How far will England go

[Sevenil]

Seriously and for a bit of fun.

As the World Cup approaches and as an addition to other thread how far will England get to in World Cup.

Joking aside I think they have a great squad with some truly great players Rooney , Cole ,Gerrard,Cole etc.

So make your predictions please.

Bear in mind they are weak in the goalkeeping dept and imho Hart is best option.

[aska]

You should have added an 'I couldn't care less' option!

[Alannn]

There year will come.

I fancy them to win it this year.
There have been a lots of worst world cup winners that this present crop. [ France 1998..a team without forwards]

They used to reckon you need about 4 world class players
Ferdinand, Cole, Rooney, Lampard, all on top of their game, sorted.

Frequently too, a team does well, or wins it, when a 'reasonable' player, who maybe has not had too strenous a season, and has his 'lifetime moment', or few matches.
Step up James Milner, maybe even Crouchy.
Think Kempas, Rossi.

The Englanders have not had draining champions league semis and final, which helps.

Oh course I might be wrong, but the one world cup where they are not tagged as potential winners, might be the one to surprise

They were even tipped in 2002 when Sven had to field Butt, Mills, Seaman (great once), Heskey, and Sinclair.

Why do the Scottish never ever back england?

[Alannn]

What do people see in Gerrard?
I think he is shocking for England, and can't even hold down a position.

He is not a true midfielder (can't pass, receive, pass) has no discipline.
His displays for England are often embarrasing, think, France, and the last world cup..

Even some Scousers I know are on his back after a mediocre domestic season.

[christinekeen]

Originally Posted by Sevenil

Seriously and for a bit of fun.
thats men for you, serious about fun
As the World Cup approaches and as an addition to other thread how far will England get to in World Cup.
Joking aside I think they have a great squad with some truly great players Rooney , Cole ,Gerrard,Cole etc.
two Cole s?
anyone you think shouldnt be in t squad who is?
So make your predictions please.
Bear in mind they are weak in the goalkeeping dept and imho Hart is best option.

cheers Seven, I voted quarter, but do hope they get further. x

[little mischievous one]

Im not a big footie fan, much prefer cricket.. that said Im not churlish and I AM interested in seeing England do well in the World Cup.

Far as Ive heard on tv etc we have a pretty strong team so Im hoping for the semi finals at least.

Would be great if we could win both the cricket and the world cup and Im gonna allow myself that dream and see what happens.

[phillip]

I hope England win, but I can't seeing them getting past the quarter finals - unless Lord Triesman has bribed the refs.

[whacky]

I don't think they've a hope in hell of winning it. Early knock out stages. I am English but not really bothered about England doing well. I looked at all the finalists there's ever been and there are only us and Sweden who have been in a final and only got there once. All of the other's have done it at least twice with proper world class teams like Brazil, Germany and Italy having been in loads of finals.

We talk as if we're in that class but frankly we're not. Only ever been in two semi's with the one win when it was in England.

Brazil - 7 finals, Germany (some as West Germany) - 7 finals, Italy - 6 finals, Argentina - 4 finals, Uruguay, Netherlands, Hungary, France - 2 finals each and Sweden and England 1 each.

[DashingDave]

Realistically, I can only see England reaching The Quarter Finals

[Anthony_1981]

I think we as a nation should just accept that we're consistently the 5th/6th/7th/8th best footballing nation in the world & be happy with that.

So quarter final stage then.

Personally, as much as I'd love England to get far into the competition, I enjoy it more once they're out. Without the stress of England games, it can just be enjoyed as a spectacle.

[whacky]

And I forgot Czechoslovakia - 2 finals

[Lancisto]

The World Cup has just finished, and England won it. OK, so it was only playtime cricket and not the real thing, but they DID beat Australia in the final which has to count for something.

[Anthony_1981]

Originally Posted by Lancisto

The World Cup has just finished, and England won it. OK, so it was only playtime cricket and not the real thing, but they DID beat Australia in the final which has to count for something.

The shortest short form of the game annoys me. If you can score 200+ in 20 overs in this form of the game, why does it take you a day & a half to do it the rest of the time?

[Sevenil]

Originally Posted by whacky

I don't think they've a hope in hell of winning it. Early knock out stages. I am English but not really bothered about England doing well. I looked at all the finalists there's ever been and there are only us and Sweden who have been in a final and only got there once. All of the other's have done it at least twice with proper world class teams like Brazil, Germany and Italy having been in loads of finals.

We talk as if we're in that class but frankly we're not. Only ever been in two semi's with the one win when it was in England.

Brazil - 7 finals, Germany (some as West Germany) - 7 finals, Italy - 6 finals, Argentina - 4 finals, Uruguay, Netherlands, Hungary, France - 2 finals each and Sweden and England 1 each.

So England are as good as Sweden folks?

[whacky]

It depends how you look at it, we have actually won the thing where as Sweden have made it to three semi finals and have made third place twice.

In the Olympics, one gold medal counts as higher than seven silvers so we have the edge!!

