SO Important we top the group...

[Sheebo]

With the French definately not topping their group it is even more essential England/we top our group...

Assuming Germany top their group we will prob play Ghana in last 16. We'd be favourites to win that and then in the 1/4 final we may well end up playing Uraguay / Mexico. Yes Mexico are a good side but I'd much rather face them in the 1/4s than France on paper.

Plus if we topped the group our last 16 game would be a Sat 7-30 and touch wood a 1/4 final on the Friday evening 7-30 too...

Yes I know I'm getting ahead of myself again but as an England fan you have to look at how situations like the French ballsing up could affect us...!

 

[Robot Chicken]

I'd much rather face France, they're wank so far this year!

 

[Tooting Gull]

I agree it is vital, it is a much easier path - but I'd rather have played France in the 1/4s. We all thought they were in disarray, and tonight proved it. Mexico are a tricky, half-decent team, and could easily have drawn or even won at Wembley in that friendly but for a couple of good saves from Rob Green. Shame he didn't keep them for the big one...

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

If England come out without any obvious sense of urgency on Friday night, they could easily 'do a France'. Fact. Stroking the ball about at walking speed about for half an hour then going one down on the counter attack is a very likely scenario.

 

[Sheebo]

I agree it is vital, it is a much easier path - but I'd rather have played France in the 1/4s. We all thought they were in disarray, and tonight proved it. Mexico are a tricky, half-decent team, and could easily have drawn or even won at Wembley in that friendly but for a couple of good saves from Rob Green. Shame he didn't keep them for the big one...

I agree but on paper you'd rather play Mexico than France in a World Cup 1/4 final - the French have a great team as individuals but agreed they've been woeful...

Also worth noting that if Uraguay and Mex did play out a dull draw Uraguay would top the group so we'd not have to play Mex at all... Could happen...

Also what the BBC failed to mention was that France will have to prob win by 3/4 goals just to come 2nd assuming the Uraguay / Mex game is won by 1 goal

 

[BensGrandad]

Any team that loses with Ribbery in the team is great by my reckoning.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Plus if we topped the group our last 16 game would be a Sat 7-30 and touch wood a 1/4 final on the Friday evening 7-30 too...

AAAAAAHHHHHH. More 4.30am kick-offs. SAKE

 

[Sheebo]

If England come out without any obvious sense of urgency on Friday night, they could easily 'do a France'. Fact. Stroking the ball about at walking speed about for half an hour then going one down on the counter attack is a very likely scenario.

I see you've started moaning before the games even kicked off

Yes there is always a danger and we do need to have a great urgency. However our performance vs USA was 5 times better than either of France's so i'm sure we'll not be as bad as them

 

[Sheebo]

AAAAAAHHHHHH. More 4.30am kick-offs. SAKE

Sorry bud - just get hammered.

 

[Marshy]

the draw is opening up a treat for us, we havent got a better chance

i confidently predict a 4 or 5-0 win tommorow

 

[Giraffe]

Totally agree, if we top the group it's a much easier ride to the semi's.

COME ON ENGLAND.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I see you've started moaning before the games even kicked off

Yes there is always a danger and we do need to have a great urgency. However our performance vs USA was 5 times better than either of France's so i'm sure we'll not be as bad as them

Not moaning at all. Impartial observer, me. Not even ABE. Don't really care either way

Just saying that England have a very long and not very clever history of coming out and stroking the ball around in major competitions like its a training exercise and underestimating the opposition and getting caught on the break. They've been doing it for years, if not decades.

 

[Sheebo]

the draw is opening up a treat for us, we havent got a better chance

i confidently predict a 4 or 5-0 win tommorow

Would love that.

Incidently (and yes i'm getting ahead of myself...) If Spain come 2nd in their group we could in theory meet in the semi (dreaming a little I know) however they would play Brazil in the 2nd round if they did come 2nd...

I think 2-0 tommorow - i think we want USA and Slov to draw - anything but a USA win and then 2 wins will see us top...

 

[Sheebo]

Not moaning at all. Impartial observer, me. Not even ABE. Don't really care either way

Just saying that England have a very long and not very clever history of coming out and stroking the ball around in major competitions like its a training exercise and underestimating the opposition and getting caught on the break. They've been doing it for years, if not decades.

Soz didn't realise you were a jock

We shall see - it's a Capello team now and hopefully we've moved on from that.

Centre back and goal keeper are major worries for us though

 

[drew]

Why all the talk of France, they aren't going through anyway.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We shall see - it's a Capello team now and hopefully we've moved on from that.

Same players as last time though, in the main. Old habits die hard.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Result -
England 0, Algeria 1 (88')

Booked
Rooney (sent off 55')
Gerrard
Heskey
Carragher

 

[The Modfather]

Yes Mexico are a good side but I'd much rather face them in the 1/4s than France on paper. :

Would prefer to face either of them on grass rather than paper

 

[Diatribe]

Not moaning at all. Impartial observer, me. Not even ABE. Don't really care either way

Just saying that England have a very long and not very clever history of coming out and stroking the ball around in major competitions like its a training exercise and underestimating the opposition and getting caught on the break. They've been doing it for years, if not decades.

reckon the opposite is more likely, they know they need to win this one, come out all guns blazing, playing at a breakneck speed, don't score and get worn out after an hour.

most likely is that we will win though howevwer it happens.

I wouldn't mind playing Germany second round though as i said in the other thread, bring it on, i'd rather go out in the secnd round against a good side than get to the semis having played noone of much consequence and then go out. we need to beat proper teams to get anywhere anyway.

why are people talking about france, they're aload of old shit, no heart, and they're out!

 

[murraymints4brighton]

The fact is, if we were ever going to win this World Cup we needed to get a decent draw and we have a very very good draw that if we top the group, should leave us favorites to make the Semi-finals.

The England team need to perform now, top the group and get stronger from then on. We are not going to have as good a squad as this and as easier draw as this for many many years.