The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[Stinkfist]

Watch your backs (and shins ) for Australia. I **** you not! They are a good side not to be underestimated and written off, I fully expect them to come through their group with a win and a draw most likely but will probably get two draws Germany and Ghana whilst beating Serbia. If you recall we came through last time round with brazil, beating japan and A draw with Croatia if I do recall correctly. Only a lack of big match experiance let them down against Italy, not knowing that the dirty itais dive whenever they get near the box ( Grosso is a C NT) expect Cahill to be dangerous with good support from Lucas Neil, Schwarzer in goal, Kewel playing a cameo role and a heap of no-nonsense bruisers you'll know you've played a match.
Will meet England in the knockout. Aus 3-0 Eng. Last time they met.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stinkfist

Watch your backs (and shins ) for Australia. I **** you not! They are a good side not to be underestimated and written off, I fully expect them to come through their group with a win and a draw most likely but will probably get two draws Germany and Ghana whilst beating Serbia. If you recall we came through last time round with brazil, beating japan and A draw with Croatia if I do recall correctly. Only a lack of big match experiance let them down against Italy, not knowing that the dirty itais dive whenever they get near the box ( Grosso is a C NT) expect Cahill to be dangerous with good support from Lucas Neil, Schwarzer in goal, Kewel playing a cameo role and a heap of no-nonsense bruisers you'll know you've played a match.
Will meet England in the knockout. Aus 3-0 Eng. Last time they met.

They`re in a tough group and they are going to want at least draws against both Ghana and Germany two teams that will match them on the physical side. I remember the Croatia match well and Serbia like Croatia will be technically superior to Australia, but won`t be able to match the Aussies physically, saying that though Zigic is a big boy at 2.02 metres

[Laurent Quinn Proper]

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Not liking England for Terry and Cole is acceptable, they are cnuts of the highest order.

Other than that our national team isn't too bad. Even though I'm a massive United fan, if Capello plays Walcott/Lennon instead of Michael Johnson he's a clown. Johnson has been far more impressive than them two on the right of midfield.

What do people think their supported teams strongest line up is? Not the line up they think the manager will pick. I'll go with.

James

Johnson
Ferdinand
Terry
Cole

M. Johnson
Lampard
Barry/Hargreaves
Gerrard
Ashley Young

Rooney

Risky putting Hargo in there after only just coming back to fitness, but we need that type of player. Gerrard to play in the hole behind Rooney.

It's not that I hate England's national team for their players (they are World Class and individually, I don't mind them) but there are football teams you hate for no other reason than to hate, you know? England so happens to be one of them. Mexico is another. Although, I hate Mexico's much, much more.

And that's a solid line-up. Rooney's probably going to score 8 or more goals.

[wickedlk]

England's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup finals:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

Solid looking but a couple that I wouldn't have gone for. Also a bit disappointed there's no Carlton Cole and/or Zamora (deserves a shot) up top but can't win 'em all. In my opinion those staying home should be: Warnock, Upson, Dawson (assuming they are getting the Spurs physio on board for King) Huddlestone, Johnson, Parker and Bent

[Mojo]

There are a few surprises. Ive just read it on the BBC site myself. Are there really any glaring omissions? I cant think of any, at least so far. I know Hargreaves isnt in there but i dont think thats such a bad thing. He would be in there and probably starting ahead of Barry if he had been fully fit and playing regular games.

EDIT: Why leave Bent at home? Out of those strikers, id turn to him if we needed a goal before i turned to any of the others. Crouch will probably start with Rooney, i hope he doesnt go with Heskey.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

I don't think Zamora should be there. The guy is barely Premiership class let alone England class.

And if we're looking for a defensive midfielder with Barry out Hargreaves shouldn't even be considered. The guy hasn't played a game in about 2 years. It doesn't even look like he's going to be involved in the warm up games.
Carrick? The guy's been anonymous all season.

Give it to Huddlestone, he's been immense for Spurs all season & deserves it the most.

[wickedlk]

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

EDIT: Why leave Bent at home? Out of those strikers, id turn to him if we needed a goal before i turned to any of the others. Crouch will probably start with Rooney, i hope he doesnt go with Heskey.

Bent may be in form but I still wouldn't trust him to net if we needed a goal (although to be fair, I wouldn't trust the others either) I just think the others do specific jobs better i.e. Heskey/Crouch as the hold-up men and Defoe as poacher.

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

And if we're looking for a defensive midfielder with Barry out Hargreaves shouldn't even be considered. The guy hasn't played a game in about 2 years. It doesn't even look like he's going to be involved in the warm up games.
Carrick? The guy's been anonymous all season.

Give it to Huddlestone, he's been immense for Spurs all season & deserves it the most.

Agreed on Hargreaves but I think experience is key in the holding role at international level and Huddlestone doesn't have this. I think Capello will have serious reservations about his tactical discipline. I've got a feeling he won't be first choice for Spurs next season in their Champ league games.

Who knows though, I could be wrong (probably am) and that's why I'm not paid millions a year to make these decisions.

[TheCunningStunt]

Bent -> Zamora.

Other than that I think it's the strongest squad England have available. Glad to see M. Johnson in there, he should play from the night, unless he doesn't have the balls for it.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Bent has only scored 2 less goals than Rooney this season.

And I bet Rooney gets a lot better service at Man Utd than Bent does at Sunderland.

I'd take him in a heartbeat.

[Mojo]

Originally Posted by wickedlk

Bent may be in form but I still wouldn't trust him to net if we needed a goal (although to be fair, I wouldn't trust the others either) I just think the others do specific jobs better i.e. Heskey/Crouch as the hold-up men and Defoe as poacher.

I dont see Bent starting game ill admit. I see Crouch starting with Rooney but i think if we need a goal and need to turn to the bench id take Bent any day over Heskey and Defoe. Bent can hold the ball up too as well as having a bit of pace about him and being a natural poacher like Defoe.

And Bent isnt just in form, hes consistent. Only Ronaldo and Rooney have more Premier League goals than Bent over the last 5 years.