Can we win the world cup.

[Carl]

England squad:
Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Man City), Green (Norwich)

Defenders: G Neville (Man Utd), G Johnson (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Carragher (Liverpool), Upson (Birmingham)

Midfielders: P Neville (Everton), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), J Cole (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (Tottenham) Strikers: Owen (Real Madrid), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), A Johnson (Crystal Palace)


I know this wont be the world cup squad but near enough.
Its the squad anounced today by sven.

just feel we have the best team in the world
Becks,Gerrard,lampard in midfield

and with some of the best strikers in the world,Owen /rooney.


I just feel that the likes of beckham etc have matured and with the new lads coming in we have a real good chance of winning the World cup.

[friskyfitz]

Er.....NO, no you can't

Terry (Chelsea),
Carragher (Liverpool)
Gerrard (Liverpool),
Lampard (Chelsea)
Owen (Real Madrid)

a possibly (only...Possibly ROONEY)

They are the only players who can really be treated as deserving of International Class-ship


Good team......Yes
Potential winners of ANYTHING................NO

[Big Andy]

In a word......No.

I hope they prove me wrong obviously.

But my "no" verdict has probably more to do with the coach than the players.

[DangerZone]

Think Not

[Mr Intensity]

Becks,Gerrard,lampard in midfield

Still got nobody on the left:o

[Woodie]

Think we got a great chance, The only team that I believe is better than us is the champions themselves Brazil.

We got the best Midfielders in the world, I just hope Lampard and Gerrard have an excellent season again just like they did last season. If them two are on the top of there game I think we can go all the way.

[friskyfitz]

Last edited by jon16 : Today at 20:46.

Think you forgot to add the humiliating line below to your edit

Originally Posted by jon16

Think we got a great chance, The only team that I believe is better than us is the champions themselves Brazil.

We got the best Midfielders in the world, I just hope Lampard and Gerrard have an excellent season again just like they did last season. If them two are on the top of there game I think we can go all the way.

[Carl]

well said jon,

the rest of you shame.
no confidence in our home team.

Id put joe cole on the left.

[friskyfitz]

Originally Posted by Herp

well said jon,
the rest of you shame.
no confidence in our home team.

Sorry but not MY home team, we are not even strong enough to qualify this time even if we are in a fantastic position with Swiss and Franch at home....

I hope we do but I seriously have my doubts

[Marek76]

Can you win the world cup.

you have to win the group first

[cosmicway]

England are always unlucky.
1970-1980-1990-2002 could have gone their way.
Euro 1996 also.

[davidmphill]

You're striking problems have been resolved.
Exit Andy Johnson, step forward Darren Bent!

Bent replaces Johnson for England

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Denmark v England Wednesday 17 August Kick-off 1900 BST Coverage on BBC Radio Five Live and this website Denmark name squad Charlton striker Darren Bent has been called up to the England squad to face Denmark on Wednesday in Copenhagen. Bent replaces Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson, who has injured a hamstring. "Andy is injured, we got a late phone call that he has a hamstring injury, so Darren Bent is in," Sven-Goran Eriksson told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek. Eriksson added that Manchester United's Alan Smith asked not to be included so he could play for the club's reserves, citing a lack of match practice. Eriksson added: "Alan has had such little football he said he would rather get 90 minutes under his belt on Tuesday for United's reserves." Bent has been promoted from the Under-21 side and will make his England debut should he feature in Copenhagen. Birmingham's Matthew Upson has also been called up, with Sol Campbell, Ledley King and Wayne Bridge all injured, while Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green is included. Injury means that Liverpool's Peter Crouch and Newcastle's Kieron Dyer are both absent but Jermain Defoe, who scored in Tottenham's opening Premiership match against Portsmouth, is in the squad. Kieran Richardson, who was impressive in England's end-of-season tour of the United States, was selected in the under-21 squad, along with Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing. Good to see Carrick in there - not sure about Jenas From SB Have your say on 606 That means Michael Carrick, who also performed well in the US, retains his spot among the midfielders. Eriksson told the FA's website: "We have a very big couple of months ahead of us and we have an important job to do to qualify for the World Cup finals. "This match against Denmark is the perfect preparation and I'm very much looking forward to the start of what I hope is going to be a very significant season for the England team." England are second in Group Six, two points behind Poland, who have played one game more. After facing Wales in Cardiff on 3 September, England's campaign continues in Belfast four days later before the final games against Austria and the Poles in October at Old Trafford. England squad: Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Man City), Green (Norwich) Defenders: G Neville (Man Utd), G Johnson (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Carragher (Liverpool), Upson (Birmingham) Midfielders: P Neville (Everton), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), J Cole (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (Tottenham) Strikers: Owen (Real Madrid), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), D Bent (Charlton)

[Bruise Pristene]

So england's new striker is bent?

[AK1979]

very good bruise

I think anyone who thinks a team consisting of Ferdinand, Terry, A. Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Owen, and Rooney doesnt have a chance of winning the tournament is being unfair.

Of course, we are not the best team in the world but this is a knock out competition remember which opens things up a bit (remember Greece, Porto and Liverpool evrryone ).

Its a big if but IF we steer clear of injuries we should go close. Im not convinced about the depth of our squad though which is why keeping away from injuries is going to be important.

As Marek pointed out, this discussions going to look a bit silly if we dont even qualify!
The Poland games next month isnt it??

