They have their best squad since the 1990 Finals... They have a very talented coach, who can win any sort of game, the climate will be perfect for them in South Africa, They have arguably the best striker in the world at the minute and they will bring a big support to the Finals....

And they are messing around with this rubbish....!!!! The media is hounding the English players, you've got WB leaving the squad etc etc Scandal after scandal... Terry being stripped of his captains arm band... all this with only months to the final.

I think they are blowing their biggest chance of being World Champions that they've had in a very long time.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 01/03/2010 17:31:54    576210

They will not win it anyhow i feel despite all of the going ons.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 01/03/2010 17:44:58    576231

they are hyped up to the sky. their squad is average and they havnt a hope of winning the world cup even if none of this was going on in their squad

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4140 - 01/03/2010 17:45:35    576233

they are like the dublin football team , full of potential but not mentally strong enuf to get to a final , they wont win the world cup i gurantee you that here and now and even if they didnt have the scandle surroundin them they still wouldnt win it ..

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 01/03/2010 17:46:59    576235

01/03/2010 17:31:54
jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4531

I think they are blowing their biggest chance of being World Champions that they've had in a very long time.
___________________________
Grammar ?

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 01/03/2010 17:49:03    576242

Let the stupid ***** at it jimbo lad!

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 01/03/2010 17:52:59    576249

At least they are in the world cup, would love to have their problem.

PJ (None) - Posts: 2288 - 01/03/2010 17:59:52    576254

Sure France are gonna win it

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 01/03/2010 18:07:28    576262

jimbobdub.

i agree england have a very strong side , with a very shrewd manager, they would be on my shortlist.
depends how this farce affects them mentally. this would have done them harm.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 01/03/2010 18:11:54    576266

Take out Rooney and they are toothless up front.

And at the back, Rio and JT.....not going to be great against speed at the back.....and a dodgy kepper behind them.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 01/03/2010 18:14:49    576270

beer baron
County: Cavan
Posts: 2847

576262
Sure France are gonna win it


That be touchy around here lol...

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 01/03/2010 18:23:25    576284

now that france are in, i wouldnt put it past them winning the world cup. they were in just as bad a state going into the last world cup, and at the moment the standard in international football is poor.

take out spain, holland and brazil and at the moment international football is in a very bad state. although i would expect massive improvements from argentina, italy, germany and france for the world cup. its a lottery and anyone of those teams could win it on any given day

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4140 - 01/03/2010 18:29:00    576291

well they would certainly win the Infertility World Cup.

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 01/03/2010 18:31:43    576299

England are ranked 9th in the world.

They have ONE world class player, useless defenders, static mid fielders, no creativity, and only Joe Hart as a keeper.

I suspect they should be 500/1 to win, as they have only reached ONE semi final in any tournament outside England.

Put it this way. You can buy the new England kit for £45 from Sports Direct this week and get a refund if England win the world cup.

I do not think Sports Direct are taking much of a chance here.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 01/03/2010 18:38:42    576314

In fairness to them, they were the best team in the world in their qualifying campaign. I would say capello is pulling his hair out at the minute. If they do come back and even make the semis it would be an impressive achievement


well they would certainly win the Infertility World Cup

Too easy...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 01/03/2010 21:13:30    576537

They wont win much with Heskey, Bent and C Cole etc. When they are one nil down to Spain or Brazil with 10mins to go he might regret not taking Owen. Owen wont go, but he should go if ya get me.

Adler (Monaghan) - Posts: 754 - 02/03/2010 08:57:39    576643

jimbodub
I disagree that they have the best squad since 1990

Yes, their first eleven looks a good side. However, where is the depth if there are injuries or suspensions? C Cole, Bent ?? Who replaces Gerard\Lampard if they are out? ( scholes & Hargreaves wont be there) Who are backup centre halves- Upson, king, lescott? & no they have backup keeper to James unless Hart goes?


Like I say, they a decent starting line up but that's it

Meath_bhoy (Meath) - Posts: 590 - 02/03/2010 10:13:21    576685

Don't agree about the best squad since 1990.
Capello hasn't settled on a first choice keeper. On top of the lack of a regular keeper, their centre halves look pretty dodgy at the minute: Ferdinand? Dodgy back and dodgy form; Terry? Never as dominant at international level and is way off form now too; the other options? Richards, Lescott, Jagielka all over-rated at this level. Current preferred full back options all appear to be injured others lack experience at international level.
Midfield - who plays a holding role? Barry? He was ignored for a long time and lacks Champions League and European experrience. All the other likely squad members are more attack minded which would leave them exposed if Barry tires or picks up an injury (or they need to batten down the hatches and grind out a close match). Gerrard and Lampard are class acts but the other options look fairly thin - Joe Cole has been indifferent and Theo Walcott isn't fast but forgets to bring the ball with him and doesn't deliver the ball at the end of runs.
Up front, Rooney apart, name an England striker than any decent defender would put in the top 20 in the world.

England's problem is that young English players have struggled to get consistent runs in the self-styled 'greatest league in the world' and there is a real stigma for bright prospects dropping down a division to get game time. Normally they spend 4-5 years as bit part players at top clubs until they are in their early twenties and are seen as having failed to achieve their potential.

Capello must hope that the players who are off-form or injured now (i.e. the whole defence) all recover and are fresh for the world cup. They still won't have a settled keeper, defensive midfield options or someone to play with Rooney. Their best bet is that Rooney's form continues all the way to the World Cup (or he gets injured and misses a couple of months beforehand to keep him fresh). Capello got them out of a handy qualifying group and they have an uncomplicated looking group stage but they don't yet have the look of contenders. Spain, for a start, would wipe the floor with them in midfield and up front.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 02/03/2010 11:12:43    576752

Re 32_4_1
County: Meath
Posts: 1973

576291 now that france are in, i wouldnt put it past them winning the world cup. they were in just as bad a state going into the last world cup, and at the moment the standard in international football is poor.


I have been thinking along those lines aswell and have put some cash down on them. They were in poor shape going into the last WC aswell and look where they ended up. Admittedly Zizou was unreal and determined to go out with a bang. But if you look at their strongest 11, and if Domenech can recover some semblance of sanity it could take a brave team to knock them out.

1. Lloris
2. Sagna
3. Evra
4. Gallas
5. Abidal
6. Diarra
7. Toulalan
8. Ribery
9. Benzema/Anelka
10. Henry
11. Nasri/Gourcouff

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9751 - 02/03/2010 11:12:49    576753

Lads the Spanish would give the Poms a lesson if they were to meet. Just cant see how England would get the ball off them? IMO only Rooney and a fit Gashley Cole would get into the Spanish side?

1 Cassillas
2 Ramos
3 Arbeloa (some improvement since he left England)
4 Pique (same as Arbeloa, huge mistake Fergie made in letting him go)
5 Puyol
6 Alonso
7 Villa
8 Iniesta
9 Torres
10 Xavi
11 Febregas

Serious side hope they go all the way

Jgc81 (Meath) - Posts: 195 - 02/03/2010 12:46:51    576882