I hate to say I told you so

[KENWRIGHT]

but...

[nonsuchmike]

Well, we are two thirds of the way to where I said; losing all three.

However, nothing would surprise me from this England team. For example, now that it doesn't matter, we will probably beat Costa Rica 4 - 1.

[KENWRIGHT]

Yep..it was written in the stars...all you had to do was read them.
What worries me even more is they're already talking up the next generation..
So where are the next gen of defenders?
Smalling and Jones?...do me a favour. ..
Luke Shaw...another Baines..great at going forward but defensively?
And at right back we have...?????

Midfield looks ok but then up front again...Sturridge...Welbeck?..Lambert gone...Rooney gone(I hope)...so that leaves...erm...

But as Sui says Roys biggest mistake was not taking Terry and I think Cole as well.
Would Suarez have got his goals with those 2 playing left side defence?

[Andy68]

Hindsight is wonderful eh?

I also said we wouldn't make it out the group stages, I thought how ever we would draw all matches.

What I don't understand is that everyone was screaming for new blood, throw out the old guard, well he kept Gerrard as he is Capt but now for people to start shouting he should have kept Terry, he should have Kept Cole, well isn't this going back ward?

I thought most of the Country said we have no expectations, let's get the boys some International competition before the Euros and if we come home early so be it.

When did it change?

All of a sudden we are expected to make it out the group, then get passed the last 16, then make the 1/4's ... typical.

Wasn't going to happen.

I actually thought for the 10 minutes leading up to Rooney's goal we played some fast exciting football, showing we CAN play.

That was about it.

Why did we all of a sudden believe?

Hopefully Roy will let the younger players play tomorrow and perhaps restore some pride.

[City_View]

I thought there was widespread recognition that England wouldn't get past the group stage - although the Italians have been far worse than many, I guess, imagined they would be.

Don't think Terry and Cole would have made any difference. That the likes of Henderson and Welbeck get in the side says it all.

We lack not only world class players but good, solid international standard ones too.

With the large number of foreign owners and managers in the Premier League don't expect anything to change for the better either.

[Southerndown]

England have been no worse than Italy or Uruguay but then both of them have lost to Cost Rica, a team who's only recognisable player occasionally gets a game for Fulham!
Perhaps the England management should go and knock on their manager's door and ask him how he does it

[Mangosmate]

I wasnt expecting to much tbh, but what we were given was far worse. Italy looked exhausted against costa rica,so maybe they gave everything in trying to beat us.Against Uruguay we dominated for much of the game but lacked the cutting edge.Then again, they were a completely different side to the one that got stuffed by a poor costa rica side.

The laughable fallout from all of this is people saying we need to prepare the "youngsters" for the next tournament. Only 1 of them is under 22 so that's quite ridiculous. Chile have 2 top players yet play exceptionally well as a unit. To win a world cup you have to have a plan and a team ethic.Unlike England who base everything around "stars" and fit others into the wrong positions. Until this changes we'll never do anything in competitions.

The most likelihood is we'll beat Costa Rica 4-0 without Rooney or Gerrard.