as much pressure on us to reach the quarter / semi final stage.
I personally can't look beyond Spain, with a midfield choice of Mata, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva, Cazorla, Navas, Koke, Pedro. Incredible. Costa and Negredo are so dangerous up top, I think it's theirs.
We definitely have a stronger squad than Costa Rica and Uruguay. Uruguay have two world class strikers but are distinctively average in the other areas.
Away from the obvious winners, I have a feeling for either Belgium or Uruguay to do very well. If Belgium can stay fit they have a starting eleven that can beat anyone. But they dont have much else sadly. England wont get out of the group. Not with that defence and a lack of strikers who can score goals. I bet both Italy and Uruguay wont be losing much sleep.
Thanks to the clueless FA and Woy boy England have lost the 2 best defenders that we have. JT and Cole now retired. England have the poorest defence i can ever remember in recent years. Bring back G.Neville - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole. Oh for a time machine. Lol.
Belgium team better than the Spain team? You've got to be joking. Same goes for Germany, they're a way off Spain. It's between Spain and Brasil, and I think Spain will win it.
Italy: Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain), Mirante (Parma) Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter) Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Verona), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain) Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Rossi (Fiorentina).
US squad announced. Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC) Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
No idea why. Maybe Deschamps thinks (rightly) that Nasri is a dick who would disrupt the squad. I thought you was asking about Covent Garden on my location at first. (I'm not there yet if you're wondering, off down tomorrow night, just fancied changing it now)
