How Far Will England Go In S Africa ?

[StevieH]

carlton cole, emile heskey, jermain defoe, michael owen. england's forwards are clumsy oiks or midgets. peter crouch is still the best option for a lone england striker.

[bkkjames]

Now that England have more Man City players in the squad, than they have probably ever had before means it's our best opportunity to win it

At least those players will have a chance to win something then.

Which reminds me. Is there an Ice Hockey World Cup

I believe there are world championships BJ. Why, some of your Citizens play hockey too - what a talented team.

[mrbojangles]

Now that England have more Man City players in the squad, than they have probably ever had before means it's our best opportunity to win it

At least those players will have a chance to win something then.

Which reminds me. Is there an Ice Hockey World Cup

I believe there are world championships BJ. Why, some of your Citizens play hockey too - what a talented team.

I'm glad that you recognise that we are a talented team james. But no, that isn't why I was asking. Your man Rooney looks as though he's been beat in the face quite a lot with an Hockey stick and Puck, though

[bkkjames]

I'm glad that you recognise that we are a talented team james. But no, that isn't why I was asking. Your man Rooney looks as though he's been beat in the face quite a lot with an Hockey stick and Puck, though

With Tevez and Bellamy and Adi and Ireland gracing the forward 2/3rds of your line-up, don't think City will be nominated for EPL's Prettiest Losers anytime soon either Mr. BJ.

[MSingh]

The worse game for me regarding my experience was Poland away, we had just been to Bulagria and then travelled through to poland, as soon as we arrived we were followed from the police( I think we were the first group of fans there as it was 4 days beforethe game) Then they arrested us for no reason at all, they said it was because it was for our own protection. We were let out the folowing morning, being English we went for a brekkie and a pint, within minutes Sky Sports reporters turned up and asked us where we were from etc and What do we think of our experience of Poland so far, we all burst out laughing, the worse thing abut it, they showed it on skysports and said we were just loving poland that much...........

Bratislava was the worst for me, closely followed by Marseilles for the Tunisia Game in 98..

How people didn't get cut to ribbons i'll never know as every N African looking Gentleman had a blade out it seems that day, scary & then some, worse than Italy..

Are you going to South Africa TM ??

Im planning on it yes mate, depends on the visa for the mrs, but I can't see that being a problem with it being the world cup. It depends on where they are based also, I don't fancy JO-berg again, but ive been looking on line for tours etc and its looking like I will be going. What about you mate?

I'd like to & a few of us have been talkign about it recently..

We've all agreed that we don't really want Jo'Burg too but i'm convinced we'll be put there...

I've always wanted to do a Safari too & fancy Swimming with the Great Whites & both of those things i could do there so it does have a pull, hopefully won't have lots of grief either which is appealing as i'd probably be taking the little one who will be nearly 5..

But it all depends on the Year we have, could well be back Home sweeping Roads if it goes wrong so we'll see...

[alfieconn]

Im planning on it yes mate, depends on the visa for the mrs, but I can't see that being a problem with it being the world cup. It depends on where they are based also, I don't fancy JO-berg again, but ive been looking on line for tours etc and its looking like I will be going. What about you mate?

I remember reading somewhere that South Africa is one of the easier countries for thais to go to and your thai wife might not even need a visa.

[purplehaze]

Have just watched England versus Slovenia, and whilst not great, there were signs that with a mixture of young and old they could advance into the latter stages of the World Cup.

The last eight and with luck we could go further.

How far will England go?

Same as previous world cups,they will have won it before the first ball of the competion has been kicked,and then slag their players and manager off when they get knocked out due to the press brain washing the fans.Same same but no different.

[Travel2003]

I think we'll do well although there is an element of luck with the WC so we'll see..

We are capable fo going all the way though, the Players ARE good enough & now they actually have a Man who can organise them the right way..

John Terry lifting that WC Trophy isn't something that fills me with enthusiasm though, Beckham no problems but Terry, not for me.

As long as it is not Lampard, pointing towards heaven, tears rolling, shouting " this is for you".

I think England can go far.

One need luck to go far as well.

