England. The hype begins....

England are going to win the World Cup according to the press this morning over here. It was a good result last night but they said the same thing after beating Germany away by the same scoreline back in 2001 and look what happened at the World Cup 9 months later.

Do England have the players to win the World Cup? Average Gk, dodgy right back and Heskey up top for starters. Spain gave them the run around a few months back and I can see the same thing happening again as soon as they meet a top side.

Anybody out there actually fancy their chances next year?

I still don't fancy their chances they eased out of a easy group where the strongest side they could face where missing some key players Modric through injury and Niko Kovac who retired.
When they faced some of Europe's top sides they were played off the park by Spain a few months back and where beaten by a poor French side.

I really don't think friendlies are a good indicator of how teams do. They have a perfect qualifying record and competitive games are really all there is to go on. Capello has done a good job so far and I don't think people should dismiss them, or build them up, until the WC is actually underway.

Letter to FIFA:

PLEASE SWOP ARGENTINA FOR ENGLAND FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME AND EVERYONE ELSE

A good competition is "Who will be the scapegoat this time when England fail?"

I'd say Capello, he's a foreigner at the helm so as soon as they screw up, the Engerrrrlish will be all over him.

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Originally Posted by superfrank

They have a perfect qualifying record and competitive games are really all there is to go on. Capello has done a good job so far and I don't think people should dismiss them, or build them up, until the WC is actually underway.

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Indeed. Credit where it's due they've ripped through their group. An amount depends on who they draw and sadly an amount depends on how mischievious the apology for a press that trails after them gets as well. They usually manage some grand exposé or other on the eve of a big tournament.

Form in the qualifiers may not readily translate to a four week tournament in SA either. Aside from the examples of the likes of Norway who only dropped 4 points in qualifying for USA 94 and then did little enough when they got there, I've long thought England would do better if the WC were played out over the same time span as a Champions League.

If you don't like it don't listen to it

Might sound silly but the fact that it will be winter in SA in June may actually help England. Its fractions that win end of tournament games usually and a good wet windy day Engalnd v Brazil, might just suit England!

On a serious note though, they have been very solid in qualifying, scoring plenty of goals too. Barring a couple of injuries you would have to rate them as solid contenders.

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Originally Posted by centre mid

a good wet windy day Engalnd v Brazil, might just suit England!

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I take it you missed the Brazil Chile match last night then. On and off downpour throughout the match.

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Originally Posted by superfrank

I take it you missed the Brazil Chile match last night then. On and off downpour throughout the match.

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Thats warm rain.

I really dont know what the problem is.........England have a good honest chance of winning............shouldnt we be happy if they had a chance of winning??!!
(because we just never hype things in ireland at all!!!)

i would rather have England win than italy or germany thats for sure

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

i really dont know what the problem is.........england have a good honest chance of winning............shouldnt we be happy if they had a chance of winning??!!
(because we just never hype things in ireland at all!!!)

i would rather have england win than italy or germany thats for sure

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italia! Italia!

I think they've made a decent leap forward while many other fancied teams have gone backwards and may not even qualify. They have matchwinners in Rooney, Gerrard & Lampard, proven at the highest level.

I used to always write them off, but as Kissinger said, as the facts change, I change my mind. I think they're in with a shout this time. 3rd or 4th favouraites at this time - though they nearly always look good at this time of the year (sorry for the Stan-ism).

I have a suspicion that usual failings like ball retention & lack of a tournament winning keeper will be their downfall again, and although Endabob1 says that SA will be warm next June/July, Patrick Barclay wrote a piece in The Times recently saying how the temeprate climate in SA at that time of the year will give England a better chance than in warmer venues.

Spain & Brazil are the 2 best teams by a mile, but they may face each other and England may only need to beat one of them. Netherlands don't convince me at all, despite a perfect campaign.

I think the current English set-up is the best they had in a long time, but as for them winning the World cup sure they reckon that every time. I'd say semi final defeat for them

they're class but if all the teams were at their best then I think they'd be knocked out in semis.

as has been said turn it off if you dont want to hear it. i can't imagine what english fans would think if they heard eamonn 'we have better players than inter' dunphy punditry.

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Originally Posted by gustavo

If you don't like it don't listen to it

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what am I supposed to do? Stop reading the papers over here and give up on Sky Sports News for 9 months? It's impossible to avoid the mass hysteria that is associated with the English football team. I wasn't complaining. I just think it's funny that there is no middle ground when it comes to English sport journalism. It's either doom and gloom or euphoria.

I was only putting a question out there as to whether fellow foot.ie posters think England have a chance next summer.

I'm having recurring nightmares where England win the Word Cup. Capello's an excellent manager. He's used the friendlies to experiment with monir changes and implemented them in the qualifiers. Qualifying with a 100% record is nothing to be laughed at.
They'll probably be third favourite behind Brazil and Spain, but those are the only two teams I think that could beat them.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Netherlands don't convince me at all, despite a perfect campaign.

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Plus they've a long and distinguished history of imploding at international tournaments

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Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

what am I supposed to do? Stop reading the papers over here and give up on Sky Sports News for 9 months? It's impossible to avoid the mass hysteria that is associated with the English football team. I wasn't complaining. I just think it's funny that there is no middle ground when it comes to English sport journalism. It's either doom and gloom or euphoria.

I was only putting a question out there as to whether fellow foot.ie posters think England have a chance next summer.

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It's the same in other countries like Italy and Spain though , hardly something unique to England

It's the same here on a different level , Lots of people are talking about the World Cup next year and about what will happen to us in the play offs

As to whether they have a chance , I think they've a very good chance to be fair , Can only see Brazil and Spain that would be in my book better than them

England are the international Liverpool... every 4 years its their year.:rolleyes:

Theirs isn't the best quality group but anyone who tears through it the way they have deserves respect- it's difficult to keep consistancy in internationals because of the way they're spread out and to have won 8 in a row so far entitles them to confidence about SA.

Considering England's two least favourite teams (Argentina and Portugal) may not make the Finals, they should be looking for at least a semi-final place.