England World Cup Thread

[PorkChop]

Schedule:

First game: vs Italy, Sat 14th June, 11pm
Second game: vs Uruguay, Thu 19th June, 8pm
Third game: vs Costa Rica, Tue 24th June, 5pm

World Cup Tunes:

Three Lions '98 - Lightning Seeds
World in Motion - New Order
Vindaloo - Fat Les


Squad:

GK: Hart, Foster, Forster

DF: Baines, Cahill, Jagielka, Johnson, Jones, Shaw, Smalling

MF: Gerrard, Barkley, Henderson, Lallana, Lampard, Milner, Ox, Sterling, Wilshere

ST: Lambert, Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck

[SortaCreative]

It begins.

#PrayforEngland

[AkydefGoldberg]

Slightly optimistic for England if Shaw, Lallana, Barkley, Strurridge get going.

Sterling, Barkley, Lallana
Sturridge

But expect Rooney will play instead of Barkley - I would go so far as to say that if he fails to deliver, England should move on without Rooney. He's not going to get better as he gets older.

But think England would edge past the group stage.

[PorkChop]

But think England would edge past the group stage.

I think we'll get through the group stage but go out in the quarters, probably on penalties.

[Romo]

Ashley Cole has announced her retirement from international football after being left out of the world cup squad.... done it with some class aswell

[AkydefGoldberg]

^Yeah, no matter what his off-field issues have been, he has been a phenomenal left back for England. Best left back for England, end of.

[Romo]

RICKIE LAMBERT COME ON DOWNN..... YOU'RE ON THE PLANE TO BRAZIL!

[prophet]

It's gonna be good to see us all on the same page this Summer. I'm really excited for the World Cup. We won't win and we'll do well to get out of the group but if he picks a largely youthful team with one or two old heads to bring on if we need to close a game out we'll be good.

The last time Austria won Eurovision, England won the World Cup. ENGLAND WINNING CONFIRMED.

[Tom]

Just read there that Michael Carrick will not be included either. He hasn't been great at all this season so I think Roy is making the right decision on this one.

It is sad to see Ashley Cole not going but I understand it at the same time. He was always one of our solid performers in the pitch in major tournaments so I am looking forward to seeing how Baines and Shaw perform at the World Cup!

[Romo]

[prophet]

Good squad, happy with that. Lampard is the one I'd question but thinking about it he's an experienced head and another leader type which will be good to have in the camp plus I don't think he'll actually play any games because when Roy likes us to defend and hold on to what we have he tends to bring Milner on to do a shift. Good blend of youth and experience - not sure about the standby list though. Here's hoping nobody gets injured.

[AkydefGoldberg]

They all seem delighted to be on the plane.

Smalling isn't bad at CB and if he plays there, am sure he'll do a decent job but it's only when he plays at RB that he struggles. Johnson is in the squad, no Walker so imagine that Smalling/Jones will be RB cover - both whose crossing is woeful.

If Rooney has a poor WC - which is plausible - then I think he should retire from internationals. Compared to other players, I don't really feel he's going to get better with age and I'd rather he used the spare time resting and with Barkley, Sterling, Strurridge a potential front three, then Rooney just doesn't have that appeal if he doesn't do well.

Carrick excluded not a big surprise, hasn't played well this season but so hasn't the team and gutted Cleverley didn't get included, if only just for the volcanic reaction that would have erupted had he been, would have been great to see.

[PorkChop]

Decent squad, though I'm not too pleased about Smalling being included. He's an average defender at best, though I suppose he's English and occasionally plays for Man United, which means he'll make the squad anyway. Ask Wes Brown.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Decent squad, though I'm not too pleased about Smalling being included. He's an average defender at best, though I suppose he's English and occasionally plays for Man United, which means he'll make the squad anyway. Ask Wes Brown.

Maybe it's the poor season he's encountered, along with the club but at RB, he's shit. But CB, he's a decent player. Comfortable with the ball and if he's got someone authoratative in Cahill/Jagielka with him, he'll do good.

Wes Brown, tbf, has had a solid partnership with the legendary John O'Shea at Sunderland and in his defence, was outstanding in the 2007/8 season.

Gutted Agbonlahor hasn't made the squad...

[PorkChop]

Decent squad, though I'm not too pleased about Smalling being included. He's an average defender at best, though I suppose he's English and occasionally plays for Man United, which means he'll make the squad anyway. Ask Wes Brown.

Maybe it's the poor season he's encountered, along with the club but at RB, he's shit. But CB, he's a decent player. Comfortable with the ball and if he's got someone authoratative in Cahill/Jagielka with him, he'll do good.

Wes Brown, tbf, has had a solid partnership with the legendary John O'Shea at Sunderland and in his defence, was outstanding in the 2007/8 season.

Gutted Agbonlahor hasn't made the squad...

I heard Agbonlahor, Ciaran Clark and Jordan Bowery are distraught at being left out. God knows they tried their best.

[prophet]

Hart
Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines
Henderson Gerrard
Chamberlain Barkley Sterling
Rooney

That'd be my starting line-up for the Italy game if it happening tomorrow. Youth, energy, creativity. The temperature is going to play it's part during the tournament so I'd try and keep everyone fresh - start this team to begin with and you've always got the likes of Sturridge, Wilshere, Milner etc.. to bring on as a new pair of legs to close out a game should we find ourselves in-front.

Going to miss this type of commitment though. I'd have tried to convince Terry to come out of retirement.

[MCBlair]

Think this is the first time I can remember where I actually want England to to well (Im Scottish) - Maybe its because I like Liverpool and they are well represented. It easier to like England now Terry and Cole aren't in the team also.

I still think Hogson Needs to be brave with his team. I would go.

Hart
Johnson Cahill Jagielka Baines
Gerrard
Henderson Barclay
Sterling
Sturridge Rooney

Potentially drop Rooney or Sturridge for Lallana.

[Viazon]

Cool. Just realised the time off from work I have booked in June coincides with these games. I will be able to watch all of them. I don't know what formation he plans on using, but no matter how many strikers he plays with, one of them should be Sturridge.

[Daz]

Might be bias and it's almost a non-factor as Hart will play every game regardless, but Ben Foster ahead of John Ruddy is laughable.

[AkydefGoldberg]

I'm not so sure on Johnson, Jagielka. Johnson is poor for me and susceptible defensively but luckily, has no real competition for his place. Jagielka has only just returned from injury (hamstring) and it wouldn't surprise if that flared up again. I'd say the CB slot alongside Cahill is open.

Other than that, pretty much spot on team but don't think conservative Roy will really jump Barkley into the side. Rooney will get the nod.