World Cup Draw

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

Fair or not, I think it is the best way. When you think about it, we've just had the qualifying campaigns played on a confederation level. It would be silly to have the groups made up of teams all from one confederation. If the 4 South American teams were all in the same group, you would expect Brazil and Argentina to go through. It is not just quality but the fact that they have had the chance to get to know their opposition.

Now that Australia have finally made it again, they will be fairly unknown and it will be that little bit harder for their opposition.

 

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

Do you think England might be disadvantaged a bit by having so many non-English players in Premier League? ie. not having many places for local players because of all the imports? Or am I overestimating the number of imports?

No, I don't think you are overestimating the number of imports, just underestimating the number of English players in the EPL. And other leagues for that matter - Beckham and Woodgate play for the Galacticos and I reckon Woodgate should be a national sqaud man. He would be for most countries I think

 

[Jackal Dog]

Not too hard a group IMO Croatia are has-beens, Japan won't be as tough as 02' when they had homesoil advantage and if we keep Brazil from running riot too much... we should make it to the 2nd round where Italy would most likely wait.....

 

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

Not too hard a group IMO Croatia are has-beens, Japan won't be as tough as 02' when they had homesoil advantage and if we keep Brazil from running riot too much... we should make it to the 2nd round where Italy would most likely wait.....

Looks like a pretty accurate assessment of the situation. I just hope that you are right. Not really sure that Croatia or japan will be a shadow of their last campaign but I guess only time will tell - 6 months to hit the mark.

 

[RLdan]

RL Dan...don't be so sure...Sweden and Paraguay can knock you off, your not exactly a powerhouse any more.

what do you mean not a powerhouse anymore, we have got one of the strongest sides for years and we are seeded second.

you could scrape a win versus japan but i think both croatia and brazil will be too strong for you.

 

[Matt23]

We'll lift for Croatia, a few of our players are of Croatian descent, and they've got 3 Australian born players in their squad, it'll be interesting thats for sure.

 

[Citizen.Eras3d]

I think this is a pretty good draw for us... we can beat all of the teams except Brazil obviously. I'm remaining optimistic, though I would've loved to have had the Americans in our group.

 

[Follow Me Up To Carlton]

RL Dan...don't be so sure...Sweden and Paraguay can knock you off, your not exactly a powerhouse any more.

They never where a power house.

The one World Cup that they did win was against a country that dosent even exist anymore, nuff said.

 

[Tommy Smith]

They never where a power house.

The one World Cup that they did win was against a country that dosent even exist anymore, nuff said.

That country that doesnt even exist anymore was West Germany, a 3-time WC winner you halfwit. Honestly people, some of you should just stick to rugby league because your knowledge of football doesnt seem to extend beyond knowing the shape of the ball.

England have always been a traditonal powerhouse. Doesnt mean we win it all the time, but we've only missed one WC since 1950 and are generally always amongst the contenders.

 

[Follow Me Up To Carlton]

That country that doesnt even exist anymore was West Germany, a 3-time WC winner you halfwit.

Touche.

England won the WC at home against a country that no longer exists.

Honestly people, some of you should just stick to rugby league because your knowledge of football doesnt seem to extend beyond knowing the shape of the ball.

Oh yes Sir Mr Englishman.

England have always been a traditonal powerhouse. Doesnt mean we win it all the time, but we've only missed one WC since 1950 and are generally always amongst the contenders.

If they are a powerhouse that are always amoungst the contenders then why have they not made the final apart from 66? Why have they not even finished in third place in any of the 12 World Cups? How many European Cups have they won? None. How many European Cup Finals have they played in? None.

