aworkc

What about Southampton? We have consistently brought young players through for the last 25 years

I think he'll have to start Sterling now, I've said before I think it's a gamble hopefully I'm proved wrong and I would love to see all the young players do well. The Italy game is vital to who goes through and I think brining Sterling on for Welbeck would have been ideal. I hope Sterling can replicate his form for Liverpool in an England shirt, so many have failed to do exactly that when it's come to a major tournament

Welbeck is a doubt for the Italy game.... I know a lot of people don't rate him but I think that's quite a blow. He's generally done very well for England and he can stretch teams as well as getting goals

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.

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

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

Hahaha I love this

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)

I was 7 first tournament I remember watching and loved it

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.

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

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)

owen was only a Madrid for a year 04-05 so there wasn't a world cup at the time and Mcmanaman was there from 99-03 and wasn't selected for the 02 world cup.... Wikipedia

I think as usual the dutch will self implode, a lot of talented players but no real teamwork.... I used to love them but after their performance in the 2010 final I've gone off them a bit. I'd love to see a European team win it as it seems that everyone has written anyon who's not south american off (including me as I'm predicting Argentina).

Haha, I'm not implying, I'm saying it

Daily Mail reporting that Lukaku may be out for the world cup with an ankle injury, that could be a huge blow for Belgium having already lost Benteke....... Although it is the Daily Mail so more than likely completely untrue

I did the world cup predictor and got the same, although I had us beating Ivory Coast in the 2nd round

morgan schneiderlin has been called up to the 23.... As a Southampton fan I'm really pleased for him, he's been outstanding for us for the last 5 years and has thoroughly impressed in his first 2 seasons in the prem. Well worthy of a place in the france squad

Ribery out of the world cup, can't understand why France didn't take Nasri, they could definitely use him now

I didn't realise that, to be fair I would never count out the germans, they always perform at major tournaments and certainly have the players to make a huge impact. Although Brazil are the favourites, my bet would go on Argentina

I'd agree with that, I can see Ronaldo carrying portugal to the quarters. I think Germany are going to struggle with playing their high tempo pressing game in that kind of heat and humidity. Spain will keep the ball which is going to stand them in good stead. I think if England could get to the quarter finals that should be seen as a decent performance, obviously any further would be brilliant.

I think Messi will underperform, never performed at a major tournament

Who do people think are going to struggle in the world cup or not do as well as they should on paper.... I think that Netherlands will under perform, similar to what happened to them in Euro 2012.

Don't think it's the end of the world Chambo's good but I don't think we were ever going to be pinning all our hopes on him. Someone always gets injured in the build up to a tournament anyway

I wouldn't say it's hatred but it is annoying when somebody posts on a discussion about football when they don't like it just to say they don't like it. I don't like American Football and if I saw a discussion about it I would ignore it because I don't like it so it would be of no interest or benefit to me to get involved..... Just a thought