Why is everyone expecting goals from Downing? He has made like 25 goals in his 11 year career, I'm pretty sure that's not why he is in any team. He took 720 shots in last seasons premier league without scoring -.-
If Hodgson tells him to play proper and just pass the ball to someone else he might be useful. From what I know about Hodgson he usually does not concern himself with what happens on the oppositions half. England can expect only as many goals as Defoe and Rooney can make on their own, I say 5 in the whole tournament.
On May 14 2012 12:03 Holgerius wrote: Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain), Viviano (Palermo). Defenders: D Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Palermo), Barzagli (Juventus) Bocchetti (Rubin Kazan), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter); Midfielders: Cigarini (Atalanta), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Giaccherini (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris St. Germain), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus),Schelotto (Atalanta), Verratti (Pescara); Strikers: Balotelli (Manchester City), Borini (Roma), Cassano (Milan), Destro (Siena), Di Natale (Udinese), Giovinco (Parma)
As much as I want to be optimistic, this is one of the worst italian squads I've seen. =/
Buffon(De Sanctis) Abate/ Juve back 2/ Maggio Montolivo/Marchisio/Pirlo/ Someone
Looks good IMHO, probably not the best attacking team I'd agree on that. Maybe if they give Balotelli a sanity pill and get one or two of the older fellas to give their best we can expect a good result. Pretty funny how there is only one Inter guy and 3 Milan guys now.
Cannot believe Richards and Adam Johnson aren't going, or that Downing, Carroll and Glen Johnson are. Hell, over the year Holt has been much better than Carroll, but he's not at one of the teams we choose from so there's never any chance in him going.
At least we can set our expectations low! We will be lucky to win a game this time.. if we somehow get out the group stage then its a success imo
Lol no we will finish 2nd in our group pretty comfertably, even if they play shit we will finish 2nd. Ukraine and Sweden winable games for England, we beat Sweden with a weaken team for the first time at wembley beginging of the year? So im confident we can beat them, especially considering Hodgson knows everything about Swedish football anyway. Then Ukraine game will be trickier due to them being at home but i fancy us to knick that 1 or 2-0 specially with it being Rooney's first game. France is the tricky one as we haven't beaten them since 1980s Euro was it i think, and in Euro 2000 we took the lead with a youngish solid team through Lampard but for Zidane to pop up and score a freekick and a penalty (whilst vommiting) so i expect us to get out of our group which is the minimun you would expect, then for where we go from there is straight home if we finish second. As Group D play Group C in knock out rounds.
Group C 1st Spain 2nd Italy (you would think unless Ireland or Croatia pull off crazy upsets) So England lose to France and finish 2nd they set up a game vs Spain in the last 8, they beat France they set up a game with Italy...I know which team id rather face! Be interesting if Spain would be a bit cautious of playing England after the Barca vs Chelsea match! Specially because im sure Hodgson would set them out to play pretty much the same vs them!
You clearly didn't read my 2 posts in this thread. Croatia is not upset, and Ireland would be so much more less upset then anything. I don't like how people underestimate some countries and they know for good that we are not bad neither are Irish. It's just biased you must look at the facts and I gave them in previous posts.
I will be here when you see that Spain will not have easy time (Italy will not have easy time for sure, I think they will not go trough group stage). Italy never won against Croatia. We are constantly on the top of the football and handball elites and you have no right to put us down so low. Yeah, in fact basically you have that right of opinion but it's unrealistic. Irony is that we have longer football tradition then Spain and somewhat same as Italians as Czech were first to play ball in these regions.
And again you all forgetting about Ukraine, what a shame, they will destroy someone and everyone will be jaws open like it's surprise. This is not friendly games, every country has it's own bad and good sides, it's football not StarCraft, big names don't play the best, team play the best. And for Ukraine team to lose in front of their slavic people it's shame, I don't know for anglosaxons but if Croatia doesn't pass group stage our nation will lynch them. Think about that, we are still pretty much barbaric people.
