World Cup!

[rickjames]

Same will be said when we go into the next world cup if we struggle in this one.... The issue was that there were nowhere near as many young players coming through as we do now. It could still be a big risk taking as many kids as we have, difficult to keep your cool when you're out in that heat (Beckham '98)

 

The 2010 squad was full of nothings who really shouldn't have been there; Warnock, Wright-Phillips, Upson, Carragher, Heskey, ROB GREEN to name a few. But we had nobody else.

 

I really like this squad, compared to previous ones it's got a good mix of players who've been there and one's who people might really come to underestimate; the likes of Sterling and Barkley could really hurt teams from the bench out of nowhere.

 

Whilst I don't have high expectations I think getting to the quarter finals is a realistic target. Compared to previous campaigns this one has seemingly sailed along relatively nicely, drama free and only one injury.

[rickjames]

The only tournament where the England squad on paper was the strongest, was Euro 96...its the only one since WC 1966 that I would have bet my life savings on England winning. Alas the downfall was as always, penalties.

 

Toss up between that and the 2002 squad going into the World Cup. 96' was the first time I kinda got to see England (I hadn't cared for football until about a year before), I fell in love with that team so much.

 

 

SO GOOD

[featured_spectre]

That is how they should ALWAYS belt out the anthem, just like the rugby team does!

[aworkc]

The 2010 squad was full of nothings who really shouldn't have been there; Warnock, Wright-Phillips, Upson, Carragher, Heskey, ROB GREEN to name a few. But we had nobody else.

 

I really like this squad, compared to previous ones it's got a good mix of players who've been there and one's who people might really come to underestimate; the likes of Sterling and Barkley could really hurt teams from the bench out of nowhere.

 

Whilst I don't have high expectations I think getting to the quarter finals is a realistic target. Compared to previous campaigns this one has seemingly sailed along relatively nicely, drama free and only one injury.

 

I do agree to be fair, but it seems to always be with England that when we go into a tournament we talk up the squad and how good they are (this did happen in 2010) and then we slaughter them when they come back.

 

I think the fact that people are a bit more realistic this time round will help us a lot as the expectation won't be on the young players shoulders.

 

BTW I just pulled Brazil in the sweepstake

[rickjames]

I do agree to be fair, but it seems to always be with England that when we go into a tournament we talk up the squad and how good they are (this did happen in 2010) and then we slaughter them when they come back.

 

I think the fact that people are a bit more realistic this time round will help us a lot as the expectation won't be on the young players shoulders.

 

BTW I just pulled Brazil in the sweepstake

 

That side deserved every ounce of criticism it got for those group games, I couldn't think of a more embarrassing way to qualify out of a group than how we did there.

[aworkc]

That side deserved every ounce of criticism it got for those group games, I couldn't think of a more embarrassing way to qualify out of a group than how we did there.

 

Absolutely agree with you. It was an appaling performance from everyone in that squad. The fact that Matthew Upson was our joint top scorer with 1 goal!

 

To be honest if we went out in the group stages but played decent attacking football and actually went for it I'd be happy with that.

[aworkc]

The only tournament where the England squad on paper was the strongest, was Euro 96...its the only one since WC 1966 that I would have bet my life savings on England winning. Alas the downfall was as always, penalties.

 

I was 7 first tournament I remember watching and loved it

[sparkeh]

I was 7 first tournament I remember watching and loved it

I was 11 and it was Italia '90. Thus began the heartbreak that is watching England play international football.

[rickjames]

I'm just used to the heartbreak now. Kids as England fans nowadays don't seem fussed, I don't blame them. Our school is very international so I imagine words will be flying all over the place.

[aworkc]

I was 11 and it was Italia '90. Thus began the heartbreak that is watching England play international football.

 

Yet every tournament I promise myself I won't get my hopes up, yet every tournament I end up devastated..... Although as a Southampton fan for the first time I will get to see players from my team playing for England in a world cup (if they haven't all left by the time it kicks off)

[Tesla]

My mind tends to forget world cup tournaments.... it's probably for the best.

 

2002 is the first one i really remember, i was 11 at the time

[sparkeh]

My mind tends to forget world cup tournaments.... it's probably for the best.

