2010 FIFA World Cup

[CHA!NGANG]

I know our chances of winning are unlikely, but I don't know why everyone is playing down our chances of going far in the tournament. Like Spain, we also have one of the best squads on paper IMO (bar a couple of positions). We've been to recent WC's with worse... think Trevor Sinclair, Danny Mills etc. People forget Spain were always the great underachievers in international football until they won Euro 2008. There's no reason we can't do something similar and have a similar turnaround.

Rooney, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Cole could walk into any team in the world. Lennon and Walcott can single handedly tear defences to pieces.

Where's the faith!?

I don't see it happening because:

A) The England team is more a team of players, rather then a team.
B) We have a problem with positioning. Gerrard at LM doesn't work tbh.
C) Injuries and burnout. A lot of other countries have a break during Christmas, the PL doesn't. The PL is the toughest league in the world, and it takes it out on the players.
D) England have a strong first XI, but the squad itself isn't as strong as 3/4 other teams.

[StefanWolves]

I don't see it happening because:
B) We have a problem with positioning. Gerrard at LM doesn't work tbh.
C) Injuries and burnout. A lot of other countries have a break during Christmas, the PL doesn't. The PL is the toughest league in the world, and it takes it out on the players.
D) England have a strong first XI, but the squad itself isn't as strong as 3/4 other teams.

A) I would have said that two years ago, when wolly with the brolly was in charge, but now I think it has changed because of Capello.

B) I agree

C)No, that doesn't matter at all. So far we have been very lucky, we will be taking our strongest squad (if Barry is fit, forget David Beckham, I don't think he would have got into the team, would have only been a squad player), have you seen Spains injuries? 1. Torres, 2. Xavi (unlikely to be fit), 3. Iniesta major fitness doubt, 4 Fabregas, probably won't be fit enough. Compared to other teams England have been VERY LUCKY when it comes to injuries, so don't give me that crap. The break doesn't mean nothing. You could argue that the PL ending a week earlier than the Seria A and La Liga, they only have what? two weeks break for Christmas, right? one week isn't going to make any difference.

D) does it matter if our WHOLE squad isn't full of big names? does it really matter? people go on about France having a big squad, even Spain, England's matches up to those, it's just that people for some reason, are bias towards their own national team, which I find pathetic.

And TBH i'd pick England's defence over any other national defence in the world. Our strength and depth in defence & midfield is really good, it's just strikers that we lack depth and a bit more quality in. If we had another Rooney (like Spain have Torres and Villa), then everyone would be raging about England like they are Spain and Brazil.

England have the perfect squad of players to play 4-5-1/4-3-3, why he doesn't even try it is beyond me.

[CHA!NGANG]

B) I agree

C)No, that doesn't matter at all. So far we have been very lucky, we will be taking our strongest squad (if Barry is fit, forget David Beckham, I don't think he would have got into the team, would have only been a squad player), have you seen Spains injuries? 1. Torres, 2. Xavi (unlikely to be fit), 3. Iniesta major fitness doubt, 4 Fabregas, probably won't be fit enough. Compared to other teams England have been VERY LUCKY when it comes to injuries, so don't give me that crap. The break doesn't mean nothing. You could argue that the PL ending a week earlier than the Seria A and La Liga, they only have what? two weeks break for Christmas, right? one week isn't going to make any difference.

D) does it matter if our WHOLE squad isn't full of big names? does it really matter? people go on about France having a big squad, even Spain, England's matches up to those, it's just that people for some reason, are bias towards their own national team, which I find pathetic.

You say Xavi, Torres, Iniesta, Fabregas.

They are all returning to action in the next 1-2 weeks bar Xavi. Torres has said he should be fit for the WC, Iniesta is returning for Barca today/tomorrow I think, and Fabregas is almost fit. So they are all coming back just as the WC starts. Obviously Xavi is the exception because he has been injured and has been playing on the injury, but he said he should be able to play in the WC, and if not Fabregas will start instead. Also, by injuries, I don't mean current injuries I mean injuries within the WC. Rooney is a 50/50 if he'll be fit properly or not. Same for King and Ferdinand. Gerrard hasn't been on form, Barry, who knows about him. Johnson has been injured too but I donno whats happening with him. The English league is the toughest league in the world, and that does take a tole on the players.

D) I know you're very patriotic and i've seen that from all your other posts, but there are squads that are better than Englands. Englands first team with no injuries can beat any team in the world on there day. I'm not biased towards England, I'm just realistic.

I hope England win, and they can do it, but there's too many things which it's dependant on.

[StefanWolves]

You say Xavi, Torres, Iniesta, Fabregas.

They are all returning to action in the next 1-2 weeks bar Xavi. Torres has said he should be fit for the WC, Iniesta is returning for Barca today/tomorrow I think, and Fabregas is almost fit. So they are all coming back just as the WC starts. Obviously Xavi is the exception because he has been injured and has been playing on the injury, but he said he should be able to play in the WC, and if not Fabregas will start instead. Also, by injuries, I don't mean current injuries I mean injuries within the WC. Rooney is a 50/50 if he'll be fit properly or not. Same for King and Ferdinand. Gerrard hasn't been on form, Barry, who knows about him. Johnson has been injured too but I donno whats happening with him. The English league is the toughest league in the world, and that does take a tole on the players.

Rooney is 50/50? no he's fit and has got 4 weeks to relax before he starts training again King I know is injured as always but he MAY not be needed, even if he is didn't he play like 4 games in 10 days for Spurs? he can handle it, Ferdinand will be fine, again four weeks to relax before the WC. Johnson has seemed fine? dunno where you got that from... even if he wasn't fit we have Carragher who could player their, and he's a top defender.

All these so called 'injuries' are over hyped by our stupid media, mainly papers and Sky Sports News. For some reason they wish the worst upon their own national team which pisses me right off, take for instance John Terry's 'injury' last week, they blew it out of all proportion saying their sources said it was a 'metatarsal injury', oh wait yea he's fit to play today!

[CHA!NGANG]

Rooney has been struggling come the end of the season, I still think there's a risk that he could get injured or be tired. I hope he isn't though. Ferdinand, you can't say he'll be fine when he's had knocks this season. You never know with him. Johnson has been injured a fair bit this season and didn't play in the final few games for Liverpool because of it, so I'd hardly say that he's fine. Carragher is slow as hell and as a RB isn't great.

Agree about JT.

As for the formation, I agree about the 4-3-3 but I don't think he'll do it. Shame though as the squad is built for it but oh well.

[immense]

messi out of the world cup

[StefanWolves]

messi out of the world cup

is someone tellin porkies

[immense]

my mate told me, idk if he's joking, i can't see anything about it on bbc/ssn and he's not telling me how he knows

[Geraint]

C) Injuries and burnout. A lot of other countries have a break during Christmas, the PL doesn't. The PL is the toughest league in the world, and it takes it out on the players.
.

What difference does it make? There's the same amount of games and it could lead to fixture congestion later on in the season. Loads of players at the World Cup are in the Premier League.

[CHA!NGANG]

What difference does it make? There's the same amount of games and it could lead to fixture congestion later on in the season. Loads of players at the World Cup are in the Premier League.

A break half way through the season would make a big difference I think. 2 weeks is a fair bit of time for recovery.

Also, yeah I know there are but every English player at the WC plays in the PL.