Not the entire squad but there's names there - Payet, Lacazette, Benzema, Martial and Laporte - that would walk into an England squad, if not the first XI for most of them.
Based on the responses I've had... How many expected Costa Rica to get out of their Group?
France have a piss easy Group yet eight years ago got a point from Uruguay | Mexico | South Africa
When I said that Germany / Brazil are the only sides guaranteed to get out of their Groups, they're the only two sides you'd never expect to struggle regardless of the other three teams that they're put with
Based on the responses I've had... How many expected Costa Rica to get out of their Group?
France have a piss easy Group yet eight years ago got a point from Uruguay | Mexico | South Africa
When I said that Germany / Brazil are the only sides guaranteed to get out of their Groups, they're the only two sides you'd never expect to struggle regardless of the other three teams that they're put with
Absolutely. If football has taught me anything the last few years its how unpredictable it is (especially when I’ve had a bet).
Based on the responses I've had... How many expected Costa Rica to get out of their Group?
France have a piss easy Group yet eight years ago got a point from Uruguay | Mexico | South Africa
When I said that Germany / Brazil are the only sides guaranteed to get out of their Groups, they're the only two sides you'd never expect to struggle regardless of the other three teams that they're put with
Absolutely. If football has taught me anything the last few years its how unpredictable it is (especially when I’ve had a bet).
I wont bet on it as will probably back fire yet wont be surprised if one from the below fails to get to the 2nd Round
England | Belgium | France | Spain | Argentina | Portugal
What makes the World Cup even better than the Euros now is the fact that you cant get through if you finish third... Every Group game @ Euro 2016 was poor because it was about ensuring a draw so you stood a chance to progress.
At the World Cup though, if you lose the first game you're putting yourself at risk of instant elimination
i.e. Germany v Portugal was the first game of their Group in Brazil; Germany won 4-0 which meant that Portugal missed out qualifying for the 2nd Round on Goal Difference (United States pipped them to it)
Portugal v Spain is the first game this year too so the losers of that will have a lot of catching up to do - Its one reason why I'm relieved that England v Belgium is the last game as fully see that as a draw, with both teams trying to avoid what might be a potential Second Round clash against Colombia
France squad looks very good , but 3 strikers doesn't really leave them much Giroud, Mbappe and Greizeman. Seems a bit flawed to me and will need a bit of luck.
Still cant believe Wilshere is in there, makes no sense at all and Delph getting in even as a utility player i dont get he has been injured for half the season.
And the England squad of top internationals is Kane,.Sterling, Alli and err..that other bloke and what's his name who used to play for Chelsea..etc etc.
Weakest England defence in world cup history and most boring midfield.
I believe people were pretty uninspired about our squad pre Italia 90 and Euro 96 and we suprised a few people along with having a bit of luck. Pre Japan 02 we had the golden generation and were in the main a disappointment along with every tournament since. Young squad + lack of expectation could = a good tournament for us.
And the England squad of top internationals is Kane,.Sterling, Alli and err..that other bloke and what's his name who used to play for Chelsea..etc etc.
Weakest England defence in world cup history and most boring midfield.
And most underqualified manager.
Have you ever seen how poor Joachim Low was when he was in club Football?
He was sacked @ Karlsruhe (basically relegated them), won the German Cup once and was Runner-Up in the Cup Winners Cup (Nearly 20-years before he won the World Cup with Germany) - Oh he also won the Austrian League.
Southgate hasnt won anything himself, but other International Managers havent exactly set the world alight in Club Football
And the England squad of top internationals is Kane,.Sterling, Alli and err..that other bloke and what's his name who used to play for Chelsea..etc etc.
Weakest England defence in world cup history and most boring midfield.
And most underqualified manager.
Have you ever seen how poor Joachim Low was when he was in club Football?
He was sacked @ Karlsruhe (basically relegated them), won the German Cup once and was Runner-Up in the Cup Winners Cup (Nearly 20-years before he won the World Cup with Germany) - Oh he also won the Austrian League.
Southgate hasnt won anything himself, but other International Managers havent exactly set the world alight in Club Football
Plus the experience Southgate had with the under 21s(and managing a number of the current 1st team squad)
And the England squad of top internationals is Kane,.Sterling, Alli and err..that other bloke and what's his name who used to play for Chelsea..etc etc.
Weakest England defence in world cup history and most boring midfield.
And most underqualified manager.
Have you ever seen how poor Joachim Low was when he was in club Football?