Cannot believe Richards and Adam Johnson aren't going, or that Downing, Carroll and Glen Johnson are. Hell, over the year Holt has been much better than Carroll, but he's not at one of the teams we choose from so there's never any chance in him going.
At least we can set our expectations low! We will be lucky to win a game this time.. if we somehow get out the group stage then its a success imo
Lol no we will finish 2nd in our group pretty comfertably, even if they play shit we will finish 2nd. Ukraine and Sweden winable games for England, we beat Sweden with a weaken team for the first time at wembley beginging of the year? So im confident we can beat them, especially considering Hodgson knows everything about Swedish football anyway. Then Ukraine game will be trickier due to them being at home but i fancy us to knick that 1 or 2-0 specially with it being Rooney's first game. France is the tricky one as we haven't beaten them since 1980s Euro was it i think, and in Euro 2000 we took the lead with a youngish solid team through Lampard but for Zidane to pop up and score a freekick and a penalty (whilst vommiting) so i expect us to get out of our group which is the minimun you would expect, then for where we go from there is straight home if we finish second. As Group D play Group C in knock out rounds.
Group C 1st Spain 2nd Italy (you would think unless Ireland or Croatia pull off crazy upsets) So England lose to France and finish 2nd they set up a game vs Spain in the last 8, they beat France they set up a game with Italy...I know which team id rather face! Be interesting if Spain would be a bit cautious of playing England after the Barca vs Chelsea match! Specially because im sure Hodgson would set them out to play pretty much the same vs them!
You clearly didn't read my 2 posts in this thread. Croatia is not upset, and Ireland would be so much more less upset then anything. I don't like how people underestimate some countries and they know for good that we are not bad neither are Irish. It's just biased you must look at the facts and I gave them in previous posts.
I will be here when you see that Spain will not have easy time (Italy will not have easy time for sure, I think they will not go trough group stage). Italy never won against Croatia. We are constantly on the top of the football and handball elites and you have no right to put us down so low. Yeah, in fact basically you have that right of opinion but it's unrealistic. Irony is that we have longer football tradition then Spain and somewhat same as Italians as Czech were first to play ball in these regions.
And again you all forgetting about Ukraine, what a shame, they will destroy someone and everyone will be jaws open like it's surprise. This is not friendly games, every country has it's own bad and good sides, it's football not StarCraft, big names don't play the best, team play the best. And for Ukraine team to lose in front of their slavic people it's shame, I don't know for anglosaxons but if Croatia doesn't pass group stage our nation will lynch them. Think about that, we are still pretty much barbaric people.
LOL wow! Yes you said it yourself this is not StarCraft your upsets of Croatia beating Spain and Italy along with Ireland doing the same is not going to happen. If Spain turn up and play the way they do they walk this group easily, there football is great at international level, keeping theb all away is perfect and they have the players to score for fun as you should know if you follow football. When Spain lose at the moment or even draw it is deemed a shock, and teams can't just defend well against them and expect to cause them problems, many teams have tried that and failed. Italy are always interesting to watch they didn't have a good world cup but still managed to get out of there group and do themselves a bit of justice, and now they have a younger squad which quite a bit of potential so they should be thought of as possible elimination down to Croatia and Ireland. I think your if anything over estimating your nations chances in these games, i understand this is football and anything can happen at some points in time as theres lots of facts to be bought up in appliance with that statement, but the last Euros and the last World Cup there is no chance of Croatia or Ireland playing up the level to give Spain a problem defensively, however im pretty sure both of your teams will be hard to break down and none would ever get beat 3 or more goals to 0 but im confident Spain will not concede much either. The Croatia team in itself is a nice average team with a big star in Modric, but one player will not win you the tournament or Portugal and Argentina would be favorites for every world cup at this moment in time but there not. Group C is the most predictable group i would say 2nd best to Group D. Group A and B are hard to call and there is potential upsets in these two. Also on your previous results you can't put yourself up any higher than you have down in hope and expectations. You were well beaten by Sweden Drew your home leg 0-0 to Turkey in the previous game which was the 2nd leg of play off's after winning 3-0 away from home. Then your other wins have come against Isreal Georgia Malta Lativa who you should be beating right? Then you drew 0-0 vs Ireland who you have in this group and loses to Greece and Sweden over the last year and you think you will be able to give Spain a game? Even if they don't have Puyol or a fit Villa? I wont even bother arguing the reasons Italy wont lose but im sure deep down you must know the Italians are no mugs at the back and they have some brilliant young strikers they have picked. So again you still think Croatia and Ireland have a chance at 1st and 2nd place in the groups?
