Not sure if Graham is ready for International football but I like the look of the rest of that formation. I'd like to see Crouch / Defoe in 4.4.2. dropping carrick from midfield. The 'golden generation' well they can go to the olympics to get gold.
I'm resurecting this thread because my question/coment is not about the England team, but about Euro 2012. I am a bit out on a limb in NZ, hence the question, but do you think that politics, particularly in the Ukraine, are going to have an impact? This question particularly interests me because I will be staying with Clive Rice, the cricketer, when I am in South Africa in a couple of weeks time. I suspect that he has views on politics and sport.
Sky did a report a couple of days ago on the Ukrainian neo nazis who are determined to get into fights and 'get rid of the English'. Glad i'm not going!
Strange - I would have expected them to be aggressive towards the Russians before the English, given their history. Perhaps they know their limitations?
I saw bits of that report - I think they will be going for the 'ethnic minority' English, and only attack the white English if they are provoked (such as drunken, yobbish behaviour), unless they just fancy a fight, because know England fans won't really back down. In the report, the leader had a West Ham top! As for the tournament - after England, I guess I'd like to see the Dutch win it, but think I might put a few quid on Germany winning the tournament, although may put a couple of quid on Wellbeck finishing top scorer as well!
I've got a colleague who was born in Spain and he doesn't think they'll win it this time. If England do progress, I just hope that Hart is less of a prick that he was in the U21 Euros about 3 years ago where he picked up a stupid booking in the penalty shoot-out in the semi, which took him to the number to cause a suspension, meaning Scott went into the final without any game time in the tournament and it showed.
As long as England are only associated with the inept football, that would go down as a relatively good tournament for England. I know I shouldn't make light of the other things, but if hooliganism and riots happen and are nothing to do with English fans, that would actually increase our chances of being seriously considered to host future major events. The general buzz around Euro 96 is as good as international football has got for me.
Yeah Euro 96 was incredible for the country and football in general. I have been to a few tournaments but wouldn't fancy going to this one either, unfortunately, I think there will be lots of trouble.
This is interesting to me. All I'm hearing is about western governments refusing to send representatives to matches in the Ukraine because of the treatment being handed out to the former prime minister and the Ukrainian counter arguments about the politicisation of the competition. Nothing about violence on the ground from thugs. I'm also hearing a lot about massive increases in hotel prices and expectations of visiting fans being ripped off. That, I guess, is a recipe for fan violence from many countries.
NZ there was an undercover programme on the telly last week showing Shatesk Donesk (spelt that wrong) fans training for violence ,they idolise the english hooligan but want to smash them at their own game ,the programme was very disturbing and if true (which it was imo) then the police will have a lot of work to do! I would advise that travelling fans stayed away from Ukraine
that's basically what the Sky report said.. I wouldn't want to be there to be sure, i think there will definitely be trouble, and i couldn't help thinking after that report, that there will be people who think it's exactly where they want to be
I've just got some more work with a French company over here. The director put about £500 either way on the contract we've got depending on our result against them at the Euros. My head said no but I couldn't say no, too much pride there. Do you think we'll do the French??
honestly? No, i don't, i'm guessing we'll play defensively and go for a draw..probably our best hope...
I think France, Sweden and England are very evenly matched. I'm not for a second suggesting we'll win the tournament, but from those two matches I do think it's realistic to hope for anywhere between two and four points (maybe a win and a defeat).
France haven't lost in 18 games...that's a pretty good record for a team that at the World Cup was having an even worse time than we were!
