June 26, 201014 yr Next round Rooney scores his first World Cup Finals goal by punching the ball past the Argentine keeper for a 1-0 win :w00t: :lol: And then becomes the first ever Sir Wayne in the New Year honours list.
June 27, 201014 yr I don't know why some English are so confident about today's game (I don't mean the papers only...). 1. England were really weak although they had an easy group... 2. Maybe they shot the most goals in the qualification, but tbh (apart from Croatia) who the f... were Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra...?!! Not the best teams on earth I'd say! 3. Before the tournament they hardly won the games against big teams like Spain, Brazil or Holland (in friendlies)... The only point pro England is that they won 2-1 in Berlin last year... (but that wasn't in a tournament and only that is what counts when it comes to Germany)! Some are, some are really nervous. I think it's fair to say that the England team always rises to the big occasions and rarely goes out with a whimper. Ukraine ain't bad either by the way. Other results that are of merit with basically the same team include beating Mexico, Slovakia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. You can argue all you like about big teams but as this world cup has proven with Slovakia v Italy, Serbia v Germany and Switzerland V Spain amongst others that anyone is capable of beating anyone else. Hell, even N Korea didn't do badly against Brazil...
June 27, 201014 yr England have more experience and are more familiar with playing in the 'big games'. Where do you get that from? Germany came 3rd in 2006 and 2nd in 2008 while England didn't really come as far (especially in 2008 :P) so the Germans should actually have far more experience. Of course, not all of them have played in 2006 and 2008 but a lot of them have. I agree with the rest of your post and I actually predicted a 2-1 England win but that striked me as wrong.
June 27, 201014 yr Where do you get that from? Germany came 3rd in 2006 and 2nd in 2008 while England didn't really come as far (especially in 2008 :P) so the Germans should actually have far more experience. Of course, not all of them have played in 2006 and 2008 but a lot of them have. I agree with the rest of your post and I actually predicted a 2-1 England win but that striked me as wrong. Germany don't have many players over 25 whereas England don't have many under 25 Germany's team is made up of a lot of young players in the squad who didn'y play in '06 and '08 and who don't have as much experience in the Champs league, internationals etc. I expect them to be extremely successful in the next couple of tournaments at least. England have players, who have years of experiences to draw from. Also some of the big name players for Germany are out (Ballack, Cacau and possibly Scwheinsteiger and Boateng). Mertesacker and Badstuber have but they have been exposed for pace and positioning this tournament and Friedrich may have 70 odd caps but is being played out of position in the centre. I could be mistaken but that's the impression I have formed. Anyway here's hoping for a great game (with England winning) that could be a defining match of this world cup Edited June 27, 201014 yr by Severin
June 27, 201014 yr I don't know why some English are so confident about today's game (I don't mean the papers only...). 1. England were really weak although they had an easy group... 2. Maybe they shot the most goals in the qualification, but tbh (apart from Croatia) who the f... were Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra...?!! Not the best teams on earth I'd say! 3. Before the tournament they hardly won the games against big teams like Spain, Brazil or Holland (in friendlies)... The only point pro England is that they won 2-1 in Berlin last year... (but that wasn't in a tournament and only that is what counts when it comes to Germany)! We were in the only group with THREE teams to qualify for the 2006 finals. Saying we had an easy group is clutching at straws, fact is that we were one of the three best teams in European qualifying (the others being Spain and Holland). Our first game was meh, second was dire but if we play as well as we did on Wednesday today then I honestly think we'll win. Everyone's saying England are arrogant, Germany are arguably moreso given their distinctly average defence which could potentially get ripped apart by Defoe and Milner again and Rooney if he's on form. It'll be tight, England nerves will set in if we're ahead going into the last 20 minutes but I think the whole "we're the worst team in the world" thing after the Algeria game was over the top. Yes we were truly awful but these are still the same players that certain tabloids thought were going to win the World Cup a few weeks ago. Of course we most likely won't but the schizophrenic British media pisses me off greatly at times like this.
June 27, 201014 yr If the Germans defence is average then what is ours? King at the back again? Johnson? David 'Calamity' James? Oh dear. I think people are underestimating Germany, they have plenty of players I'd have in the England squad. Podolski, Marin, Neuer, Oezil, Klose, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker, Lahm.... Also, our group to qualify was no easier or harder than others really. Ukraine and Croatia are decent and were both at the 2006 World Cup, but aren't as good as they were then. And every group has easy teams, Germany had Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein, Spain had Estonia and Armenia, Italy had Cyprus, Motenegro and Georgia. All the big teams have potential to be the highest scorers really...
