World Forums

With fans like these no wonder the english were a bit lack lustre!

Of course I was making generalizations.

The point remains though that Euro gets too many WC spots.

The only quality teams IMHO in Euro are

Italy, Holland, Spain, France, England and Germany

Look. The thing is this. Even though Euro teams can drop points, they still look half decent in the process (like Sweden today). On the other hand, when other confed's drop points (I'm not including CONMEBOL in this) they look shit. Like Costa Rica versus Germany yesterday. To say Sweden sucks all of a sudden is ludicrous when they were the better team in their game today.

England played poorly today. It sure didn't look like this was a team that had practiced much together, despite many club partnerships and a long qualifying and friendly game run. England barely crafted any chances. Indeed, England needed a Paraguay own goal to win.

What really amazed me was that England once again went bunker in the 2nd half after coming out with a lead. Instead of trying to push and lock their advantage, they tempted fate. Luckily, Paraguay was horrible offensively. Hell, they were just bad, period.

This was a lousy game. I really expected more from the English, especially from the midfield. Beckham doesn't do much other than cross. Gerard and Lampard were timid and refused to take command. Ashley Cole was a disaster at the back. He must have thought he was playing for Arsenal against a minor EPL outfit with all his errant and badly thought out short passes.

The good thing is that England still managed to win. I have to think that they have much more to offer. Let's hope so. The talent is there, but I fear the coaching, tactics, and Beckham being Captain.

Come on SGE! Let them play to win the whole game. Remember Brazil? Portugal?

I'm not Khosrow and Iran doesn't play Portugal tomorrow. Other than that, you're on target.

Nelson Valdez Paraguay

Sweden x T&T

I found the game interesting, cause now Sweden know how it's like when they play defensively against better teams

that's right, Gorbi.

Yes, I meant to say Mexico. See you after the game then (regardless of result)

I watched 4 of the 5 games played thus far. Paraguay Vs England was the most boring. Germany/CR & Argentina/CIV were the most exciting so far. Tomorrow and Monday I will watch all games. Tuesday onward will be difficult as work beckons (until next weekend)

Leo

too bad. I get the UK feed. I love the way they a call a game. Today when Ashley Cole passed to Joe Cole, John Helm I think his name is, pointed out the two weren't related

speaking of US TV

tonight Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals (this is Ice Hockey to those of you not in North America) was on the main NBC network.

I just watched about 3 minutes of this game on NBC just so see who NBC had working it as they don't do too many hockey games on their network. Then I see a graph go up on the top corner of the screen displaying how many bodycheck were thrown by eash team as well as about 6 other USELESS stats. Canadian TV just shows the score and once in a while shows "shots on net". But Americans LOVE statistics. They need to be bombarded with the most useless stat in their sports. Baseball is full of USELESS statistics, NFL and NCAA sports are all about stats as well. This is why except for a small pocket of hardcore supporters the US has for the Beautiful Game, mainstream America will never embrace soccer.

I'm surprised by how much England relied on longish delivery to Crouch. Even in the first half when they had the better of play, this seemed to be the preferred option going forward.

Nothing wrong with it occassionally, but with all of England's talent in midfield, surely they had other options. In fact, when they did knock the ball around and build up play they actually looked really good.

I get the distinct impression that England were holding back. The real England has not yet revealed itself.

It's fucking stupid, there are a whole heap of teams that would kill for a midfield of Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard and Cole.


So what does SGE do?Skip midfield and knock the ball uo to Crouch (bloody great bloke but a bit of a shit footballer) and hope he can flick it on to?

Nobody you silly cunt!!

Amd lest we forget, as if that wasn't enough, let's bring on Owen Hargreaves, he's great!!!

And if England does that against T&T, then the Caribeans will be able to hang around as they did against Sweden. You are right Ali, a lot of teams would kill for that midfield.

Pabs

You don't say...I would kill for a British commentator...or a German one.
Give me Gary Lineker or Paul Breitner:)

Baseball stats@LOL

Sven-Goran, bloody mofo....let the English be English, that's all it really takes.

The new exciting English formation - 4-1-1-1-1-1-1.
Roy Liddle, the Sunday Times.

I saw that as well.

agreed with Sulla. I noticed the same thing Sulla did. They looked very good knocking it around had letting everybody get a touch in, but then other times would send a 50 yard ball to Crouch or Owen for a flick on.

This mornings front page in Trinidad & Tobago:

[img]http://www.trinidadexpress.com/images/fronts/TrinidadPaper.jpg[/img

T&T goalkeeper was "O Cara"(da man) yesterday. Great achievement by T&T in a WC debut.

The in-studio TV host we have here in Canada is a former international by the name of Craig Forrest. He used to play for West Ham and Ipswich. He spent all day yesterday reminiscing of his days playing with Joe Cole & Lampard after the England game, then spent another few more minutes talking about when he and Hislop were teammates after the T&T game.

I'm trying to find a copy of Rio Ferdinands World Cup Wind Ups from last night.

Gary Neville really, REALLY, hates scousers.

Even a double really still is a huge understatement.

Part of me thinks it's all an act to maintain his status among the fans, can anybody really hate everyone from another City like that?

Fuck it, just give me the points!!

Even if it is an act that quote is quality!!

It's fucking stupid, there are a whole heap of teams that would kill for a midfield of Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard and Cole.