Here's a pic to summarise:

Just change heads to one of the latest England team for an updated picture.

[aworkc]

Here's a pic to summarise:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]25002[/ATTACH]

Just change heads to one of the latest England team for an updated picture.

 

Hahaha I love this

[SiliconAlley_Sam]

Yet every tournament I promise myself I won't get my hopes up, yet every tournament I end up devastated...

 

Exactly this.

 

My reaction to watching England is a bit like watching the Office. Toe curling, awkward, cringe-inducing, hiding behind a pillow. The only difference is that England football induces despairing rather than amused laughter.

[aworkc]

Exactly this.

 

My reaction to watching England is a bit like watching the Office. Toe curling, awkward, cringe-inducing, hiding behind a pillow. The only difference is that England football induces despairing rather than amused laughter.

 

 

Haha, I like that analagy.... usually with England I moan and say we won't do that well and then the minute we score our first goal I lose it and convince myself that we are going to win the world cup! It's the hope that kills you, no hope no dissapointment but it will be really boring lol

[madurham]

I just find our football to be mind numbingly boring.

 

With the high number of youngsters this year I'm hoping they are throwing this year away to give the next generation some early experience of international football. We've put out mediocre, old dogs for far too long.

[aworkc]

I wouldn't say that we are throwing this year away.... It's one of the best squads we've had for a while, I think the most importnt thing is that we actually have a bench that can change a game. Its always a gamble putting youngsters in but they do all play week in and week out in the premier league

[foofighterjim]

Its always a gamble putting youngsters in

 

I don't see it as a gamble, most of the 'old guard' didn't really deserve to keep their places as long as they did. Remember when you are young you have no fear, you are invincible. Could be what we need to make any decent progress.

[aworkc]

I don't see it as a gamble, most of the 'old guard' didn't really deserve to keep their places as long as they did. Remember when you are young you have no fear, you are invincible. Could be what we need to make any decent progress.

 

When you are young you are also naive and reckless, it may not be an issue for england but Beckham in '98, Rooney in '06 would say otherwise.... Even Sterling in the friendly against Equador got a bit too overexcited trying to win the ball back and got sent off.

[Zoom7000]

I think the strongest England teams we've had have been Italia 90, Euro 96 and France 98. Those teams were probably worthy of winning the tournament, the strongest of them being Euro 96. Since then, they've not been strong enough and have got gradually worse. The trouble I've always seen with England is that we have a squad of 11 individuals on the pitch, not a team.

 

I also agree with the statement above about the youngsters, it's the way to go. They handle the pressure a lot better than the old guard. Look at Rooney in Euro 2004, Owen in France 98. And look at the Germany team since they went through the mass change. Granted they haven't won anything yet, but they've been there or thereabouts!

[APMerry]

I also think in England it's club before country and the real passion seems to be playing club football, the England team just don't seem to gel like others. Having said that I am enjoying the fact that half the team has instagram now and you can actually see the sort of things they get up to together. The video of Ox doing the Sturridge dance was quality.

[SiliconAlley_Sam]

I don't even care that England will inevitably let us down in the most painful way possible, probably by having a great/not awful 15 minute start to matches, getting the first goal in and then going into standard England mode, it's World Cup time and I'm excited.

[GREED]

I must admit I have been impressed with England the last few weeks. Not impressed at their football mind, but their hunger and willingness to 'have a go' which is coming through from the younger players like Barkely, Sterling et al.

 

I would rather go out having played well and not been boring and cautious, than be boring and still go out.

 

My big gripe however is with the English media... EVERY TIME we write our team off before we go, or 2 days before write some damning report or exclusive on one player has beat up another or slept with their dog or what not... How about get behind the team for just 3 weeks!

 

I think the only grace has been that Brazil is in such a state and FIFA is more corrupt than all of Africa combined, the papers don't have enough space to down us!

[rickjames]

Also this video, nail hit head

[6Foot2]

Link: World Cup results to be shown on Tube platform displays - Transport - News - London Evening Standard

 

...The latest results and scorers will scroll across the screen in a 130-character message carried on the dot matrix boards as well as on service update boards on station concourses....