England Squad announced at 12:30 today

[Bridge'srightfoot]

When did I say I would celebrate reaching the quarters? I said it would be a good achievement, which it would. Good not great, not bunting worthy, not champagne worthy. Just good. There's four front runners, being Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain. Then there's your Italy,France (assuming they qualify), Portugal (if they qualify), Uruguay (as long as they don't let a 5-0 first leg lead slip vs Jordan) and Belgium who have better squads. But after that there's not that many significantly better teams. And in a one off game, who knows what could happen?
I still can't understand why you've written our chances off already.
You've not explained why saying we have a good chance of making the quarters or that the squad is better than it has been in previous years makes me stupid?
And yes of course I'd be excited if we make the 1/4s and have a chance to progress to the semis.

[DoomMerchant]

The US will win a World Cup before England do again.

Not a joke.

cheers

They might well do, but it wont be at Football.

Perhaps in one of those other sports where you label the winners "World Champs" even though only America, Canada & Japan play it any half-decent level?

it really will be. In the next 20 years the US will win a world cup, and i will be vindicated.

I don't particularly like the US team, or their "glamour nazi" manager either, in their current form.

HOWEVER....a shit ton of mexicans + loads of other south americans + actual investment within MLS academies == stronger national team over the next 20 years.

cheers

[Bianchi on Ice]

The US will win a World Cup before England do again.

Not a joke.

cheers

They might well do, but it wont be at Football.

Perhaps in one of those other sports where you label the winners "World Champs" even though only America, Canada & Japan play it any half-decent level?

it really will be. In the next 20 years the US will win a world cup, and i will be vindicated.

I don't particularly like the US team, or their "glamour nazi" manager either, in their current form.

HOWEVER....a shit ton of mexicans + loads of other south americans + actual investment within MLS academies == stronger national team over the next 20 years.

cheers

You lot wouldnt celebrate it like us though. The force from the collective shrug of shoulders would cause floods on the west of Ireland

[Alioune DVToure]

it really will be. In the next 20 years the US will win a world cup, and i will be vindicated.

I don't particularly like the US team, or their "glamour nazi" manager either, in their current form.

HOWEVER....a shit ton of mexicans + loads of other south americans + actual investment within MLS academies == stronger national team over the next 20 years.

cheers

I'm not convinced. Besides which, Mexico are terminally shite so there's no point poaching their kids.

[Wonderwall]

When did I say I would celebrate reaching the quarters? I said it would be a good achievement, which it would. Good not great, not bunting worthy, not champagne worthy. Just good. There's four front runners, being Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain. Then there's your Italy,France (assuming they qualify), Portugal (if they qualify), Uruguay (as long as they don't let a 5-0 first leg lead slip vs Jordan) and Belgium who have better squads. But after that there's not that many significantly better teams. And in a one off game, who knows what could happen?
I still can't understand why you've written our chances off already.
You've not explained why saying we have a good chance of making the quarters or that the squad is better than it has been in previous years makes me stupid?
And yes of course I'd be excited if we make the 1/4s and have a chance to progress to the semis.

We have struggled to make it through the group stages against weak teams. We have been fortunate to get to Penalties with our woeful record of going down to 10 men. I dont get your optimism, the England Manager is awful, the first team lack quality, the whole squad lacks quality in depth. We have a few players who used to be good (Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Rooney) but majority are way past their best, the new players coming through have shown flashes of hope like the Ox and Townsend, however, nothing to get anyone excited. Christ, John Barnes made a career from one goal against Brazil!

We are a very poor national team and you have already stated 8 teams that are better than us, I would Add Holland, Russia and possibly Colombia or any of the South American contingent with the climate.

Nobody cares or remembers who achieved 1/4 final success. FYI I will watch every game we play and hope we win every game we play, I want us to do well. I just know we wont win it, YES A WHOLE 7 Months before we play in it...its not voodoo magic, also I will also go on the record and say we wont win Euro 2016 or the World Cup in 2018 either!

[Bridge'srightfoot]

When did I say I would celebrate reaching the quarters? I said it would be a good achievement, which it would. Good not great, not bunting worthy, not champagne worthy. Just good. There's four front runners, being Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain. Then there's your Italy,France (assuming they qualify), Portugal (if they qualify), Uruguay (as long as they don't let a 5-0 first leg lead slip vs Jordan) and Belgium who have better squads. But after that there's not that many significantly better teams. And in a one off game, who knows what could happen?
I still can't understand why you've written our chances off already.
You've not explained why saying we have a good chance of making the quarters or that the squad is better than it has been in previous years makes me stupid?
And yes of course I'd be excited if we make the 1/4s and have a chance to progress to the semis.

We have struggled to make it through the group stages against weak teams. We have been fortunate to get to Penalties with our woeful record of going down to 10 men. I dont get your optimism, the England Manager is awful, the first team lack quality, the whole squad lacks quality in depth. We have a few players who used to be good (Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Rooney) but majority are way past their best, the new players coming through have shown flashes of hope like the Ox and Townsend, however, nothing to get anyone excited. Christ, John Barnes made a career from one goal against Brazil!

