England's World Cup woes

[colourful-era]

Oh dear, it looks like another World Cup disappointment for England again.


Rooney almost certainly out , Owen not fit and various problems with other players - not to mention the enduring management of Eriksson who should have pushed off long ago.

To be honest though even with Rooney I doubt we would win the cup anyway - and just remember how the England team virutally fell apart against Portugal 2 years ago when Rooney was taken off injured.

This is a real shame as one of the things I was looking forward to most on my return home was to be able to will the England team on at the pub.

Still , who knows - a miracle may happen and 40 years of hurt could be over..

[ChiangMai noon]

I'm truly devastated.

[BigRed]

Not as devistated as Rooney's Uncle

BigRed

[Old Croc]

Are you Pommy whingers looking for excuses before it even starts?

[Old Croc]

How will you feel if the Socceroos finish ahead of the Old Blighted?!!

[Butterfly]

So will the French win again, those bastards ?

[aging one]

Oh that was cruel. What about the USA? Its suppose to be a team sport, so there should be some solution. Why doesnt Owen step up and take charge? Over 20 weeks since his injury?

[Old Croc]

I'm truly devastated.

Is Wales in the big one?

[aging one]

Ouch, that hurt. And I aint even CMN!!

[ChiangMai noon]

Is Wales in the big one?

Not in my life time and probably never in the rest of my life.
I always enjoy supporting anyone England is playing.

unfortunately our qualifying group usually includes bigger teams than Tonga and Western Samoa.

[Old Croc]

Is Wales in the big one?

Not in my life time and probably never in the rest of my life.
I always enjoy supporting anyone England is playing.

unfortunately our qualifying group usually includes bigger teams than Tonga and Western Samoa.

Like Uraquay (spelling) . (two time winners)

[ChiangMai noon]

Like Uraquay

....... 1742 and 1764 i believe.

[Old Croc]

Maybe you, Scotland and the Channel Islands can put together a team next time (you could call it The United Wankdom) Cmn.
Until then hold out for Thailand, they'll get there before Wales.

[Fast Eddie]

Like Uraquay (spelling) . (two time winners)

Yeah, Uraguay are fairly weak. I would say there is next to no chance of Australia progressing further than England.

Despite Rooney's injury we still have a very good side, and should expect to be one of the main contenders.

It's not the strongest of World Cup line ups i've seen, with the exception of Brazil none of the other traditional heavyweights stand out from each other that much. Hence why Brazil's price to win is so short, i guess.

[Old Croc]

I don't neccessarily want Australia to win the cup. I just want to beat England!! The 3-1 result last time has been downgraded by all the bad sports. I just want to meet again, on the biggest stage, and prove who are the the best!

[Troubled]

^
Go for it now as as of the next world cup Australia will be in the Asian qualifying groups - much harder than at present and will get more difficult as time goes by

[Old Croc]

^
Go for it now as as of the next world cup Australia will be in the Asian qualifying groups - much harder than at present and will get more difficult as time goes by

Australia has been trying to get into that group for decades. We've always been thrown up against a South American country to qualify.
Asia holds no terrors.

[ChiangMai noon]

You have always been able to get to the play offs because your group is quite awful.
You then come up aginst the best non qualified South american team who are pretty good.
you have a 50..50 chance and I'm glad you beat Uruguay this year.

the Asian qualifying group will be much tougher though.

[Old Croc]

Agree with your first three sentences. I believe the Asian group to be easier than the highest non qualified South American country. Australia has an excellent (if not unbeaten) record against all Asian countries in recent years.

Good to see you got rid of that stupid photoshop picture from your signature CMn!

[Fast Eddie]

I think that Australia won't find it too hard to qualify through the Asian groups. The standard, in general, is fairly poor. They will probably prefer a series of matches against such opposition, aiming at taking one of the few places currently available, rather than a two legged tie against South American opposition for the one place available.

Playing against the ridiculously weak sides that they currently encounter in their qualification group isn't good competitive practice for the real thing anyway.

[Old Croc]

I think that Australia won't find it too hard to qualify through the Asian groups. The standard, in general, is fairly poor. They will probably prefer a series of matches against such opposition, aiming at taking one of the few places currently available, rather than a two legged tie against South American opposition for the one place available.

Playing against the ridiculously weak sides that they currently encounter in their qualification group isn't good competitive practice for the real thing anyway.

Agree with all the above.
An Australian player has the world goal scoring record, having scored 13 against a pathetic south Pacific country.
Not reasonable opposition.

[colourful-era]

Anyone see the New Zealand v. Malaysia games a few months ago?

They were truly abysmal... (both sides)

[colourful-era]

anyway this thread seems to have gone off topic as usual..

so what about England's chances without Rooney?