World Cup Second Round - England v Ecuador **SPOILERS**

Equador will push us, the result will actually matter this time, and we always seem to do better when it gets to the knock-out stages (who remembers the '90 groups stages? 2 goals and 4 points, and yet people thought we were good enough to win it by the semi) so I think we could well see our first decent performance by the lads. :)

As always, favouritism clouds my ability to predict a game, so I've no idea. However, as I said in the group thread, I can tell people are going to expect us to win by loads against Equador, just because they've never heard of them, and I really, really hate when our fans do that.
 
We will win that's for sure. What kind of performance will England produce is what we're all wondering I think.

Here's my prediction:

We will start how we finished the Sweden game, 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 whatever you want to call it. We will struggle to create chances in the first half but keep the same formation until about 60 mins when Sven brings on Crouch for Hargreaves (who is one of our best players on the day) reverting to a predictable 4-4-2, punting balls up to Crouch in our typical boring way and not achieving anything. After about 75 mins Sven starts to get a little edgy and takes off Carragher for Lennon. Beckham drops to right back (even though he's playing awful and should retire) and we continue to attack without any real penetration as Ecuador are trying to soak up the pressure and hit on the counter attack. In the 88th minute we are throwing everything at Ecuador, Lennon is getting behind them but Ecuador have packed the box and somehow surviving. We keep winning corner after corner until finally we get a breakthrough when Rooney latches on to a defensive error. He scores an untidy goal which sends us through to the ¼ finals with a 1-0 win.

A win is a win so they say, but this win leaves us all feeling underwhelmed and lacking confidence in our Coach, who seems to have lost the plot because we shouldn't struggle against these teams with the talent we have.

We will all then come back here to bitch and moan about rubbish we are, yet somewhat happy that we got through!?

I will most likely be very very wrong but I can't help being negative when it comes to England, especially in this World Cup. I hope I am wrong and we start to get it right because we won't get past the ¼'s that's for sure.
 
2-0 I think. Sweden was a good kick up the backside. Rooney will play longer, and hopefully further up the park on his own - or at least coming back to allow Gerrard and Lampard forward. Just can't see Lampard not smashing one in.

Are Ecuador really much better than Paraguay? I've watched the three matches they've played and haven't been blown away. All the commentary ever mention is they've beat Brazil and Argentina, 2 miles above sea level...
 
England will win as long as Sven gets his finger out and goes with an adventurous and attacking lineup. Hopefully it will be a 4-5-1 with Lennon on the right. I'd also be happy with a 3-5-2, but I'm sure "steady" Sven will go with a 4-4-2.
 
Mr_L said:
England will win as long as Sven gets his finger out and goes with an adventurous and attacking lineup. Hopefully it will be a 4-5-1 with Lennon on the right. I'd also be happy with a 3-5-2, but I'm sure "steady" Sven will go with a 4-4-2.
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4-4-2 would great if he drops Beckham and Crouch for Lennon and Walcott. I'd love to see that as would everyone i know. Sven just doesn't have the balls.
 
I'm really worried by our likely lack of pace at the back on Sunday. Carragher, Terry and Campbell arn't exactly the quickest players.

Saying that, if we cannot beat Ecuador then we deserve to be on the first plane back Monday morning with our heads bowed in shame!
 
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