We are a very poor national team and you have already stated 8 teams that are better than us, I would Add Holland, Russia and possibly Colombia or any of the South American contingent with the climate.

Nobody cares or remembers who achieved 1/4 final success. FYI I will watch every game we play and hope we win every game we play, I want us to do well. I just know we wont win it, YES A WHOLE 7 Months before we play in it...its not voodoo magic, also I will also go on the record and say we wont win Euro 2016 or the World Cup in 2018 either!

at least we're debating foot all rather than hurling insults! To me being optimistic is part and parcel of supporting your team. I never said we would win it. Not once in the debate have I said that. I said we have a chance of reaching the 1/4 s which imo represents a good achievement. And you're right In that we've been fortunate to get to penalties but we still got there. And you're also correct that there are several better teams but the better team doesn't always win as shown by our own game last weekend. Just look at Greece In 2004. Who would have given them a chance?

[Goaters 103]

The US will win a World Cup before England do again.

Not a joke.

cheers

They might well do, but it wont be at Football.

Perhaps in one of those other sports where you label the winners "World Champs" even though only America, Canada & Japan play it any half-decent level?

it really will be. In the next 20 years the US will win a world cup, and i will be vindicated.

I don't particularly like the US team, or their "glamour nazi" manager either, in their current form.

HOWEVER....a shit ton of mexicans + loads of other south americans + actual investment within MLS academies == stronger national team over the next 20 years.

cheers

Cant see it myself as Mexico is hardly a hot bed at the moment, though obviously certain parts of South America are. Wouldn't begrudge it you at all, just cant see it.

Football or "Soccer" will still remain well down the sports popularity totem pole behind NFL football, college football, high school football, NBA, college Basketball, MLB and in some northern states NHL too.

[Wonderwall]

When did I say I would celebrate reaching the quarters? I said it would be a good achievement, which it would. Good not great, not bunting worthy, not champagne worthy. Just good. There's four front runners, being Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain. Then there's your Italy,France (assuming they qualify), Portugal (if they qualify), Uruguay (as long as they don't let a 5-0 first leg lead slip vs Jordan) and Belgium who have better squads. But after that there's not that many significantly better teams. And in a one off game, who knows what could happen?
I still can't understand why you've written our chances off already.
You've not explained why saying we have a good chance of making the quarters or that the squad is better than it has been in previous years makes me stupid?
And yes of course I'd be excited if we make the 1/4s and have a chance to progress to the semis.

We have struggled to make it through the group stages against weak teams. We have been fortunate to get to Penalties with our woeful record of going down to 10 men. I dont get your optimism, the England Manager is awful, the first team lack quality, the whole squad lacks quality in depth. We have a few players who used to be good (Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Rooney) but majority are way past their best, the new players coming through have shown flashes of hope like the Ox and Townsend, however, nothing to get anyone excited. Christ, John Barnes made a career from one goal against Brazil!

We are a very poor national team and you have already stated 8 teams that are better than us, I would Add Holland, Russia and possibly Colombia or any of the South American contingent with the climate.

Nobody cares or remembers who achieved 1/4 final success. FYI I will watch every game we play and hope we win every game we play, I want us to do well. I just know we wont win it, YES A WHOLE 7 Months before we play in it...its not voodoo magic, also I will also go on the record and say we wont win Euro 2016 or the World Cup in 2018 either!

at least we're debating foot all rather than hurling insults! To me being optimistic is part and parcel of supporting your team. I never said we would win it. Not once in the debate have I said that. I said we have a chance of reaching the 1/4 s which imo represents a good achievement. And you're right In that we've been fortunate to get to penalties but we still got there. And you're also correct that there are several better teams but the better team doesn't always win as shown by our own game last weekend. Just look at Greece In 2004. Who would have given them a chance?

Greece was the Euros which is a watered down competition, a regional cup which lacks the quality of the world cup.
That, as well as the achievement of becoming the first None South American team to win the world cup on South American soil would not be amazing, it would be a fix! And we know Fifa wont like England, so thats not going to happen. So yes I write us off and would happily take anyones money who thinks we will win it.

[Alex Sapphire]

Joe won't start against Chile apparently
Hopefully that means he will start, and get a good workout against Germany

[Wonderwall]

Joe won't start against Chile apparently
Hopefully that means he will start, and get a good workout against Germany

Hodgson said when the squad was announced that joe would play in 1 of the 2 games and more than likely it would be the Germany game he will start in.

[BookJunior]

You started slagging me off for saying I'm more excited about this squad then I have been about previous ones. Why does that make me stupid?

I think you have proven me right with several examples in this thread

And yes I am excited about the world cup. I always am. Without a doubt the greatest football tournament in my opinion. And if you can't get excited for it, it's your loss.

I really enjoy the world cup and have never said otherwise, I watch a hell of a lot of the games and enjoy them.

