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Post by Gods on Jun 11, 2014 9:27:18 GMT
The most encouraging consideration is that Uruguay and Italy are not at all certain to be as formidable opposition as was first assumed when England drew them in the Group.
Uruguay came 5th in a South American qualifying Group which did not involve Brazil and Italy have a great tradition but are on a winless run of 7 games.
So I think you can be optimistic providing you are not assessing England!
After that in the round of 16 it would be one of the top 2 in a Group C which is the most benign of all the Groups with Columbia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan.
I think England could ease through that one in to the QF’s once again.
After that we are in to the territory of Brazil and Spain so that may wrap it up for our boys.
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Post by dirtygary69 on Jun 11, 2014 9:32:32 GMT
Bar Argentina and possibly Germany, I don't think there's really anybody who is formidable at the moment. Brazil are no great shakes but have home advantage where Spain aren't as strong as they were a few years back (or teams know how to play them a little better). I don't think they strike quite the same fear into their opponents but they've been there and done it before so know how to cope with the pressure.
All that said, I wouldn't expect England to beat any of the teams likely to be in the quarters.
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Post by salopstick on Jun 11, 2014 9:32:53 GMT
we all sit there at home, thinking:
get through the group as winners
an easy ish second round game
beat brazil in the QFs
th etrophy is ours
every fucking time disappointment
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2014 9:33:24 GMT
The power of prayer is a marvellous thing.
Personally , I think we need a miracle.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 11, 2014 9:38:07 GMT
I do think we'll probably get out of the group at the expense of Uruguay.
But the 2nd round game v Colombia/Japan/Ivory Coast will be tough. It's conceivable we would be favourites against any of the three, although Colombia look pretty impressive on paper, even without Falcao. And I think the Japs are really under-rated.
One of the potential games (if we finish runners-up) could be up in the tropical north-east at Recife too, which would be another problem.
And, as everyone is saying, the chances would be heavily against us v Spain or Brazil in the QF (especially as the game would be in Fortaleza or Salvador) But in a one-off game, who knows? It's not unthinkable.
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Post by thebet365 on Jun 11, 2014 9:39:45 GMT
The crucial game for us is beating Costa rica. If we don't do that we're fucked.
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Post by Gods on Jun 11, 2014 9:42:40 GMT
we all sit there at home, thinking: get through the group as winners an easy ish second round game beat brazil in the QFs th etrophy is ours every fucking time disappointment Well that is what you do at this point. Identify every possible source of optimism. That means don't assess England, instead look at the weaknesses of the near term opposition  |
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Post by Billybigbollox on Jun 11, 2014 9:42:54 GMT
The crucial game for us is beating Costa rica. If we don't do that we're fucked. I agree, the Italy game has nil nil written all over it. Uruguay will be cagey, and we have to beat Costa Rica, who are no mugs. |
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Post by LL Cool Dave on Jun 11, 2014 11:14:36 GMT
Italy
England
Uruguay
Costa Rica
Is how I see it going. We'll beat Japan in the last 16 and go out to Brazil or Holland in the quarters.
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Post by basingstokie on Jun 11, 2014 11:34:40 GMT
If we get out the group, which is looking kinda positive (although I think Italy will go out, all 3 of their games are in the Jungle which can't help at all)
2nd round looks ok, then out in QF
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Post by Scanner on Jun 11, 2014 11:38:14 GMT
We need something from both the Italy and Uruguay games or we could be set up to go out whatever happens against Costa Rica. If we lose against 1 and draw against the other then Uruguay would only need a draw against Italy to put us out with Italy having probably already qualified!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2014 12:02:38 GMT
QF is usually about England's level.
This time round it would represent a thoroughly good tournament.
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Post by 2004 on Jun 11, 2014 12:47:40 GMT
QF would be good for England.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 11, 2014 12:52:26 GMT
QF is good for England. Any higher expectations are based on nothing..... as they always have been.
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Post by Godo on Jun 11, 2014 13:03:26 GMT
Even at my most optimistic I can't see us beating Italy or Uruguay but maybe if we scrape a draw with Italy (early game cautiousness on their part ) that may then open up the group.
