[X(S.a.R.a.H)X]

:lmao:

Good one!

We may not have, but we'd have at least been there after playing a good honest game.

[Rude_Bitch_420]

We may not have, but we'd have at least been there after playing a good honest game.

Yeh I know, I was only joking.

Still, those bastards are getting what they deserve now. Hopefully Mexico and Uruguay can agree to draw, bye bye France. :wave:

[Star Dunkels Macmillan]

Hopefully Mexico and Uruguay can agree to draw, bye bye France. :wave:

I hope France won't pass the group stage too, but I don't think that would be a sporting thing to do. Play your best and what happens happens. I do hope that Mexico and Uruguay playing their best results in their match ending in a tie, but I hope they don't aim for that.

[Wane Peters]

Whoever finishes second will likely play Argentina so that's motivation to go FTW in my opinion.

[Sista Sila]

I hope France won't pass the group stage too, but I don't think that would be a sporting thing to do. Play your best and what happens happens. I do hope that Mexico and Uruguay playing their best results in their match ending in a tie, but I hope they don't aim for that.

I don't really want France to qualify but they do have a few players I have a particular fondness for, so it wouldn't be a total disappointment to see them go through. Mexico and Uruguay will of course be doing their utmost to win, they think they're too big to listen to someone like me. :violin:

[Ria dell]

Mexico/Uruguay should be a good match. I hope it is later in the day so I can see it. I'm also looking forward to US/Slovenia.

[Penny Wills]

How good is Slovenia supposed to be? I am going to try and listen to some of the game tomorrow at work when I can.

[Chris Jones]

How good is Slovenia supposed to be? I am going to try and listen to some of the game tomorrow at work when I can.

You can win that one.

[Laura Ellaby]

How good is Slovenia supposed to be? I am going to try and listen to some of the game tomorrow at work when I can.

Good enough to eliminate Russia in the World Cup qualifications. We have no star players, but we do have team spirit. And a better goalie than England.

I'm not really all that into football and I can't really properly estimate the odds, but I do expect our boys to put up a good show.

[Andrea Pratt]

Argh, just realised I'll miss England's game next Wednesday, I start work on Monday... Why, when I've had all this time off, are all the games late kick offs? Dammit.

Anyway, England on tonight, I think Capello got the team sooooo wrong for the first game. I would go with something like:



------------------------ Rooney---------------

------------------ Gerrard-------------------

Joe Cole --- Lampard ----- Barry ---- Lennon

Cashley ---- Terry ---- Carra ----- Johnson

I think playing Gerrard just off Rooney would be good, he's a quality player and doesn't really work on the left as well, I think Joe Cole is a much better player to have playing wide. Rooney has shown he doesn't need a target man to be effective and Gerrard could drop back into the midfield and help out when necessary. We'll probably start with Crouch or Heskey up front and Gerrard on the left though, I hate Heskey but even with fat lump playing we should still be able to see off Algeria. I'd probably just stick Green in goal again since Capello has started that precedent, I would have started Hart on this seasons form alone if it were me, bit of a gamble but...

[Jeremy Kenney]

I hate Heskey but even with fat lump playing we should still be able to see off Algeria.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8746598.stm

[victoria gillis]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8746598.stm

Well, if we can't beat Algeria I will have to laugh. It would be a total [censored] calamity. :ahhh: I watched Ireland beat them in a warm-up friendly, they put 2 goals past them easily. One of their attacking options is banned for this game I believe, so the odds really are in our favour.

If we lose, I will hold up my hands and admit that we don't even deserve to be at the World Cup. I'd also like to hope that no amount of "firing up" will do them any good.

[Charlotte Lloyd-Jones]

Well, if we can't beat Algeria I will have to laugh. It would be a total [censored] calamity. :ahhh: I watched Ireland beat them in a warm-up friendly, they put 2 goals past them easily. One of their attacking options is banned for this game I believe, so the odds really are in our favour.

