Group B Discussion / Predictions

[Metrostars]

Group B
England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden

10-Jun-06 ENG:PAR
10-Jun-06 TRI:SWE
15-Jun-06 ENG:TRI
15-Jun-06 SWE:PAR
20-Jun-06 SWE:ENG
20-Jun-06 PAR:TRI

[Risteard]

Group B
England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden

10-Jun-06 ENG 2:0 PAR
10-Jun-06 TRI 0:1 SWE
15-Jun-06 ENG 3:0 TRI
15-Jun-06 SWE 1:1 PAR
20-Jun-06 SWE2:1ENG
20-Jun-06 PAR 1:1 TRI

England to be too cocky after qualifying.

[Real ale Madrid]

Paraguay have a poor record against european teams and i fully expect Trinidad and Tobago to get hammered. So that just leaves England and Sweden and it all depends on the mindset of the two teams towards the final game. Expect goal difference to separate them.

[eirebhoy]

http://67.15.68.139/

[Kerry Blue]

England will win the group on goal difference as they still will not be able to beat the Swedes, who will finish second. Paraguay third and T&T 4th.

[Stuttgart88]

Paraguay have just lost Cardosa, a big forward who scored against Denmark last week. If Roque Santa Cruz doesn't recover in time their forward line will be badly diminished.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Ye I fancied them to have a chance of upsetting Sweden and getting second place but it looks unlikely now.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Santa Cruz is fit now;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/paraguay/5054204.stm

[eirebhoy]

Paraguay have just lost Cardosa
Ah bugger. Only Ronaldo scored more goals than him in the qualifiers.:(

[geysir]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/paraguay/5053236.stm
Its not that bleak, yet.
"Although not expected to start against England on Saturday, Cardozo was his country's leading scorer in qualifying."
"his absence will reduce coach Anibal Ruiz's options from the bench".

[Stuttgart88]

OBERHACHING, June 7, 2006 (AFP) - Paraguay striker Roque Santa
Cruz cut short a training session Wednesday ahead of Saturday's
Group B opener with England after feeling pain in the left knee he
recently had surgery on.
The Bayern Munich star said earlier in the week he is nearing
full fitness despite missing much of the Bundesliga season following
his operation, but he withdrew following a half-hour workout to be
attended by medical staff.

[geysir]

Roque has had to pull out of many training sessions, I don't think it's anything radically different.
Would he have been selected anyway to play in a WC match on his comeback from a cruciate ligament injury/operation, after being out for most of the season and had hardly begun training? At least the lad is determined.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Trinadad & Tobago held Sweden to a scoreless draw with ten men for most of the second half. I didn't see the match but I thought that Sweden would have won with the likes of Larsson and Ibrahimovic. I thought that T & T would be better than most people expected, but I still didn't think that they would salvage any points at all from this group.

[Poor Student]

T&T were a lot better than I expected. Particularly given that they lost 3-0 to Slovenia the other week.:eek: Former eL player Avery John was the one who was carded. T&T never really carved out a chance but they battled well, even a little too well as they put in some nasty tackles. Sweden had a lot of time in the opposition final third and had some chances but never really looked lethal. Fair play to T&T for battling away. A strange group, no convincing performances. At this stage anyone could go through but it seems to be setting up well for England.

[shakermaker1982]

poor student what about that rasper that hit the Swedish crossbar?

T & T surrpised me as well. I was expecting 3-0 but they were spirited in the tackle and pressed hard.

[Poor Student]

poor student what about that rasper that hit the Swedish crossbar?



Am I having blackouts? I watched the whole game (bar a toilet break) and can't remember that.:confused:

[geysir]

I just saw the last 10 minutes of the T&T game. Beenhakker looks to be one tactically astute and relaxed coach.

[Metrostars]

Am I having blackouts? I watched the whole game (bar a toilet break) and can't remember that.:confused:

yep. Glen hit the crossbar midway in the second half.

T&T were brilliant. Hislop, Yorke, Sancho and Edwards were great, flying in tackles everywhere. Even when John was sent off, Benhaaker put on another forward. And it paid off. Who would have believed that T&T would get a point.

Lets hope they do the same against England.

[Poor Student]

I just saw the last 10 minutes of the T&T game. Beenhakker looks to be one tactically astute and relaxed coach.

Tactical organisation is so important at this level and can make a hell of a difference. Hiddink with S. Korea in 2002 and Otto Rehhagel's Greece in 2004. T&T are unlikely to make such an impact but they played well as a unit. I think it benefits them a lot to have such an experienced player as Hislop in goals. He was solid and dependable. Hopefully they'll be able to raise their game and put in another good performance against the English with something to prove as most play there.

[stojkovic]

As we saw at lansdowne, the Swedes are cack. Paraquay arent much better but they'll go thru. Why do England always get an easy group.

[FarBeag]

England are just steeped.They have to have the easiest group in wc history. They will hammer T & T and will just need a second string team against Sweden.I think the system is set up for them to win a big tournament but they can never take advantage of it.I just hope they continue to Fcuk up.

[Metrostars]

double headers start today

ENG-SWE
T&T-PAR

It would be quite a result for the minnows if T&T could beat Paraguay and England knock a few past Sweden so T&T get in ahead of Sweden.

I wonder if Erickson will rest the yellow carded players? - Gerrard, Crouch and Lampard.