[mrbojangles]

I think even the biggest England basher has to admit, that was a special performance last night.

[mrtoad]

I think even the biggest England basher has to admit, that was a special performance last night.

Have to agree, that England are certainly shaping up into a much more purposeful team. When you look at it, there isn't a great deal of difference in the players that McClown had, but that is why Capello has such a good record, he get's his teams playing the way he wants, and makes them difficult to beat. I'm not going to get carried away, but at lease England look like they are going in the right direction.

[EastSaxCol]

I think even the biggest England basher has to admit, that was a special performance last night.

Have to agree, that England are certainly shaping up into a much more purposeful team. When you look at it, there isn't a great deal of difference in the players that McClown had, but that is why Capello has such a good record, he get's his teams playing the way he wants, and makes them difficult to beat. I'm not going to get carried away, but at lease England look like they are going in the right direction.

I was actually started to record last nights match as I thought that I'd prefer to watch the ODI live and the football later. But the ODI was dire both as a spectacle and from England's point of view. So I switched to watching the football match -- sound turned down -- and listening to the cricket on the radio. A slightly surreal experience as listening to England on the radio was wholly uninspiring and watching the football at least more pleasing.

Things that crossed my mind where. That Croatia were very poor, but England have struggled in the past against poor opposition. I like Heskey as a person, but again wondered what was the point of him playing ? That England have three world class players, or near world class, in Gerrard, Lennon and Lampard. I think that Johnson still is a suspect defender -- proven to be really. But most of all I couldn't help but notice the respect that Copello commands amongst the players. When they shook hand with him after the match the obvious respect on the players faces was almost tangible. That will take England a long way in the actual finals , as I don't think that England players have actually had much real respect for a manager since Terry Venables.

I didn't see that performance as being in anyway "special", but rather a competent performance against a disappointing team. Albeit with some very good passages of play. Interesting from one point of view that three of England's goals were traditional English football affairs, i.e. scored from headers.

[mrbojangles]

I didn't see that performance as being in anyway "special",

Next time try watching and listening to it and not being distracted by cricket, that way you will be focused on one thing. If you'd have done that last night, you would have witnessed something special.

It always amazes me how septics prefer to call the opposition team poor, instead of applauding the way the winning team played so good that it MADE the losers look poor.

[mrbojangles]

P.S. Only Spain and the Netherlands have won the same as us. Not bad company to be in.

Played 8, won 8. Some people are never satisfied.

[EastSaxCol]

Next time try watching and listening to it and not being distracted by cricket, that way you will be focused on one thing. If you'd have done that last night, you would have witnessed something special.

Rubbish ! I've become quite adept at listening to one thing and watching another. Especially since acquiring a cricket radio hat which meant being able to go to one match whilst listening to the Ashes at the same time. A big plus here ... by having the sound turned down for football one can make an objective appraisal without being influenced by the commentators. You should try it some time, mr bj.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I do have an attention span that can differentiate and absorb two things at the same time.

It always amazes me how septics prefer to call the opposition team poor, instead of applauding the way the winning team played so good that it MADE the losers look poor.

"Septics" ? I'm a true-blooded first-worlder I'll have you know.

Anyway, any objective view of Croatia performance last night cannot but deny that they were a poor side. I'm left wondering if you actually watched the match ? If you did watch it , then ... ???

[mommysboy]

The biggest danger for England is the hyperbole that seems to accompany the national team.

That being said, there is now a tangible sense that this is a team that is and will continue to do well, and perhaps has our best chance for years in actually winning something. In fact re-reading this I think I am not doing them due justice, it's a real team at last. And for England, that's the way it should be!

England have strength and depth in squad, eg, look at the attacking options.

We don't have a Banks or Shilton, but Green has improved leaps and bounds IMHO.

Possibly Johnson is a little suspect at times, I'm not sure it's wholly his problem though.

As one of the internet newspapers put it 'what a difference a good manager makes'.

There's 5 or 6 other very good teams, and we were quite easily subdued by Spain recently, but England still have room for improvement whereas Spain are at the top of their game already. Then there's Brazil, Germany, Holland and no doubt a couple of surprise teams, so lets not get carried away, but grounds for real belief nevertheless.

