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

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by 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

Cahill is the one that glares out at me.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

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

Adam Johnson...

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Adam Johnson...

[d_phaneuf]

Lallana a winger and bring Barkley as the 4th CM

Townsend shouldn't be on the team

my guess is against Italy/Uruguay they go with

------------Hart-----------
Johnson-Cahill-Jagielka-Baines
-----------Jones------
---Gerrard--Wilshere---
Lallana---Sturridge---Rooney

have Jones shadow and play on the counter, Milner getting in the game wouldn't surprise me either

Henderson over Wilshere wouldn't be a shock either

In other game(s) or when they need to push for a goal I think it switches too

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

[Reneeee]

Is there any other CPer's aside from myself heading down for the big event? I'm excited for Englands chances, so long as Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and James Milner are kept watching at home.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Reneeee

Is there any other CPer's aside from myself heading down for the big event? I'm excited for Englands chances, so long as Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and James Milner are kept watching at home.

Moi!

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Reneeee

Is there any other CPer's aside from myself heading down for the big event? I'm excited for Englands chances, so long as Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and James Milner are kept watching at home.

I'm sure you'll have a blast. Share your pics with us

I love how the English lads have developed over the past season.
Henderson, Barkley, Sterling, Shaw, Sturridge.

re: Milner I'll start by saying I HATE City. I may be in the minority but I think Milner brings the best defensive winger solution we have, when we need to dig in and defend. Have him on the bench for such a scenario.

[rubecube]

I think England have a terrific chance at crashing out in the QFs this year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think England have a terrific chance at crashing out in the QFs this year.

Its almost like a tradition.

[SuperMatt18]

Getting out of that group will be tough.

Uruguay is probably the group favorite due to the tournament being on South American soil, could mean one of Italy or England go home early.

[Locke]

Surprise, surprise.

FIFA and the national football associations of the UK should put pressure on Qatar to improve the “sub-human” working conditions of thousands of migrant labourers building facilities for the 2022 World Cup, the Labour party's shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy has said.

“The migrant workers working there -- who are already building much of the infrastructure, the hotels, railways and roads that will help make the World Cup possible, and are now beginning to build the stadiums -- are living and toiling in conditions that are sub-human.

“They sign on to contracts in countries such as Kenya and Bangladesh, they are promised wages that they couldn't earn at home, but when they get there, their contracts are torn up. Many of them have their passports seized from them by their employers.

“They can't leave the country and this is a dreadful, ugly secret of the most beautiful and democratic game in the world.”

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/17...ld-cup?cc=5901

[Luder]

In sort of related news, I found the Germany away jersey at the Soccer Shop in Willow Park, that store is fantastic! Check it out if you haven't been before, especially if you're looking for a jersey.

[Locke]

What an idiot.

Hertha Berlin defender John Brooks was not called up to the Berlin squad for their match against Leverkusen because of a "large-scale back tattoo," Berlin media reported.

While Brooks has won his first three caps for the USMNT this year, and is a contender for a place in U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s World Cup team, Hertha coach Jos Luhukay has been mildly irritated by the youngster.

Last Sunday, Brooks did not make the Hertha squad for their away game at Bayer Leverkusen. According to Berliner Morgenpost, the U.S. international was omitted from the trip because of a "large-scale back tattoo", which currently makes football difficult for the defender.

During the stitching process the skin region should not be touched, and also any perspiration should be avoided. The back tattoo has not only limited Brooks' appearances on the training pitch, but has also infuriated Hertha coach Jos Luhukay.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/17...eports?cc=5901

[d_phaneuf]

Cashley refuses to be on standby list, not going to World Cup

rest of squad slowly leaking out

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Cashley refuses to be on standby list, not going to World Cup

rest of squad slowly leaking out

I'm happy to hear that. He'd be a chemistry concern anyhow.

Baines and Shaw ahead of him.

[devo22]

Baines and Shaw over Cashley was a no brainer IMO

seems that Lampard is going ... sigh

[d_phaneuf]

It gets announced officially tomorrow but the rumors have it as

Hart
Foster
Forster

Johnson
Jones
Smalling
Shaw
Baines
Jagielka
Cahill

Gerrard
Milner
Lallana
Lampard
Sterling
Henderson
Barkley
Wilshere
Ox

Sturridge
Rooney
Lambert
Welbeck

I get that with Walker injured Johnson is the only proper RB England have, but only taking 7 defenders is scary, and taking an extra midfielder in it's place (when Jones can also play DM) seems a risk

all in all I can't argue with the team it's 22/23 of what I would have taken

but I would drop Lampard and take Caulker

Smalling/Jones ability to play RB is a great bonus, but that's still a back 4 two injuries away from James Milner? playing RB or 3 injuries away from him playing CB

[d_phaneuf]

the one thing I don't understand is naming the 23/7 split now

the 23 aren't needed until June 2nd

what if Baines breaks his foot in the next 3 weeks?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Roy Hodgson;

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Ben Foster, Joe Hart
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere
Strikers: Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
-----
Standby list: John Ruddy, Jon Flanagan, John Stones, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Jermain Defoe, Andy Carroll

I'd take Stones over Lampard, and Carroll over Lambert. Agree with the rest.

[Phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Reneeee

Is there any other CPer's aside from myself heading down for the big event? I'm excited for Englands chances, so long as Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and James Milner are kept watching at home.

I'm also heading down! Got tickets to 3 matches, couldn't be more excited. Scratching one off the bucket list here.