The 2014 World Cup thread

[maxxi]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Good to see no one is blaming the manager yet.

True, but then I would have thought the blame was obvious. When you have a team that lacks world class players you need strategy and guile and England seemed short in both - that was Hodgson's responsibility. Too vague and undisciplined at the back and too sloppy and wayward at the front - like they were making it up as they went along.

Also the team selection to start. Not being able to see the malaise Gerrard suffered from in an England shirt is a management error and letting him give that depressing team 'rally' was a massive mistake - also Lallana and Lambert and Barkley should have played from the start.

This team reflects Hodgson perfectly and acheived as much as it is able to under him.

[Alan Medic]

Anyone would think England was actually out of the WC already. An Italy win tonight will make the following round very interesting and not at all hopeless.

[????]

Are you willing to bet Mr M?

[maxxi]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Anyone would think England was actually out of the

> WC already. An Italy win tonight will make the

> following round very interesting and not at all

> hopeless.

Quite right - let's consider the plus points...

1. We can all go back to enjoying the football instead of fretting about England's prospects.

2. Costa Rica v Italy should be a good game.

3. Spain were out before England.

4. Lampard never played.

[Seabag]

I'm in agreement with maxxi and Med's

And I even think that this young team have the makings of something good and different for English football. I'd got utterly fed up with the old guard and their utterly bloated celibrity HELLO magazine status. Once Gerrard gets put out to graze in the coming year/s we'll be on our way to something interesting again

It's only my personal view, but i've enjoyed some of the football we've played so far

Onward, whatever happens

[Otta]

Haha, my poor neighbour. I saw his flags this morning looking limp and pathetic as a drunk's cock.

[????]

5)Scotland didn't qualify

[Louisa]

It's not over yet! Here's how England can still qualify for the knock out stages. Taken from the Metro.

Step one

Italy need to beat Costa Rica in their 5pm kick-off tonight (this should happen).

Step two

England need to beat Costa Rica (hopefully by a few goals) on Tuesday, 5pm kick-off.

Step three

Italy then need to beat Uruguay (again, by a few goals) also on Tuesday, 5pm kick-off.

This means?

Italy will win Group D, going through automatically, while England, Costa Rica and Uruguay will all have three points, after winning one game each.

BUT ? we?ll hopefully squeeze through in second place, thanks to the goal difference rule.

And then ON TO WIN THE WORLD CUP. Probably.

Louisa.

[MrBen]

The problem is the Italians in their last game. Their style in that scenario is to field their B team and generally they won't be arsed.

[El Pibe]

Spain went out the same way in 98, needing nigeria to simply draw against paraguay, having been rampant in their first two games, they just keeled over and died because they didn't care, y adios espa?a

[Parkdrive]

Step one

Italy need to beat Costa Rica in their 5pm kick-off tonight (this should happen).

Costa Rica, the team team that walloped Uruaguay? Hmmmm

[aquarius moon]

If Italy beat Costa Rica, will they even bother to beat Uruguay by a few goals?

And will they even be able to? Especially if Suarez plays.

Italy will know they are safe & Uruguay will know that they'll only need a draw to qualify.

[????]

er, not if Costa Rica beat England AM -Urugay need to play for a win

[maxxi]

Italy will beat Costa Rica and Uruguay will beat Italy which will mean Costa Rica have to beat England then it's all down to g/d.

ETA: For everyone but England that is)

[Otta]

I hate myself right now, as I find myself sitting here wishing Italy to win.

[aquarius moon]

???? Wrote:

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> er, not if Costa Rica beat England AM -Urugay need

> to play for a win

This was based on England beating Costa Rica.

The way things are going, looks like my flag will be coming down tonight :(

[Alan Medic]

Louisa Wrote:

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> It's not over yet! Here's how England can still

> qualify for the knock out stages. Taken from the

> Metro.

>

> Step one

> Italy need to beat Costa Rica in their 5pm

> kick-off tonight (this should happen).

>

Not at half time it isn't. You may have to forget steps two and three though if Italy aren't careful they could go out themselves.

[maxxi]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Italy aren't careful

> they could go out themselves.

I hope so - the way Balotelli is throwing himself to the ground - regardless of what it means for England - Go Costa Rica!

[Alan Medic]

MrBen Wrote:

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> The problem is the Italians in their last game.

> Their style in that scenario is to field their B

> team and generally they won't be arsed.

That might depend on them caring if they win the group or not and who they might prefer to play.

[Alan Medic]

???? Wrote:

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> Are you willing to bet Mr M?

Not at this precise moment.

[Louisa]

Italy looking tired and predictable. These South American teams appear a class above even Europe's finest in this World Cup.

Louisa.

[Alan Medic]

Otta Wrote:

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> Haha, my poor neighbour. I saw his flags this

> morning looking limp and pathetic as a drunk's

> cock.

You've seen one of these?

[Alan Medic]

Louisa Wrote:

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> Italy looking tired and predictable. These South

> American teams appear a class above even Europe's

> finest in this World Cup.

>

> Louisa.

Italy are not Europe's finest.

[aquarius moon]

New steps:

Step 1 = Costa Rica beat Italy

Step 2 = England beat Costa Rica 5-0

Step 3 = Uruguay beat Italy 5-0

Sorted

[Alan Medic]

So two teams have 6 points and England 3. Not sorted for England.