It’s Not Just The English Press…

has any team set this world cup on fire? people in glass houses should not throw stones.

The French have been even worse than us though!

alan i like your quote

this one aswell: “people only throw stones at trees that bare fruit” (Ronaldo)

‘Set a world cup on fire’? Hmmmm.
Well, if one accepts the metaphor one might argue England have done a lot to choke any sparks right from the outset.

I wouldn’t say England doesn’t deserve to be in the final 8, but of the final 8, I would rank them 7th or 8th in chances to win the whole thing.

So far, they’ve been winning by the skin of their teeth, and defence has looked suspect on many occasions. Mostly dreadful play, but then capitalizing on few good chances that pop up.

It would be an upset if they can make it much further, but that’s what sports is all about.

Let’s hope they can pull together and show us some good play. Hopefully they will rely less on that ‘over the top’ stuff which doesn’t work at this level. Maybe a rainstorm during their match will help their cause.

They should study the Australia-Italy match to pick up some pointers on how to move the ball and attack. I think England is very capable of playing the style employed by Australia, and getting good results.

Then one wouldn’t have to prop themselves up with arguments of “whether the grass is greener over there.”

answer the question then rolf which team has set the world cup on fire/ stood out. i never said england had played well.

@SimoN, er…no, I think we definitely win the prize for “least impressive team”. France played some beautiful footie last night.

There’s no doubt something is seriously wrong inside the England camp. I can’t believe the players aren’t 100% focused and physically ready. Or that it’s down to the formations they’re being asked to play. But something or someone has drained the confidence out of the team, and it all points to one man.

Either we’ll see a totally different England on Saturday, or the boys will be on the first flight home Sunday.

‘emulate australia!?’ – you mean by not attacking and thus not scoring? attractive football is all very well but every team in the world will let you kick it prettily around at the back for endless hours if they don’t need to score. Plus there isn’t a SINGLE player on the australia team who would make the England team.

But I do give them credit for endless heart, enthusiasm, energy, confidence and teamwork – those attributes took them a long way.

still waiting rolf?hmmmmmmmmmm

Shawn–

For a little more perspective, try this piece on WCP (World Cup Pessimism) from TimesOnline:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28782-2246656,00.html

Adam

England will never win this world cup …I can bet my life

England needs to come out against a banged and booked up Portugal just like Germany came out against Sweden. Take it right to them. Portugal will have to play very aggressively to hang with England, and England is asking for trouble if they allow Portugal to dictate play early on. All-out offense is the way to go. Blitz them (pun intended) Germany-style and then play solid defense. Portugal is dangerous still, even missing two and having a banged up Ronaldo. But I bet they’ll fold if they get down a couple of goals in the first half.

Who cares anyway? this is supposed to be a blog from a supporter’s point of view, not a compendium of fuckwit sports journos from around the globe no?

Sorry…

i hate journos lol, too many of em in the family for starters

John, re. Portugal:
“But I bet they’ll fold if they get down a couple of goals in the first half.”

That has already happened against England, with a much less solid team than the current one. Portugal won that game 3-2.

An English family head out one Saturday to do some
shopping. While in the sports shop the son picks up
a Scotland football shirt and says to his sister,
“I’ve decided to be a Scotland Supporter and I would like
this for my birthday”.
His sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks
him round the head and says “Go talk to your mother”.
So off goes the little lad with the Blue Football
shirt in hand and finds
his mother. “Mum?”
“Yes son?”
“I’ve decided I’m going to be a Scotland supporter
and I would like this shirt for my birthday”.
The mother is outraged at this, promptly whacks him
around the head and says, “Go talk to your father”.
Off he goes with the football shirt in hand and
finds his father. “Dad?”
“Yes son?”
“I’ve decided I’m going to be a Scotland supporter
and I would like this shirt for my birthday”.
The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son
around the head and says: “No son of mine is ever
going to be seen in THAT!”
About half an hour later they’re all back in the
carand heading towards home. The father turns to his
son and says “Son, I hope you’ve learned something
today?”
The son says, “Yes dad I have.”
“Good son, what is it?”
The son replies, “I’ve only been a Scotland
supporter for an hour and already I hate you English bastards”

a funny, nice joke but you could just change english to usa and the whole world might possibly agree on that one.

Alan,
so here I am. After all an avid blogger has got to eat something every now and then

Well, I think you ask a good question. There have not really been f i r e w o r k s
but taking your metaphor too seriously I suppose means asking a bit too much.

And by the way – what exactly does “set on fire” translate into?
Matches in which both sides played brilliantly all the way and which, accordingly, were very exciting?
Or matches that were just rather dramatic?
As to the former, I’d agree we still have to wait (but a World Cup should leave room for a climax, right?
As to the latter (thrilling) I think a majority would agree we have had quite a few and I don’t think I need to go into specifics.
Having said all that I – admittedly somwhat incongruously – tend to think Argentina’s first match (vs Ivory Coast) may have been the hottest.
Hoping to have served you,
a friendly hallo from Germany !

marcus, can u leave some way of finding you so that we can collect on that bet..ie your life!

thanks rolf for your reply. hey mate i really hope you win today.today im on my way to berlin (not the first time) i will have a drink waiting for you.

alan,
I am truly moved.

Sorry, have to stay at home in the Munich area.

Enjoy your trip and the game and all that merry carnival around it.

P.S. And, please, don’t drink too much beer