The Official *England's Journey to Brazil 2014* Thread

[Calder106]

First topic message reminder :

Wilshere out for 6 weeks according to BBC. Hairline fracture on foot. Considering Arsenal have been nursing him through the season because of his ankle injuries I think it would be a risk taking him (not questioning his ability) due to the tight schedule of games.

[mystiroakey]

Duty -Rooney will not retire. He is as passionate about England as you are.

My concern with Joe Hart is that he got dropped from citehs line up last season- therefore is for me potentially dropable. If that happens again and he doesn't have regular football at his club we have a major issue!

I wouldn't give the captaincy to Rooney though. Cahill seems perfect if he can emulate his chelsea partner. And I think he can.

[TopoftheChops]

Rooney will break the scoring record before he retires

[Guest]

Yeah, he's never retiring. He`s got all those mind numbingly boring & easy qualifying games vs minor teams in the Euro qualifying campaign to break the records.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

 

[Duty281]

It appears that the tide is turning against Wayne Rooney.

The Telegraph are reporting that he'll, in all probability, be left out of the starting XI against Ecuador as Hodgson seeks to explore greater options.

And old Roy himself has said that England must be less obsessed with Wayne Rooney, after already saying that he won't be frightened to drop his number ten.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10867067/World-Cup-2014-Englands-Three-Lions-supporters-band-likely-to-miss-out-on-as-organisers-refuse-to-let-them-play.html

Duty the news you've been wanting to hear!

[Duty281]

Maybe our football team can play in peace, without that tuneless, soulless band ruining the atmosphere. When France played England at Euro 2012, the band weren't there, and it was peaceful and pleasant.

And I still remember the horror of watching England away to San Marino back home, and all you could hear were either the band playing a tuneless version of Ring of Fire, or Andy Townsend talking rubbish in the commentary box. And if you gazed at the screen, you would see the figure of Tom Cleverley on the ball.

It was my vision of Hell; truly, truly terrible times.

Anyway...Ban the Band! And you know where that trumpet can be shoved, don't you?!

[GSC]

This bbc3 greatest moments of the WC is crap.

Rio has literally no charisma

[compelling and rich]

This bbc3 greatest moments of the WC is crap.

Rio has literally no charisma

bbc has been throwing some right rubbish out there recently, i watched the worst england 11 and they had vinnie jones in at cm even though he never played for england and won 9 caps for wales!! might as well throw me in there if they want a rubbish cm who never played for england!!

they also said scholes was up for consideration because he retired too early   

[Duty281]

This bbc3 greatest moments of the WC is crap.

Rio has literally no charisma

I was going to watch that, but then I saw Rio was on it. Still, better get used to mumbling man for the BBC's World Cup coverage.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It appears that the tide is turning against Wayne Rooney.

The Telegraph are reporting that he'll, in all probability, be left out of the starting XI against Ecuador as Hodgson seeks to explore greater options.

And old Roy himself has said that England must be less obsessed with Wayne Rooney, after already saying that he won't be frightened to drop his number ten.

Think youve taken both of those in the wrong context, Duty. Managing fitness in one and bemoaning the press in the other.

[Duty281]

Roy Hodgson has said that the players need to sing the national anthem.

I politely disagree, Roy. Anyone on the England team who is not religious and/or anti-Royalist should not have to sing it.

If we had a lovely inclusive anthem that didn't incorporate the Monarchy and God into it, then it would be a totally different matter.

[super_realist]

In addition, there is absolutely no evidence that singing anything, anthem or whatever has the slightest significance on performance.

If I ever was to win a medal, I think I would get the medal awarded then just clear off. Who ever dictated anthems at sporting events were to be observed anyway?

[hampo17]

You do get the feeling that the lads who don't sign the national anthem are to thick to remember it anyway. When you look at the pride a sport like rugby takes in the anthems, it does make the footballers look a bit dense.

[Duty281]

We'll probably have two verses of GSTQ during the World Cup, as well!

Thy choicest gifts in store...and so on.

You shouldn't have to sing it if you don't want to. Not doing so doesn't mean you don't have pride in your country.

[skyeman]

Lee Nelson warned by police over England gatecrash prank attempt.

A comedian who tried to gatecrash England's World Cup departure at Luton airport has been given "strong police advice", officers said.

Simon Brodkin, who performs as Lee Nelson, managed to get into a private terminal where the squad was preparing to fly to Miami on Sunday.

Wearing an identical suit to those worn by the England party, he was spotted by Steven Gerrard and removed by security.


Great for one of these attention and fame seekers to be caught before the act.

Well done Gerrard, you kept your foot on the ball!

[mystiroakey]

On anthems.

They would belt out hey Jude or what's the story morning glory like it was there last song..

I have always though Jerusalem would be a great England anthem and is the unofficial cricket anthem. But it does have religious vibes.

Why should we sing god save the queen. When the monarchy is out of touch with the average Brit and we are an atheist country..

I think we should sing classic rock. It's about the only thing this country truly rules the world in..

[The Special Juan]

I can just imagine Baines standing in a Liam Gallagher-esque pose belting out Morning Glory.

