Whoop! Who did the mighty Aussies beat to get this far? The Pitcairn Islands? Outer Mongolia who could only field three humans so made their numbers up with Yaks?
Whoop! Who did the mighty Aussies beat to get this far? The Pitcairn Islands? Outer Mongolia who could only field three humans so made their numbers up with Yaks?
And let’s not forget that four of the yaks were getting their first full international caps.
Gutted for the Syrians to make it all the way to extra time and then lose it after their multiple last minute winners and equalisers. Suppose their luck ran out.
Whoop! Who did the mighty Aussies beat to get this far? The Pitcairn Islands? Outer Mongolia who could only field three humans so made their numbers up with Yaks?
And let’s not forget that four of the yaks were getting their first full international caps.
Being the football nerd that I am, I can even name the 4 Yaks...
Jackson Yak AKA "Yacko" Solly Yak "Yaks" Naby Yak "Yuk" Josh Yak "MacYak"
And the little known fact that the coach was also a Yak by the name of Robbo Yak AKA "Yakity,Yakity,Yak,Yak" and his deputy coach who was called Fred.
Gutted for the Syrians to make it all the way to extra time and then lose it after their multiple last minute winners and equalisers. Suppose their luck ran out.
Gutted for them to be honest. As for luck I think ladyluck deserted Syria ages ago
Whoop! Who did the mighty Aussies beat to get this far? The Pitcairn Islands? Outer Mongolia who could only field three humans so made their numbers up with Yaks?
And let’s not forget that four of the yaks were getting their first full international caps.
Being the football nerd that I am, I can even name the 4 Yaks...
Jackson Yak AKA "Yacko" Solly Yak "Yaks" Naby Yak "Yuk" Josh Yak "MacYak"
And the little known fact that the coach was also a Yak by the name of Robbo Yak AKA "Yakity,Yakity,Yak,Yak" and his deputy coach who was called Fred.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
You are pretty close to hitting the nail square in there mate
They were reporting tickets sales ahead of the game tonight to be around 40,000 in a 80,000 capacity stadium and they had to win or draw without conceding.....Football is very much a 4th or 5th rate sport here.
They struggle to keep any talented players in the A league.....Look where Mooy has come from...Wanderers and then Melbourne City to parent club Man City then Huddersfield...as soon as there is any talent it gets lost overseas to the bigger playing stage (and pay day) in Europe. We then get lumbered with stupid marquee players and I use that word lightly...with the likes of Owen and Fowler coming into that category in their dotage and that is supposed to make up for natural home grown talent. Its understandable that the public lose interest and you have to remember that Australians regularly change who they support to the team that's winning at the time, and that happens right across the different codes here.
I agree about football dropping down the sporting rankings in Oz. We have no ‘poster boys’ any more and the current coaching/training philosophy is producing ‘robots’ I.e. players that pass sideways and backwards. Not sure about fans changing teams they follow. AFL and NRL followers ‘inherit’ the team they follow and stick with them?
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
Jesus Christ... Is he still playing? - Feels like he was 38 when he was helping Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup!!
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
Jesus Christ... Is he still playing? - Feels like he was 38 when he was helping Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup!!
England have much, much better players than Australia. Not too many Is players are playing at a decent level. The loss to Iceland needs to be put into perspective - they are a very decent side as they have just proven in their qualification group. Our problem is we still think we are up there with the top nations.
I doubt @Eirik Bakke will be pleased about the result. He has a mild displeasure of Australians!
Believe it or not mate, I actually wanted the convicts to get a result last night, I want them to qualify for the tournament, just for the fact it will get a decent coverage down here! Imagine if they fail to qualify? It'll be pushed out to Optus tv or some obscure media channel!
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
I doubt @Eirik Bakke will be pleased about the result. He has a mild displeasure of Australians!
Believe it or not mate, I actually wanted the convicts to get a result last night, I want them to qualify for the tournament, just for the fact it will get a decent coverage down here! Imagine if they fail to qualify? It'll be pushed out to Optus tv or some obscure media channel!
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
Exactly - how many of our players would the top clubs in Italy, France, Spain and Germany even want?
Kane obviously but there are very, very few others, maybe Ali and Cahill but go back to 1990 and Mark Wright, Pearce, Walker, Platt, Gascogne, Barnes, Lineker, Waddle, Steven and maybe others either did play for top European clubs or could have if they wanted to.
I really think that many people don't quite see how far the English national team has dropped in the last 10 years - but you only need to look at the last four big tournaments to see the decline.
In the last five major tournaments we have failed to beat anybody of any note beyond Sweden - beating Wales, Ukraine, Slovenia and Trinidad - all very narrowly mind you - is hardly cause for celebration.
