World Cup 2014

USA! I guess it could've been worse.....

Last edited by LHeat87 (Fri-6-Dec-2013 17:50:28)

USA have a really tough group. Germany and Portugal will be heavy favourites... they may get a result against Ghana, maybe. But it's very tough for them.

England should be able to do well in that group but Italy and Uruguay are no jokes.

I predict Uruguay and England to go through in group D.

And USA will probably finish bottom in their group, Ghana are one of the better African teams.

Who were the team pulled out of the hat and put into the non-european group?

France have a nice easy group. Wonder if Platini 'influenced' it...

France have a nice easy group. Wonder if Platini 'influenced' it...

You're not saying that the head of UEFA and the whole FIFA organisation are corrupt or corruptible in any way are you? That's just slander and it's uncalled for!

Which team got the first problem draw?  Want to know if their group is as bad as people thought...

Who were the team pulled out of the hat and put into the non-european group?

Russia.

Italy got drawn.

If we get out of our group, which is achievable,  we have a decent last 16 tie against colombia, greece, japan or the ivory coast.

Quarters are realistic for us, ane who knows from there...

We're going to win it!!!

Oh yeah, for some reason I remembered it as Russia.

If we can scrape by in second, I'd guessing we'll get Colombia in the round of 16. It's winnable, but nothing is easy here.

Colombia are good enough to smash England tbh, we're not that much better than them. Uruguay and Italy we gotta get through first who are favourites but we can get in in front of Italy, they always seem to have a shit tournament after a good one.

Looks like Jay Rodriguez will be missing the World Cup. Just been stretchered off against Man City.

Anyway, I was looking at some BBC articles, in particularly the Swansea ones, and I saw two articles, one with Garry Monk claiming that Routledge should be called up to the England squad and then the second was Routledge saying Britton should be called up to the England squad.

I had a think about it, and tried to look at it from a neutral point of view.... and I don't think Routledge should be called up but Britton should be at least considered. Since Swansea got into the Premier League, Britton has consistently been one of the best midfielders, with some of the highest successful pass rates in the world at times, not just the Premier League.

He's also 31 so this is his last chance at an England cap but even at his age I still think he's one of the best midfielders in the League and is one of the most consistent midfielders too. While I don't think he'd be favoured in the starting lineup, he could easily fill in if there was an injury or suspension and I think he'd perform well too. I can't remember a time where Britton has had a bad run of form in the ten years he's been with Swansea.

Anyway the point of me posting this was, what players who have never been capped by England would you like to see called up for the World Cup, if any?

From an England perspective, I think a blend of experience and youth should be the plan. Lampard, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Wilshere, Barry, Townsend and Lallana are most likely the 8 midfielders going... Personally, I wouldn't have Townsend anywhere near the team but Hodgson rates him so he'll be on the plane. As consistent as Britton has been, there's way too much experience between the names already mentioned for him to stake a claim.

As for your question, I don't know if Shaw was capped in the recent Denmark game. If he wasn't I would like him to go to Brazil as a deputy to Ashley Cole. Cole hasn't played much but as an experienced LB, he's vital. I'd keep Baines away.

Its too late to be calling up new players for the World Cup. Everyone who is worthy of a cap has been tested over the past few months. The defensive midfielder position is packed with players with international experience: Carrick or Wilshere will be primary with Barry & Jones as versatile back-up.

Cole hasn't played much but as an experienced LB, he's vital. I'd keep Baines away.

Take your head out of your biased Chelsea arse. Baines is the first choice left back. He's in the form of his life and a dead ball specialist.

Cole hasn't played anywhere near enough to be on that plane. Will be Baines and Shaw going and both deserve to go. Cole doesn't this season.

If Berahino can pick up form in the last few games, play like he was at the beginning of the season, then he would be a good shout. But I can't see it happening. He's really slowed down since the first part of the season and doesn't look like he'll get back to scoring form before the season end.

Delph could be a good late call, but he's unfortunate that there's better central midfielders ahead of him, like Gerrard, Henderson, Wilshere, Barry and Lallana. Could be a good shout though once Gerrard and Lampard retire or if they get injured between now and the World Cup.

Curtis Davies has had a good season, wouldn't mind seeing him being given a chance soon.

Cole hasn't played much but as an experienced LB, he's vital. I'd keep Baines away.

Take your head out of your biased Chelsea arse. Baines is the first choice left back. He's in the form of his life and a dead ball specialist.

Nah, it's staying put.

Baines is a dead ball specialist but defensively, he's shit. With the central defenders England now have, having Cole over Baines is a must. Hodgson has tended to use a rigid formation and having Baines as left back with the knowledge that he's great going forward but very much the opposite when tracking back, is tactical suicide.

