Football World Cup talk

MaxwellBygraves

I agree with the poster a few posts up, never mind Wayne Rooney, Stevie G is the problem and I genuinely don't think he deserves to start.

As a team they played well on the whole, so its frustrating to still come away with a loss. I like what Hodgson seems to be doing with the team, so it'll be annoying to see him get the sack when we don't get out the groups.

RideOnTime

France look tight at the back...

Giraffoto

RideOnTime wrote:

Uruguay is hard to spell

It's all about U, isn't it?

RideOnTime

Honduras look loose at the front...

laurentian

I was more enthused about that performance than any of the four at the last World Cup. Italy were always going to be tough. No team in that tournament would have wanted Italy in their group. Not one. England created chances - perhaps as many as any team would have done. Pirlo was sublime - just so cultured.

If it were up to me, I would play Rooney in the centre and put Stirling out on the left . . .

Paulie W

tuneskyline wrote:

Did anyone notice in the England game how many times Steven G gave the ball away. He was rubbish. Italy had total control.

Tell me how many - because the stats say 93% pass completion: that is 62 out of 67, and of the 5 not completed two or three were long balls to Johnson or Baines which didnt quite go to feet.

Not suggesting that he played particularly well but your oimplication that he gave the ball away is basically wrong.

laurentian

RideOnTime wrote:

Uruguay is hard to spell. You really have to think about it.

I prefer their less-abled side . . . Paraguay

Gazzetta67

Being half scottish/half irish, can someone please explain why is it with every world cup that england play in why is it there is the need to have a "scapegoat" to blame !!! The BBC report tonight singled out Wayne Rooney and so did Sky. reporter said how are england going to get the best out of their marquee player ?? - Eh last time i looked it was a team game of 11 players who all take their share....win as a team lose as a team and didnt he lay on the pass for the goal. I actually thought england played ok as a neutral. Lineker said that Italy were "nothing special" and then at the end of the game he said they were a good side. what's it to be then ???. I wouldnt be surprised if rooney says stuff it thats the last time a put on an england shirt.

tuneskyline

Paulie W wrote:

tuneskyline wrote:

Did anyone notice in the England game how many times Steven G gave the ball away. He was rubbish. Italy had total control.

Tell me how many - because the stats say 93% pass completion: that is 62 out of 67, and of the 5 not completed two or three were long balls to Johnson or Baines which didnt quite go to feet.

Not suggesting that he played particularly well but your oimplication that he gave the ball away is basically wrong.

I take it back , he was brilliant. He gave the Italians a right run around all those shots on target and those passes that split open the defence. He had the Italians on their knees

RideOnTime

Nigeria 0 Iran 0. I'll never get that time back.

Cygnus

RideOnTime wrote:

Nigeria 0 Iran 0. I'll never get that time back.

I didn't watch it and I'm glad I didn't considering all the comments on Twitter

DeVlaeminck

Gazzetta67 wrote:

Being half scottish/half irish, can someone please explain why is it with every world cup that england play in why is it there is the need to have a "scapegoat" to blame !!! The BBC report tonight singled out Wayne Rooney and so did Sky. reporter said how are england going to get the best out of their marquee player ?? - Eh last time i looked it was a team game of 11 players who all take their share....win as a team lose as a team and didnt he lay on the pass for the goal. I actually thought england played ok as a neutral. Lineker said that Italy were "nothing special" and then at the end of the game he said they were a good side. what's it to be then ???. I wouldnt be surprised if rooney says stuff it thats the last time a put on an england shirt.

Think back to '78 and the way Ally MacCleod and Alan Rough were crucified - neither career really recovered - I don't think it's a uniquely English thing.

As far as Rooney goes I do think he's judged by higher standards because of the promise he showed as a young man. That said he had a poor game the other night but played out of position by (imo) a poor manager chosen more because he fits the image of what the FA want than anything else. I also think the team as a whole has had quite an easy ride so far - we didn't qualify well, we didn't look great in the friendlies and I thought an average Italy side (by Italian standards which are admittedly high) deserved their win.

cornerblock

Cygnus wrote:

RideOnTime wrote:

Nigeria 0 Iran 0. I'll never get that time back.

I didn't watch it and I'm glad I didn't considering all the comments on Twitter

One stinker from 14 matches is good going though. It's already been way better than the last World Cup and we're not even into the 2nd week yet. All we need now is for England to win their next two games, the BBC to ditch the tiresome Robbie Savage and the whole thing will be even better.

Paulie W

The problem with Ally is that he dug his own grave by essentially claiming that Scotland were going to win the whole thing then losing to Peru and drawing with Iran!

Paulie W

Cornerblock wrote:

Cygnus wrote:

RideOnTime wrote:

Nigeria 0 Iran 0. I'll never get that time back.

I didn't watch it and I'm glad I didn't considering all the comments on Twitter

One stinker from 14 matches is good going though. It's already been way better than the last World Cup and we're not even into the 2nd week yet. All we need now is for England to win their next two games, the BBC to ditch the tiresome Robbie Savage and the whole thing will be even better.

I'm hoping that the quality of the matches so far will carry on through the tournament but the last world cup aside the early group games often generate the best matches because there is less to lose. Once you hit the last round of group games and the knockout stages the tension tends to impact on the quality of the games.

tuneskyline

Come on Ivory coast ....I fear the Germans.

RideOnTime

Brasil 0 Mexico 0. Very disappointing defence match.

upperoilcan

Bye bye Spain......No doubt one of the biggest upsets in the tournament..

so tonight's the night,crunch time for England.If we dont win then we can pack our bags.

I predict a win.

smokey_bacon

Whats the Spanish for meh?

RideOnTime

I predict a riot...

ballysmate

As Skinner and Baddiel would sing:-

We're coming home
We're coming home
England's coming home.

Cygnus

Ballysmate wrote:

As Skinner and Baddiel would sing:-

We're coming home
We're coming home
England's coming home.

Yes they will have to come home at some point.

RideOnTime

That was Football's coming home...
wasn't it...

junglist_matty

I can't see Brazil winning it this year

RideOnTime

On form thus far;

Argentina

pblakeney

RideOnTime wrote:

On form thus far;

Argentina

I would disagree.

Germany.

upperoilcan

Oh dear

RideOnTime

arran77

upperoilcan wrote:

Oh dear

Going well is it

upperoilcan

Another loss for us,were as good as out,we now need Italy to win both their next matches !

Disgraceful