FIFA World Cup 2014

Jason,

I didn't see it being as bad as that.  Certainly less flair than against Italy but I didn't see a lack of desire and passion.  I am not as emotionally invested as you though so I'm sure it feels pretty bad right now.  that sounded somewhat condescending but I didn't mean it that way.

Jim

PS.  I work for a German company and now I am supporting ABG!

I want to know what brand of embalming fluid Glenn Johnson drinks at half time! We need to spare a thought for all those hapless English citizens currently living abroad who will be at the mercy of John E. Forana and his chums... oh dear!

In the premiership Baines plays alongside some very skilful players, capable of scything though the opposition with quick one touch football. Today he was playing alongside Wellbeck, who seemed intent on giving him what in England we call a hospital pass.

This. We haven't had a player approaching world class since Paul Gascoigne.

The UK media pumps them up as billy big bollox celebs but on the world stage, they're nothing at all. All huff and puff. Workmanlike.

I don't blame the players entirely, we don't invest in football properly as a nation. It is just about milking fans as cash cows. Big business. Look at the amateur football set-up, facilities and scene in countries like Germany and weep.

Of the lads that started, Sterling and Sturridge have a future. Of the subs, Lallana and Barkley. The rest can be replaced.

Will be replaced ...

Playing Gerrard and Henderson, plus the other Liverpool players seemed a good idea considering the successful season they had, however the question must be asked. What position would Liverpool have finished in the premiership without Saurez.

Ok Marky,

Keep Sterling and Sturridge in your team and name a better team than the one that started tonight.

Jim

I didn't really  

I think we'll win it in Russia.

There's no substitute for unbridled optimism 

Jim

Must we keep Sturridge in - I think that I was right at the weekend

Chris,

Personally I wouldn't but Marky said he wanted to keep Sterling and Sturridge and bin the rest, so I'm interested to see his team.

Jim

You have completely missed the point and misquoted me. Suggest reading it again.

I said we have no world class players but I felt four players had a future. The rest are gapfillers. They can be replaced going forward as an when others come through. They are nothing special. I stand by that.

We were talking about the dearth of real talent in the team. There was no better team avaialble than the one tonight. That was and is the point.

Sorry I misquoted you Marky, 

I must have misread this as I didn't see the part about "..going forward.." in your first post.

The rest can be replaced.

Cheers

Jim

BTW, I agree that there are some gap fillers.

Jason

I mainly agree - but England scored two goals from open play - which is more than Spain did.

We knew before the tournament that England would struggle to get out of the group - and so it proved.  Sterling is a real talent if used properly but he is also a vulnerability at the moment.

Ross Barkley will be a megastar - I hope that he moves to United sooner rather than later.

Suarez - as much as I dislike him - is a class player.  He will do well in Madrid next season 

I think you make some very good points above, Jason, and I think that England's problem is not just a lack of players of the Messi or Suarez class, but one of will.

One of the reason I am loving Chile and want them to go all the way is not just their speed, intelligence and technical ability but also their all-out attacking mentality, their work rate and commitment. They never give up, and they have a swashbuckling spirit which means that they're not scared of anyone (indeed, I imagine that nobody wants to face them now that we're seeing what they are capable of). Those guys are playing so tightly as a team, and England could learn a lot from them - some of Chile's players come from relegated or Championship teams. But they would all die for the cause.

Their fans seem just as committed - just google video clips of  "chile fans celebrating in Santiago" and you'll see what I mean.

Still, England have some good young players, and with an injection of Chilean spice, I think they should do much better next time.

I think it is your latter point - the technical abilities. We don't support and invest in amateur / youth football properly. As mentioned before, in visits to Germany I have found that the facilities completely embarrass our own. You find stuff at an amateur level which you would only find in a pro club here.

We have fostered a vampire squid biggest-wallet-wins-the-title approach where any talent is hoovered up by big clubs and often then sits festering in the reserves at best. Teams like Liverpool and Arsenal try to buck this trend. The players and their agents are also an issue. Get me a 5 year contract on £50k+ per week and I'll sit in those reserves, make the tea or whatever. Deckchair out, celebrity press fawning on their every move.

Looking at the Uruguay team, the big club players I know of are one from Liverpool, a couple from Atletico (not yet fully accepted as one of the European elite though) and one from PSG. The others probably play in South American leagues where they actually get to play and earn more moderate amounts. Probably working extra hard in the hope of getting snapped up for the big Premier League payday.

Yes he was - and played well at times but is inherently greedy - which is not necessarily a bad thing - but is not a team player imho.

I said a couple of days ago that I would put Sturridge on the bench as a potential impact substitute - like in his Chelski days.

I think that he would have done a great job if he had come on after 60 minutes - but it's all speculative nonsense now.

I know a lot of teams (including my own) are now not going on to the next round, but does anyone else think this is turning out to be an extraordinary World Cup? Maybe the best since Mexico 70. Loads of goals, lots of upsets, some wonderful football...

It is excellent indeed. So much better than some of the cups which have been dominated by dour, negative play. Is it because playing in Brazil means something special to all involved? Once in a lifetime etc.

Perhaps being romantic but I think when you play for one of the big European footballing nations and see these Brazilian fans, the hard lives they lead and for many no chance of affording a ticket so TV only, perhaps you feel an obligation to entertain in the way they expect. To respect their tradition. To play the beautiful game.

Like you, I hope to see an underdog make it. Chile, Mexico, Croatia...or even Uruguay.

1970 was the best - FULL STOP

Really Chris?  I watched most of Liverpool's games last season, and have to disagree. And it is hard to argue with numbers...

In addition to his EPL leading 31 goals, Suarez is a very strong passer, and finished with 13 assists, second only to Gerrard's 14.  Not exactly what I would call "greedy".  Still, if I were Rogers, I would give Suarez only one instruction:  create opportunities for yourself (first) and your teammates (second). There is nobody better at doing both, hence Sturridge's 21 goals and Sterling's 12 goals.

Fortunately for Uruguay, Suarez was fit for today's game versus England.  He was obviously the difference maker, and it's also impressive how quickly he healed from knee surgery only a month ago.  It makes me wonder what would have happened had he been ready for Costa Rica.

Hook

There have been a lot of great World Cups, but so far, for me, this one has been as entertaining as any!  For the most part, the play has been dynamic, and there has been a lot of goals. It's long been my favorite sporting event. Nothing else, not even the Olympics, generates this level of passion world wide. I only wish that I was already retired, and could watch all the games, every day!

Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico....right now, I have to say that this year's winner has an excellent chance of coming from the Americas.  I still like my prediction of Mexico for the long shot, and Brazil as my hedge. Am already looking forward to the next round -- I can't wait to see Germany play one of these teams!

ATB.

Hook

Ho hum

We were weak, nervous it seemed and they had a top finisher. It felt to me like we had some decent players but are some way from being a team. Sturridge impressed me, Cahill put in a great shift, Henderson good when allowed to be more positive but I could line up a few for the chop. It pains me to says so but for me Gerard would have gone off for Wilshere at half-time, and Sterling looked pretty callow this time. Johnson all the more annoying for just once putting in some effort and creating the goal. Baines world class? Not sure.

But...

Before we all get the knives out can we just remember that we have no right to beat these teams. This is the World Cup; it is meant to be tough (and it is a tough group). In all fairness do we think any other particular combination of players and team organisation would really be that different? I don't think so. We are not good enough, we had a go (and seemed thoroughly well prepared) and we lost. We've seen some young talent begin to get their wings and, amazingly, some of those appear more technically proficient than we have done for years. Leave the team to grow, we might be good to watch come the Euros.

Now onward Chile!

Bruce