Having just watched that thrilling USA defeat, as a country not giving a flying you know what about football, how proud should they be, alledged limited ability but unlimited effort. Simple question, how close were we, in effort commitment, sure we tried in my opinion, but those USA boys heads held high, how many of ours will be likewise
My fav game of the WC so far. Their desire to win and their teamwork is clear to see and it was something that was clearly lacking for us. They can be very pleased with their efforts in this world cup May as well call it soccer cos they are better at it than us!
England's players were garbage,and didn't look like they cared....the opposite of the USA team,who were magic.
Looking back on it I am now of the opinion that our team just maybe believed the press hype and their own publicity. All the lesser teams in the tournament have gone down fighting with pride - not excuses. Something worth looking at though is that of the four bigger Euro countries that failed to qualify all have a preponderance of foreign imports in their game to the detriment of local talent development. Spain, England,, Portugal and Italy have something to answer for by giving huge wages to limited players all for the sake of club glory.
It's certainly not down to a lack of quality, look at some of those that made the quarters Nigeria, Algeria, Mexico, Costa Rica, Greece, Switzerland, USA Individually I'd say we were definitely better than all of these teams, debatably we're better than a few others as well. These teams are all a close knit unit. Our primadonnas are the opposite
The players from the other nations have a pride when they wear the national shirt. Unfortunately that is not the case of the English. Their pride comes from how fat their wallets are. And on another point, players who pull out of an England match {we've seen many over the years} should not be allowed to turn out for their clubs for the next two weeks. We would then see how many cry off on the advice of their managers.
I know we can't do it exactly the same as cricket, where the players are contracted to England and don't play for their county sides that much, but surely we can take a leaf out of their book. Not sure exactly how it would work, but pick a squad of 30 for the European championships, and only use those 30 playeto say for all games for the next 2 years, and if there is an International those 30 have to go, if they are injured then they won't play, but they have to go with the squad to all matches. I hate this, but we need to play more matches, USA played 25 matches in the year before the world cup, we played 11, I don't expect us to play 25, but I would expect more than 11. For good or bad the club has taking over, and usually the players at the top clubs get picked, problem is the top clubs play the mist games. Another idea maybe we should have an England B again, pick 36 players at the start, fixtures for A and B teams, pick 18 for both then mix and match them as the 2 years go by, this way all get fame time in a similar system. Just some ideas off the top of my head.
As Poyet said when he first joined us - football is a team of 11 not 1. England has always been individuals and not an actual team. We always pick on rep rather than performance and form. Our managers are scared to drop names, whereas others aren't. Look at France, they dropped Nasri because he does not fit into their team. IMO Rooney should not have played, not because he is s**t, but because he does not fit into the England team. If you look at the USA, its a team full of average players, but they play as 11 not 1.
May about half as much as England and Spain but a sight more than the players home country, thereby overloading their leagues with foreign talent stunting the development of locals.
Dead on. Our game is too entrenched in personality players rather than team spirit, sadly missing since the days when teams were built rather than bought.
Teams like Algeria, Australia, USA, Mexico, Nigeria, Ghana & Chile went out with honor in my opinion. They came to the cup not expected to do anything but roll over for the big boys and disappear without a whimper. While teams like Oz didnt make it past the group, their performances against the Dutch and Chile made me proud as an Aussie and earn't the team alot of friends for their efforts in not sitting back, but taking the game to the big boys. Teams like Mexico and Chile, i found myself cheering them on more than anyone, everyone loves an underdog who fights to give themselves a chance. I didn't feel the English did that. They didnt dishonor themselves, but they didnt really do much to make the world go, "****, wish the English were still in it, they showed heart, grit and a desire". It was the same as always - huge expectations on the shoulders of Rooney, Gerard, etc, more focused on individuals rather than the team. Argentina is the same, apart from the fact Messi truly is world class and can pull something from nothing - unlike imo Rooney. I don't foresee Argentina going on to win it, and in the same regard the Brazilians - The dutch, French and Germans are more switched on for me. Even the Belgians have a greater chance of winning it imo.
no none at all,sums it all up dont it 62 million over 4 years spent and grass roots is dying on its feet ,what happened to the pyramid system of funding ,FA w**kers
Spain? They've only just won a couple of majors pal.... I think foreign imports is an excuse for a lack of grass roots development in attitude and ability.
England didn't care because the don't have to. They still get paid and can act like aholes anyway. The players were more bothered about not dropping their new Xbox Ones on the way home then playing well in front of a world audience. The whole lot of them should be sent into international exile and players from the lower leagues given the chance. Whickham is the same pissing about with a tarts haircut and spending obscene amounts of money on ****e wine. rant over!
Whilst it's been a great World Cup, teams like Spain Italy England and Portugal start to decline, the effort of these so called minnows/un fancied have been inspirational, our boys need to sit up and think about taking a leaf from there books. Whilst our clubs are ready to pay 60 mil on shaw and lallana it's no wonder our football is not developing, we all buy cheaper imports making them stronger. Carricks on box now talking about South America it's tough for European teams blah blah, look at the draw still four of eight left in it!!! Maybe there lie the truth, EXCUSES