The sad thing is there is no sign things will get better - and, no, winning the U-19 World Cup or whatever happened in the summer means nothing since we know what will happen to most of those players....
2016 Euros
Russia D 1-1 Wales W 2-1 Slovakia D 0-0 Iceland L 1-2
2014 World Cup
Italy L 1-2 Uruguay L 1-2 Costa Rica D 0-0
2012 Euros
France D 1-1 Sweden W 3-2 Ukraine W 1-0 Italy D 0-0
2010 World Cup
USA D 1-1 Algeria D 0-0 Slovenia W 1-0 Germany L 4-1
2008 Euros
DNQ
2006 World Cup
Paraguay W 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago W 2-0 Sweden D 2-2 Ecuador W 2-1 Portugal D 0-0
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
If our top players were playing abroad would we be preforming a lot better? Past experience says no, things aren't that clear cut. Only thing that we'll be sure of is people complaining that the English league is poor and none of the best players play in it.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
If our top players were playing abroad would we be preforming a lot better? Past experience says no, things aren't that clear cut. Only thing that we'll be sure of is people complaining that the English league is poor and none of the best players play in it.
That's just wrong, clearly in Italy 1990 we had a number of genuine world class players who went on to play abroad - even in 2002 (with our best squad since 1990) we had the same.
In 2002 we had Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell, Cole, Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen who either did or could have played overseas in a major league.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
No chance. Australia finished 3rd and only made a play off in a group that featured Japan, Saudi arabia, UAE, Iraq and Thailand
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
If our top players were playing abroad would we be preforming a lot better? Past experience says no, things aren't that clear cut. Only thing that we'll be sure of is people complaining that the English league is poor and none of the best players play in it.
That's just wrong, clearly in Italy 1990 we had a number of genuine world class players who went on to play abroad - even in 2002 (with our best squad since 1990) we had the same.
In 2002 we had Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell, Cole, Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen who either did or could have played overseas in a major league.
Now we have Kane and maybe Ali.
Euro 88 and 92 we didn't get out of the group stages. '94 we didn't qualify. The 90 world cup was unexpected to say the least.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
No chance. Australia finished 3rd and only made a play off in a group that featured Japan, Saudi arabia, UAE, Iraq and Thailand
England are a better side than Australia - but not really by that much.
Both teams are basically cannon fodder for the serious teams and neither would have much hope of getting out of the Group stages of the World Cup.
Results don't lie - in the last Euros England scraped past Wales in injury time, drew with Russia and Slovakia (both crap - Wales beat them both) before losing to the might of Iceland.
In the previous World Cup England gained a solitary point in their group - whilst Australia lost to Chile, Holland and Spain - very similar results.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
Exactly - how many of our players would the top clubs in Italy, France, Spain and Germany even want?
Kane obviously but there are very, very few others, maybe Ali and Cahill but go back to 1990 and Mark Wright, Pearce, Walker, Platt, Gascogne, Barnes, Lineker, Waddle, Steven and maybe others either did play for top European clubs or could have if they wanted to.
I really think that many people don't quite see how far the English national team has dropped in the last 10 years - but you only need to look at the last four big tournaments to see the decline.
In the last five major tournaments we have failed to beat anybody of any note beyond Sweden - beating Wales, Ukraine, Slovenia and Trinidad - all very narrowly mind you - is hardly cause for celebration.
The sad thing is there is no sign things will get better - and, no, winning the U-19 World Cup or whatever happened in the summer means nothing since we know what will happen to most of those players....
2016 Euros
Russia D 1-1 Wales W 2-1 Slovakia D 0-0 Iceland L 1-2
2014 World Cup
Italy L 1-2 Uruguay L 1-2 Costa Rica D 0-0
2012 Euros
France D 1-1 Sweden W 3-2 Ukraine W 1-0 Italy D 0-0
2010 World Cup
USA D 1-1 Algeria D 0-0 Slovenia W 1-0 Germany L 4-1
2008 Euros
DNQ
2006 World Cup
Paraguay W 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago W 2-0 Sweden D 2-2 Ecuador W 2-1 Portugal D 0-0
Have you just claimed that Mark Wright was world class? Granted he did a job against Holland in Italy but come on!
I think after losing to Iceland and even worse drawing in Scotland people are aware of how bad the national team are.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
Exactly - how many of our players would the top clubs in Italy, France, Spain and Germany even want?
Kane obviously but there are very, very few others, maybe Ali and Cahill but go back to 1990 and Mark Wright, Pearce, Walker, Platt, Gascogne, Barnes, Lineker, Waddle, Steven and maybe others either did play for top European clubs or could have if they wanted to.