Cannot believe Richards and Adam Johnson aren't going, or that Downing, Carroll and Glen Johnson are. Hell, over the year Holt has been much better than Carroll, but he's not at one of the teams we choose from so there's never any chance in him going.
At least we can set our expectations low! We will be lucky to win a game this time.. if we somehow get out the group stage then its a success imo
Lol no we will finish 2nd in our group pretty comfertably, even if they play shit we will finish 2nd. Ukraine and Sweden winable games for England, we beat Sweden with a weaken team for the first time at wembley beginging of the year? So im confident we can beat them, especially considering Hodgson knows everything about Swedish football anyway. Then Ukraine game will be trickier due to them being at home but i fancy us to knick that 1 or 2-0 specially with it being Rooney's first game. France is the tricky one as we haven't beaten them since 1980s Euro was it i think, and in Euro 2000 we took the lead with a youngish solid team through Lampard but for Zidane to pop up and score a freekick and a penalty (whilst vommiting) so i expect us to get out of our group which is the minimun you would expect, then for where we go from there is straight home if we finish second. As Group D play Group C in knock out rounds.
Group C 1st Spain 2nd Italy (you would think unless Ireland or Croatia pull off crazy upsets) So England lose to France and finish 2nd they set up a game vs Spain in the last 8, they beat France they set up a game with Italy...I know which team id rather face! Be interesting if Spain would be a bit cautious of playing England after the Barca vs Chelsea match! Specially because im sure Hodgson would set them out to play pretty much the same vs them!
You clearly didn't read my 2 posts in this thread. Croatia is not upset, and Ireland would be so much more less upset then anything. I don't like how people underestimate some countries and they know for good that we are not bad neither are Irish. It's just biased you must look at the facts and I gave them in previous posts.
I will be here when you see that Spain will not have easy time (Italy will not have easy time for sure, I think they will not go trough group stage). Italy never won against Croatia. We are constantly on the top of the football and handball elites and you have no right to put us down so low. Yeah, in fact basically you have that right of opinion but it's unrealistic. Irony is that we have longer football tradition then Spain and somewhat same as Italians as Czech were first to play ball in these regions.
And again you all forgetting about Ukraine, what a shame, they will destroy someone and everyone will be jaws open like it's surprise. This is not friendly games, every country has it's own bad and good sides, it's football not StarCraft, big names don't play the best, team play the best. And for Ukraine team to lose in front of their slavic people it's shame, I don't know for anglosaxons but if Croatia doesn't pass group stage our nation will lynch them. Think about that, we are still pretty much barbaric people.
