We're on to get beaten by Brazil again.
Fifa World Cup 2014 Draw
- Thread starter vanthaman
- Start date
The more I think about it, the more I think it's absolutely brilliant. Low expectation, guaranteed big games, no national crisis if we lose, but a very exciting momentous win if we do.
Plus if I get out there, I get to wear a vest. It's win all round IMO.
Plus if I get out there, I get to wear a vest. It's win all round IMO.
Participating in the WC is an honour in itself, I'm just posting my view regarding the relative strengths of the teams, no need to get upset.
Anthing is possible sounds like an advertising slogan, some things just aren't. Australia & Iran have no chance at all, USA have a very remote chance.
Not really underestimating or taking things for granted, just having a go at predicting on the results. England aren't a very good team and recent history shows our most likely tactic is to play for a draw in games where we won't have a lot of possession; Uruguay aren't world beaters but they only have to beat England and their best 2 players are good enough to win a game, more so than England's individuals can; Italy is self-evident, whatever straits they are in they are going to have more possession than us.
I think England's best chance of getting 3 points is against Costa Rica because they're not as good as Uruguay or Italy, it's fairly obvious that it's a "banana skin" but to be honest I never see the point of saying a game could be a banana skin, just seems like a nothing comment!
Yanks are a bit of a dark horse. Everyone thought that England would breeze past them in South Africa and look what happened.
By everyone, you mean the English media who continually over-estimate England's chances?
And the England fans to some extent. The days of the Yanks being cannon fodder are long over.
This must be what it feels to be Irish!
Most still see the US that way. Definitely not world beaters but a far cry from that 1990 group of college kids and semipros. Germany, Ghana, and Portugal all know to take them seriously, their fans probably expect an easy victory. But fans are idiots for the most part.
I think England's best chance of getting 3 points is against Costa Rica because they're not as good as Uruguay or Italy, it's fairly obvious that it's a "banana skin" but to be honest I never see the point of saying a game could be a banana skin, just seems like a nothing comment!
Except when you have a habit of stepping on them! We are the worst at that, how else do you think we consistently end up in the playoff place? Dropping points at home to Venezuela and Ecuador, that's how.
Ghana again for the USA
.Can't see them getting anything against Germany. Will have to try and get 4 points from Portugal and Ghana and hope the results go their way imo.
Brasil FFS! You gotta be shitting me.
Hopefully we can beat Cameroon and maybe even Croatia.
Hopefully we can beat Cameroon and maybe even Croatia.
I don't see them as winners either but they're capable of causing an upset. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the US been represented in the finals in every WC since 1990?
I can see England getting out of their group actually, they're hard to beat as unimpressive as they are, so they could sneak draws against Italy and Uruguay and beat Costa Rica which would be enough to see them through. They'd play against Colombia probably in the next round , which is still doable, although tough (most games are).
I'm in agreement with this after initially thinking 'we're screwed'. The order of games is quite beneficial to us, hopefully Uruguay vs Italy will be a winner takes all whilst we play Costa Rica.
I remember in 2002 England's group stage win was against Argentina - who were eliminated - while they drew against Sweden and Nigeria, despite the pre-tournmanet consensus being that Argentina would be the ones to look out for. So yeah I get what you're saying to be fair. I just think Uruguay and Italy have too much individual power and better ability to keep the ball, whereas England have enough individual quality to get past Costa Rica.
Yes they have. But there is a trend in their appearances during this run...
1990: Group Stage (newbies, unorganized, manager had zero tactical knowledge)
1994: R16 (advanced thanks to the lucky wild card spots)
1998: Group Stage (utter embarrassment too)
2002: QF (feckin' bent linesman!)
2006: Group Stage (shambolic)
2010: R16 (feck you BB and RC!; Jozy's first impression of a fast donkey)
Here's the footage of Hodgson's press conference.
Once ran into such thing when I was walking my dog, nearly shit myself when it started hooting.
Owls can be quite spooky for the unsuspecting.
I'm not gonna bother with going through this thread so I'm just gonna say what I assume everyone else has said.
Shit draw. Not interesting groups at all.
Shit draw. Not interesting groups at all.
Brazil are the one to be worried.Host nation with a very expectant crowd,feel Mexico will give them a game
USA aren't doomed. The can get 3 or 1 point against Portugal and Portugal might not win Ghana or draw against Germany. The US team is team that's got a lot more fighting spirit and passion than Portugal.
Portugal will no way lose to USA or Ghana.
A repeat of 2006, please. It's a very interesting group but I'd back our chances to beat England and Costa Rica. Uruguay will be a tricky tie but I'd fancy our chances of getting a draw against them. I have a feeling we could sneak into the semi finals and from there on the cup's our's to lose.
The way I see it, We have 2 very hard games, we as a nation have no expectations and frankly, I would rather go out swinging in the group stage than limp out on penalties whilst playing for a draw later on.
I can't see us getting points against them, maybe even backing up a bit for goal difference
It's very well possible but I wouldn't place a wager on it. Portugal had a much better side in 2002 compared to 2014 (bascially not a one-man show) and the US is deeper in 2014 than in 2002.
I have no clue about Ghana. Gone are the likes of Appiah, Muntari, et al, and Essien is a shadow of his former self. What else do they have these days?
Stopping Ronaldo is the task. But if the central defenders struggle per usual and Klinsmann insists on midfielders as fullbacks, it may be a very long day for the US (and Ghana) against them.
You'll go through, it's the second round you won't get past. No chance.
Least the false hope the majority of England fans will be over quite early this year
We are terrible at keeping the ball, that's where I don't like the England draw at all, we could be struggling to get going if you had a go. My hope however is that they will be a bit tired for that and will try sneak a draw, that's where the individual quality prevails.
I'm seeing this a lot but please someone tell me why we have no expectations against Uruguay?
Suarez is a fantastic player and they have some very good players, but they're not THAT good. The way some people are going on you'd think we'd drawn Spain and Brazil. Christ, their captain and starting centre back (Lugano) is our (West Brom's) 3rd/4th choice centre back. It's a game that could go either way but they're not as good as some people are making out. It's the usual build up of England's opponents, then if England beat them, they'll suddenly become no good.
Seriously, I don't watch Uruguay but they surely SURELY can keep the ball better than England?? I don't think there's a national team who fails at that more than we do. Perhaps it is you who is overestimating US?
As long as it's not a string vest with a hankie on your head, hope you get there.
I don't know, maybe we do get through the group stage. We went through the last 2 times by just winning one game, so it's not impossible. And yeah, there's no way we can beat Spain, Holland or Chile.
Seriously, I don't watch Uruguay but they surely SURELY can keep the ball better than England?? I don't think there's a national team who fails at that more than we do. Perhaps it is you who is overestimating US?
I'm not saying you keep it better, just that we are not great shakes and we would be a lot more uncomfortable if England had a go at pressing and putting a certain pace into the game than you should. If you play for the draw then it's a lottery of individual quality and Suárez or Cavani are bound to find a way through.
We're gonna knock Brazil out of their own tournament.
I think Uruguay are a very good side, but i'm confident We can do well against them, they will be more used to the conditions out there though.
What I actually meant though, was we have no expectations as a nation of going particularly far in the tournement itself, as oppose to any of our three opponants in the group.
Well, it's going to be fun with the banter leading up to the World Cup, no doubt about that. Million dollar question, Suárez has been a bit of a media darling of late, all seemingly forgotten... What now? I can see him being hounded all year long. Bastards. Well, not too bad from a United perspective I guess. Win-win for the rest of you.