He was sacked @ Karlsruhe (basically relegated them), won the German Cup once and was Runner-Up in the Cup Winners Cup (Nearly 20-years before he won the World Cup with Germany) - Oh he also won the Austrian League.
Southgate hasnt won anything himself, but other International Managers havent exactly set the world alight in Club Football
Plus the experience Southgate had with the under 21s(and managing a number of the current 1st team squad)
I guess the advantage Low has had in that respect is the fact he was Assistant Coach to Klinsmann originally so was well known the playing staff etc. Yet look at our youth sides and those that are managing them at the moment:
Aide Boothroyd: You wouldnt want him anywhere near your team yet doing well with the U21s
Keith Downing: He's now in charge of the U20s continuing the good work from Paul Simpson who won the World Cup at that age group last year, yet flopped with Cheltenham
Paul Simpson: As mentioned yet his CV has Preston | Stockport | Shrewsbury | Carlisle on it
None of them have great looking CVs but at the moment it seems to be working for England which is the main thing...
Read a good article today which says that Southgate is no longer banning chips (Players will just smuggle them in) or phones (get players showing each other vidoes during dinner etc.), certainly seems less disciplined than Capello etc. which'll hopefully be a good thing
On paper you’d say that looks better but I doubt you’ve watched many of these players. Quite a few have had dreadful seasons
If that French 23 was English it’d be getting ripped apart for containing players on terrible form ffs
A lot of them have not had bad seasons at all. Kondogbia has been brilliant along with Rabiot and many more.
If Welbeck has performed like Martial he’d be in the reserves If Henderson had performed like bakoyoko there’d be outrage Benzema might play for the best team in the world but he’s nowhere near Kane’s level
England don’t have a great squad but it’s reached a point where our players are being unfairly judged because of the English stigma
Comments
One is a Striker, the other is a Defensive Midfielder?
Out of all the sides in Russia this year the only two that I think are guaranteed to get out of their Group are Germany and Brazil
If that French 23 was English it’d be getting ripped apart for containing players on terrible form ffs
Spain will finish in top 2 with Portugual, Morocco and Iran in there group
France will finish in top 2 with Denmark, Peru and Australia
Cant see England or Belgium failing to qualify with Tunisia and Panama
France have a piss easy Group yet eight years ago got a point from Uruguay | Mexico | South Africa
When I said that Germany / Brazil are the only sides guaranteed to get out of their Groups, they're the only two sides you'd never expect to struggle regardless of the other three teams that they're put with
England | Belgium | France | Spain | Argentina | Portugal
Not exactly full of talent and can see that group finishing
Spain 9 points
Portugual 4 points
Iran 4 points
Morocco 0 points
And it goes down to GD for 2nd
At the World Cup though, if you lose the first game you're putting yourself at risk of instant elimination
i.e. Germany v Portugal was the first game of their Group in Brazil; Germany won 4-0 which meant that Portugal missed out qualifying for the 2nd Round on Goal Difference (United States pipped them to it)
Portugal v Spain is the first game this year too so the losers of that will have a lot of catching up to do - Its one reason why I'm relieved that England v Belgium is the last game as fully see that as a draw, with both teams trying to avoid what might be a potential Second Round clash against Colombia
Still cant believe Wilshere is in there, makes no sense at all and Delph getting in even as a utility player i dont get he has been injured for half the season.
Weakest England defence in world cup history and most boring midfield.
And most underqualified manager.
He was sacked @ Karlsruhe (basically relegated them), won the German Cup once and was Runner-Up in the Cup Winners Cup (Nearly 20-years before he won the World Cup with Germany) - Oh he also won the Austrian League.
Southgate hasnt won anything himself, but other International Managers havent exactly set the world alight in Club Football
Aide Boothroyd: You wouldnt want him anywhere near your team yet doing well with the U21s
Keith Downing: He's now in charge of the U20s continuing the good work from Paul Simpson who won the World Cup at that age group last year, yet flopped with Cheltenham
Paul Simpson: As mentioned yet his CV has Preston | Stockport | Shrewsbury | Carlisle on it
None of them have great looking CVs but at the moment it seems to be working for England which is the main thing...
Read a good article today which says that Southgate is no longer banning chips (Players will just smuggle them in) or phones (get players showing each other vidoes during dinner etc.), certainly seems less disciplined than Capello etc. which'll hopefully be a good thing
If Henderson had performed like bakoyoko there’d be outrage
Benzema might play for the best team in the world but he’s nowhere near Kane’s level
England don’t have a great squad but it’s reached a point where our players are being unfairly judged because of the English stigma