FIFA World Cup 2014 - GROUP D [Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy - 14/19/20/24 June] **spoilers**
- Thread starter Cosimo
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Excuses. Would earn more respect if they came out and said, yeah we were bit crap actually.
Hate to say it, but that about sums it up.
At least I don't think there are many expectations anywhere that this England team will do any good this year.
Hope I'm proven wrong.
You won't be. If we're very lucky we might see a quarter final.
I don't understand people blasting England. I was actually really upbeat after the performance. England played well, yes we failed to break down a very average team, but i noticed multiple times our players pull out of challenges or just give possession rather than battle for it. It wasn't worth it before the finals.
As soon as Honduras gained the ball we pressed and closed them down straight away, there was some nice linkup play and direct running which England's failed to have for years.
I do think we will get out of the group by hook or by krook. Whether we get beyond that I'm unsure but atleast, like others have said, we're back to actually giving it a go and not just playing uninspired football.
I was surprised one of our most flair / tactically minded ex-pro's in Hoddle wanted to start Wellbeck over Sterling. If he wanted Wellbeck to be a man marker on Pirlo then fair enough, otherwise against weak defences like Uruguay i'd like to see Sterling.
As soon as Honduras gained the ball we pressed and closed them down straight away, there was some nice linkup play and direct running which England's failed to have for years.
I do think we will get out of the group by hook or by krook. Whether we get beyond that I'm unsure but atleast, like others have said, we're back to actually giving it a go and not just playing uninspired football.
I was surprised one of our most flair / tactically minded ex-pro's in Hoddle wanted to start Wellbeck over Sterling. If he wanted Wellbeck to be a man marker on Pirlo then fair enough, otherwise against weak defences like Uruguay i'd like to see Sterling.
I fully understand it. I disagree with almost everything you said. We did not play well. Well would be beating a ranked 33 in the world side, only slight above Wales. Drawing with them is playing badly.
You might be right about not wanting to go in for challenges when other team is kicking ten shades of **** out of you, absolutely, but it doesn't excuse bad passing, and an inability to get a shot on target.
Hart had poor distribution which put his defenders under pressure on several occasions, flapped at several corners, Johnson got caught out of position and was horribly exposed defensively.
The midfield was ok, did their job, like you said they were under the cosh from brutal challenges
Our biggest problem is out woeful upfront, Sturridge had three good chances and missed them all. One late missed header was a sitter, and we are destined yet again to be playing a striker who is not fit, and not in form because he is considered the hero.
We all know the right choice is the player that looks like he will make the biggest impact, yet as always the manager is to scared to play anyone but the big names.
We are playing two teams above us in the Fifa World rankings, at 7, and 9, and they are going to tear us apart.
You might be right about not wanting to go in for challenges when other team is kicking ten shades of **** out of you, absolutely, but it doesn't excuse bad passing, and an inability to get a shot on target.
Hart had poor distribution which put his defenders under pressure on several occasions, flapped at several corners, Johnson got caught out of position and was horribly exposed defensively.
The midfield was ok, did their job, like you said they were under the cosh from brutal challenges
Our biggest problem is out woeful upfront, Sturridge had three good chances and missed them all. One late missed header was a sitter, and we are destined yet again to be playing a striker who is not fit, and not in form because he is considered the hero.
We all know the right choice is the player that looks like he will make the biggest impact, yet as always the manager is to scared to play anyone but the big names.
We are playing two teams above us in the Fifa World rankings, at 7, and 9, and they are going to tear us apart.
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I agree with aslco here it's as if people hold a grudge against England due to past performances on the international stage. It was a performance where we had good passing which is something that has been lacking for many years. Ok the defence is weak but there's nothing we can really do about it, still was a better back four then against Ecuador. Welbeck was useless clearly Barkley needs to play in his place and Sturridge should have scored one at least, this is why I'm not convinced by him he lacks the final finish. Maybe it's worth giving Lambert a shot. Also it's clear we need an actual winger instead of using Rooney or whoever on the left, hopefully Sterling/Ox can provide that extra dynamic, a shame Walcott is injured again but this is nothing new at the Arsenal camp.
Well for all the clamour upto the World Cup for Adam Llanlana to play. I'm not seeing it.
All the Cruyff turns in the world are for nothing if they are done in the complete wrong place on the pitch. Would much rather play Sterling, The Ox (If fit) or Ross Barkley in that role of an Right attacking midfielder. All three are much more direct and will get defenders facing their own goal
All the Cruyff turns in the world are for nothing if they are done in the complete wrong place on the pitch. Would much rather play Sterling, The Ox (If fit) or Ross Barkley in that role of an Right attacking midfielder. All three are much more direct and will get defenders facing their own goal
I totally agree, I thought we actually played reasonably well, and I expect us to have more cutting edge in the tournament proper, particularly when Sterling and Ox return.
Soldato
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Believe it or not, I feel Costa Rica will take points off the team which won't qualify. It's the most important game because the players and fans will go in with the mentality that the game has been won before kick off. The game needs to be approached with 100% concentration from all teams.
Soldato
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Italy 5-2 against Fulimense, 55 minutes in.
First half ended 2-2. The 2 goals italy conceaded were pretty much indicidual errors (the 2nd one was a keeper mistake). Then Italy score 3 in a matter of 4 minutes in the 2nd half
Italy's defense is terrible. Attack a bit less.
First half ended 2-2. The 2 goals italy conceaded were pretty much indicidual errors (the 2nd one was a keeper mistake). Then Italy score 3 in a matter of 4 minutes in the 2nd half
Italy's defense is terrible. Attack a bit less.
Perhaps England and more importantly...England fans can learn something form this....
