England vs. France [Read during Euro2004]

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 13:56

England vs. France

Looking at the probable teams for each of them, it strikes me there is a frightening unbalance.

Barthez vs. James = Barthez

Lizarazu vs. Cole = Lizarazu
Desailly vs. Campbell = Campbell
Silvestre vs. Terry = Silvestre?
Thuram vs. Neville = Thuram

Pires vs. Scholes = Scholes?
Makelele vs. Cole/Hargreaves = Makelele
Vieira vs. Gerrard/Butt = Vieira
Zidane vs. Beckham = Zidane

Henry vs. Owen = lol.
Trezeguet vs. Rooney/Heskey = lol.

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 14:13

Barthez is a clown, but he's still one of the best shot stoppers in the world. He'll make a blunder maybe twice a season, but he'll save you so many times in between.

Trezeguet is poo? Don't lie and tell me you'd rather have Owen/Rooney/Heskey/Beattie/Vassel

Terry is probably better than Silvestre, not entirely sure though. Silvestre has been really good with Rio for the last year or so.

Basically, we're outgunned in every position. Saying that they got beaten by Senegal(?) at the world cup, so anythings possible.

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 14:20

Sorry, but Barthez is in another league to James.

Lizarazu is still awesome. Getting on a bit but not too old really.

Not sure who their defence will be to be honest, I just pasted from their last official game. Gallas + Boumsong were awesome at the confeds cup, maybe it'll be them again, who knows.

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 15:28

Originally posted by quackers
i know france are a good side, but that first post was a bit over the top.

England are a good side, it'll be a close game.

Over the top how? If anything it underestimated France, as I forgot about Gallas and started Desailly.

Each area compared to France is pretty bad. Zidane & Vieira could probably outplay our midfield on their own, without Pires & Makalele. Our 'best' striker Owen is a joke compared to Henry & Trez, not even on the same planet. Lizarazu & Thuram vs Neville & Cole is a total mismatch again. The only area we are competetive is our central defence, which is why our only chance is probably to hope we can frustrate them in attack and catch them on the break and hope that Owen can dive for a penalty or something.

A bit worried we're going to get totally embarrased. We'll see in the summer!

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 20:02

Originally posted by Tom L
Robbo? he's an average keeper, over-rated (well was, not anymone really), if he was as good as everyone said, he'd of been in the england side a long time ago, sorry, it's chrisy kirky thats the future mate!

lol

Can't tell if that's suppost to be a joke or not so laughed assuming it was

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 21:06

I'll give you odds of 50/1 that Kirkland is not England's #1 at Euro 2004 if you like? Want to put some money on m8?

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 21:45

But you know Kirkland is better? You've probably seen him play about 5 or 6 times. He's barely played 20 top level games his entire career. If he didn't play for Liverpool, you'd laugh at it as much as everybody who's not a Liverpool fan here is

Premiership appearances for Kirkland: 10
Premiership clean sheets kept: 3

In fact, Robinson has kept more clean sheets just this season, playing behind the second worst (worst?) defence in the league, than Kirkland has his whole career in the top flight =)

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 21:55

Only tipped by Liverpool fans though? Suggestion laughed at by anyone else? Probably be about 2 years before he's a regular for club, let alone country

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 22:55

Ok ok. We'll see in the summer! Probably end up being James number 1 anyway to be honest, Sven seems to love him.

tom_w · 1 Feb 2004 at 23:01

Richard Wright. I think he was incredibly unlucky that he made some pretty high profile gaffs at Arsenal iirc, which pretty much did the same to his repuatiton as James'/Seaman's gaffs did.

tom_w · 2 Feb 2004 at 11:46

I think Henry is the best forward in the world. I'd have him over Ronaldo, who's a close second. Owen comes in 3rd, and Shevchenko 4th.

tom_w · 2 Feb 2004 at 12:47

Ronaldo is deffo the best finisher in the world, it's awesome to watch. I really believe Henry is the best player in the world aside from Zidane though, he's so good. I reckon he's one of the few players playing in England at the moment who will go down in football history as a legend.

tom_w · 2 Feb 2004 at 14:58

Shearer should make it into any top strikers list, old or not. Look at his goal scoring record. He's scored over 30 league goals in 4 different seasons. Considering 'world class' Owen has never scored 20, that's pretty good. I think he's got over 20 league goals in 8 different seasons, and will do again this year!