The Football.....

[Andrew_P]

Not a big fan of John Terry but pretty sure he would have done better for both the goals, not only been playing alongside Cahill but also the whole defence would have played a bit deeper rather than pushing up all the time.

I am not very patriotic person but even I would bellow out the national anthem if I pulled on an England shirt, they all look like they deliberately do not want to be seen singing the anthem as it will somehow damage their street cred.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Hodgson deserves credit for trying to completely overhaul the style of English play, from kick'n'chase, endlessly static off the ball, back passing negativity of old, to a more tiki-taka continental game. I hope they stick with him and find him a decent back four and a defensive coach to boss 'em.

Not entirely his fault that the players he has to work with don't actually have the technical skills, spatial awareness, and footballing intelligence to play that style of game, yet. Though whilst the Premier League kids itself it is the best league in the world, and week after week the players read about how great they are, that may remain the case I fear.

Shaping the team around Rooney last night was, for me, an error. An error the media won't point out because their beloved Shreck scored, at last. He needs to sit a few out and give the next generation a chance. Gerrard has passed his peak internationally and plays and looks, when in white, like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I fear the dream is over for another year and we may get drubbed by Costa Rica. In fact I think a plucky win over them could be the worst possible outcome, only a whitewash will prompt the sort of serious reflection on the state of the English game that will bring about the changes needed.

 

[MarkF]

It hasn't been a disastrous campaign by any means,

P2 W0 D0 L2 F2 A4

I am not very patriotic person but even I would bellow out the national anthem if I pulled on an England shirt, they all look like they deliberately do not want to be seen singing the anthem as it will somehow damage their street cred.

That was v.funny, like they were 8 year olds threatened with no supper for non compliance!

 

[Kins]

They are footballers. Probably can't remember the words.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I agree with singing our anthem, thats just national pride and a bit of fun/gamesmanship maybe as we out sing the opposition.....no harm done and good to see all nations having a sing song ....but nationalisom gets taken to far when speeches of winston churchill are broadcast on national radio etc......really...thats unecessary.

 

[Beebo]

Hodgson deserves credit for trying to completely overhaul the style of English play, from kick'n'chase, endlessly static off the ball, back passing negativity of old, to a more tiki-taka continental game. I hope they stick with him and find him a decent back four and a defensive coach to boss 'em.

Not entirely his fault that the players he has to work with don't actually have the technical skills, spatial awareness, and footballing intelligence to play that style of game, yet. Though whilst the Premier League kids itself it is the best league in the world, and week after week the players read about how great they are, that may remain the case I fear.

Shaping the team around Rooney last night was, for me, an error. An error the media won't point out because their beloved Shreck scored, at last. He needs to sit a few out and give the next generation a chance. Gerrard has passed his peak internationally and plays and looks, when in white, like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I fear the dream is over for another year and we may get drubbed by Costa Rica. In fact I think a plucky win over them could be the worst possible outcome, only a whitewash will prompt the sort of serious reflection on the state of the English game that will bring about the changes needed.

I agree with your post, but a drubbing by Costa Rica could spell the end for Hodgson, and as you say, he deserves to take this team to Euro2016.

 

[Dayvo]

I think they could be challenging for Euro 16.

You're assuming they'll qualify! Have you seen their group?

England
Switzerland
Slovenia
Estonia
Lithuania
San Marino

I don't think England will ever win the World Cup.

Erm, 1966!

 

[AndyRM]

You're assuming they'll qualify! Have you seen their group?

England
Switzerland
Slovenia
Estonia
Lithuania
San Marino






Erm, 1966!

When the draw was made, The Guardian described that draw as 'straightforward' with Sky describing it as 'favourable'. I wonder if the writers of those articles maintain their positions?

 

[User482]

P2 W0 D0 L2 F2 A4

Or put another way, the the world's 10th best side lost narrowly to the 9th and 7th best sides.

 

[AndyRM]

Ah, the FIFA World Rankings. Well known for their accuracy and impartiality.

 

[User482]

Ah, the FIFA World Rankings. Well known for their accuracy and impartiality.

Uruguay made the World Cup semi-final in 2010 and are Copa America champions. Italy were World Cup winners in 2006 and runners up in the 2012 European Championship. Given that their performances at recent tournaments are vastly better than England's, you may well be right that the FIFA rankings do not reflect their overwhelming superiority in comparison to us.

 

[AndyRM]

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

England were never at the races against Italy, a team that is known for scoring a goal then sitting back and laughing at the opposition. Friendlies and diddy teams aside, most of their wins in the last few years have been by one goal. They were happy to let England have the ball and run around puffing and perspiring to little effect. Even when England scored their (outstanding) goal, the Italians didn't panic, scored, then sat back again. Last night against a pretty workmanlike Uruguay, the English wide players that looked so good against Italy were starved of the ball and smothered when they did get it. The English midfield consisted of two guys - one who wants to ping 50 yard passes every time when simple is more effective and one who wants to run 50 yard sprints when a pass would be far easier.

England's lack of success at international level is quite astonishing really. For a large, developed country with literally thousands of teams playing at all levels, why have you only ever got to one World Cup Final? Without home advantage, favourable draws and dodgy refereeing, England haven't even managed a semi at this level. Same with the Euros where home advantage helped England to the lofty heights of a semi-final. Yet, English club teams perform superbly in European competitions, with periods of absolute domination.

So what is it about the English football psyche that makes them such losers?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I agree with your post, but a drubbing by Costa Rica could spell the end for Hodgson, and as you say, he deserves to take this team to Euro2016.

True. Most probably. We seemed to have reached the point where the tabloid media decide when the manager should go AND now pick the team. Disastrous, potentially, I fear.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Or put another way, the the world's 10th best side lost narrowly to the 9th and 7th best sides.

Honest question. Disregarding the narrow score lines for a second, do you think
a) Italy
or
b) Uruguay
ever looked like they were going to lose either game at any point?