LOL wow! Yes you said it yourself this is not StarCraft your upsets of Croatia beating Spain and Italy along with Ireland doing the same is not going to happen. If Spain turn up and play the way they do they walk this group easily, there football is great at international level, keeping theb all away is perfect and they have the players to score for fun as you should know if you follow football. When Spain lose at the moment or even draw it is deemed a shock, and teams can't just defend well against them and expect to cause them problems, many teams have tried that and failed. Italy are always interesting to watch they didn't have a good world cup but still managed to get out of there group and do themselves a bit of justice, and now they have a younger squad which quite a bit of potential so they should be thought of as possible elimination down to Croatia and Ireland. I think your if anything over estimating your nations chances in these games, i understand this is football and anything can happen at some points in time as theres lots of facts to be bought up in appliance with that statement, but the last Euros and the last World Cup there is no chance of Croatia or Ireland playing up the level to give Spain a problem defensively, however im pretty sure both of your teams will be hard to break down and none would ever get beat 3 or more goals to 0 but im confident Spain will not concede much either. The Croatia team in itself is a nice average team with a big star in Modric, but one player will not win you the tournament or Portugal and Argentina would be favorites for every world cup at this moment in time but there not. Group C is the most predictable group i would say 2nd best to Group D. Group A and B are hard to call and there is potential upsets in these two. Also on your previous results you can't put yourself up any higher than you have down in hope and expectations. You were well beaten by Sweden Drew your home leg 0-0 to Turkey in the previous game which was the 2nd leg of play off's after winning 3-0 away from home. Then your other wins have come against Isreal Georgia Malta Lativa who you should be beating right? Then you drew 0-0 vs Ireland who you have in this group and loses to Greece and Sweden over the last year and you think you will be able to give Spain a game? Even if they don't have Puyol or a fit Villa? I wont even bother arguing the reasons Italy wont lose but im sure deep down you must know the Italians are no mugs at the back and they have some brilliant young strikers they have picked. So again you still think Croatia and Ireland have a chance at 1st and 2nd place in the groups?
You didn't read my post. I give Spain and Italy all the props they need. But there are facts that prove that they are not invincible. Not even that, I would say that Spain is not invincible but they are clearly a favorite team but Italian team is no better on paper then Croatian team. As you know - they never won vs Croatia and I think our team will keep it that way. It depends on first game, if Croatia wins then hell brakes lose. If Croatia lose first game it may as well go all under and Ireland > Croatia in that scenario.
Of course I think, I'm not biased, I gave everyone a ups and downs, and you are giving me examples of friendly games that has no sense man. You are just seeing name of nation not the team. We will see what will future bring.
btw. I think Germany wins it all. And saying Modrić is our only "star" is also nonsense you cleary don't know our other players that are really great (Olić, Srna etc.)
Cannot believe Richards and Adam Johnson aren't going, or that Downing, Carroll and Glen Johnson are. Hell, over the year Holt has been much better than Carroll, but he's not at one of the teams we choose from so there's never any chance in him going.
At least we can set our expectations low! We will be lucky to win a game this time.. if we somehow get out the group stage then its a success imo
Lol no we will finish 2nd in our group pretty comfertably, even if they play shit we will finish 2nd. Ukraine and Sweden winable games for England, we beat Sweden with a weaken team for the first time at wembley beginging of the year? So im confident we can beat them, especially considering Hodgson knows everything about Swedish football anyway. Then Ukraine game will be trickier due to them being at home but i fancy us to knick that 1 or 2-0 specially with it being Rooney's first game. France is the tricky one as we haven't beaten them since 1980s Euro was it i think, and in Euro 2000 we took the lead with a youngish solid team through Lampard but for Zidane to pop up and score a freekick and a penalty (whilst vommiting) so i expect us to get out of our group which is the minimun you would expect, then for where we go from there is straight home if we finish second. As Group D play Group C in knock out rounds.
Group C 1st Spain 2nd Italy (you would think unless Ireland or Croatia pull off crazy upsets) So England lose to France and finish 2nd they set up a game vs Spain in the last 8, they beat France they set up a game with Italy...I know which team id rather face! Be interesting if Spain would be a bit cautious of playing England after the Barca vs Chelsea match! Specially because im sure Hodgson would set them out to play pretty much the same vs them!
You clearly didn't read my 2 posts in this thread. Croatia is not upset, and Ireland would be so much more less upset then anything. I don't like how people underestimate some countries and they know for good that we are not bad neither are Irish. It's just biased you must look at the facts and I gave them in previous posts.
I will be here when you see that Spain will not have easy time (Italy will not have easy time for sure, I think they will not go trough group stage). Italy never won against Croatia. We are constantly on the top of the football and handball elites and you have no right to put us down so low. Yeah, in fact basically you have that right of opinion but it's unrealistic. Irony is that we have longer football tradition then Spain and somewhat same as Italians as Czech were first to play ball in these regions.
