Sweden v England

Looking more at Sweden than England, given that they will likely be in our main opposition for the play-off position in our World Cup group. Great opportunity to see them play a (and don't shoot me for this) British-style team in a competitive game.

Ibrahimovic is obviously top quality, but if we can handle him I would be happy enough with our chances. Svensson and Mellberg do a lot to make them tick, but they will presumably be retiring after the tournament. They are good on the ball, better than us, but like us they seem to kick a lot of possession away with hopeful balls forward.

Well we don't have to worry to much about England do we, they are not Spain after all.
Just keep your fingers crossed we are drawn against them not a team that can play football.

They have just conceded against Sweden by the way. 1-1.


Easy group for England, their toughest opposition is worst than our easiest.


Maybe they can share a plane with the Irish on the early flight home :upset:

Just conceded another!! 2:1 Sweden!!

"You're going home with the Irish!!":laugh:

Sweden are on another level to us, looking very decent.

Not really. I'd fancy our chances against them. We've lost two, they have too but we have a much harder group.

What do you mean 'not really' they were passing the ball in a way we could only dream of.

Mellberg has another couple of years left in him.

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Originally Posted by irishultra

What do you mean 'not really' they were passing the ball in a way we could only dream of.

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They're also playing England who players have an atrocious first touch, pass and dire decision as well as the fear of the ball England's players have as a collective. Should imagine the same goes for the tactical nous shown by Hodgson. It's an indictment that the richest league on the planet produces a NT with these values.

The Swedish counter attack is scary to see, they just seem to get the final pass wrong (or too slow). Current Irish team will struggle with them I think.

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Originally Posted by Metrostars

They're also playing England who players have an atrocious first touch, pass and dire decision as well as the fear of the ball England's players have as a collective. Should imagine the same goes for the tactical nous shown by Hodgson. It's an indictment that the richest league on the planet produces a NT with these values.

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Be under no mistake, no matter how bad they are, they're much better than us(even at the stuff they're bad at) We basically mimic England, except a really really bad version.

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Originally Posted by Metrostars

England players have an atrocious first touch, pass and dire decision as well as the fear of the ball England's players have as a collective.

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I was thinking that the whole is less than the sum of its oparts, as they do have good players. They got out of jail as Sweden weren't far off turning the screw before Walcott's nothing shot scored. Wellbeck's finish was quality though. I can see Ukraine causing them more trouble than Sweden.

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Originally Posted by irishultra

Be under no mistake, no matter how bad they are, they're much better than us(even at the stuff they're bad at)

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Miles better and in every position.

We will be a younger, more athletic team when we play Sweden. Hopefully.
Sweden. Swwweeeden, Jerry.

Don't think the Swedes look all that great to be honest. Like us they seem to have a few older players nearing the end of the road. That said they do have a genuinely world class player up front in Ibra. Something we definitely don't have. Their defence has been appalling though and that's against worse sides than we've been playing.

As bad as we've been so far I expect we'll probably still be pretty competitive in our World Cup group. Obviously the Germans will walk it though.

Maybe the Germans will win this and have a bit of a Hangover?