safe trip home mate
The Fifa rankings have them only two places higher than Equotorial Gunea. It always should be a formality.
Yeah but we also know that the FIFA Rankings are complete and utter bollocks.
Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!
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Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!
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Oh yes, the Dutch who got smashed by the mighty Iceland, not forgetting Germany who were beaten recently by the powerhouse that is the USA and Spain who brushed aside the amazing Belarus 1-0.Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!
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Oh yes, the Dutch who got smashed by the mighty Iceland, not forgetting Germany who were beaten recently by the powerhouse that is the USA and Spain who brushed aside the amazing Belarus 1-0.
We tend to bottle it at tournaments, I grant you, but really we have nothing to fear from anybody.
Not good enough at penalties more than anything.I think it's more to do with the fact that I can't remember us ever playing well in a knockout game of a major tournament.
We've never beaten a major team in a knockout game away from Wembley, ever. Says it all, we're just not good enough.
And 1966 apart we seem to often suffer ill luck. Maradona's hand ball, Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, the soil giving way on the penalty spot for David Beckham, Frank Lampard's effort that was clearly over the line etc. etc.We also tend to get stitched up by officials and our players are often suckered into minor skirmishes where our opponents roll around as if poleaxed to get them sent off.
And 1966 apart we seem to often suffer ill luck. Maradona's hand ball, Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, the soil giving way on the penalty spot for David Beckham, Frank Lampard's effort that was clearly over the line etc. etc.
My attitude is, if Greece can win the European Championships, then so can we.
We could have won Euro 2004 and I think we could have won the World Cup in 06 too. But both occasions we had a manager who was tactically naive and loved two players too much who shouldn't have been playing.
We could have won Euro 2004 and I think we could have won the World Cup in 06 too. But both occasions we had a manager who was tactically naive and loved two players too much who shouldn't have been playing.
My point is though during that period we did have the squad/team to compete. We don't now.
Back then we crammed all our best talents into a 4-4-2, when really we should have dropped one of Lampard and Getrard for the sake of the teams balance and tactical discipline, both of which are vital in International football. It's a completely different sport to the end to end rough and tumble of the EPL.
We should have played a midfield three, in 2006 it should have been Hargreaves, Scholes and one of Gerrard/Lampard (for my money Lampard) and Beckham shouldn't have been in the 11. But Sven played Beckham no matter what.
Well yes of course. Stating the bleeding obvious.If that is the case then so can most of the other teams in Euros.
Gerrard and Lampard very seldom played well in an England team together.My point is though during that period we did have the squad/team to compete. We don't now.
Back then we crammed all our best talents into a 4-4-2, when really we should have dropped one of Lampard and Getrard for the sake of the teams balance and tactical discipline, both of which are vital in International football. It's a completely different sport to the end to end rough and tumble of the EPL.
We should have played a midfield three, in 2006 it should have been Hargreaves, Scholes and one of Gerrard/Lampard (for my money Lampard) and Beckham shouldn't have been in the 11. But Sven played Beckham no matter what.
Gerrard just lacked the tactical discipline/awareness to be a good international player. He was brilliant in the PL because his flaws were masked by the 100mph blood and thunder nature of the PL. At International level the game is slower and he just couldn't adapt.
Such a shame the FA didn't select you instead of Sven.
You're talking friendlies. I'm talking tournamentsOh yes, the Dutch who got smashed by the mighty Iceland, not forgetting Germany who were beaten recently by the powerhouse that is the USA and Spain who brushed aside the amazing Belarus 1-0.
We tend to bottle it at tournaments, I grant you, but really we have nothing to fear from anybody.
That's what many thought about the world cup wasn't it?With the way how the tourney is structured it'll be difficult not to get out the group!
The point is we are in with a chance of being 4th as in the best of the rest...& even then its only a chance...a realistic one at that.I'm happy with that. If we're in the top 15 we are in with a chance.
The USA v Germany is the only friendly I quoted. Iceland beat the Dutch in their qualifying group and Spain struggled against Belarus in their qualifying group.You're talking friendlies. I'm talking tournaments
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OK that's a step up from friendlies I will grant you...but it is still not an actual tournament. The likes of Germany/Holland would very rarely struggle in the actual tournament against such teams. That's why they are always there or thereabouts come the semi finals.The USA v Germany is the only friendly I quoted. Iceland beat the Dutch in their qualifying group and Spain struggled against Belarus in their qualifying group.
Ok forget USA v Germany. Poland beat Germany in their qualifying group. Like I say, we have every chance.
That's what many thought about the world cup wasn't it?
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Think about who ELSE didn't get through all you like...it doesn't change the fact that all we generally are is a contender to be "the best of the rest"In the World Cup only the top two went through from each group though. Three points should be enough to make it through to the next round and it's even possible to do it with two. Also we've got to remember who finished in the top two from our group and the two who didn't make it through.
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