Glad he's said that. Hope we smash the ****s. Only pride to play for if course but that's the whole point of sport. They're talking trash so lets hammer them. I also hope he's true to his word and they do put out their fringe players.
I would have gone with Forster Johnson Jones Cahill Shaw Henderson Wiltshire Sterling Barkley Lallana Rooney
Tell that to Chile, Costa Rica, Australia, USA, Ghana. Teams which didn't have better individuals than the teams they faced. Teams with much worse defenders than us. Yet they get results due to working together with good management to create a good system.
I haven't read through this thread but watching England throughout this World Cup there appears to be something lacking. Joe Hart looks far from comfortable at the back and it looks like (to me) that they are playing a minor variation of the old Dutch 'total football' style but haven't got the talent to put it into practice. I think the criticism of Rooney is uncalled for as (again to me) he appears to put in 100% effort every game and has been very unlucky. The Australian team raised their game and gave Holland a fright but when one of their players is worth more than the entire Australian team it puts us behind the eight-ball - something similar to Hull City in the Premier league at times. I was hoping that Jelly would have had some impact but he has not been very impressive. There has been some impressive football and surprises but England will have to really hit the ground running and change the game plan to get a result against Costa Rica.
Hodgson surely has to start with a line-up that resembles our next competitive game (Euro qualifiers in September). Something like Hart Johnson Jones Cahill Shaw Wilshere Henderson Sterling Rooney Lallana Sturridge playing Lampard is a sentimental bollox decision. Rooney should be captain as the oldest outfield player in the team above.
Team is (sorry if it's been posted already) Foster Jones Cahill Smalling Shaw Wilshere Milner Lampard Sturridge Barkley Lallana that makes Fraser Forster the only player not to get a game so expect him to come on at some point.... What a **** line-up
I bet the commentator doesnt say that your coach is known for being a tactical genius again like he did the first game.
England are just a team of egotistical individuals who play like that. Don't expect to see much from them against Costa Rica, and hoping to see Uruguay absolutely stuff the Italians the diving bastards. ( Still haven't forgot that dive that cost us a place in the quarter finals 8 years ago)
