Getting close to the start now and for the first time I have looked at England's schedule and I'm afraid I can't see them doing very well. Let's assume for a moment that we can qualify from Group D and advance to the quarter finals the potential opponents don't give me much confidence of progressing any further in the competition. Even Group D doesn't hold any gimme games that would make us think we are a certainty for moving on to the next stage and then, should we advance, we face the prospect of a match vs Spain or Italy (assuming Ireland and Croatia aren't still in the mix) and our record against these 2 is iffy at best. Most people thought we were going to win our group at the last World Cup with ease, and then we blew the optimism out of the water with poor group results, only to suffer defeat at the hands of our sworn football enemies in the knockout round with an embarassing performance yet again. How nice it would be to hear someone say that we have a good chance at going all the way in this tournament, but the big problem has always been the team actually living up to the hype and showing us that they really give a damn. Don't expect anything different this time and I predict we will lose in the quarter finals again. How about you?
We will win it England till i die!!!!! Come On You Lions Were red were white, were ****ing dynamite england... ENGLAND!!
Never say die eh shiny? That's why you're a City fan - rock on! Incidentally anyone else on this board who saw the whole thing live at Wembley in 1966? We weren't expected to win that one either but we did.
Being from the other side of the bridge I can make this comment. For as long as I can remember, the English have been always saying that you will walk the group stage and win the competition. But I think this year with the change in management has made the press and others being a bit realistic about it. Which would hopefully take the pressure of the players and allow them to relax and play football. I think this year could shock you and do really well. Good luck Having a English wife who will no doubt take the piss out of me for years saying she's glad she's not Welsh, but I know she likes a little bit in her every now and then
If your not optimistic as a fan mike, whats the point. It will be a tough ride for the boys but a lot of pressures been took off of us, a bit like germany in the world cup, and i think we can surprise a few people, Keep the faith and always believe - that counts for club and country
We'll see I suppose. I wouldn't have taken John Terry, firstly he is absolutely rubbish, secondly it will be like a bad smell hanging over the England camp with divisions in the group. This would have been a good opportunity to freshen up this squad and its been missed. oh well.. I won't be at a major tournament with England in it for the first time since 1990.... but I haven't stopped supporting the boys. (only the suits)
I think we'll do ok, to be honest I don't really mind as long as we play better football than the last World Cup. That was horrible.
The first thing we need to see from the lads is a bit of interest in wearing the shirt. Too many other distractions, such as will they get their photos in the right magazines etc? Social media will play a big part especially if it's theirs and they get the correct number of tweeters during the tournamnet. Someone should take them all aside and tell them that they are actually in Poland/Ukraine to play football and look good doing it, if that's at all possible - probably not.
Will do well to get out the group stage but it may suit the players having very little expectation on them
On the flip side though there is a contingent of players who will be fighting this season to stand a chance of making the flight to Eastern Europe.
No chance IMO. I think we will go out in the group stages as well, though I would love to be proved wrong
Hmm tricky one. I hope they do well for Hodgson's sake because the great British media will have a field day if not. I would love to see England advance to the latter stages but I was looking at the BBC website this morning and the team profiles of the 16 competitors and England are nowhere near the likes of Germany, Spain, Netherlands, France and Italy in terms of quality. For me taking Terry was a huge mistake. A very overrated player who was made to look good alongside world class centrebacks such as Carvalliho and Ferdinand. I would have taken Rio but even his heyday is long gone. Gerrard and Lampard are other examples of players well beyond their use-by date. Gerrard has had little or no impact at Liverpool this season and yet he's captain of the national team!? Scotty Parker would be my captain all day long! I also think not taking Aaron Lennon was a mistake as well.
So much for the anticipation of "The golden generation" we were expecting 5 years ago. Start again with the kids I say, this lot are rubbish..
'Terry was a huge mistake. A very overrated player who was made to look good alongside world class centrebacks such as Carvalliho and Ferdinand' Other way round my friend. Same at Man Utd with Vidic and to a lesser extent Evans. Terry, although maybe not the player he was 2 years ago, is still our best CH. Nothing easier on a football field than to let a CH 'go for the ball' and then some 'girl' (Rio) look good behind picking up the pieces. Rio is no more CH than fly. Very much tries to play the Bobby Moore role. In the 'English' game you need balls to play CH, something Rio Ferdinand is seriously lacking.
We are not as good as Spain (obviously), Holland and Germany - and maybe not as good as France or Italy - I think we will scrape through the group, then go out in the QF Whatever happens Hodgson needs to be given time