And again you all forgetting about Ukraine, what a shame, they will destroy someone and everyone will be jaws open like it's surprise. This is not friendly games, every country has it's own bad and good sides, it's football not StarCraft, big names don't play the best, team play the best. And for Ukraine team to lose in front of their slavic people it's shame, I don't know for anglosaxons but if Croatia doesn't pass group stage our nation will lynch them. Think about that, we are still pretty much barbaric people.
LOL wow! Yes you said it yourself this is not StarCraft your upsets of Croatia beating Spain and Italy along with Ireland doing the same is not going to happen. If Spain turn up and play the way they do they walk this group easily, there football is great at international level, keeping theb all away is perfect and they have the players to score for fun as you should know if you follow football. When Spain lose at the moment or even draw it is deemed a shock, and teams can't just defend well against them and expect to cause them problems, many teams have tried that and failed. Italy are always interesting to watch they didn't have a good world cup but still managed to get out of there group and do themselves a bit of justice, and now they have a younger squad which quite a bit of potential so they should be thought of as possible elimination down to Croatia and Ireland. I think your if anything over estimating your nations chances in these games, i understand this is football and anything can happen at some points in time as theres lots of facts to be bought up in appliance with that statement, but the last Euros and the last World Cup there is no chance of Croatia or Ireland playing up the level to give Spain a problem defensively, however im pretty sure both of your teams will be hard to break down and none would ever get beat 3 or more goals to 0 but im confident Spain will not concede much either. The Croatia team in itself is a nice average team with a big star in Modric, but one player will not win you the tournament or Portugal and Argentina would be favorites for every world cup at this moment in time but there not. Group C is the most predictable group i would say 2nd best to Group D. Group A and B are hard to call and there is potential upsets in these two. Also on your previous results you can't put yourself up any higher than you have down in hope and expectations. You were well beaten by Sweden Drew your home leg 0-0 to Turkey in the previous game which was the 2nd leg of play off's after winning 3-0 away from home. Then your other wins have come against Isreal Georgia Malta Lativa who you should be beating right? Then you drew 0-0 vs Ireland who you have in this group and loses to Greece and Sweden over the last year and you think you will be able to give Spain a game? Even if they don't have Puyol or a fit Villa? I wont even bother arguing the reasons Italy wont lose but im sure deep down you must know the Italians are no mugs at the back and they have some brilliant young strikers they have picked. So again you still think Croatia and Ireland have a chance at 1st and 2nd place in the groups?
You didn't read my post. I give Spain and Italy all the props they need. But there are facts that prove that they are not invicible. Not even that, I would say that Spain is not invicible but they are clearly a favorite team but Italian team is no better on paper then Croatian team. As you know - they never won vs Croatia and I think our team will keep it that way. It depends on first game, if Croatia wins then hell brakes lose. If Croatia lose first game it may as well go all under and Ireland > Croatia in that scenario.
Of course I think, I'm not biased, I gave everyone a ups and downs, and you are giving me examples of friendly games that has no sense man. You are just seeing name of nation not the team. We will see what will future bring.
Dude in the last year your team like every other European team have played only one or two competitive fixtures yours were vs teams you would expect to beat. The friendlies are there to prepare your team for up and coming comeptitive fixtures, reason if any team doesn't take friendlies with a certain level of seriousness will not do well at all. I remember the best thing about Capello management that he did this was all his friendlies thus we went up in the rankings more than we have done before. But anyway back to the point, if you don't count friendlies are fixtures then you have to back to the qualifying stages of the Euro championships? Which in your whole group over the qualification you lost 2 games one away to Greece and the other away to Georgia? And on that basis of that easy group in terms of footballing nations and ranks you still think you can have a strong performance? Drawing 0-0 at home to Greece losing 2-0 to Greece and 1-0 to Georgia? I mean England had an easy group and we made a mess of it a big mess, but we still finished top of it and yet we have no chance of winning our group or in your case getting out of our group in the Euros? Anyway i don't mind your opinion your entitled to it and i do agree that its not a foregone conclusion you are going to lose to Spain and Italy but what you have to accept is that you have about a 20% chance of finished 2nd in your group let alone 1st. If i where you id be banking on beating or making priority number 1 beating Ireland and making sure you do not LOSE to Spain and Italy and getting Draws vs them and hoping other results go your way. For example, you play Spain last, and they might have already qualified by then so you could quite easily defend that game out for a draw vs a Spanish team probably shuffling a few players in to keep there team fresh. Id be looking at it that way.