Cole hasn't played much but he's a safe option defensively, old age or not. That isn't Chelsea bias, far from it. It just makes sense to have a player who has played on the big stage, with distinction (!), play in that slot over a player who has been pretty good for two years or so but doesn't fit the system of play. Now, if the style of play ends up changing into a 3-5-2 or a 3-1-4-1-1 then I'll happily take back what I've said.

We're not playing a back three. That really would be suicide.

Everton have got the third best defensive record in the league. That's why you play with defensive midfield anchors who can tighten up and defend when the full backs are going forward on the overlap. Liverpool's defence is as bad as Crystal Palace's but Glen Johnson is still getting picked with Kyle Walker. If we're going to play 4-2-2 we might as well get Mike Bassett to manage the team or not bother going at all. Individual performances of merit are defunct if after tournament after tournament we can't get past the quarter finals. And if it goes to penalties, Cole can take a step back because he got us knocked out of the last tournament with his miss.

Everton have got the third best defensive record in the league.

Very little to do with him. You can thank Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka, Sylvan Distin and Gareth Barry for that. In Everton's most standout performances this season, Baines has been praised more for his attacking performances than his defensive performances. Why? I believe it's down to his defensive game being weak, to the point where Barry at times plays as a third centre-back.

That's why you play with defensive midfield anchors who can tighten up and defend when the full backs are going forward on the overlap. Liverpool's defence is as bad as Crystal Palace's but Glen Johnson is still getting picked with Kyle Walker. If we're going to play 4-2-2 we might as well get Mike Bassett to manage the team or not bother going at all. Individual performances of merit are defunct if after tournament after tournament we can't get past the quarter finals. And if it goes to penalties, Cole can take a step back because he got us knocked out of the last tournament with his miss.

1) When have we done that at an international level under Hodgson? His midfield 4 usually has 2 central midfielders with an winger on each side, making Baines a pointless addition to the squad. Unless Hodgson wants to play him as that left winger.

2) The quarter finals are our limit. Even more so at Brazil than ever before. Penalty misses or not, England aren't good enough to reach the semis on merit, not unless the top 5 nations implode early on. If you think Baines is getting us further rather than Ashley Cole, then also pray for a Holland or Germany or France dressing room bust up or three.

You watching the Arsenal game? Your theory on Baines not defending is a load of rubbish. He's always tracking back, he's never out of position, his crossing is brilliant, he was captain for 80 minutes. 6 wins out of 6 now.

Hodgson has been experimenting on his formations for ages but looks like he's settled on some kind of 4-3-3. Against Denmark it was a 4-5-1. If he's going to play 4-4-2 it would be a diamond where the DM sucks back in. The 4-2-3-1 was a recommendation on what England should do. It gives enough defensive cover but you still have the pace to break forward on a counter attack.

The only thing stopping us from progressing past the quarters is the heat factor. A hungry young team with enough determination, can do anything. History dictates, you don't have to have the best team, but self-belief will take you far. Denmark Euro 92, Czech Republic Euro 96. South Korea World Cup 2002, Greece Euro 2004. Uruguay World Cup 2010.

I wouldn't mind seeing your World Cup starting XI in their formation.

I wouldn't mind seeing your World Cup starting XI in their formation.

http://www.4wforums.com/viewtopic.php?id=507

A bit old, but we did that! Might need some updates now we're getting close.

He had an unbelievable game today, yes. At the worst time for me considering the points I've made but despite that, I maintain my point that at the World Cup he will get found out unless Hodgson drastically changes his tactics to accommodate him.

I'll post my formation and players that are playing there in the thread Chux mentioned.

Ashley Cole should be England's 4th choice LB by now, even Gibbs has surpassed him.

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC, on loan from QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).
Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell and Thiago Silva (both Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).
Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires (Chelsea), Willian (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).

This is Brazil's provisional team for the World Cup. I thought it was interesting, they've only got four domestic players in there. Two of those are keepers and the other two, Fred & Jo have both spent long periods in Europe. There is no place for Robinho & Kaka who have both had poor seasons at AC Milan. There's no space for Lucas Leiva or Lucas Moura or Douglas Costa in midfield. And Alexandre Pato & Leandro Damião have both been spared because of turbulent domestic campaigns. Somehow Maicon's got in there ahead of Rafinha, who isn't brilliant but can move a lot faster than Maicon.

I don't think Kaka has been poor at Milan, at some points in the past season he has carried the side. Milan's poor season has let him down here I think.

Otherwise, that squad is as expected. Most of that team won the confederations cup so unless there were catastrophic injuries, even the ones who have had poor seasons were going in because they're settled as a international side. The romantic in me wanted a swansong for Ronaldinho after his decent form for Atletico Mineiro since his move to Brazil but realistically, it was a loooooong shot considering his party lifestyle.

Last edited by Imty (Sat-10-May-2014 22:21:57)