FIFA World Cup 2014 - GROUP D [Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy - 14/19/20/24 June] **spoilers**

Can see England coming second in the group. The team lacks any world class players and I've not been impressed with the 'youth' in the team apart from RB who looks like he's willing to take it to the opponents. Italy might not have that players they've had in yesteryear but the majority are at least comfortable in possession, something which England are awful at.
 
From a neutral perspective I didn't think England looked too bad, Rooney surprised me and played not bad against Honduras, Sturridge I would fully expect to score at some point.

My concern would be the defence, they have looked very dodgy in almost every friendly without really being up against a formidable attack/organised team, Italy and Uruguay should be a step up again. On a good day I`m sure England could beat these teams but they need to play their strong tempo game to win imo, which itself has its risks, esp against a team like Italy who can wait 89 mins before breaking ure heart.

Surely first game is a draw.
 
We're just realists, you'll all be joining us when we get thoroughly embarrassed by Italy & Uruguay... there's the same blind hope by England fans before every tournament. :p
 
Tummy said:
I don't think England will get past the group stage.
Click to expand...

Nor do I, I think the only hope is if the Costa rica Uruguay game is a draw. I think if Uruguay win England won't get through. The fewer games the better, the less time Barkley spends getting tapped up by United players and falling in with the big time charlies the better. I'm hoping he get's a niggle and can't play.

I'm starting to loathe the England team more than the Scots do. :D
 
Lots of negative nevilles in here. England should top this group no problem. Italy and Uruguay haven't shown anything special.
 
I don't quite get all the anti Welbeck. As a non England supporter (although arguably not neutral) I think he often looks a very creative and reliable player. His form for England is better than that for his club and I think he has offered a lot more than Mr Rooney at times.

Sterling is completely unproven at international level therefore the clamour to start him ahead of Welbeck seems a little naive. Sterling illustrated perfectly the other night the dangers of playing young players in big games. He got himself needlessly sent off. Now hopefully he learned from that and better it happened in a warm up than a group match.

If I was Roy Hodgson I would be playing a pretty experienced and disciplined team to start against Italy. A cagey 1-0 for England would be a perfect start. There is no need to do anything more.
 
I have never rated Danny Welbeck; in fact every time I slate him he seems to do well for England so here's hoping. At least he has improved since his stunning 2 goals in 40 appearances season.
 
Not entirely accurate imo, but the middle part is

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I'd like to see Sterling start ahead of Welbeck - at least he offers a bit of pace and will scare defenders just by running at them!

For me Welback simply doesn't have any composure in front of goal - more often than not his legs seem to get in a complete tangle when the ball comes anywhere near him!
 
Welbeck offers more protection going back than Sterling, so I can see why he'd be chosen. For me if you start with someone in behind Sturridge then start Welbeck wide. If you start with someone in front of the back four, then go with Sterling.

I suspect England will go 4-2-1-3 (or 4-2-3-1 if you prefer) in order to play someone near Pirlo, stopping him from spraying balls around like he did last time we played them, so Welbeck will probably start if he's fit.
 
I'd argue that neither of them offer much of anything in a defensive sense but that's not really my concern to be honest!

Welbeck is listed as one of our strikers - ie. a player expected to get us goals and he quite plainly doesn't do that!

I'd much rather us play any of our available midfielders if his job is to shackle Pirlo - don't put a striker on the field to do a midfielders job!
 
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