World Cup 2006

[reed]

The French Team is "too old," badly managed, not unified at all and deserve to be eliminated. This isn't my point of view, this is what I hear (with few exceptions) in the cafés in Paris. Yikes!
They need two points over Togo, but "I wouldn't put my money on it."
Henry can't do it alone is the feeling I get.
And even if they pass...they're going to confront Spain. Double yikes!
Dommage.

[Ferdinand]

SPAIN ROX!!!!

They'll win hopefully...

[bbloke]

Ooooh, I saw the highlights of the game between Togo and Switzerland. It was a much closer run thing than I expected! Togo also weren't given a penalty for a clear foul. A few heart-stopping moments, fryke?

Glad to hear you're supporting England, rhisiart. Some people from Scotland and Wales that I know would never support England. That sometimes irked me, as it seemed unnecessarily hostile; for instance, I'd support other British teams in a competition, not just England, although I'd focus on England most of all.

Spain certainly seem to be doing very well. I've always had this perception that Spain were like England: they seemed to have the ability on paper, but don't manage to do as well as they could when it comes to the tournaments. I never knew why.

Ecuador and Argentina are supposed to look quite formidable too, although I haven't watched them play yet.

So, today we have:

Ecuador vs. Germany

Costa Rica vs. Poland

Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago

Sweden vs. England

[fryke]

Hm. Yeah, a few heart-stopping moments, but Switzerland was definitely the better team, and being one goal ahead, it was easier to live through the match. ... I'm not exactly sure I'm going to watch today's Germany game. That group's too clear already. England is interesting, though. They didn't exactly "wow" me so far. Spain, btw., had a *very* hard time yesterday. Until minute 71, that is.

[Rhisiart]

Originally Posted by bbloke

Glad to hear you're supporting England, rhisiart. Some people from Scotland and Wales that I know would never support England. That sometimes irked me, as it seemed unnecessarily hostile; for instance, I'd support other British teams in a competition, not just England, although I'd focus on England most of all.

The only thing about England I dislike is the press.

[lilbandit]

The English media have a terrible habit of destroying managers, players and hyping a group of players to unreal expectations. I would take Spain ahead of England on a given day. They can hold onto and pass the ball far better than the current English team. Watching a Premiership game and a La Liga game is a real eye opener. Sky Sports and the English media would have you believe that the Premiership is a standard bearer for football and therefore the best players in the Premiership must be capable of winning the world cup, at the moment this is simply not true. There are some quality players in the English squad but they currently lack a real playmaker in and around midfield. I suppose I just get tired of hearing about '66 and the same media merry-go-round every four years! Their most successful run since '66 was in 1990 (semi-finals)

[bbloke]

Originally Posted by lilbandit

The English media have a terrible habit of destroying managers, players

Yup, alas...

and hyping a group of players to unreal expectations.

Possibly.

I would take Spain ahead of England on a given day. They can hold onto and pass the ball far better than the current English team. Watching a Premiership game and a La Liga game is a real eye opener. Sky Sports and the English media would have you believe that the Premiership is a standard bearer for football and therefore the best players in the Premiership must be capable of winning the world cup, at the moment this is simply not true. There are some quality players in the English squad but they currently lack a real playmaker in and around midfield. I suppose I just get tired of hearing about '66 and the same media merry-go-round every four years! Their most successful run since '66 was in 1990 (semi-finals)

Awww, this is a little harsh. I take your point to some degree. I think there is too much hype right now and I don't see England winning the World Cup, much as I'd like them to.

I do think there are some really good players in the squad, there's a lot of young talent which will put us in good stead for the future. I genuinely think there are issues about getting the England team to gel and work together. I've felt for years that the players often don't perform as well as they do for their clubs. This isn't about not being able to when up against better opposition; they just seem to start making silly, uncharacteristic mistakes. I don't know if it is the pressure, confusion about roles, lack of understanding between players, or what it is.

I also think there is a great difference in styles between Continental and English and Scottish leagues. The UK leagues tend to be faster and more physical. This can, in my view, mean UK players keep getting penalized for things we'd not normally consider a foul. Although UK players do it too, I also feel there is more "diving" and "acting" with Continental teams (I'm not saying English teams don't do it at all!). English teams probably prefer speed and a physical game, and Continental teams seem more likely to take the passing route. I'm not saying one method is miles better than another, just the goal posts are shifted when it comes to the nature of the game and what players are used to. Perhaps I'm simplifying too much.

I'm no expert, I'll admit. However, when I've watched Italian and Spanish league games, I've not been that impressed, though. Spain and Italy do possess some excellent players and some big, big clubs with huge reputations, I'm not denying that. It's just the style of play is not for me.

I had a look for a bit of history:

UEFA Cup stats:
Nation ... Winners ... Runners-up
England ... 10 ... 8
Italy ... 10 ... 8
Spain ... 10 ... 6
Germany ... 6 ... 7
Netherlands ... 4 ... 2


UEFA Cup Winner's Cup stats:
Nation ... Winners ... Runners-up
England ... 8 ... 5
Spain ... 7 ... 7
Italy ... 7 ... 4
Germany ... 5 ... 4
Belgium ... 3 ... 4


European Cup and Champions League stats:
Nation ... Winners ... Runners-up
Spain ... 11 ... 9
Italy ... 10 ... 14
England ... 10 ... 3
Germany ... 6 ... 7
Netherlands ... 6 ... 2

So I wouldn't say England and English clubs are massively over-hyped and that we take a backseat to other European nations. I don't think England are Brazil right now, but I think they have a chance if they play to their potential... which they are not doing. A few foreign observers (coaches, ex-players, etc.) too have actually tipped England to be one of the potential winners, it's not just propaganda in the English press.

[fryke]

I'd say _any_ team reaching the next round has their chance. I don't really see any _bad_ teams, and even Brazil, England, Argentina and Germany have their bad days. What good are all those tables if a team wins which wasn't expected to win. The tables change.

I just want to add that watching Sweden vs. England, I _am_ now "wowed". That goal was very nice indeed. And certainly a little hard to swallow for Sweden's goalie.