World Cup 2014 Super Thread copyright warning #1645

Hoddle picks Lampard to partner Gerrard in the 1st game. England are very lucky hes no longer their manager!

Dixons team is the one that should play (but won't)

^ lol

Andersonisgod wrote: »

It's vintage Spain, Xavi wins the ball back in the opponents half through pressing, he sweeps it to Silva whose lofted pass is inch perfect and Villa's control, swivel and finish are textbook, it's like Euro 2008 all over again.

How was costa tonight? Did he look like he's now 100% fit?

Cheap shot by Izaguirre there, kicking the ball at Sturridge while the Liverpool player is on the ground.

Looper007 wrote: »

Honduras seem a nasty bunch, can see a few of them been sent off at the World Cup.

They know the England players aren't out for a scrap so they're taking advantage.

keith16 wrote: »

They are certainly getting stuck in, England will be fortunate to come away without injuries.

I see Honduras causing France and Switzerland a lot of problems. Ecuador match will be a card fest. Fair play to Sturridge not reacting to Izaguirre and Gerrard was lucky not to get a serious injury either.

Blay wrote: »

Hard tackle put in on Henderson in the box a few minutes ago there, they're going for it like it's the final:pac:

:pac: they are an all or nothing side, but once a goal goes in they will collapse.
I don't think that France Group will have any silky football but a lot of graft and bookings.

Beefy78 wrote: »

This is a bold prediction, but I think this might be the first tournament in ages in which England won't stink out the joint.

We may not get out of the group but with the dodgy defence and the movement of the front four the games should be worth watching.

I don't know they didn't face anyone of quality in these three friendlies but they haven't impressed me either, still think Welbeck, Johnson and Henderson are weak spots . They have a few great young players though. I always think England play better when they haven't got the stars and world class talent.

Lukaku could be out for the World Cup now too.

ankle injury.

England look terrible. No flow, no ideas, very little speed and movement. In this form they won't survive the group stages, IMO.

Sturridge looks to have reverted to his Chelsea/Man City form. Maybe he's been practising his shooting with Danny Welbeck.

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

My argument in the first place is that the top nations have an abundance of talent that didn't make the cut for their countries, but would have made the cut for England.

Whether or not John Terry would've came out of international retirement if Hodgson managed the situation better is a long way from our original discussion :eek:

Since the discussion actually started with me saying that Hodgeson manages the England team poorly and doesn't select his best players, it is not a long way from the original discussion at all. Since you wanted to compare players left at home to players going of the various squads, then the recently retired, former captain and one of the best CBs in the country is of course an important part of that discussion. It's not like he retired under straightforward circumstances. There was a lot of controversy around him at the time with the racist abuse court case. But you carry on pretending that there wasn't a good chance that Terry could have been convinced to play on if the manager had tried.

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Yes but if you're not interested in anyone's opinion then how can you have a debate?

I didn't say that I'm not interested in anyone's opinion.

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

That's fair. I just feel that Spain, Brazil, Italy, Argentina and France have a lot more talent available than England.

Spain I agree with, for the rest I disagree. For Argentina I find the suggestion laughable.

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

I'm in agreement, stats don't tell the full story, but that doesn't take away from the fact that De Jong is a very consistent passer of the ball? I don't understand how you've developed this opinion of De Jong? He's been consistent throughout his career and is coming off the back of a very good season personally?

I do think that yes because I don't see how anybody could argue that they're better than NDJ? Now some aspects of their game could be better, but NDJ is excellent at the DM job that he does.

You're using question marks wrong.

De Jong is a weak passer, he has an unreliable first touch and weak close control. I developed this opinion of de Jong by understanding football and watching him play it. I can argue that Britton and Cork are better than de Jong because they have better defensive positioning, infinitely better touch and control and so more reliable and creative passing. De Jong is average at the DM job.

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

I think his defensive weaknesses and the mistakes he makes are massively overstated as he doesnt suit the image of a stereotypical British CB. I think luiz would be one of the two first choice CBs at every club in the PL bar Chelsea and Arsenal. Then outside of england I could see him comfortably playing CB at nearly all of the european superpowers.

It's nothing to do with the stereotypical British centre-back. That line which is so often used to defend centre-backs from criticism is purely an attempt to discredit the critics. As if all we can understand of the CB's art is the winning of headers and making tackles. Pure bullshít.

Luiz being a shít CB has nothing to do with British CBs. He would be laughed out of the Italian squad as well. He is simply a dodgy CB playing on a strong team.

lol at the idea of Luiz being first choice on every PL team other than Arsenal and Chelsea too.