Take Beckham out and you indeed have a comprehensive midfield. I said it before and I'll say it again: Beckham is a loser, never coming into form on the big occasion. SGE is a loser because he never trusts his team to maintain the initiative, especially when ahead.

That's right SGE, take a 1 - 0 lead against T&T and go bunker. Sit back and then proclaim a tactical victory, at least in this kind of game...or a glorious loss when you meet an Argentina or Brazil. Better yet, blame it on them penalty kicks!

RE: Beckham

too much attention is paid NOT to his footballing skills, but he is still a good player. Loser he is not, but sometimes people act as if he is bigger than the game (to no fault of his own)

Here's an example from yesterday. On one of our local 24 news stations there is a news ticker. That is to say, headlines scrolled across the bottom of the screen. Yesterday a headline read: "England wins 1-0 on own goal off of a Beckham shot"

Now. They make mention of Beckham, but not of the other player involved (Carlos Gamarra of Paraguay) who is an EXCELLENT player playing at a high level for years. Long time player in the Brazilian league with Flamengo and now Corinthians, I think. A really great player who in WC'98 NEVER put a wrong foot in. I mean this literally. He was never given a foul against in the whole tournament !

YET, only mention of Beckham. Becks gets a haircut and it makes news -- pathetic.

Again, it's not Beckhams fault and I'm sure even he sometimes wishes for peace and quiet, but it's too much sometimes.

Personally I think Lampard is the teams best all around player.

Pabs,

Gamarra is playing for Palmeiras now. He was elected the best player of serie A some years ago palying for Corinthians(99 or 200, if I´m not mistaken) , and you must imagine he must have been a hell of a player to win this prize being foreigner and a deffense player in Brazil. In WC98 he was fantastic, like you mentioned.

Mate - Have you watched any of La Liga this year? Beckham has been Real Madrids best player for the last two seasons if you speak to those in the know.

For England he was injured and rushed back for Japorea and had a decent not great Euro 04.

In the WCQs he's been great when played in position.

BTW it's interesting to note that SGE said the players struggled in the second half due to heat fatigue, but Beckham wore long sleeves.

Not that I blame SGE that much. He's just protecting his players.

Craig Forrest was a decent GK in his time in England. We have a mixture of ex-footballers as pundits and commentators here. I usually put the mute button on when Ian Wright opens his mouth, so it was refreshing to see Hasselbaink and Gullit giving their opinions.

Yesterday, I noticed that Leonardo (Brazil 94) was in the ITV studio (for the pre-match build up, half-time and post match analysis), alongside Gordon Strachan (ex Scotland) and Lee Dixon (ex Arsenal/England). He put his opinions across pretty intelligently, and certainly made more sense than Strachan

If I were the producer of that show, I would have hired Tab Ramos to work alongside Leonardo. I don't imagine that ITV have the balls to do it, but it would be quite funny if they did.

Leonardo is working for Globo, he makes the post game comments, usually with Falcão

Really? He was definitely in the ITV studio for the Mexico - Iran game yesterday, but they broadcast from Germany for the duration of the WC, so perhaps he's working for both. It was nice to have the comments of a WC winner instead of the usual shit we have to endure, anyway.

Slovenia has beaten Trinidad and Tobacco 3-1 - does that mean we're better than Sweden too?

Mark:

That was the BBC and not ITV. Leonardo is a pundit for the BBC. But you are right he does sound much more clued up than the others, who only know anything about British football, or players with connection to British leagues.

Mate:

I have to agree with you on Beckham. Apart from dangerous crosses, he is quite ordinary. England have more attacking option to replace Beckham with (Aaron Lennon) but SGE is not the man to substitute Beckham. He simply hasn't got the balls and prefers to be conservative in his changes. Having said that, if you can score on one of those crosses I suppose it would justify his inclusion.

I fear again that England won't go much further than the last 8, maybe semis with a bit of luck.

Surinamistico thinks that another T&T should take a spot from Serbia or Poland?

Quite a few of David Beckham's dangerous crosses somehow pose no danger at all, yet American commentators keep raving about them. Lampard, Gerrard and Cole contribute a lot more to the team. Our homegrown morons went as far as calling Beckham "the best player in the world". Yeah right.

I heard that one of them referred to him as "Michael Beckham"

I want Hudson to call games. He is both colorful and knowledgeable.

I still can not forget his interview after WC 1998, when he said US problems steamed from a lack of defensive power. He said what US needed is a naturalized large hair-chested Bulgarian defender in the middle of their defense.

Beckham, Ballack...makes no difference...not to me of course:)

T & T's goalie had a game that was above what would be his level.

Swedish media has been very critical about our "superswedes" (Ljungberg, Larsson, and Ibrahimovic) saying they didn't work. I don't agree to that in full, they did work (at least in the game I watched) but T & T had decided to play a physicla tight game bordering to playing ugly and unfortunately they didn't get anywhere. Towards the end of the game Ljungberg had a couple of attacks but when two or three T & T players narrowed him in he had nobody to follow up and to which he could have made a pass. Kim Källström did a good game the little time he got but for a lot of the others in the squad I think they looked so insignificand that you have to wonder whether even automatic doors would open should they try to go trough them. I know it's not seen as "fair" to mock others than the greatest stars but that is how the game I watched looked. Wilhelmsson had a good game but i think that Edman, Mellberg and Svensson has A LOT better capacity than I saw saturday.