[Lancisto]

Originally Posted by Anthony_1981

The shortest short form of the game annoys me. If you can score 200+ in 20 overs in this form of the game, why does it take you a day & a half to do it the rest of the time?

(a) it shouldn't take you that long, which is not to say that it doesn't sometimes.

(b) T20 has all sorts of fielding and bowling restrictions which are intended to protect the poor diddums batsmen, making it much more profitable for them to take risks which would not pay off in cricket, but please the crowds in T20.

(c) it's possibly best to let the poor football fans have their thread back now, after all the pig bladder game hardly gets a mention either around here or in the national media ;-).

[Dindy]

Originally Posted by Lancisto

The World Cup has just finished, and England won it. OK, so it was only playtime cricket and not the real thing, but they DID beat Australia in the final which has to count for something.

Well, we (ie England fans) said the same about 65-over cricket one-day cricket when it started - an attitude which still part-explains our failures in what is now 50-over stuff. Wisely, the present management have taken a different attitude to 20/20 (which we again invented).

It is clear that 20/20 has its skills, some of which are transferable to the longer game. The fear is that future players, given the earning potential, will cease to see the longer version as the better, more testing, version -and that the money will bring corruption (as may already have happened).

[AndrewStirling]

[QUOTE=Alannn;962158]What do people see in Gerrard?
I think he is shocking for England, and can't even hold down a position.
He is not a true midfielder (can't pass, receive, pass) has no discipline.
His displays for England are often embarrasing, think, France, and the last world cup..
Even some Scousers I know are on his back after a mediocre domestic season.[/QUOTE


We will see a bit more of Gerrard in the tabloids after the tournament has ended.......Oh dear oh dear oh dear. He is finished at Liverpool.

[Mr_Baxter]

Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
He kisses the badge on his chest
Then hands in a transfer request
Steve Gerrard, Gerrard.

Engerland wont really win it...will they??

Regards.

Mr Baxter- Maclaren.

[Sevenil]

quarter finals is top prediction so far ad after last night maybe not that far

[Alannn]

Agreed seven, it was a shocking display against a poor team
Look at England;s goals, umarked men at corners, players running half the field unchallanged, Mexico were awful defensively.
You wouldn't accpet that in a local amatuer league.

Yet, their midfield ran Englands. [ Gerrard again, I'll not re-visit that, but if he can't boss that Mexcio team jezzz)
Rooney: where was he? worrying: Fully fit?
Carrick: Shocking
King: The messiah returns: poor, heading an umarked goal excluded
I can't remember s fourth midfielder (Milner was ok)

Sad

[Owain]

I am welsh and, in all honesty, if England lost all their group matches I (and probably the rest of the principality) would be delighted.

However I think that they will probably make the quarter finals yet again.

btw- dont sour grapes taste terrible?

Owain

[Sevenil]

Originally Posted by Owain

I am welsh and, in all honesty, if England lost all their group matches I (and probably the rest of the principality) would be delighted.
However I think that they will probably make the quarter finals yet again.
btw- dont sour grapes taste terrible?
Owain

nah they make wine ootae them

[Orson]

Originally Posted by whacky

Brazil - 7 finals, Germany (some as West Germany) - 7 finals, Italy - 6 finals, Argentina - 4 finals, Uruguay, Netherlands, Hungary, France - 2 finals each and Sweden and England 1 each.

On the other hand , 200 teams enter the qualifying stage , only a few get through to the finals , even fewer win it . Only 7 countries have won the World Cup , England are one of them .

[Blaiddbach]

Originally Posted by aska

You should have added an 'I couldn't care less' option!

He did - those who cannot care less will not bother reading thr thread in the first place. To have read is a confirmation that you re actually innterested but cannot allow yourself to admit it.

bb

[Blaiddbach]

Originally Posted by Owain

I am welsh and, in all honesty, if England lost all their group matches I (and probably the rest of the principality) would be delighted.
However I think that they will probably make the quarter finals yet again.
btw- dont sour grapes taste terrible?
Owain

Ahh that is because the Welsh are so feeble minded that they have to identify what they are as not being English - the greatest compliment you can pay to the English.

The Welsh will never be a nation until they start to be proud of what they are and stop worrying about the other lot over the border.

Wales is a beautiful country with wonderful resources and so much going for it, yet it is populated by a race of people who are unable to fend for themselves ( the amount of money that pours over the border from England and from Europe would make te average Englishmans eyes water) yet our leaders whine on for more, and then spend it on the same old crap.

Wales is possibly the only country (and sincde the time of Henry VIII it has not even been that) that can get £275M from Europe for community development and spend £250M of it administering the distribution of the other £25M

It is not sour grapes that Wales did not qualify, they stand little or no chance of qualifying being as a nation we are so dependent and feeble. The Kiwis have a similar population to us and a similar climate, yet they can produce the best Rugby Union team in the world, the best Netball team, qualify for the footie World Cup, and have a cricket team that can actually play. Wales - well we have Ryan Giggs and world class whingers.

Come on England, bring the cup back home and good on you.

b

[Thorn]

Originally Posted by Orson

On the other hand , 200 teams enter the qualifying stage , only a few get through to the finals , even fewer win it . Only 7 countries have won the World Cup , England are one of them .

