Official World Cup 2014 Qualifying Thread (Blame It On RIO)

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Lamps, Gerrard, Scholes, Becks were all world class

World class at the club level, sure. But in international play, the last time England advanced past the quarters was 1990.

[d_phaneuf]

small sample size and poor coaching play a large part in that

before 2008 Spain had made it out of the QF of the WC/Euro's once since 1964

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by darklord700

World class at the club level, sure. But in international play, the last time England advanced past the quarters was 1990.

Plenty of world class players don't see much international success.

[browna]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Not sure I would equate Scholes with Gazza. But that's a good pick.

I wasn't a big England fan because of Gazza and the biased (the only feed we got was the British one on TSN) commentators in 1990 thinking England was a shoe-in to win it all as each game went on.

Was Gazza that good? Don't get me wrong, I think he was a decent midfielder, but nothing that any England team hasn't had since in some form.

My dad would get me "Shoot" from the newspaper store downtown every month, and it was Gazza this and Gazza that. IMO, he was more popular because he was a man of the people, rough around the edges, liked his booze, wore his emotions on his sleeve and had a good relationship with the press, always being good for a quote.

But for overall footballing skill, he's not head and shoulders above any midfielders listed since by any means, he just had a personality moreso than most.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by browna

But for overall footballing skill, he's not head and shoulders above any midfielders listed since by any means, he just had a personality moreso than most.

I think you are right. It's hard to say any athletes from 20 years ago were better than today's corp.

[GirlySports]

I liked Chris Waddle more than Gazza in those days.

[Locke]

Oh thank God, I was worried for a while there...

Sepp Blatter has hinted that he will stand to extend his FIFA presidency in 2015.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/16...retire?cc=5901

[Locke]

Colombia take a huge hit.

Colombia striker Radamel Falcao will have surgery "in the next few days" to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, AS Monaco confirmed Thursday.

"Following Wednesday's injury, Radamel Falcao made a diagnostic examination. It appears that the player is suffering from trauma in the left knee with lesion of ligament anterior cruciate," AS Monaco said in a statement Thursday.

"The player will have surgery in next few days. Doctors will do everything possible to speed up recovery."

The impending surgery puts Falcao's participation in the World Cup in doubt.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/16...-doubt?cc=5901

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

Colombia take a huge hit.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/16...-doubt?cc=5901

Something always goes wrong with Colombia in major tournaments.
I'm biased but I think Japan wins that group.

The match between Japan and Cote D'Ivoire on the first Saturday night (10pm) will be key, especially if Greece take points away from Colombia earlier in the day.

[GirlySports]

protests

[GirlySports]

Looks like 4 games are being relocated (Iran v Nigeria, Honduras v Ecuador, Australia v Spain, and Algeria v Russia). Wonder if Curitiba will even finish the stadium or just let it fall incomplete to pieces.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/17195 ... es?cc=5901

[Bill Bumface]

^The article you linked says all games are staying in Curitiba...

[GirlySports]

ah they must have fixed it.. so the games are staying there afterall.

[Lego Man]

http://imgur.com/a/5ZfCR

Bid for 2026 World Cup... seems legit!

[d_phaneuf]

umm how about we not give 400m to montreal and cut the price in half?

[cam_wmh]

My English 23, today:

Goalkeepers
Hart, Foster, Forster

Wing Backs
Baines, Shaw, Johnson, Jones

Centre Backs
Jagielka, Cahill, Caulker, Smalling

Centre Midfielders
Gerrard (C), Henderson, Lallana, Wilshere

Wingers
Sterling, Oxlaid-Chamberlain, Townsend, Milner

Strikers
Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Rodrigues

[The Big Chill]

Looks like a pretty good 23. Now the big question is if The Hodge will go with Rooney as the #10, or use a 3 man midfield and have one of Rooney or Sturridge start out wide. Personally I prefer the strength of three in midfield.

------------Hart-----------
Johnson-Cahill-Jagielka-Baines
-----------Gerrard------
---Henderson--Wilshere---
Sterling---Sturridge---Rooney

[rubecube]

Does Townsend still merit selection? He's been pretty mediocre this year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Does Townsend still merit selection? He's been pretty mediocre this year.

Theres an England joke in there somewhere but I just cant find it...

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Does Townsend still merit selection? He's been pretty mediocre this year.

Who else is there for wingers?
Young? no.
Walcott? if he'd stop getting himself injured all the time...


I do think Young, Lampard, & Carrick will be in the early 30 man squad though.