Official 2014 Brazil World Cup thread

[SuperMatt18]

Rooney was actually quite good in the first half IMO, poor in the second half.

In the first he was creating chances, dropping back to help out, and was disrupting The deep lying Italian mids.

Very poor on the second half though, as was most of England their fitness just wasn't up to the task.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Samuelsson

Gotta be honest, I didn't expect England to play as well as they did. That's not to say I think that's the best England can play; under another manager, we'd have beaten Italy quite comfortably.
Hodgson's insistence on playing out-of-form players out-of-position is becoming more and more obvious, and more importantly, flawed. Rooney was appalling, and has to be benched for the next game. He should've been benched vs Italy, but it was inevitable that he wasn't. So many people saying "yeah, but you've gotta play him because of the name, and on the hope that he does something spectacular".

At least that thought's in absolutely nobody's mind now.

Welbeck didn't have an awful game; played better than I thought he would. But he's not good enough, and as soon as Oxlade-Chamberlain's fit, then he'll be out of the team.
Next game;
Sturridge
Sterling - Barkley - Ox-Chamberlain
Henderson - Gerrard

Rooney was playing out of position for most of the game. Ask Fergie how it went with him playing on the right & left wings -- victim of his own versatility. Watching him again, his backtracking was subpar on the wing.

I like your line-up ideas above, except I'd like to give Rooney the opportunity up top. Bit concerned with Ox fitness, which is why I'd like to give Lallana the wing on Thursday, and if it isn't working -- give Ox the Tuesday start.

After Wilshere's poor display, let Lamps give it a shot in the last 20.

[cam_wmh]

Agree with Bagor --- the worst Englishman yesterday was Cahill, before & during the match.

I'd love to see Roy have the stones to try Stones or Jones.

[GirlySports]

here is a full analysis of the penalty decision in the first game.

http://footballrefereeing.blogspot.c...l#.U53N2Xa-3kc

The alleged holding offense by Lovren, who indeed slightly touched Fred, who then clearly slipped and simulated a foul, could have been optimally solved if the referee had a sidewise insight into this duel. If he had been positioned as required by the normal diagonal movement, he would have had a better, bigger angle of vision (maybe even 90°) instead of maximum 10° or 20° being positioned in the "diagonal channel", having a view "from the front" onto a situation which required a lateral perception. Nishimura must have seen the contact at the shoulder, but as we know a contact is not enough for a foul. The assessment whether there was a clear holding offense which caused Fred's descend demanded a sideways insight, which Nishimura unfortunately did not have.

[scottish_flame]

Originally Posted by Ark2

The arrogance of English supporters never ceases to amaze me. England hasn't won anything in nearly 50 years, yet every competition, their fans act like it's their tournament to lose. England will be lucky to win a game in this group, so forget about beating ANYONE comfortably.

That's why I want them to fail at football so much. I love it when they get knocked down a peg

[cam_wmh]

French coach complained the Hondurans are too physical.


LOL

[cheevers]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Rooney was playing out of position for most of the game. Ask Fergie how it went with him playing on the right & left wings -- victim of his own versatility. Watching him again, his backtracking was subpar on the wing.

I like your line-up ideas above, except I'd like to give Rooney the opportunity up top. Bit concerned with Ox fitness, which is why I'd like to give Lallana the wing on Thursday, and if it isn't working -- give Ox the Tuesday start.

After Wilshere's poor display, let Lamps give it a shot in the last 20.

I don't know how you can play Rooney up top, the guy has never scored in a World Cup. He is just not good for England. It is a shame, the guy should be World class but has never been willing to put in the dedication needed to be in that category.

Side note, I have always hated when people claim Rooney is versatile, as you should be good at more than one position if you are to be called that not just be a warm body.

[cam_wmh]

Evra the offender there, exaggerating his injury to evade the card.

Didn't work. Proper call by the ref.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by scottish_flame

That's why I want them to fail at football so much. I love it when they get knocked down a peg

Yes, yes ... that is why. It's their arrogance
Nothing at all to do with the fact that you're a Jock and by default have a pathological hatred of all things English.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by cheevers

I don't know how you can play Rooney up top, the guy has never scored in a World Cup. He is just not good for England. It is a shame, the guy should be World class but has never been willing to put in the dedication needed to be in that category.

