World Cup 2014

[oldbluefox]

Wrong side of bed Barney................

Holland? I actually thought Australia played well and better than their ranking would suggest. It was a great goal of Cahill's and perhaps a good example of a team raising their game. Now if we can stumble through a few wins on the way to the final I will be well chuffed.

[Dark Knight]

to be honest, I find the national team to be a bit of a joke, very few of them seem to put any heart and soul into it, and they look almost put out, having to turn up for their country

Ah well, a few more hours and it will be done and apart from a few days worth of newspaper hyperbole and fantasising about what could have been,then I can look forward to proper sport like the commonwealth games, where those representing England do try and do seem to have some pride and a wish to achieve something



written from the right side of the bed

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sorry to interrupt this informed discussion, but are we still in it then? Has it not yet reached the penalty shoot out where we normally depart?

Personally I thought Coleen Rooney cut it a bit fine flying out after the tournament had started, so the children could see Daddy play. She could have missed it completely.

[david63]

I can somewhat agree with DK.

The England players have little or no incentive to win, in fact it is probably more of an inconvenience than anything as it is on during their "off" season.

The World Cup should be played by amateur sides who have something to prove and would want to be there representing their country.

Another option would be to base sponsorship money on performance as with most Olympic sports - if you don't achieve a certain pre defined level then there is no money - simples.

[Onelife]

Oh dear....my flags looking rather limp at the moment....

Come on England!!!

[Onelife]

I don't think they are lacking incentive we just look lost for ideas in midfield.

[Stephen]

I don't think they are lacking incentive we just look lost for ideas in midfield.

I don't know about incentive, more like laxative. And I don't even watch it.

[oldbluefox]

If we are talking about motivation I agree with DK. They just don't look bothered. At the moment Uruguay are first to the ball, they are hurrying England into mistakes and look like they want to win. Meanwhile we don't seem to have taken charge of midfield, too many passes going astray and the likes of Sturridge, Rooney and Sterling are being crowded out by a very physical defence.

If they don't improve dramatically in the second half they are on their way home.

I suppose I have been spoilt by watching City play!!!

[oldbluefox]

Lost again!!!

Apart from a ten minute spell after we scored we looked devoid of ideas. Uruguay played well, we didn't and Suarez was clinical.

Not impressed.

[Onelife]

Hi OBF

Your penultimate post sums it up nicely......l lost count how many times we gave the ball away......woeful performance!!

Gutted!!!

[Delboy]

Devoid of ideas in the last third of the pitch, and school boy error by Gerrard dont think he has played well in either game. However for me the only difference between the two teams was Suarez.

Once we equalized, we should never had lost the game.

Unfortunately England do not have a player of the same quality and class as Suarez.

[oldbluefox]

Unfortunately England do not have a player of the same quality and class as Suarez.

.......................... or the same commitment and desire to win of others in their team. They never gave us a minute's peace.

[Onelife]

No consolation l know but looking forward l do think we have some young talented players on which to build a new team around.

Only another 4 years to see it all come to fruition

[towny44]

No consolation l know but looking forward l do think we have some young talented players on which to build a new team around.

Only another 4 years to see it all come to fruition

I do hope you're right OL, but I can't help feeling that England's downhill journey started with the creation of the Premier league. All that Sky money and the desire of every club to import overseas stars to create, what has to be said, is the most successful football league in the world.
However if some of the crop of current youngsters do develop into world class players then the team could improve, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Delboy]

My young grandson has posted this on Facebook.

Spain are blaming their loss yesterday on the weather.

Apparently it was 2 Chile.

[flowery flo]

Congratulations to England tonight, considering only 2 of our players have ever played in a World Cup before, we did OK. We have to start asking questions of the manager.. why did he take Steriling off?? Why didn't he make sure the defence were marking Suarez at all times, so much potential but lets face it, he has no bwalls. Rooney cudn't see the ball coz Coleen plucked his eyebrows too hard xxx

[oldbluefox]

I had a wry smile this morning.

Somebody had tweeted 'England beat Costa Rica? They couldn't beat Costa coffee!!'
Too many schoolboy errors from seasoned internationals and tactics which show we are light years away from the progress made by other international teams.

I need a cruise!!!

[david63]

An interesting report on the BBC today. Is it just coincidence or may it have something worthy of consideration?

[Onelife]

No consolation l know but looking forward l do think we have some young talented players on which to build a new team around.

Only another 4 years to see it all come to fruition

I do hope you're right OL, but I can't help feeling that England's downhill journey started with the creation of the Premier league. All that Sky money and the desire of every club to import overseas stars to create, what has to be said, is the most successful football league in the world.
However if some of the crop of current youngsters do develop into world class players then the team could improve, but I'm not holding my breath.

Hi towny

I hope so as well John, but like you say the lucrative side of football has tarnished what was once the beautiful game.

Regards

Keith

[kaymar]

No consolation l know but looking forward l do think we have some young talented players on which to build a new team around.

Only another 4 years to see it all come to fruition

That sounds familiar, Onelife. Unfortunately we seem to hear it every two years or so. As someone recently posted, "It's not the despair, I can take the despair, I'm used to it - it's the hope I can't stand."

Too much money, not enough talent or desire and until that changes, the England "team" is unlikely to improve.

[oldbluefox]

Waiting for all the excuses now........................

The body language spoke volumes - no passion, no desire, no determination and as one Spanish supporter said this morning 'No cojones'. Considering their poor displays and early exit wouldn't it be a nice gesture to donate their earnings to the Stephen Sutton cancer charity. Now there was a lad with courage in abundance. My SIL knows absolutely nothing about football but said she could tell which ones were England. They were the ones who didn't look bothered and were strolling about.

At least Joe Hart will be able to spend more time with his Head and Shoulders.

[Romig1]

"They're going home, they're going home, they're going..
England's going home"!

Oh dear!

[oldbluefox]

Colleen need not have taken so much luggage. She could have made do with an overnight bag.

[Romig1]

Colleen need not have taken so much luggage. She could have made do with an overnight bag.

She only took so much because they will be flying directly to Barbados for a month at Sandy Lane, no doubt!

[oldbluefox]

It brings tears to the eyes Romig.