World Cup banter

[bedders]

Not enough banter about the world cup I thinks. Here's a wee article I wrote on the subject. Comments anyone?

I'm fed up of all the people talking down England's chances for winning this world cup. Bar Brazil we have the best team in the competition, just as it was in 2002 and if we look at the team then, this one is so much better than that. The starting line-up against Argentina in Sapporo in 2002 had the likes of Nicky Butt, Emile Heskey and Owen Hargreaves in it. We have replaced these players with the likes of Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney (or Steven Gerrard if he's not fit) and Joe Cole. The team is so much better than it was.

Our first choice midfield has 3 players nominated for European footballer of the year, with both Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard not even featuring in the last World Cup in Japan. Our first choice attack has one of England's most consistent strikers (and former European footballer of the year) in Michael Owen and the second best player in the tournament in Wayne Rooney. Even the defence has improved. Danny Mills was on the right last time, now it is Gary Neville, whose link up with Beckham will be priceless. Even if he is injured we have the excellent Jamie Carragher as cover, who, in my opinion, equals if not betters Neville as a right back. Also the ageing Sol Campbell has been replaced with John Terry, who is the best defender in the Premiership.

I also that think that Sven being about to leave his job will be an advantage for us. He was too cautious against Brazil in 2002, bringing Michael Owen off too early. This is time he has nothing to lose and might even do a McLaren and throw on all his strikers if we are behind with 10 minutes to go. A frontline of Owen, Crouch, Walcott AND Rooney would frighten even Brazil.

So can we actually beat Brazil? I think so. Defence has never been their strong point, attack will certainly be one of ours if Rooney plays. And if Carrick, or whoever plays the holding midfield role can keep Ronaldinho quiet, the rest of the team will be able to cope with a Brazil team that relies on him for creativity.

[Dave]

Provided the players we've got stay fit and everyone plays well even Ronaldinho can't stop us. Owen needs his sharpness back though.
Slthough this depends on Crouch not getting a fine or ban for his robot celebration he said he'll do every time he scores!

[RS]

BRAZIL

[Gross]

Paraguy, Trinidad & Sweden

[bedders]

Well...6-0. Can't say fairer than that. A nice little confidence booster and Robo-Crouch gets a hat-trick. That world cup's in the bag

[bendover]

Paraguy, Trinidad & Sweden

what a shame that scotland aren't at the world cup... but on the other hand they can stick to getting beat by the mighty austria, costa rica, morocco, egypt, hungary and lithuania.

[bendover]

what a shame that scotland aren't at the world cup... but on the other hand they can stick to getting beat by the mighty austria, costa rica, morocco, egypt, hungary and lithuania.

to name but a few..

[Dave]

Couch actually seemed like a footballer today, rather than an extra goalpost like usual.
...that might just be because he wasn't wearing white though.
Shame Jamaca don't really know what football is..I think they guessed the kicking part from the title but they didn't seem to know what a tacle was and didn't know which net to put the ball in (got it wrong twice!!)
Oh well top of the group it a guarantee.

[Stu]

England all the way by far the best squad with or without wayne rooney.

Think back to the last world cup, no Wayne Rooney, no Steven Gerrard, no Frank Lampard, no Gary Neville, no Paul Robinson, Joe Cole didnt play a game and Beckham wasn't fully fit. With all that we still managed to get to the quarter final against Brazil and get knocked out by a flook goal by Ronaldinho.

[Dave]

Few predictions for the group, anyone else want to make some...

England 2:1 Paraguay
J.Cole
Crouch
England 3:0 Trinidad & Tobago
Owen (2)
Terry
England 1:0 Sweden
Lampard

[Rhys]

England to bottle it. Always do.

[bedders]

Wales to...oh no wait

[HOCOLITE]

Bring on Lennon and Carrick and you'll have a good squad forget that teenage watsit who has no premiership experience. No guesses where my allegiances lie.......

[Little Hoddy]

England to bottle it. Always do.

Rather like France before they slaughtered everyone in 98

[Rich R]

Take Ronaldinho out of Brazils squad and they look rather ordinary on paper. Argentina however look to have a very good squad alround and think they have to be one of the favourites.

Everyone is playing down Englands chances as we are used to being disappointed. If England play the England way, keep it at a fast pace and don't give the ball away we stand a very good chance. I personally think England have the strongest squad in the world.

Look out for Portugal, they have some quality players a strong defence they have an easy group and little is being said about them.