Good point. well said pal. 1 in 7 at worst then Hopefully lol

[Sevenil]

Originally Posted by Thorn

Good point. well said pal. 1 in 7 at worst then Hopefully lol

so 8 teams will make quarter finals.

I predict England will go that far.

[naughtyjennifer]

Having read a few of your messages, it's pretty clear you have "Anti-English sentiments"....I have had many years of living north of the border, and whenever England are in a major competion it seems to provide the "Bigots" with a good enough reason under the guise of football to be outwardly scathing of the English...There have been instances of physical attacks....I remember reading about a boy attacked by a grown man in Aberdeen because he was wearing an England top, this happened during the previous world cup!!.
How sad...

[Sevenil]

Ah jennifer its fair to say most folk on here know that A Im a footy fan and B Im a Scot.

They also know its good hearted banter and unmalicious.

Bit of fun in fairness

[supersub]

Originally Posted by naughtyjennifer

Having read a few of your messages, it's pretty clear you have "Anti-English sentiments"....I have had many years of living north of the border, and whenever England are in a major competion it seems to provide the "Bigots" with a good enough reason under the guise of football to be outwardly scathing of the English...There have been instances of physical attacks....I remember reading about a boy attacked by a grown man in Aberdeen because he was wearing an England top, this happened during the previous world cup!!.
How sad...

Jennifer, let me confirm what Sevenil has said that the football forumns on here are light hearted banter. My god, ive given him enough stick for being a 'Jock' on here but its all a bit of fun. Football fans all over the world wind each other up and believe it or not the majority are happy to have a drink and a laugh with each other. Yes, there are the minority who should be locked up but the rest of us of us will be enjoying the next month and (dare i say it) no matter who wins.

[Sevenil]

Originally Posted by supersub

Jennifer, let me confirm what Sevenil has said that the football forumns on here are light hearted banter. My god, ive given him enough stick for being a 'Jock' on here but its all a bit of fun. Football fans all over the world wind each other up and believe it or not the majority are happy to have a drink and a laugh with each other. Yes, there are the minority who should be locked up but the rest of us of us will be enjoying the next month and (dare i say it) no matter who wins.

Indeed its a fab festival the World Cup and I just hope this lives up to all the hype

[Sevenil]

After the elite 23 has this changed your view?

Would you have taken Walcott and left Heskey or perhaps you agree so lets hear it?

[Sevenil]

Oh no Franz is oot ??????????

[Whirly]

Originally Posted by Sevenil

Oh no Franz is oot ??????????

Amazing isn't it. I try to avoid hearing anything about football. But this was splashed as headline news this morning while I was driving along the road. Teh way that it came over on the news, was that we are now doomed. To add to that. I understand that the english players are having real problems with the new style balls. I guess that the team as a whole are useless, and they are setting people up for the bad news, as they drop out after the first round. Do I care? .. Not a hope in hell!

Whirls

[Sevenil]

Oh Whirly that was the most succinct post yet.

[Orson]

We only had three world class players Gerrard , Rooney and Ferdinand . Carragher and King are very good defenders but they lack Ferdinands speed over short distances . Its a big setback but not a disaster . Capello should have gone for Phil Jagielka rather than Michael Dawson as a replacement .

The new first team for the first match against USA should be ...

David James
Johnson Terry Carragher Cole
Lennon Lampard King Gerrard
Heskey Rooney .

[verynaughtyboy]

I went for last 8 too, though looking at the draw, it'll be France or the Argies in the Quarters, both with talented players(Argentina especially- Messi, Tevez, Mascherano, Millito) but lousy managers- Jim's dad from American Pie and the cheat Maradona.

So, there's a chance we might make the last 4 where anything could happen- this will be one of the few World Cups where the climate should help us. It's winter in South Africa so this might be another european side's year.

Re: Ferdinand, I think he's hugely overrated and always prone to error. I agree we'll lose pace now but one of the two Spurs defenders would be more reliable. I'll go:

-------------------------------GREEN----------------------------------
JOHNSON---------------TERRY--------KING---------------------COLE A
-------------------------------BARRY----------------------------------
LENNON---------------LAMPARD-----GERRARD(C)----------------MILNER
------------------------------COLE J----------------------------------
-----------------------------ROONEY----------------------------------

[Sevenil]

Originally Posted by Orson

We only had three world class players Gerrard , Rooney and Ferdinand . Carragher and King are very good defenders but they lack Ferdinands speed over short distances . Its a big setback but not a disaster . Capello should have gone for Phil Jagielka rather than Michael Dawson as a replacement .
.

Totally agreed

[Cane and Able]

I see verynaughtyboy has made an interesting and very controversial selection......flood the midfield with Barry as the holding player shoring up the defence, and Joe Cole given licence to roam at will behind Rooney. Not many woudl argue with the four chosen in midfield either.

But I have this nagging doubt that FIFA are not going to look favourably on England starting with 12 players. No doubt Nigel Fararge will point out that it is anti-English bias