The official 2010 World Cup thread

[hibbs]

Brilliant ad...

world cup

http://vimeo.com/11896489

[????]

Mexico tonight with an' experimental' side promised. Hart in goal at start I'm presuming.

[????]

ENGLAND TEAM: Green, Johnson, Baines, Ferdinand, King, Walcott, Gerrard, Carrick, Milner, Crouch, Rooney

[????]

Carrick was pants and not that impressed by Ferdinand's half either. Bit patchy but I think mexico are a decent team.

[ratty]

What would your starting line up ne quids??

For me it is :

Jammo, Cole, Terry, Ferd, Johnson, Walcott (spit scummer), Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Rooney, Crouch.

Anyone think it will differ from this? Rob Green made a good case for himself first half!!

[matthew123]

England outclassed by Mexico during first half although Mexico usually hold their own against the top South American countries. Maybe winning 3-1 should not be underestimated in terms of a win is a win but the football played says same old England for WC.

Great Nike WC advert (notice Rooney/Walcott wearing Umbro whilst other non Nike shirts have been blanked on Drogba/Ribery)

 

[DaveR]

I'd go with that starting XI except I'd start with Lennon rather than Walcott.

I thought we looked v. unconvincing last night - Mexico had more chances and looked more comfortable in possession. I would expect the starting XI to be a lot tighter, but if Barry, for example, can't get fit/stay fit, we may struggle.

[SimonM]

Is Barry going to be fit then? On last night's showing I think I'd rather start with Lennon than Walcott against the USA. Green made some good saves but had one horrendous moment which could have easily cost a goal.

[ruffers]

Seems to me King, Walcott, Baines did themselves no favours last night at all, Johnson was OK when he came on, Hart tried too hard with his distribution, Lennon not bad, and neither Milner nor Carrick should be asked to do Gareth Barry's job.

Funny game when you win 3-1 but are more worried after it than before..

re Barry he has his test tomorrow.

[matthew123]

Barry won't make much difference in the final reckoning imo

My starting XI for USA: -

James - G.Johnson, Rio, Terry, Cole - Lennon, Gerrard, Lampard, Milner - Rooney, Heskey

[ruffers]

If I remember correctly Barry is just about Capello's most capped player. He'll pick him if he's anywhere near fit.

[Keef]

Don't think Walcott is up to it. Maybe he will be in future, Joe Cole used to just run and run until he got tackled, but eventually matured in to a great player. I think Theo could be the same, but at the moment, his great pace just isn't enough IMO.

Shame for King last night, didn't look anywhere near his best, and Terry will be confident of keeping his place.

I still think Heskey & Rooney up front if it's 4-4-2.

As with Liverpool this season, Gerrard just not his old self. Don't know if he's just lost it a bit, or what, but he doesn't look the player he was a season ago. That said, maybe the WC will gee him back in to action...

[Jah Lush]

Walcott is a shit Aaron Lennon. So it's Lennon for me as he's the business.

[ratty]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Walcott is a shit Aaron Lennon. So it's Lennon for

> me as he's the business.

He just looks like a coont!

[Narnia]

I'd like to know on what grounds (ha) Heskey should be selected? A forward that doesn't score but Rooney likes him around? He hasn't played much for Villa has he, so doesn't fit Capello's supposed criteria for selection. Rooney looked frustrated a lot of the time last night. Almost like that the old demons were trying to get out! I hope he keeps his cool.

Carrick is gone I'd say plus Wright P. I think he comes behind Lennon and Walcott and all 3 wont go. I was surprised by King. He didn't seem to be with it.

[ratty]

G Barry back to Man City following medical - apparently does not look good for him! BBC Radio News

[matthew123]

The grounds on which Heskey should be selected is as a physical decoy - plus he is a workhorse who makes it difficult for opposition to play football from the back unlike Crouch (too slow) or Defoe (too lazy) or Walcott (who is one trip over his shoelaces away from injury).

[ruffers]

Crouch's problem as well is with referees who don't know him he always looks like he's fouling with every challenge.

[????]

If I was radical I might go

James

Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, Cole

Lennon, Lampard, Cole, Barry

Gerrard

Rooney

With Lescott, King, Green, Crouch on the bench and any of the others, don't care, although that young city fella impressed I'd send Carrick, Huddlestone and the other young tottenham player home for sure

[jimmy two times]

I can't believe Maradona has not selected Cambiasso and Zanetti from Inter Milan. What England would do for those two. All I can say is the Argies must have one hell of a squad. A very good outside bet but probably the only team in the world cup where the players will have to manage the manager.

[Jah Lush]

Indeed! Even if Zanetti is now 37 he's still top quality. They've got a fantastic squad but the manager (Maradona) doesn't know what he's doing.

[ruffers]

I'm unsure how we've got ourselves into a situation where seemingly our whole world cup plans are relying on Gareth Barry. Solid enough player but.... really?

[jimmy two times]

The problem we have got is that we only have one world class player and his name is Wayne Rooney. After that we have about 3 or 4 good international class players and the rest are mediocre. You don't need a team of world class players to win a world cup, but you probably need at least 3 or 4 surrounded by good international class players. Brazil, Spain and Argentina all have about 4 world class players in their team. What we do have in our favour however is a world class manager.

[Keef]

Er, isn't world class the same as international? ;-)

[jimmy two times]

No. I think there are players who are solid international class performers, such as Gerrard and Terry, but I'd never describe them as world class.