I really think that many people don't quite see how far the English national team has dropped in the last 10 years - but you only need to look at the last four big tournaments to see the decline.
In the last five major tournaments we have failed to beat anybody of any note beyond Sweden - beating Wales, Ukraine, Slovenia and Trinidad - all very narrowly mind you - is hardly cause for celebration.
The sad thing is there is no sign things will get better - and, no, winning the U-19 World Cup or whatever happened in the summer means nothing since we know what will happen to most of those players....
2016 Euros
Russia D 1-1 Wales W 2-1 Slovakia D 0-0 Iceland L 1-2
2014 World Cup
Italy L 1-2 Uruguay L 1-2 Costa Rica D 0-0
2012 Euros
France D 1-1 Sweden W 3-2 Ukraine W 1-0 Italy D 0-0
2010 World Cup
USA D 1-1 Algeria D 0-0 Slovenia W 1-0 Germany L 4-1
2008 Euros
DNQ
2006 World Cup
Paraguay W 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago W 2-0 Sweden D 2-2 Ecuador W 2-1 Portugal D 0-0
Have you just claimed that Mark Wright was world class? Granted he did a job against Holland in Italy but come on!
I think after losing to Iceland and even worse drawing in Scotland people are aware of how bad the national team are.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
Exactly - how many of our players would the top clubs in Italy, France, Spain and Germany even want?
Kane obviously but there are very, very few others, maybe Ali and Cahill but go back to 1990 and Mark Wright, Pearce, Walker, Platt, Gascogne, Barnes, Lineker, Waddle, Steven and maybe others either did play for top European clubs or could have if they wanted to.
I really think that many people don't quite see how far the English national team has dropped in the last 10 years - but you only need to look at the last four big tournaments to see the decline.
In the last five major tournaments we have failed to beat anybody of any note beyond Sweden - beating Wales, Ukraine, Slovenia and Trinidad - all very narrowly mind you - is hardly cause for celebration.
The sad thing is there is no sign things will get better - and, no, winning the U-19 World Cup or whatever happened in the summer means nothing since we know what will happen to most of those players....
2016 Euros
Russia D 1-1 Wales W 2-1 Slovakia D 0-0 Iceland L 1-2
2014 World Cup
Italy L 1-2 Uruguay L 1-2 Costa Rica D 0-0
2012 Euros
France D 1-1 Sweden W 3-2 Ukraine W 1-0 Italy D 0-0
2010 World Cup
USA D 1-1 Algeria D 0-0 Slovenia W 1-0 Germany L 4-1
2008 Euros
DNQ
2006 World Cup
Paraguay W 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago W 2-0 Sweden D 2-2 Ecuador W 2-1 Portugal D 0-0
Have you just claimed that Mark Wright was world class? Granted he did a job against Holland in Italy but come on!
I think after losing to Iceland and even worse drawing in Scotland people are aware of how bad the national team are.
Wright was a very good player, he turned England around in that tournament with his ability on the ball in a back three.
Once he came into the side we only conceded three goals in the next five games.
He ended up at Liverpool and would have won more than 40 caps if it weren't for injury.
Top class defender in my view but obviously you don't agree!
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
Exactly - how many of our players would the top clubs in Italy, France, Spain and Germany even want?
Kane obviously but there are very, very few others, maybe Ali and Cahill but go back to 1990 and Mark Wright, Pearce, Walker, Platt, Gascogne, Barnes, Lineker, Waddle, Steven and maybe others either did play for top European clubs or could have if they wanted to.
I really think that many people don't quite see how far the English national team has dropped in the last 10 years - but you only need to look at the last four big tournaments to see the decline.
In the last five major tournaments we have failed to beat anybody of any note beyond Sweden - beating Wales, Ukraine, Slovenia and Trinidad - all very narrowly mind you - is hardly cause for celebration.
The sad thing is there is no sign things will get better - and, no, winning the U-19 World Cup or whatever happened in the summer means nothing since we know what will happen to most of those players....
2016 Euros
Russia D 1-1 Wales W 2-1 Slovakia D 0-0 Iceland L 1-2
2014 World Cup
Italy L 1-2 Uruguay L 1-2 Costa Rica D 0-0
2012 Euros
France D 1-1 Sweden W 3-2 Ukraine W 1-0 Italy D 0-0
2010 World Cup
USA D 1-1 Algeria D 0-0 Slovenia W 1-0 Germany L 4-1
2008 Euros
DNQ
2006 World Cup
Paraguay W 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago W 2-0 Sweden D 2-2 Ecuador W 2-1 Portugal D 0-0
Have you just claimed that Mark Wright was world class? Granted he did a job against Holland in Italy but come on!
I think after losing to Iceland and even worse drawing in Scotland people are aware of how bad the national team are.