[cyb]

I am not a football fan by any means, although i did watch that game and thought england and croatia played very well.

But England were by far the better team.

[MSingh]

I am not a football fan by any means, although i did watch that game and thought england and croatia played very well.

But England were by far the better team.

I bet you can sing " Superstisious ", " Happy Birthday " & " Master Blaster " really well though can't you & have a Labrador ??

[Jimjim]

I think they'll make it to the semi-finals.

[mrbojangles]

Next time try watching and listening to it and not being distracted by cricket, that way you will be focused on one thing. If you'd have done that last night, you would have witnessed something special.

Rubbish ! I've become quite adept at listening to one thing and watching another. Especially since acquiring a cricket radio hat which meant being able to go to one match whilst listening to the Ashes at the same time. A big plus here ... by having the sound turned down for football one can make an objective appraisal without being influenced by the commentators. You should try it some time, mr bj.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I do have an attention span that can differentiate and absorb two things at the same time.

No chance. It's a scientific fact that men can't do 2 things at once

I wasn't saying to be influenced by commentators. You can turn the sound down on the football match if you like but if you listen to cricket whilst watching the footy you will be distracted.

It always amazes me how septics prefer to call the opposition team poor, instead of applauding the way the winning team played so good that it MADE the losers look poor.

Anyway, any objective view of Croatia performance last night cannot but deny that they were a poor side. I'm left wondering if you actually watched the match ? If you did watch it , then ... ???

Yes I did watch it HH. And the reason that Croatia were so poor is because England made them look poor. All I'm saying is, give England the credit for playing brilliantly, instead of saying we won cos Croatia were poor.

[EastSaxCol]

I wasn't saying to be influenced by commentators. You can turn the sound down on the football match if you like but if you listen to cricket whilst watching the footy you will be distracted.

As I've previously stressed, that is not the case. It only becomes bizarre when watching and listening to the same form of game. For instance when a shot is struck in the game that you're watching occurs at the same time as the one that you're listening to. As has happened , you see an off cut when the radio commentary says a cover drive. If you can successfully negotiate that form of surrealism -- then differentiating between the mentally, less taxing football and multi-dimensional cricket takes no great effort at all.

Yes I did watch it HH. And the reason that Croatia were so poor is because England made them look poor. All I'm saying is, give England the credit for playing brilliantly, instead of saying we won cos Croatia were poor.

Then you ought to have watched the game by first removing the Three Lions embossed lenses. If you can provide me with any report on the game that suggests that Croatia played anything than badly, then I'd be very surprised. Conversely, it will take little effort to provide such that says that they played disappointingly. So there's the challenge for you.

[Geekfreaklover]

England lack a prolific goal scoring forward at the moment. That is what I can see being the problem. Who would you play up front, I guess I would field Rooney, Defoe with Crouch on the bench to mix things up.

[jasreeve17]

The current England team look like the West Ham under 15's of a decade (or so) ago.

If they could've stayed together West Ham might be the current Champions League Champions...

[mrbojangles]

by having the sound turned down for football one can make an objective appraisal without being influenced by the commentators

First you talk about me being influenced by commentators.

If you can provide me with any report on the game that suggests that Croatia played anything than badly, then I'd be very surprised. Conversely, it will take little effort to provide such that says that they played disappointingly. So there's the challenge for you.

Then you want me to find a match report by guys in the same proffession

Ok, I'm not gonna look for bias views from reporters etc who's job it is to report on games. So how about this from skysports from the Croatia manager, he knows what he's talking about.

Bilic - England can win it

Croatia boss full of praise for Three Lions

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic insists England can win the World Cup, after seeing his side torn apart by Fabio Capello's men.

The Three Lions booked their place in South Africa next summer with a crushing 5-1 win over the Croats at Wembley on Wednesday.

Bilic was almost lost for words after seeing his men taken apart by England, and he admits they were almost helpless to stop them.

"We didn't expect such a crushing defeat," said the former West Ham defender.

