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The World Cup 2014 Thread


Woodsinho

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England didn't play as well as they did against Italy, which was disappointing. How many times is Steven Gerrard going to gift the opposition goals when it really matters? His record must be impressive in that respect. Heading it backwards when you know Suarez is behind you? Foolishness.

 

England really lack deep midfielders, either defensive or playmakers. Gerrard probably got the gig because he's less crap than the alternatives. Henderson is better playing higher up the pitch. Gerrard needed a bit of grit next to him if he's going to play the deep role. A De Rossi or a Schweinsteiger. England are just jampacked with attacking midfielders and wingers, and still play two converted attacking midfielders deep in midfield. There's no balance in the squad, because there's not really many options available in those positions. Everyone wants to be the #10.

 

Anyway. Sterling, Sturridge and Welbeck were pretty awful, and nowhere near as impressive as they were in the first game. Cahill and Rooney were probably the only England players who played well.

 

Godin should have been sent off early in the game which would have put Uruguay down to 10 men for around an hour. Could have been a different game.

 

Would be great if Uruguay still crashed out, after they were celebrating the win like they'd just reached the final.

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Really found myself getting behing England last night, which was a welcome change.  I even said "Come on, England!" a couple of times and I was pretty disappointed at the end.  Gerrard seriously flatters to deceive.  Sure, he plays the odd brilliant 40 yard pass, but he also plays the odd terrible 20 yards pass.  Was falling over a lot and was responsible for both Uruguay goals.  I really rate Huddlestone, would rather he was in the England midfield.  Genuinely.

 

A lot of losing the ball in the final third, particularly on the flanks, but Sturridge was coming way too deep.  He's good on the ball when he does, but they needed somebody up top more often.  You had guys on the flanks, Baines in particular, looking up for the cross, with not a single England player in the box.  So they'd dribble on a bit and lose possession.  England should have been busting a guy toe flood the box, they took their passing game too far in the final 3rd. 

 

Its still more feasible than you'd think for them to qualify, though.  If they up their game vs Costa Rica, they have a good chance, as long as Italy win their games. 

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No team has ever lost their first 2 group games and gone through to the next round. I don't expect that to change, but the circumstances don't look impossible. I think Italy definitely have it in them to win both games as I think they are the strongest and most well-balanced team in the group. They seem to have a very organised defence, and a solid midfield. It's hard to judge Costa Rica from the opening game. Were they good, or were Uruguay totally awful? Uruguay don't seem to have much going on besides Suarez. Cavani has been disappointing, even though he got the assist. He looks to be playing at 50% as if he can barely run. Their defence looks terrible, but England rarely looked to get at it. Italy will certainly get at them a bit more than England did.

 

If Italy do win tonight, it needs to be comfortable win, to give England a chance with the goal difference. Either that, or England stuff Costa Rica next week, which seems even more unrealistic. They'll probably scrape a 1-0 win, from a Gary Cahill scuffed header.

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Actually feel a little bit sorry for Hodgson - the Nigels are playing a far better type of football from the last few tournaments, but a couple of defensive brainfarts later and they're probably going out.

 

There were some absolute loonies on Talksport post game wanting rid of the 'dinosaurs in the FA' and appointing Harry Redknapp.... :laughing:  :laughing:  :laughing: :laughing:  

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Were they good, or were Uruguay totally awful? Uruguay don't seem to have much going on besides Suarez. Cavani has been disappointing, even though he got the assist. 

 

Uruguay are not good without Suarez. Cavani's assist only means something because Suarez is clever enough to make that run off the back of Jagielka and similarly he's the only player who'd take a chance on Gerrard on fluffing that clearance (and why was it Gerrard going for that header? Jagielka was only be 5 yards behind him so he's much better placed to attack the ball with a good run on it rather than a backpedalling Gerrard and even then WHAT THE FUCK IS HE DOING NOT WATCHING TO SEE IF THE BALL IS ACTUALLY CLEARED?)

 

If the game plan was to get the full backs wide to put crosses in for the strikers (a good idea given how narrow Uruguay were playing) then Lambert should have been on much earlier too. It wouldn't have been the same as previous throw the big man on enterprises where balls are being punted in from 40 yards out - we were getting into great positions to put in dangerous crosses.

 

Gerrard can't play as a holding midfielder either, he sits in front of the defence but appears to be totally powerless to shield them defensively and he was constantly getting in the way when we got the ball back, occupying the same space as Cahill when he'd come out of the backline with the ball. More often than not there was a 30-40 yard gap between Henderson/Gerrard and Welbeck/Rooney/Sterling which does us no good either.

 

Lovely move for Rooney's goal though so at least I had something to cheer.

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A Norwegian talking about what its like to be a fan of the national team

 

Imagine you're dating this girl, and you have planned to go this cool party that you've been looking forward to for months. Hell, you even put this in your calendar long, long before that. You attended it once in 1994 and you had a blast and can't wait to get back. Then the night comes and you are ready to go. That bitch stays in the bathroom getting ready all night long, never getting done. You never get to go to that ****ing party. Ever.

An Englishman's reply,

 

 

At least you're not England. You go to the party dressed to impress, haven't got laid since '66 and this is the year your swollen bollocks get their sweet relief. But like the year before, and the year before that, you get blind drunk in the first half an hour and throw up all over the carpet.

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