Russia totally stank out the World Cup in Brazil and haven't exactly set Euro qualifying alight. Big improvement needed if they're gonna do justice to their home World Cup.

The World Rankings are fine. Who are good teams? Germany - 2nd in their group behind Poland, lost to Ireland. Spain? Lost to Slovakia and are behind them. Holland? 3rd in their group behind Iceland and the Czechs? Belgium? 1 point in 2 games against Wales. Italy? Haven't won half of their qualifying matches. Brazil? Weren't one of the 4 best teams in their continent. Colombia? Scored one goal in 4 Copa America matches. England? 6 wins in 6 competitive matches and unbeaten in friendlies during that time. But yeah, England are shite and shouldn't be in the top 10!

 

Most of these teams coast through the qualifiers. They don't even really need to hit top gear it's obvious they'll get through anyway. The difference is these teams tend to produce their best stuff at the competitions proper, the complete opposite of England. (I know Spain in the WC is an exception here but they did have 2 other brilliant teams in with them).

Croatia have deducted a point from their group as punishment for a swastika that was painted on the pitch before a match against Italy. UEFA have fined the Croatian Football Federation 100,000 Euros and ordered their next two games to be played in an empty stadium.

 

 

More amusingly (although perhaps not as it's because of rowdy Serbian fans), Serbia are now on -2 points making them the first team officially eliminated from this competition. Group I is a competition-free mess.

Our squad to face San Marino & Switzerland

 

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

 

Defenders: Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones, Phil Jagielka (Both Everton).

 

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph (Both Manchester City), Ryan Mason (Tottenham).

 

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

 

 

No Callum Wilson?

Hmm, stuck with Heaton for one of the goalkeepers as well. I thought Ruddy would have had a chance after the return to the Premier League. I always notice goalkeepers and it is good to see Butland back there, seen some incredible saves from him this season so far.

Top10 FIFA World Rankings:

 

1st Argentina

2nd Belgium

3rd Germany

4th Colombia

5th Brazil

6th Portugal

7th Romania

8th Chile

9th Wales

10th England

Wales above England :rofl:

Job well done for England could have scored more in the first half though, I was expecting at least 10 goals for England, mind you that pitch was absolutely horrendous. Joe Hart hardly touched the ball at all practically.

 

And first country to qualify

And first country to qualify

 

You'd have got extremely good odds on that pre-qualifying! Definitely surprised we haven't screwed up at least one match but still time for that. Other big teams such as The Netherlands are incredibly lucky more teams can qualify this season as with the old 16 team comp they would be in massive trouble.

You'd have got extremely good odds on that pre-qualifying! Definitely surprised we haven't screwed up at least one match but still time for that. Other big teams such as The Netherlands are incredibly lucky more teams can qualify this season as with the old 16 team comp they would be in massive trouble.

 

Comparing this qualifying to EURO 2012, I think the expandex tournament has inspired the middle-ranked nations to really push themselves. I think had it been a 16-team tournament, we'd have seen largely the same nations qualify (including the likes of Holland).

 

We still managed to play mind numbling boring football against one of Europe's worst teams.

 

What's silly, is that unless we get badly screwed over in the draw, we should easily qualify for the quarter-finals, which should see Hodgson enough to get a contract extension to 2018. Depressing thought.

England being the first team to qualify apart from the hosts France will ultimately count for nothing when they come home trophyless & medaless. I quite fancy France to win Euro 2016 at the moment unless if Germany stop them.

France haven't been on good form at all, although there's the home crowd advantage. I'd say Germany have to be the clear frontrunners. If it was us vs them in the final they would decimate us.

 

England have been almost certain to qualify ever since they won the first game in Switzerland. That said, it's good to see them get the job done so soon. The downside is that they will go into the tournament without having played a competitive match against really good opposition since the last World Cup.

It be good if they finish the group without a defeat, the reminder of the games should be quite easy to do that.

 

Slovakia should easily qualify from their group, love to see them progress to the last 16 in the finals next year.

 

Italy vs. Bulgaria tonight on ITV4, if anyone is interested.

No one's expecting us to play like Barcelona, even against San Marino. The difficulty is that in every game in qualifying (with the possible exception of Switzerland away, where we played really well) we've been expected to have the lion's share of possession and play a completely different way to the way we'll play in the finals. The Nations Cup can't come soon enough.

Delph only lasting 12 seconds for us.

 

Hopefully Switzerland should provide a challenge for England.

 

 

So record breaking Rooney - with a grand total of 1 goal in a World Cup.

 

Gotta love the hyperbole sometimes.

So record breaking Rooney - with a grand total of 1 goal in a World Cup.

 

That's the same number that Messi had until Brazil last year.