Wright was a very good player, he turned England around in that tournament with his ability on the ball in a back three.
Once he came into the side we only conceded three goals in the next five games.
He ended up at Liverpool and would have won more than 40 caps if it weren't for injury.
Top class defender in my view but obviously you don't agree!
Too right I don't agree! Not in the same league as Adams, Campbell, Ferdinand, Terry, etc.
To be honest Australia and England are probably about the same standard - both are bang average with no world class players at all.
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
We're far superior to Australia, especially at youth level.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
The slight difference is that the best players from Belgium especially, all play abroad. This even partially applies to the German squad.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
If our top players were playing abroad would we be preforming a lot better? Past experience says no, things aren't that clear cut. Only thing that we'll be sure of is people complaining that the English league is poor and none of the best players play in it.
The problem is that very few players are wanted abroad by the best teams, or are prepared to lower their wages to play for a lesser team
But my point was, that when Southgate picks his team, he has a national top league with only 36% players being English, BUT not because the rest are playing abroad, as instead they're either not playing or are in the Championship. That's a really poor selection to pick from, especially when many of the top flight English players are frankly journeymen
Comments
Jackson Yak AKA "Yacko"
Solly Yak "Yaks"
Naby Yak "Yuk"
Josh Yak "MacYak"
And the little known fact that the coach was also a Yak by the name of Robbo Yak AKA "Yakity,Yakity,Yak,Yak" and his deputy coach who was called Fred.
As for luck I think ladyluck deserted Syria ages ago
The reason for that is simple, in both the EPL and the A-League there are foreign players dominating the key positions in the team.
Brisbane have just replaced their top Aussie striker with a 38 year old Massimo Maccarone and virtually every team has a foreign striker and playmaker.
Look at the EPL and you see exactly the same thing - the only England striker at a top team is Kane and when was the last time we produced a play maker? Scholes probably.
The Aussies certainly looked better at the last World Cup than we did - and at least they haven't lost to fucking Iceland.
Honduras will bully Aussies.
Foreign players dominating a domestic league is tired argument. 64% of players in the premiership are foreign, not much different to the 60% in Belgium, 53% in Germany and 52% in Italy.
It wouldn't matter having 64% of players in the PL being foreign, if many of our top players were playing abroad instead...
Kane obviously but there are very, very few others, maybe Ali and Cahill but go back to 1990 and Mark Wright, Pearce, Walker, Platt, Gascogne, Barnes, Lineker, Waddle, Steven and maybe others either did play for top European clubs or could have if they wanted to.
I really think that many people don't quite see how far the English national team has dropped in the last 10 years - but you only need to look at the last four big tournaments to see the decline.
In the last five major tournaments we have failed to beat anybody of any note beyond Sweden - beating Wales, Ukraine, Slovenia and Trinidad - all very narrowly mind you - is hardly cause for celebration.
The sad thing is there is no sign things will get better - and, no, winning the U-19 World Cup or whatever happened in the summer means nothing since we know what will happen to most of those players....
2016 Euros
Russia D 1-1
Wales W 2-1
Slovakia D 0-0
Iceland L 1-2
2014 World Cup
Italy L 1-2
Uruguay L 1-2
Costa Rica D 0-0
2012 Euros
France D 1-1
Sweden W 3-2
Ukraine W 1-0
Italy D 0-0
2010 World Cup
USA D 1-1
Algeria D 0-0
Slovenia W 1-0
Germany L 4-1
2008 Euros
DNQ
2006 World Cup
Paraguay W 1-0
Trinidad & Tobago W 2-0
Sweden D 2-2
Ecuador W 2-1
Portugal D 0-0
In 2002 we had Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell, Cole, Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen who either did or could have played overseas in a major league.
Now we have Kane and maybe Ali.
Both teams are basically cannon fodder for the serious teams and neither would have much hope of getting out of the Group stages of the World Cup.
Results don't lie - in the last Euros England scraped past Wales in injury time, drew with Russia and Slovakia (both crap - Wales beat them both) before losing to the might of Iceland.
In the previous World Cup England gained a solitary point in their group - whilst Australia lost to Chile, Holland and Spain - very similar results.
I think after losing to Iceland and even worse drawing in Scotland people are aware of how bad the national team are.
Once he came into the side we only conceded three goals in the next five games.
He ended up at Liverpool and would have won more than 40 caps if it weren't for injury.
Top class defender in my view but obviously you don't agree!
But my point was, that when Southgate picks his team, he has a national top league with only 36% players being English, BUT not because the rest are playing abroad, as instead they're either not playing or are in the Championship. That's a really poor selection to pick from, especially when many of the top flight English players are frankly journeymen