June 27, 201014 yr Germany don't have many players over 25 whereas England don't have many under 25 Germany's team is made up of a lot of young players in the squad who didn'y play in '06 and '08 and who don't have as much experience in the Champs league, internationals etc. I expect them to be extremely successful in the next couple of tournaments at least. England have players, who have years of experiences to draw from. Also some of the big name players for Germany are out (Ballack, Cacau and possibly Scwheinsteiger and Boateng). Mertesacker and Badstuber have but they have been exposed for pace and positioning this tournament and Friedrich may have 70 odd caps but is being played out of position in the centre. I could be mistaken but that's the impression I have formed. Anyway here's hoping for a great game (with England winning) that could be a defining match of this world cup Maybe I don't know enough about the English team then. :blush: But many of the German players have been playing already 2 and 4 years ago. Most of those that have not have been playing in the U21 team which won the European Cup last year. Others play for Bayern Munich who were in the CL final. So I don't think England has that much of an advantage in that field. Schweinsteiger is looking likely to play, btw. Cacau wouldn't have played anyway now that Klose can play again. I don't agree with that decision at all but that's how it is. And don't get me started about Ballack. Probably the most overrated player ever. I'm actually thankful towards Prince Boateng for injuring him. :lol: About Germany's defense: Lahm and Friedrich are good, Mertesacker and Badstuber are bad. So I guess it's an average defense combined. :P Edited June 27, 201014 yr by zechhh
June 27, 201014 yr If the Germans defence is average then what is ours? King at the back again? Johnson? David 'Calamity' James? Oh dear. I think people are underestimating Germany, they have plenty of players I'd have in the England squad. Podolski, Marin, Neuer, Oezil, Klose, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker, Lahm.... Also, our group to qualify was no easier or harder than others really. Ukraine and Croatia are decent and were both at the 2006 World Cup, but aren't as good as they were then. And every group has easy teams, Germany had Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein, Spain had Estonia and Armenia, Italy had Cyprus, Motenegro and Georgia. All the big teams have potential to be the highest scorers really... Johnson is the weak point, the only thing I'm concerned about today is seeing him up against Podolski but I'm glad he plays cos Carragher (our only other option at right back) is too slow and doesn't help Milner like Johnson does. James has been commanding in the two games up to now, King won't start as Upson played like a man possessed the other day. Him and Terry are rock solid and just about the best combination going to deal with Klose. In terms of tactics I'd be happy if Il Capo played an unchanged team today, if things aren't going well he can take Defoe off and put a left-sided player on with Gerrard in the hole but seeing that Per Mertesacker could probably be outrun by a tortoise, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't need to do that.
June 27, 201014 yr If the Germans defence is average then what is ours? King at the back again? Johnson? David 'Calamity' James? Oh dear. I think people are underestimating Germany, they have plenty of players I'd have in the England squad. Podolski, Marin, Neuer, Oezil, Klose, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker, Lahm.... Completley agree - starting with King seems like a HUGE risk to me after the USA game, I'd much rather see Terry/Upson again or even Terry/Dawson. Carragher should only be on the bench. Johnson is a bit of a weak point but he's not be horrendous. Overall, me scared. I wish it was 3pm now.
June 27, 201014 yr James has played well in the last two games and I'd pick him above the other two keepers, but you never know when he's going to make a howler.
June 27, 201014 yr I still think the Germans are beatable it seems a different team from 2 years ago (Euro), Klose is not playing, not sure if Ballack is playing, the rest of the team looks like they were added during the pass 2 years, I can't remember that many players in the team from 2 years ago in the current team. We shall see, in a way I'm glad England are playing Germany, not some other team like Ghana, where they could make a simple mistake, with the Germans you have to attack, if they are coming at ya. If England do make it to the next round which for some reason I feel confidant they will do, a match with Argentina will get fairly messy and dirty :lol: unless Mexico pulls a rabbit out of a hat toinight.
June 27, 201014 yr I still think the Germans are beatable it seems a different team from 2 years ago (Euro), Klose is not playing, not sure if Ballack is playing, the rest of the team looks like they were added during the pass 2 years, I can't remember that many players in the team from 2 years ago in the current team. Klose is playing, his penalty is over. Ballack isn't even there since he got injured some weeks before the tournament. The team is indeed different from 2 years ago but I wouldn't necessarily say that it got worse with the additions of Özil, Marin, Müller etc. They just need to have a good day. They still are too inconsistent. :/ Edited June 27, 201014 yr by zechhh
June 27, 201014 yr I personally can only see an England defeat today, but fingers crossed I'm proved wrong and the boys win this
June 27, 201014 yr Seems like the country will come to a standstill at 3pm. Many supermarkets are closing early to allow staff to get home. Large screens are being erected at Glastonbury, in Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and many other parks in big cities. Tesco and Asda say the match, coupled with very hot weather today means beer, lager, cider and soft drink sales are going "through the roof" and extra stocks are being ordered in for this week. Pubs showing the match are expected to be jam-packed this afternoon and extra bar staff are being brought in. Roads will be very quiet. :) The BBC are expecting an audience of 20m+ and could be much higher. Germany is expected to come to a virtual standstill too, with huge screens being erected by the broadcasters, shops closing and beer sales too going through the roof. Edited June 27, 201014 yr by Common Sense
June 27, 201014 yr Seems like the country will come to a standstill at 3pm. Many supermarkets are closing early to allow staff to get home. Large screens are being erected at Glastonbury, in Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and many other parks in big cities. Tesco and Asda say the match, coupled with very hot weather today means beer, lager, cider and soft drink sales are going "through the roof" and extra stocks are being ordered in for this week. Pubs showing the match are expected to be jam-packed this afternoon and extra bar staff are being brought in. Roads will be very quiet. :) The BBC are expecting an audience of 20m+ and could be much higher. Germany is expected to come to a virtual standstill too, with huge screens being erected by the broadcasters, shops closing and beer sales too going through the roof. The chart show thread in the chart forum will come to a standstill as well. :cry: Personally I don't care about the chart today, football is priority :D
June 27, 201014 yr The chart show thread in the chart forum will come to a standstill as well. :cry: Personally I don't care about the chart today, football is priority :D Yeah. The first hour of the chart thread will be very quiet. :o Will be the same next Sunday afternoon when England play Argentina. Edited June 27, 201014 yr by Common Sense
June 27, 201014 yr One little fact. England have never gone further than Germany in a WC finals. Never. Until today? ;)
June 27, 201014 yr Yeah. The first hour of the chart thread will be very quiet. :o Will be the same next Sunday afternoon when England play Argentina. The quarterfinal is on Saturday. ;)
June 27, 201014 yr The quarterfinal is on Saturday. ;) Yes, sorry my mistake, Sat. at 3pm. QF's are Friday and Saturday.
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