Yes - in fantastic shape... I loved some of the quotes after the Honduras game - "We weren't going to react" to their aggressiveness etc. I hope this implodish part of the psyche of the English player has been trained out of us by Gentlemen Roy - Baines said "You can't do nuffink if you've been sent off". I'd love it if Roy just unleashes the youth and if we get to the quarters playing well, it will make me happy enough.
The current euphoria reminds me of those (few) predicting a top half finish last season.If they qualify it will be a miracle.My tip:Suarez hat trick.
well i'm looking forward to seeing how we get on even if nobody else is! i think we've got some bright young players, two or three could emerge even brighter as the tournament proceeds, in particular sterling and barkley. its a tough group but i think england have a decent chance of getting to the quarter finals if they get a little bit of luck, something which seems to have deserted them since that 'goal' in the '66 final even though i think there are three or four top sides who will likely make up the semi finalists, i think the competition is quite open in terms of reaching the last 8 and england really should not be fearing anyone in our group. italy are no better than us, costa rica are distinctly average and even uruguay, despite big talents up front, aren't exactly brilliant but have the advantage of it being on their continent. i really do think we can top the group and even if we come 2nd we'll have a great draw in the 2nd phase against the likes of greece, ivory coast, japan or colombia. we won't win the world cup but i think the potential is there for a good tournament and i'm surprised by the lack of enthusiasm as this is a far more promising and interesting england squad than we've seen, probably since the euro 2004. get behind your country!
As i see it we could get to the QF however we would most likely then run into either Spain or Brazil, I'd quite fancy Brazil really, not because they will be any easier but because playing brazil in brazil in the world cup would be a great game. I think the Italy game could be something of a stalemate as we both give each other slightly too much respect and take to long building a rhythm. Uruguay look like they're not the sort of team to sit back as they have such a attacking talent but they're not nearly as talented at the back, personally I think its a match for pace and counter attacking, hopefully the Ox will be fit for the one. Costa Rica are hard to judge, I would imagine they will be hard to break down which could present us with some problems.
I can definitely see us getting out of the group, heck I can even see us winning the group! One thing I am almost certain of however is that the Italy game is going to be boring as hell to watch - still can't bloody wait for it though!!!
If England had ditched Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and Lambert it would have been so much more interesting.
If we get out of the group our reward is that we play either the winner or the runner up from group C which seems like a rather balanced group with no obvious opponent to avoid (Columbia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan) so win the group or come second doesn't really matter too much.
Looks like Welbeck is struggling with a thigh injury. Cant say I am too upset. Im not sure exactly what he brings to a team!?! All I ever hear about him is "he works hard, tracks back and helps out the defence"...he is a flippin striker/winger ffs!!!! He is average at running with the ball, rarely finds a killer pass, isnt exactly great at crossing and has little to no composure in front of goal (he tends to snap at chances and blasts them wide or over). Personally (and I know people wont like this) I would play Rooney out on the left. He showed he can do it vs Ecuador. He works as hard as Welbeck in terms of getting back but on top of that he actually has some class as well. He can take a player on, pass, cross and shoot. In short he is just a massively better version of Welbeck in that role. This would leave the central (number 10) spot free for Lallana or Barkley, both of which I would be happy to see start (though id probably say Lallana for now). My team would be: Hart Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines Gerrard, Henderson/Wilshire Sterling, Lallana, Rooney Sturridge
welbeck is a much better player than people give him credit. his record for england is excellent too, averaging a goal every 3 games i think - not bad for someone who rarely plays up front. he's adaptable, can play left, right or centrally, he tracks back, is unselfish, has good pace and can hold the ball up. should he be starting? not in my opinion because i think rooney, sterling, lallana and barkley are all better but he does get a lot of unnecessary stick and i don't understand why. he'd walk into most premier league starting elevens.
I agree I think Barkley could be a star at this World Cup, but there's no rush and I certainly wouldn't be gambling and showing all our cards in the first game. We really can't afford to lose against Italy so I can see it being a very cagey affair and I would definitely take a boring nil-nil draw. Wellbeck should definitely start if he's fit in my opinion.
Here are the 4 best moments from England's 2010 WC campaign... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpz1ri6Qtf8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpnHaJmUFpA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=170K6IcnL18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxspfInbLV8
i'd forgotten heskey played at the last world cup. we've got a better, more promising side now, that's for sure, but our defence is (and i'm being kind here) ropey!
I wondered if anyone was! No-one replied I felt friendless It is (incredibly) long, but detailed and well researched so if you want to impress your mates with your inside knowledge before the Nigeria v Iran game, this is the way forward...
Wow that game last was something wasn't it? Watched that Van Persie header and Robben's first goal about ten times now, Spain at times reminded me a bit of Norwich last season when they folded no leadership on the pitch from the Captain who had an absolute nightmare game, must admit I've never been a big Casillas fan. Tonights game I can see it been a draw or perhaps 1-0 to Italy, we need to mark Pirlo out of the game, in Euro 2012 he was given too much space and ended up controlling the game. One positive is the England team has changed since the last time we met and I think we possess some superb young players who have better skill sets then the last England team and in Lallana we have an intelligent player who can unlock defences.
