The 2014 World Cup thread

[Otta]

Word.

[Louisa]

What a predictable England performance. Same old story yadda yadda yadda. Any Costa Rica score predictions? I reckon England might get a draw. World class players my mobility scooter.

Louisa.

[Jah Lush]

What Louisa said.

England - bag-a-shite - as per fecking usual.

[El Pibe]

I obviously watched a different game. I thought we were by and large ok, just lacking any 'world class' players who can unlock a game. Rooney sure as hell isn't that as he missed a sitter and scored a tap-in.

Seems ironic that we played better than in any of the last four or five tournaments but won't scrape through for a ritual humiliation like we did in those.

The last of the golden generation was at fault for much of our shiutness, i've no idea why any would ever let Gerrard have honour of wearing the England shirt.

Quids has it, we're a second string team without any special talents coming through. But we've some players who play well and are hungry. Better organisation, a little bit less ball watching and we can do ok, but without restructuring the doemstic game we'll never challenge again.

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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> I feel sorry for Gerrard right now, and not

> because I support Liverpool.

I don't. England should put him out of his misery. As I have said many times recently hes massively overrated and definitely not a leader. Saying the things that you think a leader should say does not make you a leader.

On the other side of the coin I enjoyed watching england this world cup.

Why take Stirling off, he was quiet for a while but the Uruguay manager must have breathed a sigh of relief at that point.

Why were the two England centre half players each beaten by a drifting cross for the Balotelli and Suarez goals ?

[Alan Medic]

I thought what England lacked particularly was composure at the back. If in doubt lash it out seemed to be the motto.

Now. What countries do you hate without ever having been there?

[DulwichFox]

England result ?

Being a Millwall supporter I am used to watching a team that 'Played Well' and came second.

Problem is that both teams have Poke and Hope heros seeking the Glory of the one that counted.

Instead of passing the ball to someone in a better position to actually score, their selfish behaviour

is responsible for the inevitable outcome.

DulwichFox

[El Pibe]

"Why take Stirling off, he was quiet for a while but the Uruguay manager must have breathed a sigh of relief at that point."

My reaction too, especially as Sturridge had done little but pass meekly to the keeper over and over (yeah a little unfair but his finishing was woeful).

[Otta]

Sterling should never have come off.

Agree that this should be the end for Gerrard and England but to blame it all on him is bullshit and to say he is not a leader, also bullshit.

[????]

???? Wrote:

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> Maybe I saw a different game to most and the

> papers.

>

> But I saw a game in which one team were far better

> than the other; If England had scored again, Italy

> would have got another, I think they beat us in

> their stride without too much exertion.

>

> I agree it was a far more positive approach and an

> entertaining game but we looked like a say,

> Switzerland, in terms of the gap between us and

> Italy. Happy to eat my words but I think we'll not

> make it out of the group and not get a win. That

> we have no world class players is abundantly clear

> but Barkley and Striling have potential to get

> there.

>

> Just an embarrassment in terms of our standing

> rather than the actual performance.

>

> Rooney drop him and Gerrard not that great either.

> I can't wait for the golden generation to pass!

Wot he said - we've gone from dull drawers to more exciting losers...we are miles behind the top teams, miles.

and I am pretty sure Italy and Urugauay aren't in the top teams either....

[El Pibe]

With Suarez there Uruguay can challenge, without, unlikely.

Italy are boring but excellent, definitely first string.

[Jeremy]

No point dominating posession if you don't have discipline in defence, or creativity in front of the goal. Uruguay were better in both areas and deserved the win. Shame we have to wait for England to be put out of their misery.

[El Pibe]

That rather sums it up, defence was patchy and they had the class to cruelly expose it when they needed, and our final ball, shots were just lacking throughout.

But it was progress, and I'd rather that than the depressing meek displays of the golden generation.

[StraferJack]

oh the irony - I wait years for an england team I can get behind and the few golden generation players remaining are the reason they are out

That team talk from Gerrard in the papers yesterday was awful I thought - exactly the kind of baggage the new players don't need.

That said, as a person I feel for SG - what a mare of a few months he has had

But I can definitely see progress and am looking forward to Euros

People judge group games too harshly - the glory memories of 1990 mask a woeful group performance

[????]

On the plus side, Liverpool fans will be delighted. The way Suarez and Gerrard hooked up for the last goal was impressive!

[El Pibe]

"People judge group games too harshly"

errrr, except when you don't make it out the group!!

[Otta]

Gerrard's first corner went straight to Suarez and I did wonder if he'd forgotten where he was for a second.

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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> Sterling should never have come off.

>

> Agree that this should be the end for Gerrard and

> England but to blame it all on him is bullshit and

> to say he is not a leader, also bullshit.

Agreed, most of the team apart from Sterling,and even he was only better than avergae, weren't good enough.

[El Pibe]

when was the last time we had a decent playmaker? Scholes, Sherringham? If we count players who could produce for club AND country i guess that rules out the former.

Anyone waiting in the ings to fill that role...bueller....?

[StraferJack]

"errrr, except when you don't make it out the group!!"

obviously - but them's fine lines. And not always the best team on right side of those lines

[El Pibe]

Get Brooking out of retirment?

[????]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> "errrr, except when you don't make it out the

> group!!"

>

> obviously - but them's fine lines. And not always

> the best team on right side of those lines

In 1990 we were cautious and conservative at the group games so people thought it was a bit dire but as we could have won all 3 games, if my faded memory serves me right. The Irealndn game was almost like a derby with most players knowing each other; Holland is Holland; Can't remeber the Egypt(?) score was it a draw or win...was it Egypt?

[StraferJack]

posted wrong link - see below

[El Pibe]

404

[StraferJack]

oops

let's try this

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/15/england-world-cup-italia-1990-gary-lineker-diego-maradona