Can England Win The World Cup?

[William of Walworth]

Can we win? Yes, if we win all our games.

The same applies to Ivory Coast.

Will we win? Doubt it.

That's my answer too. Meaningless poll.

 

[Jo/Joe]

We're not favourites, but of course we can win, but we'll need consistency. We lost to Brazil last time because we didn't try. We've got a great squad. Plus Northern Ireland won't be there.

 

[Red Faction]

hasnt been posted yet:

GROUP A 1. germany
Germany 2. poland
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

GROUP E 1. czech
Italy 2. italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

GROUP B 1. england (i reckon they'll draw with each other- but goal dif
England 2. sweden will separate them)
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago
Sweden

GROUP F 1. brazil
Brazil 2. japan
Croatia
Australia
Japan

GROUP C 1. argentina
Argentina 2. holland
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro
Holland

GROUP G 1. france
France 2. south korea
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo

GROUP D 1. mexico
Mexico 2. portugal
Iran
Angola
Portugal

GROUP H 1. spain
Spain 2. tunisia
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

i think they can do it...
hang on while i work out the knock-out stage draw according to my predictions

 

[Red Faction]

i reckon the semi finals will be:
argentina v. france
and england v. brazil

IF england can beat brazil- they'll play argentina in the final...

i dont think argentina will capitulate the way they did in the last friendly
you have to admit- they were robbed

but- who knows

personally id tip argentina to win it
but knowing my luck ive jinxed it for them

 

[stavros]

No idea and I don't like to speculate over these things. However I will say that I think Eriksson is the wrong man for the job. We have a load of world class players but he seems to have no idea of how to craft a team out of them. Robinson, Terry, Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney would all challenge for a World XI but Sven doesn't seem to know how to best exploit their talents. He also irks me greatly by perservering with that overrated clothes horse who he's made captain. I hear time and time again how he's the best crosser in the world. First of all this is disputable, secondly Owen and Rooney are hardly build to challenge in the air, and finally he has very little else to his game and drifts all over the place.

Rooney has few peers in the game and needs to be the fulcrum of the entire team. Argentina did this with Maradona in 1986 and boy did it pay off. Thus we need to play players who bring out the best in him. His form for Man Utd suggests he works best in a 4-3-3, so maybe use SWP as the Ronaldo figure. I then think he needs 3 midfielders behind him who will work for him. Lampard and Gerrard get in each other's way and should compete for a place rather than assume they get one. Finally I may be a Tottenham fan but I think Michael Carrick is the most ignored player in the country. He makes things happen for us whilst staying where he needs to, and with two good feet and a strong tackle he can anchor the team.

 

[Flashman]

I'm no expert but I feel our "abundence" in midfield is holding us back, as Sven tries to insert square pegs into round holes to ensure they all play. Either drop Dave and stick SWP on the right, or (preferably) drop Gerrard, move Dave into the centre and play SWP on the right. Lamps and Gerrard don't play well together in t' middle and I'd rather have Lamps in there than Gerrard tbh. Good sides have good players on the bench, they can't all play. I agree that Carrick could do a job, but he's down the list as far as Sven goes. Whatever we do tactically, we ain't good enough to win the thing, our first 11 looks excellent on paper and stands up with any team out there, but when it comes down to it we always bottle it, why should that magically change this time.

 

[stavros]

One almost thinks that Sven and the FA are trying to appease the sponsors with the selections. It seems an awful lot easier to get in if your club is in the "Champions" League and I think we're safe in saying Beckham sells more shirts than SWP. I totally agree that some will have to sit on the bench. Yes we are blessed to have Lampard and Gerrard but if they were fighting for one place they may raise their efforts for a greater all round game. Jimmy Greaves didn't make the '66 final team despite him being a world-beater, and you couldn't play Pele, Maradona, Van Basten and Muller in the same team.

My team;

Robbo
Neville King Terry Cole
Carrick
SWP Gerrard/Lampard Cole
Rooney Owen

 

[Silva]

England has potentially the best team since 1990, yet some fuckwads (Beckham and Rooney) might as well flip out for one second, and get a sending off. And as pointed before, Sven doesn't seem to settle for a starting 11.