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by AK1979

I think anyone who thinks a team consisting of Ferdinand, Terry, A. Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Owen, and Rooney doesnt have a chance of winning the tournament is being unfair.

Don't forget Phil Neville.

[Valiant23]

Almost all of the teams who win a major tournament have had luck on their side, but I think any team who plays England will always fancy their chances against us because...

a)Sven Goran F'in Clueless Eriksson-He was devoid of ideas in the last World Cup vs. Brazil, and he is probably more narrow minded in his thinking than any of the EPL club managers-his ability to throw caps at anyone who has half a good game, but ignore others for a full season only to pay them lip service by selecting them for one or two halves of a friendly. Shaun W-P should've played wide right in the Euro finals in 2004-he'd had a great season, adn would've scared the life out of most of the competing teams. France with Desailly were vulnerable, yet Sven seemed to preach restraint and protect the lead, when in my opinion England should've gone for the jugular and frightened the f*k outta the rest of the teams.

The fabled 'left-side problem' is just a cop out. Put Sh W-P on the left and he'll find it hard to play there? I don't think so-any wide player worth his salt should be comfortable on either flank believe me I know. This would allow Beckham (please get back to your best DB) to play on the right with FL and SG in the middle. Problem there is to trust the players to play intelligently, and I don't think SGE trust Gerrard to be able to protect the back four and get forward, but I would.

SGE is more scared of losing than he is confident of winning, and IF we win the World Cup it will be DESPITE him, not because of him.

b) Rio Ferdinand-For a centre-back he suffers scary lapses in concentration-remember the goal vs Greece at Old Trafford? The player didn't move yet RF still managed to lose him FFS. I wouldn't tolerate marking like that in my Sunday side.
Centre backs work in partnerships, with a Senior and Junior partner. Sol Campbell and John Terry are both Snr., and because of this I aren't sure that they'll play well together unless one defers to the other and takes the 'junior' role. RF is an exceedingly good 'junior', but needs a leader alongside him-the Senior- to help him with his concentration, because the Snr. job will be to make sure the defence does its job correctly. RF is a fantastic tackler, and has a lot of qualities, and I am glad he is English, but he must play 2nd fiddle in my book to Sol C or John T.

c)Robert Green-I know he is 2nd/3rd choice, but the reason he makes so many fantastic saves is because he is too often taking wrong positions, and his great agility makes up for that. Best example was Norwich away at Bolton and Gianianianianianikopolous strolled inside from left wing (at this point I saw he was shaping to shoot), came to the edge of the area and scored a good goal into the top RH corner. Thing was RG was still glued to his near post and hadn't adjusted his position at all.

d)Michael Owen-Wants to score more than he wants England to win. Gets led into blind alleys by WC defenders, and instead of looking for options he gets a shot off when hes almost at the byline, whilst (insert other fwd here) is totally unmarked on the penalty spot. He needs to 'sniff' goals/opportunities out like Lineker used to, and leave the donkey work to Wayne Rooney.

To go back to SGE it seems to me that he is a little 'star-struck' when it comes to certain players, which isn't good IMO.

We Can Win The World Cup because

1.It's in a country where the climate is similar to our own.
2.Wayne Rooney-I get the feeling he doesn't give a fcuk what the gaffer says, cos he's just gonna go out and do his thing, and we need that unpredictability/chaotic element.
3.I'll assinate SGE.
4.We do have as many WC players (sorry friskyfitz) as most of the 'serious' contenders I think(not looked in depth to back this one up);

Ash Cole
John Terry
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
Michael Owen
Wayne Rooney
and there are several others who are yet to hit their prime, players like
Sh. W-P, Paul Robinson, Ledley King, Stewart Downing, Jermaine Jenas, Joe Cole who would be almost 1st choice for most other countries.

Of course, we'll be drawn in the same group as Rep of Ireland(non UK ), Germany, and S.Africa only for us to need a win against S.Africa AND RoI or Germany to win, and they draw 0-0 (a la 1982).

Mind you WTF do I know, I am a Vale fan

[Carl]

To go back to SGE it seems to me that he is a little 'star-struck' when it comes to certain players

true.

Wayne Rooney-I get the feeling he doesn't give a fcuk what the gaffer says, cos he's just gonna go out and do his thing, and we need that unpredictability/chaotic element.

hence the gazza tag

3.I'll assinate SGE.

most teams have had luck on the way to winning a major title(dino's goal against us springs to mind) and weve had our share of bad luck but also on the flip side you have to create your own luck and be in the positions to make the most of a little lady luck.

All in all I just think that the players we have we CAN win the world cup.
I just feel this is our time.

[AJ]

Can we win the world cup.

Can you win the world cup, I hope to fcuk not, 12,000 miles away will not be far enough for me.

Can you do it ? nope cause at some point there will be a pen shoot out

[llanitotaylor]

I will support England but I realistically don't think they have a chance of beating some of the other teams!

I reckon they will get to the Quarters or Semis if they are lucky.

England may have a good team but not one England player has the ability of Ronaldinho to come up with something from nothing.

That is the difference.

[AJ]

England are always unlucky.
1970-1980-1990-2002 could have gone their way.
Euro 1996 also.

Cosmic, would you care to explain how unlucky England were in the 1980 world cup ????