The Football.....

[Smokin Joe]

What a World Cup so far!

Even though the entertainment is due a lot to the fact that the standard isn't particularly high, all teams so far have exhibited some serious flaws. It's rather like watching a tournament involving Championship sides, flashes of individual brilliance aside.

That isn't a complaint, just an observation.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

That second half of the Germany-Ghana game was one of the most entertaining halves of football I've seen. I'm pleased for Klose of course, but I really wanted Ghana to pull off a famous victory. Their loss agains the USA looks even worse now. They are just going to have to win their last game...

 

[User482]

Not too many English players either.

Mostly Wales and NI then?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

That second half of the Germany-Ghana game was one of the most entertaining halves of football I've seen. I'm pleased for Klose of course, but I really wanted Ghana to pull off a famous victory. Their loss agains the USA looks even worse now. They are just going to have to win their last game...

Or the USA beating Ghana shows what an improved side they are.

 

[AndyRM]

there aren't any Scottish players worth a place in a combined team.

Utter, utter pish.

 

[brodiej]

Utter, utter pish.

Here's a link to the last Scotland squad

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27383284

Do you think any of these would have started in a GB squad in Brazil?

 

[AndyRM]

Here's a link to the last Scotland squad

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27383284

Do you think any of these would have started in a GB squad in Brazil?

Anya and Robertson for sure. Naismith and Mulgrew almost definitely. Brown too, assuming he had been programmed to kill, which he usually has been. McGregor on the bench.

 

[AndyRM]

For good measure I'd have Bryson involved as well. Ryan Gauld too, perhaps.

 

[brodiej]

Are you sure you're not letting your heart rule your head?

Personally I think Ramsey and Bale from Wales would walk straight into the team but the rest would be English

 

[Roadrider48]

What is all this talk on the various media outlets about this being the first time England haven't made it past the group stages since 1958? Are they conveniently forgetting that they failed to qualify at all for the world cup finals tournament in 1974 and 1978?

And "94"

 

[AndyRM]

Are you sure you're not letting your heart rule your head?

Personally I think Ramsey and Bale from Wales would walk straight into the team but the rest would be English

Yup, and I could ask you the same question.

Ramsey and Bale for sure by the way.

 

[MarkF]

Or the USA beating Ghana shows what an improved side they are.

They were very poor, sometimes you just get what you don't deserve. They can only play better though.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Are you sure you're not letting your heart rule your head?

Personally I think Ramsey and Bale from Wales would walk straight into the team but the rest would be English

And it doesn't take more than a couple of quality players to vastly improve a team. Look at the difference Suarez makes to Uruguay or Balotelli to Italy, England would probably have qualified if those two hadn't been there.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The same difference that Giggs might have made... any side in the world would welcome Bale, and he's also done the right thing, that so few top English players do, which is to go overseas where he'll improve as he gets older as opposed to sticking with the EPL and failing to meet his early promise (e.g. Rooney).

 

[Smokin Joe]

The same difference that Giggs might have made... any side in the world would welcome Bale, and he's also done the right thing, that so few top English players do, which is to go overseas where he'll improve as he gets older as opposed to sticking with the EPL and failing to meet his early promise (e.g. Rooney).

The only two nations at this tournament with squads drawn exclusively from their own domestic leagues are England and Russia. England are out (For those who didn't know ) and Russia are not going to set the competition ablaze.