[Milan Are Brilli...]

All World Cup 2014 talk in here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[han2503]

Yeah, but the game was 0-0. Did I say we would win? No. Did I say we would draw? No. I just think a lack of pace certainly helps England. Italy didn't have any pace at the Euros and it helped. They couldn't get in behind, they didn't have players that would run at us. It was shots from distance or them trying to play the ball through our defence and not being able to. I don't really know what you expect me to say. One minute you say Italy are better than England, the next you find it odd I think us not losing is good thing.

As for La Liga, I think it's an average league overall. People make the mistake of judging a league by it's very top teams. We've had about 7 different European Finalists over the past decade or so. Most countries have never had that in their history.

I was just making a sort of joke because your expectations are to not lose rather than to win.

With regards to the game in 2012, Italy had a bag of chances, not to mention hitting the post once or twice. Plus, I think that England defence was better than this one imo. John Terry and Ashley Cole imo still should be in there as they're better defenders (note my enphasis on defenders) than Baines and Jagielka (did I spell that correctly?). Not to mention that in the Euros Hodgson was basically playing to lines of defence. Young was more pre-occupied with covering Abate's runs than actually trying to do anything attack-wise for example, I don't really think England's new, young and exciting (as per the advertising done by the English pundits) players will really want to put in all that work. Yes, they're trying to go in the Liverpool direction but there was one big flaw with Liverpool this season, their defending was absolutely horrible.

Agreed on that 2nd bit about La Liga and the EPL

Mainly because the EPL and its best teams don't rely on English players. The last two sides to win CL from England, Utd and Chelsea, relied on Ronaldo and Drogba. Whereas Barca and Atleti/Real relied on their Spanish core and Bayern on their German.

The English squad, while not abominable, is so far off what it's been in the even recent past it's almost sad to see. I look at that squad and it is just so below even an England team from a decade ago.

True, but it's also true that most of the English players were also important parts of those squads that won the CL.

Germany and Uruguay. Stand to pocket £750 if I'm right!

Hope you don't win! I want Italy in there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Germany ALWAYS make the semis in pretty much every tournament, and I agree that Italy did very well to make that final. Just think other nations are even stronger today and by Italy's normal standards their current team isn't really that special.

But as I mentioned before it's not really all about the names, it's how the team gels and works together. Italy in 06 were far from the best team in that tournament. the 2002 squad were miles ahead of that 06 one and this current one imo.

All true but don't use an unbeaten record as evidence of a team's strength (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I still think it's an important factor, not to mention that Prandelli has only had 2 losses in competitive games throughout his tenure as coach of the NT

Spain were inexperienced in 2008 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Belgium are very very strong and I think they can do real damage in this tournament.

I don't think they had as much young raw talent as Belgium currently do, most of their players were established and were winning CLs with their club. But agree that in 2008 they were considered a team of underachievers and really banished that stereotype

Beats arguing over Milan (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It sure does (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

I was just making a sort of joke because your expectations are to not lose rather than to win.

Fair enough. I have to be honest and realistic about expectations though. To me, it would be a successful World Cup if we make the round of 16. Ro16 isn't special, but it would be a big achievement to get out of that group.

[han2503]

Fair enough. I have to be honest and realistic about expectations though. To me, it would be a successful World Cup if we make the round of 16. Ro16 isn't special, but it would be a big achievement to get out of that group.

I personally think both England and Italy will qualify. That first game will obviously be a draw but I think both teams can do well against the South Americans, Especially if Suarez isn't fit and Cavani is in his PSG form

Whoever gets out of this group will get to the quarters imo unless they f@ck up big time in the round of 16 against a team from group C