Friendlies are there to try out new stuff. Most of the time we played like with B team or players that don't have chance to prove themselves. That's a fact and only thing for our team - to experiment. Maybe England like to win every friendly game and boost it's ego but Croatia don't. That's preference of each manager, won't go into that much.
You are looking at specific games too much, everyone loses. Remember when we won vs you in heart of England? Then you came back and won - one game doesen't meant shit.
What do you mean England doesen't have a chance to go trough group? Didn't understand that. You got strong team and you can come second easy. I think you will win vs France to finally brake that "curse", it's right time to do it, and vs Sweden you will probably go X. When it comes to Ukraine I think you will have trouble, I would say 40% win rest is X (or slightly percent for Ukraine to fly with their supporters and win it). English style is great for that group, if you went in our group you would be dead but in your group you are favorite (and we would be dead in your group because we can't play good vs France and Sweden).
Again I'm telling you - Spain is great. They will probably be in finals. But Italy is same as Croatia, they are not so good. They are not team from 4 years ago and they have verrrry ugly record vs us and they don't like slavic style of football (long pass with defenders holding back wings and one playmaker that buzzes in front of their goal + fast players that are all around good like Srna). Italy imho has no chance at all, I know for sure they can win like vs 80% of teams but we are so hard for them, its psychological thing also.
As I said, Ireland will be pain for us, we always had hard time vs them and they have will of steel and we don't like that teams. We love when we are underestimated because someone think that 4 milion people country can't do shit (even if we are one of greatest Euro sport nation ever and thats not bias).
Yeah lets agree that we wish both teams good luck sounds like a plan. Im hoping for another team do a Russia again though get to semi final was it ? or last 8 playing good football etc nice to watch.
Russia in Euro 2008 played amazing throughout the tournament losing to eventual champions Spain after going 1-0 up with great counter attacking play, they were a delight to watch with Pavlychenko Arshavin unde Hiddink as manager.
I thought you said in a previous post you don't see England going through into knock out rounds in a previous post but after reading your following posts i see you did not say that so it does not matter
Italy are going to beat Spain to top spot? I doubt that, can see them finishing second yest but not 1st ahead of Spain. Depends what France team turns up to this years competition, like England they have strugled in previous cup competitions, nothing is certain, but of course France favorites
On May 17 2012 22:56 Pandemona wrote: Yeah lets agree that we wish both teams good luck sounds like a plan. Im hoping for another team do a Russia again though get to semi final was it ? or last 8 playing good football etc nice to watch.
On May 17 2012 22:56 Pandemona wrote: Yeah lets agree that we wish both teams good luck sounds like a plan. Im hoping for another team do a Russia again though get to semi final was it ? or last 8 playing good football etc nice to watch.
On May 18 2012 06:38 sixfour wrote: acquired panini album. adios money
Oh dear! I had major OCD with them i had to stop buying them when i was a kid. Took me like 20minutes to stick 6 stickers in as would have to get perfectly in the lines xD Good luck though! Might be worth something if England do well xD
On May 17 2012 23:24 Pandemona wrote: Russia in Euro 2008 played amazing throughout the tournament losing to eventual champions Spain after going 1-0 up with great counter attacking play...
Russia never lead against Spain They lost 4-1 in group game and lost 3-0 in semi.