About Brazil, they were also sure winners in 1982, yet failed to get through the second round. Just think of the class defenders Brazil has playing behind Ronaldinho and Adriano.
Of course, that beast of an attack might well outscore/outplay pretty much everyone, but still...

 

[Rocket Romano]

Has anybody watched the French national team lately? Any ideas of World Cup victories are pipe dreams, they are no better a side than they were at Euro04

I fancy Spain. Every year they walk through qualifying, this year, they struggle. Different situation, might put up a different show in Germany

 

[Dilzybhoy]

I fancy Spain. Every year they walk through qualifying, this year, they struggle. Different situation, might put up a different show in Germany

I always fancy them but then they let themselves down.
The best team to never have won.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I always fancy them but then they let themselves down.
The best team to never have won.

Perhaps. But what about the Netherlands? While you might say that in the grand scale of things, Spain are the one major power not to have won, they've never had an absolutely outstanding team.

The best teams never to have won are arguably-

Hungary (54)
NL (74/78)
France (86)
Brazil (82)
Brazil (98)
NL (98)

 

[Rocket Romano]

The 1998 Final was without doubt one of the strangest in football.

The whole 'Ronaldo situation' cast a shadow over events.

The worst team to win the World Cup? (66 weren't an outstanding team, lorra lorra luck)

 

[Dilzybhoy]

Perhaps. But what about the Netherlands? While you might say that in the grand scale of things, Spain are the one major power not to have won, they've never had an absolutely outstanding team.

The best teams never to have won are arguably-

Hungary (54)
NL (74/78)
France (86)
Brazil (82)
Brazil (98)
NL (98)

Yes I take your point.
I was thinking country rather than individual teams but yes Holland 1978 and Brazil 1982.
I'd forgotten Holland haven't won it. Incredible innit.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

The 1998 Final was without doubt one of the strangest in football.

The whole 'Ronaldo situation' cast a shadow over events.

The worst team to win the World Cup? (66 weren't an outstanding team, lorra lorra luck)

Yes, that France team has to be one of the worst/jammiest. A piss easy group (Denmark, Saudi, South Africa, then 2 rounds without a goal in normal time, then somehow Brazil collapsed in the final.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I'd forgotten Holland haven't won it. Incredible innit.

Yep, both them and Brazil played vastly more interesting football than France at the 98 cup.

 

[g force]

Brazil are the best team in the world, but this tournament is being played in northern Europe and there is a reason why Brazil have won only one of their World Cups in Europe.

What reason? I assume you mean their players used to play in south American leagues. Look at the Brazil team now - the vast majority and certainly the key players are in Germany, Spain and Italy.

Adriano and Kaka know what Italian style defending is, Lucio has been the best player in a dodgy team in the CL, Ronalndinho is the best player on the planet. Heck, they've even got a decent keeper this time round.

 

[g force]

I pray Spain can do something - I mean we should get through that group, but i've said that before Plus, Raul still off form and Xavi injured and unlikely to return isn't great.

 

[Echo Base]

I think we can do it. Our "golden generation" wont have a better shot.
Hopefully Sven can make them into a functioning team, and also make sure we have a Plan B - although at the mo, thats looking increasingly like playing Crouch, which is a concern.
If Rooney can stay fit and on the pitch - and he seems to have got that temper in check - then we can def win it.

 

[stavros]

In terms of the best team not to win the WC it's difficult to look further than 50s Hungary or 70s Holland. Some say England 1970 were better than 4 years before but they came up against the best team ever. Portugal 66 were pretty useful too.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

In terms of the best team not to win the WC it's difficult to look further than 50s Hungary or 70s Holland. Some say England 1970 were better than 4 years before but they came up against the best team ever. Portugal 66 were pretty useful too.

Except England didn't get knocked out by Brazil...

 

[Flashman]

Except England didn't get knocked out by Brazil...

No, we got Mullered.

 

[stavros]

Except England didn't get knocked out by Brazil...

Indeed we didn't. I mentioned Brazil because that game is so famous, what with the best team, tackle, save, goalkeeper, defender and player ever featuring in it.

Besides that team was some way behind the Dutch team of 4 years later.