Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
as an aside F365 seem to think Joe Cole will be cut. Insanity to bring Lennon AND Walcott, who are basically the same player, rather go for more variety among the attacking players, IMO.
Platini puts England in his 3 favourites to win the WC
- Thread starter stupid kid
- Start date
Idaho
blah blah blah
They both have pace. You can run one of them into the ground and then sub the other on.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
and if we need someone to come up with a bit of flair and imagination?
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
Because they're a really strong team, with lots of top-class players who won the Confederations Cup last year against the reigning European champions.
Any team that Dani Alves can't get into has got to be a fair shout for favourites... (in any case odds based on betting not predictions, bla bla bla)
ericjarvis
give a feck for the feckless
Lennon and Milner both have plenty of creativity. Joe Cole would probably make my final cut, but not as a player competing with Lennon and Walcott, but as somebody who can cover any role from central midfielder to second striker.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
Seriously?
I like both players, but Lennon's an out-and-out speedy winger, and Milner is an athletic box-to-box player. Creative, no.
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
Sorry, I interpreted "we do well" as "we perform well", rather than "we get through".
Oh, and counting Euros we went out in the group stages of 2000 and didn't even make the group stages of 2008
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
Sorry, I interpreted "we do well" as "we perform well", rather than "we get through".
Oh, and and counting Euros we went out in the group stages of 2000 and didn't even make the group stages of 2008
Hmmm:
Teams who have beaten knocked England out of major tournaments since 96: Germany - Champions, Argentina, Portugal & Romania, Brazil - Champions, Portugal - Finalists, Portugal.
It fair to say our problem is not that we struggle to beat the weaker teams, as only really the loss to Romania qualifies (and that was a bit of a freak result).
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
Again, not saying we don't beat them, just that we don't look very impressive doing it. Like I say, I just misunderstood what you meant which is why I questioned it.
London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
How many players did they have in the Champions League latter stages - about the same as the rest of the world combined wasn't it?
Plus, they - like the Germans - know how to play tournament football.
Fwiw, that might be the best thing Capello can bring, if he can that is. Because England have, thus far, never had a clue.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
you said "underperform". I'd say that scratching out enough points to qualify against packed defences, followed by being narrowly unable to get pasts the first good team we come across is probably about par for the groups of players we've had since ´96.
(actually I think the '98 side could've gone a bit further with a bit of luck)
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
do football teams have some kind of essence that doesn't change from tournament to tournament? Presumably Brazil knew all about playing tournament football when France dumped them out in the 2006 quarters ...
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
See, I'd say we shouldn't be "scratching out enough points". Even if we're not beating everyone by two or three clear goals we should be dominating matches, with a clear game plan and sense of direction. All too often we don't really know like we know what we're doing, and rely on individual moments of talent/luck. And if we're consistent in losing to "the first good team we come across" where does that put us in the list?
I'm honestly not the grump all this makes me sound, I'm just trying to temper the notion that we've only got Spain and Brazil to worry about, because quite frankly that just isn't true.
London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
You really think that deserves a response. Go the fuck away.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
scratching out enough points is often what the teams who reach the latter stages of tournaments do. For whatever reason it takes a little while to get warmed up, it's difficult to play against highly-motivated, unfamiliar sides, some of whom will be fairly defensively laid out.
I'd say I'd performance in the last few tournaments has reflected the ability of the teams we sent out: top 8 and no better.
I think this year there are good reasons to believe we're a touch better than that.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
it was no more than any comment bollocking on about ze Germans and Brazilians "knowing about tournmant football" deserved. I spose the former are really efficient and the latter play joga bonito too?
Idaho
blah blah blah
Then we're fucked. Who have we had like that since Gascoigne?
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
Joe Cole.
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
This is true, but generally 'top' sides seem to do it better than us. Although I suppose there are more top sides than there are English ones and in each tournament some will look good and some won't, but it never really seems to be us.
"Performance" in terms of final result I'd agree with you, "performance" in terms of style of play I'd say we've been more disappointing than not.
A touch, yes, but there's a great many more teams than just Brazil and Spain that could put us out. And obviously, on the day any team can put out any other team (e.g. S.Korea v Italy), but there are a lot of teams that it wouldn't be an 'upset' for us to go out to.
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
I'd agree with that, I just hope the injury and time out haven't set him back too much. On form he certainly gives us an extra dimension and gives the opposition something to worry about.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
Most tourny there's only really one or two that breezes through qualifying. For instance at '02 only Brazil and Spain did it, both in pisspoor groups. ´06 the same two teams.
It's a knockout tourny of course anyone can do anyone else, and even the favourites are gonna be at 5-1 minimum. I think going with a good coach, a reasonably settled team, with good players in all-areas, a good coach, and one absolutely phenomenal player puts us in good shape. I think if we're home before the semis I'll be disappointed...
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
As I've said previous, I expect us to get to the quarters, then depending on who we draw semis would be a bonus.
Idaho
blah blah blah
No way is he half the player that Gascoigne was at his prime.
kained&able
Here for the football.
Obnoxiousness
>-->))).>
2002 Quarter Final
England 1 - Brazil 2
2006 Quarter Final
England 1 - Portugal 3 (penalty shoot-out)
My point is that England did not lose by huge margins in the last two World Cups. It was pretty touch and go.
I think England is a stronger team in 2010 for the reasons I posted earlier in this thread.
So I fully expect England to reach the Semi Final stage.
e2a:
2006 was not a bad result score wise, considering that...
England 1 - Brazil 2
2006 Quarter Final
England 1 - Portugal 3 (penalty shoot-out)
My point is that England did not lose by huge margins in the last two World Cups. It was pretty touch and go.
I think England is a stronger team in 2010 for the reasons I posted earlier in this thread.
So I fully expect England to reach the Semi Final stage.
e2a:
2006 was not a bad result score wise, considering that...
The Master
New Member
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
It's a conspiracy 
Has anyone ever seen Platini and Messi in the same room?
Has anyone ever seen Platini and Messi in the same room?
Dirty Martini
gets what he cant want
The Germans will get to at least the semis, the Italians will locate the fourth dimension and get to the final without actually having won a match and finishing every game with 9 men. It always happens.
Obnoxiousness
>-->))).>
Here's why I think England will do very well this time:
1) England qualified with ease. Quite rare to have games to spare.
2) England can beat Mexico with an experimental side, which included no Chelsea players.
3) Fabio Capello has improved their tactical thinking, and actually seems to delegate a plan to the players.
4) Fabio Cappello has only selected players on current form and not reputation.
5) England were knocked out in the past only by quite small margins.
1) England qualified with ease. Quite rare to have games to spare.
2) England can beat Mexico with an experimental side, which included no Chelsea players.
3) Fabio Capello has improved their tactical thinking, and actually seems to delegate a plan to the players.
4) Fabio Cappello has only selected players on current form and not reputation.
5) England were knocked out in the past only by quite small margins.