"Not in our worst nightmares were we expecting this. It was not a normal defeat. It was humiliation. They played fantastically from the start.

"Even before the first goal, they looked the sharper, more aggressive side. Simply the better side.

"We were very happy at half-time that it was only 2-0 because, without our goalkeeper, it could have been five. Our goalkeeper was brilliant. But, in the end, they destroyed us."

And he confirmed his belief that England could become champions of the world for the first time in nearly half-a-century.

"They can definitely win the World Cup. Definitely," he continued.

"It's not easy to play every game like that, but they did not misplace a pass in the first half-hour. All their passes were dangerous, one-twos ... perfect.

"If they play like that, then of course they can win it."

So, he's saying if we play like that, we can win it. He wouldn't have said that if he thought we were just OK and it was Croatia who were cr4p

What about Roy Hodgso's view "Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has hailed England's qualification for the World Cup as an 'excellent performance'. " http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12098_5550798,00.html

I'm not gonna waste time on searching and posting all day but I can't find anything that says England won because Croatia were poor.

[EastSaxCol]

mr bj, it's one thing to big England up. But none of what you posted above contradicts the generally held opinion that Croatia were <deleted>.

For instance:

"This was a Croatia side that has declined since denying England a berth at Euro 2008 and they were also lacking important contributors such as the injured Luka Modric. Even so, Capello's team preyed on the vulnerability as few of their predecessors could have done." The Guardian

Which is more or less what I originally inferred.

[mrbojangles]

mr bj, it's one thing to big England up. But none of what you posted above contradicts the generally held opinion that Croatia were <deleted>.

For instance:

"This was a Croatia side that has declined since denying England a berth at Euro 2008 and they were also lacking important contributors such as the injured Luka Modric. Even so, Capello's team preyed on the vulnerability as few of their predecessors could have done." The Guardian

Which is more or less what I originally inferred.

That's one view from one paper and they are allowed their view as much as anyone. We're not going to agree on this one HH, so you remain "glass half empty" and i'll carry on "glass half full". It must be being a City fan that has done that to me

[mrbojangles]

BTW, the headline for that Guardian article was "Brilliant England swat Croatia aside to seal World Cup passage"

[7by7]

Anyway, any objective view of Croatia performance last night cannot but deny that they were a poor side. I'm left wondering if you actually watched the match ? If you did watch it , then ... ???

I was watching the cricket, so only saw bits of the game when flicking over during overs/wickets. Therefore I did not see enough to say whether Croatia played poorly or not.

However, even if they did have an off night, remember that they are not mugs! The current FIFA rankings place them ninth in the world.

[EastSaxCol]

I was watching the cricket, so only saw bits of the game when flicking over during overs/wickets. Therefore I did not see enough to say whether Croatia played poorly or not.

However, even if they did have an off night, remember that they are not mugs!

Mugs ? Probably not. But neither are they half the team that unceremoniously disposed of a confused England last time around.

As for those world rankings. I wouldn't put a lot of store by them if I were you. They don't reflect anything nearing a useful gauge of actual team status. Outside the World Cup Finals most teams dont play each other in any meaningful matches.

For instance. Australia's is artificially high because they had a good qualifying series and were unbeaten playing the likes of Japan , etc. If they had been playing European and South American teams as well, their placing may have reflected a truer indication of their true position.

You really cannot compare those rankings with the comparative accuracy of cricket world standings -- if that is what you had in mind.

[EastSaxCol]

BTW, the headline for that Guardian article was Brilliant England swat Croatia aside to seal World Cup passage"[/b]

Blimey, mr bj. You don't half labour a pint. Sensationalist press adjectives aside. I had already said that England played efficiently and very well in passages of play.

I don't have my glass half full, or half empty. I just watch hoping to see good football whoever is playing. If I think credit due, then I have no hesitation in saying that. Even more so against a team more impressive than Croatia were.

[mrbojangles]

BTW, the headline for that Guardian article was Brilliant England swat Croatia aside to seal World Cup passage"[/b]

Blimey, mr bj. You don't half labour a pint. Sensationalist press adjectives aside.

But it was your link to an article. And that article agreed with me, that England were brilliant