Yes quarter finals would be a good achievement. We don't have a right to demand more. There are far better teams than us. However, saying that, anything can happen in a one off game. Anything. No one is unbeatable. 3rd world countries? That doesn't even deserve a response.

Enjoy your 1/4 final celebrations

I find it fucking pathetic you've written off our chances 7 months before the tournament. And you call yourself a fan? All you ever seem to do is fucking slag off the national team. Some fan eh. There's fuck all wrong with being optimistic, there is something wrong with being a pessimistic cunt like you're being. You're not a fan, fans get behind the team, rather than writing off any chances their team has.

Pathetic? OK if you say so sunshine. You mr "we have got a chance to reach the 1/4 finals, lets get the bunting out". If you note back on the thread, I have said I always want England to do well, however, I am not the thick cunt that thinks we might have a chance, you never know eh..... Its called being REALISTIC not PESSIMISTIC, you fucking clown. I can see you now screaming at the TV in ecstasy with your Rooney England Top on as we hammer Iran 1-0.

If you don't want to debate with me then don't. However it's you who always picks these arguments and then carries them on. Stick to your word then. I'm imposible to debate with? Can I refer you to our last debate on Kolarov again. Where you said you never wanted to see him play for us again...

I have admitted he has improved tremendously, however, he is still not anything special to wank home about. Lets hope he doesnt go back to his previous form and prove me right eh!!!

C'mon chaps. You're starting to sound like Bluemoon subscribers.

The substance of what you're saying isn't that far apart.

My opinion is that the pinnacle of a player's career is to win a trophy with their country and that is still the case in all other sports.

It's common sense and yet another reason to hate baconface for undermining English national Football.

We'll all play the hoping game next summer and most probably get knocked out in the quarter finals on penalties.

[nottsblue]

For what it's worth i normally don't care much for International football. Its club football all the way. Especially once the season has started. These international breaks do my head in. That said, once a tournament comes round whether it's the World cup or Euros, i will watch most if not all games and cheer England on like a good 'un. I anticipate England won't win (certainly won't put any money on it), but we live in hope. If we get to the 1/4s and go out so be it. I'll be diappointed along with the rest of the nation especially if its on penners again. We are due a bit of luck in that department so next year could be the year we get to the semis or even the final. Yes; other teams have better first teams or squads but if luck is on our side you never know. Sometimes it goes wrong for a side. Did Holland not get beat in every game at last euros? France in world cup 2002? Usually if a team has a forward on form they do well. Shrek & Sturridge could well be on fire. Much like Linekar in 86. Schillaci for Italy in 90. Stoickov in 94. Platini in 84. Lets look forward to the feast of football a World cup provides and keep fingers crossed. Again

[Bridge'srightfoot]

For what it's worth i normally don't care much for International football. Its club football all the way. Especially once the season has started. These international breaks do my head in. That said, once a tournament comes round whether it's the World cup or Euros, i will watch most if not all games and cheer England on like a good 'un. I anticipate England won't win (certainly won't put any money on it), but we live in hope. If we get to the 1/4s and go out so be it. I'll be diappointed along with the rest of the nation especially if its on penners again. We are due a bit of luck in that department so next year could be the year we get to the semis or even the final. Yes; other teams have better first teams or squads but if luck is on our side you never know. Sometimes it goes wrong for a side. Did Holland not get beat in every game at last euros? France in world cup 2002? Usually if a team has a forward on form they do well. Shrek & Sturridge could well be on fire. Much like Linekar in 86. Schillaci for Italy in 90. Stoickov in 94. Platini in 84. Lets look forward to the feast of football a World cup provides and keep fingers crossed. Again

I felt our best chance was in Euro 2004 mate. Shrek was on fire in that tournament (and hasn't come anywhere near that form since) and then got injured very early in the Portugal game. Having said that we were absolutely cheated out of that, there was fuck all wrong with Campbell's goal.
Still bitter about it!

[Bianchi on Ice]

Who, of the traditional powers in world football have been beaten by England in a knockout stage of a world cup or euro since 66?

Answer:70 none
72 none
74 none
76 none
78 none
80 none
82 none
84 none
86 none
88 none
90 none...but if you count belgium I give you belgium
92 none
94 none
96 spain(pens)*
98 none
00 none
02 none...but if you count denmark I give you denmark
04 none
06 none
08 none
10 none
12 none
*I say Spain but at the time their international pedigree was almost as mediocre as ours

This is why realism is at the forefront of most peoples thoughts

[Wonderwall]

Who, of the traditional powers in world football have been beaten by England in a knockout stage of a world cup or euro since 66?

Answer:70 none
72 none
74 none
76 none
78 none
80 none
82 none
84 none
86 none
88 none
90 none...but if you count belgium I give you belgium
92 none
94 none
96 spain(pens)*
98 none
00 none
02 none...but if you count denmark I give you denmark
04 none
06 none
08 none
10 none
12 none
*I say Spain but at the time their international pedigree was almost as mediocre as ours

This is why realism is at the forefront of most peoples thoughts

But you dont need to beat a traditional power to win a 1/4 final qualification trophy. Ho-hum