 

[anjado]

Some people here are so stupid
England are easily a powerhouse
any team with the likes of
Gerrard,Lampard,Rooney,Beckham,Terry,Carragher and Qwen
even Ferdinand and Campbell and Cole have proven themselves to be world class
should be considered a powerhouse
and they will easily make it out of there group
the only people who dont think they will are to biased about anything English anyway

 

[Follow Me Up To Carlton]

Gerrard,Lampard,Rooney,Beckham,Terry,Carragher and Qwen
even Ferdinand and Campbell and Cole have proven themselves to be world class

A team of champions, but not a champion team. Unlike those mighty West Germans of yester year.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

only england could have thrown the game away against brazil in 2002, brazil go to 10 men and they keep the same tactics and dont go for a goal even when behind lol, england lost to northern ireland lol, smashed by denmark and only just beat the argies, hardly settin the world on fire, rooney will be lucky to last 30 mins in the tourn befor being sent off, beckham is so f**king overrated its not funny, lampard and gerrard will have to carry that team, and a long LONG seasn for them will ensure fatigue and england eliminated in the round of 16

 

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

only england could have thrown the game away against brazil in 2002, brazil go to 10 men and they keep the same tactics and dont go for a goal even when behind lol, england lost to northern ireland lol, smashed by denmark and only just beat the argies, hardly settin the world on fire, rooney will be lucky to last 30 mins in the tourn befor being sent off, beckham is so f**king overrated its not funny, lampard and gerrard will have to carry that team, and a long LONG seasn for them will ensure fatigue and england eliminated in the round of 16

You are being a bit harsh, especially about the last 16 to which I think they will make it comfortably.



I think the use of powerhouse is very subjective. I think it should be agreed on first before arguing whether or not they really are a powerhouse.8-[

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

i know they wil make it comfortably, but i think they might get pipped there, especially if they get germany with ah ome crowd advantage, but def no further than quarters for mine,theyre a very overrated side, tommy wont be happy but its fact, england should have won against brazil in 02, too much trumpet blowing, ferdinand is very VERY overrated, john terry is one i left out who will carry the team, woodgate doesnt know which net he should score in, theyre no way a powerhouse!!! but nuff of england, i cant wait for argies v dutch - memories of the spite in 98 should make a great spectacle

 

[RLdan]

They never where a power house.

The one World Cup that they did win was against a country that dosent even exist anymore, nuff said.

and thats from a fan who's team has only ever qualified once for the tournament:roll:

 

[Moffo]

Some people here are so stupid
England are easily a powerhouse
any team with the likes of
Gerrard,Lampard,Rooney,Beckham,Terry,Carragher and Qwen
even Ferdinand and Campbell and Cole have proven themselves to be world class
should be considered a powerhouse
and they will easily make it out of there group
the only people who dont think they will are to biased about anything English anyway

you're joking. I could name a million teams in history that have been full of good players but sh*t on the park when they played together

Beckham is the biggest piker on the international arena that i have ever seen!

 

[Tommy Smith]

only england could have thrown the game away against brazil in 2002, brazil go to 10 men and they keep the same tactics and dont go for a goal even when behind lol, england lost to northern ireland lol, smashed by denmark and only just beat the argies, hardly settin the world on fire, rooney will be lucky to last 30 mins in the tourn befor being sent off, beckham is so f**king overrated its not funny, lampard and gerrard will have to carry that team, and a long LONG seasn for them will ensure fatigue and england eliminated in the round of 16

I suppose we should have flogged them because they're such a crap team

Apart from the farce against Nortthern ireland, England didnt lose a match in the Qualifying Group. We topped the WC qualifying group before that including Germany and the one before that including Italy. We topped the European Qualifying group including Turkey who before that finsihed 3rd at the WC. England made the Semis of Euro 96, the Quarters in the last WC and quarters of last years Euro Championships.

Sure we havent made a final despite all those good performances, but winning a WC/Euro Champs is extremely hard to do. But the bottom line is that England are a powershouse. Brazil are clearly the best but behind them are a group including Italy, Germany, Argentina, France, England, Holland and maybe a couple of others. Theres 200 odd football nations, England are in the top 6/7 and have been for years. I'd say then that they're a powerhouse.

 

[Moffo]

tommy, no doubt they are in the top 10 teams. But for mine they pike too often to be called genuine heavyweights.

Too many of them go missing in big games for mine

 

[Munky]

Lets not forget that Billy Bowden's Russian father was linesmen in the 66 final... (just kidding)

England don't have a holding midfielder, Gerrard and Lampard play crap together as they are both attacking players.