Despite being impressed by them over the last few seasons I don't see Germany as being serious major contenders because I believe that the only forward they have in their squad is the rather past his best Klose and their current game is a high energy one that is not well suited to the climate in Brazil.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 11, 2014 13:14:31 GMT
Even at my most optimistic I can't see us beating Italy or Uruguay but maybe if we scrape a draw with Italy (early game cautiousness on their part ) that may then open up the group. Despite being impressed by them over the last few seasons I don't see Germany as being serious major contenders because I believe that the only forward they have in their squad is the rather past his best Klose and their current game is a high energy one that is not well suited to the climate in Brazil. |
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Post by AlbertTatlock on Jun 11, 2014 13:23:11 GMT
England won't qualify from their group in fact they'll struggle to score a goal in their group, we can all get on with enjoying the rest of the competition without the need to keep hearing how unlucky England are and that Rooney has failed to deliver on the world stage again even though he is one of the highest paid footballers in the world. Gouranga.  |
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Post by jezzascfc on Jun 11, 2014 13:26:59 GMT
I have us down to get through the group in second (Italy first: 0-0 v Italy, 1-1 v Uruguay and 2-0 v Costa Rica), beat Colombia 2-1 and then bow out to Brazil in the QFs 2-0. About par as you say......
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Post by dirtygary69 on Jun 11, 2014 13:32:03 GMT
I think many are over-estimating Italy. I know they tend to be slow starters and more often than not make the latter stages but I really can't see that this time.
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Post by RipRoaringPotter on Jun 11, 2014 14:35:39 GMT
If England make it out of the group stage, Hodgson has done his job. The team's most effective players, Barkley, Sterling and Sturridge, are incredibly raw and not consistent enough, yet. The rest of the team is solid but mediocre at international level.
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Post by dutchstokie on Jun 11, 2014 15:29:58 GMT
We will get to the semis.....
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Post by Silkystoke on Jun 11, 2014 15:48:14 GMT
wont get out of the group FULL STOP... fuckin shit, over paid twats...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2014 16:00:01 GMT
We will get to the semis..... if we get to the semis then i'll be fully hard! |
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Post by StokieBoy31 on Jun 11, 2014 16:09:14 GMT
1-1 against Italy I think, and then take it from there  |
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Jun 11, 2014 16:21:15 GMT
England 1 - 1 Italy England 2 - 1 Uruguay England 3 - 0 Costa Rica England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast What are the odds?? |
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Post by PotterLog on Jun 12, 2014 1:22:13 GMT
Even at my most optimistic I can't see us beating Italy or Uruguay but maybe if we scrape a draw with Italy (early game cautiousness on their part ) that may then open up the group. Despite being impressed by them over the last few seasons I don't see Germany as being serious major contenders because I believe that the only forward they have in their squad is the rather past his best Klose and their current game is a high energy one that is not well suited to the climate in Brazil. The climate won't be much of an issue apart from the games in the jungle. It'll be showery and mild/warm in most of the venues. |
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Jun 12, 2014 13:52:38 GMT
I have us down to get through the group in second (Italy first: 0-0 v Italy, 1-1 v Uruguay and 2-0 v Costa Rica), beat Colombia 2-1 and then bow out to Brazil in the QFs 2-0. About par as you say...... I'm kind of with you and FM on this.
I still do the same thing I did since I was about 9 (West Germany 1974), which is pick who will qualify then map out the quarters, semi and final etc. 49 now and really need to grow up but never mind...
This utterly unreliable theory tells me that we may be better qualifying as runner up, keeping us in Brazil's half of the draw. I would prefer them in a one-off QF than Spain. Also, if by some miracle we were to beat them, it may take us to a semi final with France/Portugal, avoiding Spain and Argentina/Germany.
I'm sure all variables will change, and we'll probably go out in the quarters, or even lose to Columbia, but I wouldn't be unhappy with qualifying as runners up.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Cold rational analysis screams that defensively we are just not good enough.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 14:01:01 GMT
Even at my most optimistic I can't see us beating Italy or Uruguay but maybe if we scrape a draw with Italy (early game cautiousness on their part ) that may then open up the group. Despite being impressed by them over the last few seasons I don't see Germany as being serious major contenders because I believe that the only forward they have in their squad is the rather past his best Klose and their current game is a high energy one that is not well suited to the climate in Brazil. The climate won't be much of an issue apart from the games in the jungle. It'll be showery and mild/warm in most of the venues. and most of the players (even those for Brazil and Argentina and the African nations) play in europe anyway and never spent much time playing football in their own countries so they will be equally as unused to playing the game in that heat/humidity as we are |
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