If we lose, I will hold up my hands and admit that we don't even deserve to be at the World Cup. I'd also like to hope that no amount of "firing up" will do them any good.

Algeria don't get fired up, they get explosive. So either England will leave the field bloodied and bruised and as good as out the World Cup, or England will leave the field bloodied and bruised but with 5 more players than Algeria and a win in the bag. Should be an interesting game at least. I wonder if the England midfield can keep Rooney quiet again?

[Sxc-Mary]

Algeria don't get fired up, they get explosive. So either England will leave the field bloodied and bruised and as good as out the World Cup, or England will leave the field bloodied and bruised but with 5 more players than Algeria and a win in the bag. Should be an interesting game at least. I wonder if the England midfield can keep Rooney quiet again?

We have our share of dirty bastards and divers, I'm not worried about that aspect of the game. If someone keeps fouling Rooney though, I'd be slightly worried he'll flip and stamp on someone's nether regions.

It could go down 1 of 2 ways:

We could do what we always do when we win games, sort of bludgeon it into the net without ever really exercising any control over the game whatsoever and come away with a win that glosses over a mediocre performance.

...Or, we could perform in a mediocre manner, not manage to score, concede a cheap goal and then the whole country would talk about it for days, utterly outraged. Then it would be branded the most disappointing World Cup ever and it would be the last time this generation play together.

I'm actually looking forward to the next batch of fresh meat that enters the squad, it's all a bit stale staring at the same batch of under achievers, who can't play as a team, fail at every big tournament they qualify for. :violin:

[Marquis deVille]

Well here goes
Germany to win 3-1
USA 3-1
England 4-0 even if that lump of lard Heskey is playing

[Marta Wolko]

Well here goes
Germany to win 3-1
USA 3-1
England 4-0 even if that lump of lard Heskey is playing

I feel uninspired tonight. I have no idea.

I can't see Serbia giving the Germans the thorough examination at the back I am waiting for.

[le GraiN]

I'm actually looking forward to the next batch of fresh meat that enters the squad, it's all a bit stale staring at the same batch of under achievers, who can't play as a team, fail at every big tournament they qualify for. :violin:

I wouldn't be so eager. I can't think of a good young central midfielder coming through that would replace the likes of Lampard and Gerrard. I can't think of many good young English players in general to be honest.

[Lily Evans]

Well here goes
Germany to win 3-1
USA 3-1
England 4-0 even if that lump of lard Heskey is playing

Those scores all strike me as rather optimistic. I'd expect Germany and England to win, but not quite that highly. As for the USA, I wouldn't bet on them winning. In fact I'm hoping for the opposite to happen.

[JD FROM HELL]

Trigger happy booking ref.

[Jennifer May]

Trigger happy booking ref.

Yep this match wont finish with 22 left on the pitch


Told you so but this ref is a tosser

[Taylah Illies]

Yep this match wont finish with 22 left on the pitch


Told you so but this ref is a tosser

Oh no. The ref throws the game.

[Michelle Chau]

:blink:

*screams incomprehensibly at the tv*

[carrie roche]

Well in Serbia!

Not watching it, gotta go to work in a tic, but a 2nd yellow sending off in the first half? Crikey, that ref sounds a bit card-happy.

[Chris Cross Cabaret Man]

I wouldn't be so eager. I can't think of a good young central midfielder coming through that would replace the likes of Lampard and Gerrard. I can't think of many good young English players in general to be honest.

Jack WIlshere and Jack Rodwell look like the big prospects in the younger England squads though there are some other good players to look out for as well. The whole team won't need replacing come the next WC, just enough to freshen up the squad and get rid of some of the oldies.

Some more http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/nov/13/1

I'm not too worried about the future of our national team, look at this generation, this was meant to be the "golden generation" and look where that got us. :rolleyes:

[Aaron Clark]

Oh dear me what a crap penalty