Anyone interested ? My own feelings are that our group will come down to goal difference, with whoever stuffs the Costa Ricans by the least going home early. With a forward line comprising of Ricky Lambert & Danny Welbeck, that means us . Personally I am delighted with the very welcome announcement from Woy that Cashley Cole's international career is over. If ever a little chav prompted me to hurl something heavy at the TV screen, it was him. My predictions for our three group games: Costa Rica WIN 1-0. Gerrard penalty. Rooney injured in warm up (fractured wig), ruled out of tournament Italy DRAW 0-0. Bore fest. Woy plays 6 centre halves, including surprise recall for Carlton Palmer as replacement for Rooney Uruguay LOSE 0-3. Suarez hat trick. Gerrard misses penalty under pressure when score 0-0. Country wakes up to fact the "Rusty Generation" are, in fact, a crock of ****e. Eventual winners: Argentina Surprise package: Malawi Player of tournament : Reza (Iran)
i'm interested. i printed out the fixtures for the office - so we know when to bugger off early, or come in late. i think we have no hope whatsoever. i think we should play mainly youth who are fast and play attractive football. get really fed up of the passing sideways crap we always do in tournaments
I am only really interested as the wife is due to give birth 3 days before the tournament starts, so I have my heart set on spending my two weeks leave changing nappies and watching as many of the games as I can! The two weeks I have off should cover all the games I expect England to play. Fully expect England to perform as they do in all other tournaments in recent years, the difference this time is that fans can see it coming. Really hope players like Lallana and Barkley are given game time. I agree with Vol, England vs Italy in the heat and humidity of Manaus, at a time of day that will suit the european audience but be torture for the players is as baltant a 0-0 as you are ever going to see.
Lambert and Sturridge isn't a bad forward line up Vol, if Woy don't play Welbeck and our front line is fine, especially if we play Lallanha behind those 2. I would honestly have Rooney on the bench, the kid never performs for England. Yeah I too ham happy about Cole not going, never liked the guy, gave his all for England yeah, but didn't like him one bit.
For all of his shorcomings as a human being, he is probably the only England player I could say has not let his country down at a major tournament since 1998.
When the World Cup rolls up, my diary shuts down. I will not attend to any business (save for emergencies) and my face will not be seen anywhere in public. There is no other sporting event comparable to the World Cup and my mind, body and soul are now buzzing with expectation and excitement. I'm such a big kid and I'm currently collecting the Panini stickers, the mini-balls from boxes of Cocoa Pops, the limited edition Coke bottles and all the other overpriced merchandise. As for England, I would not allow Lampard, Rooney and Milner anywhere near the starting line-up. I would have taken Ashley Cole and John Terry, though. Surprise teams will be Belgium and Chile, but the winners will be either Germany or Brazil. Ooh, I'm buzzing at the thought of it all.
I shall be lumping on the 0-0 with Joe Coral and Bill Hill on the day of that game. The Italians love a 0-0 and we won't have the firepower to break them down. It will be 6/1 or 7/1 . Bet of the tournament
I remember being in Spain during Espana '82. The big innovation was that each bottle top had the picture of a World Cup footballer underneath. For the last three World Cups I have spent sizeable fortunes investing in Matchattacks and Paninis for assorted Junior Vols I am pleased to see that Michael Carrick has been left out. He makes Johnnie Jackson look like Usian Bolt. No Man United players should be selected, IMO.
You are joking? What a terrible, terrible footballer Milner is ! No pace, no finish, no end product. Just an 'engine'.
For endeavour and hard work I agree, but that is the least I expect of a professional footballer. Cole has been in the top 2 or 3 left backs in the world until the past 18 months and his performances for England at major tournaments have reflected that whereas Milner's constant inclusion at International for me just highlights the lack of quality England have developed in recent years.
Interested in the tournament, definitely. I'll watch England, but have never felt drawn to the national team. I watch them more out of intrigue, and if Roy is going to take a youthful team to the WC then that appeals to me more than the likes of Cole and Lampard starting every game. Hart Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines Lallana Gerrard Barkley Sterling Rooney Sturridge Think that team could surprise a few, though I think the middle 3 will probably be Gerrard, Henderson and maybe Milner. P.S Ponders - all of us at the office are collecting the Panini stickers. But 50p a pack for 5 stickers!!! Not in my day!
Have you got any those bottle-tops, Vol? I'd pay a pretty penny for them. I was on a family holiday in Lido de Jesolo during the 1990 World Cup, and I'll never forget the maniacal Italians after their wins over USA and Austria. And then I was thrown, fully dressed in evening attire, into the swimming pool by two Partick Thistle fans, and all because I would not let them forget the Costa Rica defeat (an eleven year old PEA was very annoying) - but my dad and grandfather exacted a bit of cockney revenge and peaceful relations were restored to the hotel San Marco. Great memories.
With the exception of Rooney, I totally agree with that side, Super - but I doubt Roy will be so daring. 50p is a bit much, but I'm still buying ten packets at a time. I don't have anyone to swap with, so I have a massive stack of doubles (including four Fatau Daudas). I've completed France, Costa Rica and Japan, yet I barely have any Australians and Koreans.
The Squad: Rickie Lambert (Southampton) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) England World Cup squad Midfielders Posted at 14:00 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - captain Ross Barkley (Everton) Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Adam Lallana (Southampton) Frank Lampard (Chelsea) James Milner (Manchester City) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) England World Cup squad Defenders Posted at 14:00 Leighton Baines (Everton) Gary Cahill (Chelsea) Phil Jagielka (Everton) Glen Johnson (Liverpool) Phil Jones (Man Utd) Luke Shaw (Southampton) Chris Smalling (Man Utd) England World Cup squad Goalkeepers Posted at 14:00 Joe Hart (Manchester City) Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Fraser Forster (Celtic)
I had no one to swap with until I started opening packs at my desk and enticed a few others in. Haven't completed any yet, like yourself I'm buying 10 or 20 at a time and spending an hour getting them in the book (quite therapeutic), and I got my first Spaniard yesterday in Cesc Fabregas. I think Japan and Australia (funny eh) will be the first 2 pages I complete as only need a few from either. If I have any doubles of Aussies or Koreans when I get home, I'd happily send them over to you. I have 4 Wilfried Bony's if you want some . He's my Ian Taylor or Francis Benalli of the 00's. 50p is crazy money, especially considering there are over 600 hundred stickers to collect. I think Merlin Premier League stickers were 25p for 6 or 7.
What the hell is Smalling doing in that squad...... worst player to play for England since Carlton Palmer!
So if my math is correct and you never buy a pack with doubles in it...... the album will cost you £60?..... with doubles say £120 to complete?? Would you pay anybody say £100 for a complete album???.... no I guess.
Agreed. I was just about to post the same thing. Not only has he had a terrible season at United, he is also a totally over rated footballer.