Side note, I have always hated when people claim Rooney is versatile, as you should be good at more than one position if you are to be called that not just be a warm body.

You can hate the argument, but which other players are played in 4 different positions on this English team? Both sides, center & forward.

I was waiting for the "never scored in a WC Final" stat to make its face for Rooney. It's a dramatic stat, for sure at 9 games scoreless. (inc yesterday).
He led the team in goals in qualifying & scores at a pace of 1 every 2.5 games.
The hate on him is reminisce Beckham. It's shameful how harsh his own nations fans are of him.

Still, 1 or 2 would be nice. He did create the lone goal last night, which seems to be easily overlooked again played out of position.
(so lets agree he's not versatile and keep him centered)

[cral12]

Any recommendations/good finds on where to purchase World Cup apparel (scarves, jerseys, etc)? (online as well as in Calgary)

[Ironhorse]

Fisher's Soccer Shack has a good supply.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bagor

And, we're off ....... England loses and the backlash begins on Man U and their fans.

Nobody in their right mind has been defending Rooney, before, or now. He was poor. Agreed. Yes, he should be dropped imo, or played in position.

Now, share your thoughts on Captain ordinary, Baines and most worryingly of all, Cahill. The latter to me looked completely out of his depth and clearly was unable to cope last night.

Oh I made my thoughts on Baines well known. I'd love to see Shaw and Jones in next game.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You can hate the argument, but which other players are played in 4 different positions on this English team? Both sides, center & forward.

I was waiting for the "never scored in a WC Final" stat to make its face for Rooney. It's a dramatic stat, for sure at 9 games scoreless. (inc yesterday).
He led the team in goals in qualifying & scores at a pace of 1 every 2.5 games.
The hate on him is reminisce Beckham. It's shameful how harsh his own nations fans are of him.

Still, 1 or 2 would be nice. He did create the lone goal last night, which seems to be easily overlooked again played out of position.
(so lets agree he's not versatile and keep him centered)

And the "scores in qualifying" argument shows up. Rooney is a beast in qualifying, he's just useless when the games actually matter.

[Sylvanfan]

So is this right, 11 matches in zero draws and 3 or more goals in 10 of the 11 games. Plus 5 in which a team that was trailing came back to win. This goes against every complaint that most people have who never watch the game.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So is this right, 11 matches in zero draws and 3 or more goals in 10 of the 11 games.

You could say that there were three or more in all the games just that two bad (offside) calls for the Mexicans ruled two good goals out,

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by rubecube

And the "scores in qualifying" argument shows up. Rooney is a beast in qualifying, he's just useless when the games actually matter.

"useless"

C'mon you're better than that.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Oh I made my thoughts on Baines well known. I'd love to see Shaw and Jones in next game.

Jones where? RB or CB? Johnson wasn't terrible.

For me, in front of the back two.

He's not the best passer in the game, nor is he an experienced CB. His crosses aren't brillant. What he is though imo is by far one of the best man markers out there and Fergies go to guy when up against the likes of Ronaldo and Bale.

I honestly thought the smart thing last night would just to have played him in front of the back two and just give him a Balotelli assignment to just shut him down, frustrate him and take him out of the equation.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

"useless"

C'mon you're better than that.

Sorry, I think moon got into my account, but you know what I mean. He's definitely not been stellar on the big stage. I hate to say it, but England need someone up front who plays like John Terry did when would he put on the national shirt.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Jones where? RB or CB? Johnson wasn't terrible.

For me, in front of the back two.

He's not the best passer in the game, nor is he an experienced CB. His crosses aren't brillant. What he is though imo is by far one of the best man markers out there and Fergies go to guy when up against the likes of Ronaldo and Bale.

I honestly thought the smart thing last night would just to have played him in front of the back two and just give him a Balotelli assignment to just shut him down, frustrate him and take him out of the equation.

I saw Johnson getting roasted on Twitter last night but I thought he played alright. I don't really care where they put him, but he needs to be out there ahead of Cahill. I'm not really sure what Cahill brings to the lineup exactly.

I stand by my comments on Baines. Yeah, he wasn't getting a lot of help but his set pieces were poor and if he just jockies, instead doing whatever the hell that little skip was on that cross, that second goal doesn't happen.