World Cup 2014

[harlow_yid]

I just don't understand it. U17 won the European championship again the U21s make regular semi/quarter finals yet the seniors are... well average at best.

What happens to these players when they make the step up ffs.

[Tone_Loc]

[quote="meatismurder" kicks off.

Who do you think has a realistic chance of winning it?

Due to the climate I really cannot see a European winner, so I think it has to be Brazil.[/quote]
The climate is only a problem in the north.
From Belo Horizonte southwards, the mid-winter over there is no warmer than a spring day and in the far south it will be fairly chilly.

So it may well come down to where you play as much as who you play.

Games 2 and 3 for England will be comfortable temperatures and not too humid as SP and BH are at an elevation and both inland

[meatismurder]

Looks like Woy is taking no chances.

"England captain Steven Gerrard has revealed the squad have been practising penalties "a lot" but insists they will not become obsessed with spot kicks.
Of England's last 10 major tournaments, six have ended in a penalty shootout."

[danegee]

I just don't understand it. U17 won the European championship again the U21s make regular semi/quarter finals yet the seniors are... well average at best.

What happens to these players when they make the step up ffs.

The u21 squad of 23 that made the final of the EC in 2009 had Rose, Hart, Cattermole, Gibbs, abonglohor, Walcoot, Noble, Milner and Adam Johnson who are still playing in the top flight.
Under half.

Of those only Hart and Milner are in the WC squad 5 years later.

The picking of Walcott, who had not played an EPL game, over defoe, who had played and done well in every qualifier, as Walcoot was an England star of the future and needed to be bedded in and taken for the holiday about sums up the FA and English football.

We now have a squad of mostly players who have had one good season in the EPL, i.e., Shaw, Sturridge, Lalana, Barkley and Henderson.
If Smalling and Jones are also the two best back up defenders we

[davee59]

Looks like Woy is taking no chances.

"England captain Steven Gerrard has revealed the squad have been practising penalties "a lot" but insists they will not become obsessed with spot kicks.
Of England's last 10 major tournaments, six have ended in a penalty shootout."

I heard that they were practising pens without a goalkeeper!! Crazy if you ask me.

As to who wins the World Cup, I think that for the first time, a European team can win the Cup in South America.

I say Germany but I wouldn't rule out Spain.

[meatismurder]

The wait, is almost over, only 22 minutes till kick off.

[meatismurder]

Neymar = cheat

[danegee]

Make that Fred too.
***** me has this ref been bought off or what?

Fred was actually falling and looking at the jap pleading for a pen before he was half way to the ground.
What a f- I king crock this game is.

Luiz just commits a penalty and nothing said ???
Refs been bought for definite

[meatismurder]

Cheats.

[DEVONSPUR]

Cheats.

Brazil will win it as they've obviously bought it just like Argentina in 1978!!

Whole game was a disgrace to football!!