[Fernando]

I can just imagine Baines standing in a Liam Gallagher-esque pose belting out Morning Glory.

You just know there would be some epic air guitar going on with it.

[skyeman]

On anthems.

They would belt out hey Jude or what's the story morning glory like it was there last song..

I have always though Jerusalem would be a great England anthem and is the unofficial cricket anthem. But it does have religious vibes.

Why should we sing god save the queen. When the monarchy is out of touch with the average Brit and we are an atheist country..

I think we should sing classic rock. It's about the only thing this country truly rules the world in..

For the negative. Back Home sung by the 1970 WC team.

For the positive. All the way sung by the 1988 Euro team.


Or for the very, very positive, Queens, We are the champions.

[whocares]

What's England offficial world cup song this time by the way?

[Duty281]

I think it's that horrific Take That "Greatest Day" song that was done for Sport Relief.

Still, as long as Terry Venables isn't doing another World Cup song!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

James Milner has done an interview about that Boring Milner twitter account and how he's trying to track it down

The interview is essentially gold, cos he ends up speaking just like the account

[Duty281]

On anthems.

They would belt out hey Jude or what's the story morning glory like it was there last song..

I have always though Jerusalem would be a great England anthem and is the unofficial cricket anthem. But it does have religious vibes.

Why should we sing god save the queen. When the monarchy is out of touch with the average Brit and we are an atheist country..

I think we should sing classic rock. It's about the only thing this country truly rules the world in..

For the negative.  Back Home sung by the 1970 WC team.

For the positive. All the way sung by the 1988  Euro team.


Or for the very, very positive, Queens, We are the champions.

Why don't we use Britain's gay anthem as the national one? Then we can all claim to be eradicating homophobia from football - altogether now:

The British police are the best in the world...

[skyeman]

What's England offficial world cup song this time by the way?

All In Good Time by the Marivaux and Chorus Of Legends by the Blood are two more apparently.

But not official

[skyeman]

Just listened to Chorus Of Legends by the Blood on you tube. Very patriotic but not very catchy or punk from a punk band. But the ending is better.

Duty you will love this one.

[skyeman]

Actually, after listening to it twice, quite catchy.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

This forum cant turn anything into a load of political tosh.

The best way to stop any press bother is have Roy publicly say they should all sing it. Then they can all do it, no questions of who didnt or not, and they can all say its cos Roy said so. Easy job.

[Guest]

As expected, Ecuador game will just be a game for fringe players & making them feel wanted & match sharp. Shaw, Oxlade & Jones all starting, fully expect Rooney to be dropped but not because of form. Honduras game will tell us where we are at & what direction the team is going tactically.

As for the anthems & having to sing, its a nonsense story. Roy should just focus on preparation, if he'd rather talk about singing, then we should sack him & he can go & f*** off & get a job on Songs of Praise.

[The Special Juan]

James Milner has done an interview about that Boring Milner twitter account and how he's trying to track it down

The interview is essentially gold, cos he ends up speaking just like the account

The teetotal bit was rather funny.

[Duty281]

Gus Poyet had said Uruguay will cheat during their game against England, they are "proud of it" and says it is part of their culture.

Well...he calls it being "streetwise"; cheating under another name, in other words.

It is, of course, England's duty to ensure that the pathetic Uruguay team are knocked out of the World Cup as soon as possible, for the good of football, with the able help of Italy and Costa Rica.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

You'll moan about anything, John, I swear. Owen will be on soon to say Miami is the worst place we could sing the national anthem before Ent says Rooney hasn't sung it well since 2008 and is a waste of the lyrics.

[GSC]

Ent says Rooney hasn't sung it well since 2008 and is a waste of the lyrics.

   

[Duty281]

We can have a moan about the amount of spectators for tomorrow's game: anything between 10,000-20,000 expected for the Ecuador-England...in a 75,000 capacity stadium.

[mystiroakey]

Jerusalem being blasted out as England prepare to bat...

[Duty281]

Good Cornish song that

[Duty281]

James Milner to start at right-back tomorrow.

He can't be any worse than Johnson, I suppose! Good, reliable James, never letting his country down. I suppose it won't be a permanent move, but it might give England another option, should Johnson continue to falter.

Rooney will be starting in a wide role, while Jones, Smalling and Shaw make up the rest of the back four. Foster in goal.
Barkley, Wilshere, Oxlade, and Lambert expected to start. Super Frank will be captain.

Might be worth betting on a 1-1 draw for this one; you can be assured it won't be a classic.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Its certainly an interesting option, he's got all the qualities to play there, and let's face it his positioning can't be any worse than Johnson's!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

England’s players will experience severe humidity in Miami when they take on Ecuador on Wednesday afternoon. The game kicks off at 3pm and the temperature at the Sun Life stadium is forecast to be 28C, with 62% humidity. Manaus on Tuesday was 30C, with 72% humidity, though those figures are expected to be lower at kick-off time against Italy.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/03/england-roy-hodgson-italy-humidity-bicycle-sauna?CMP=twt_gu

[Duty281]

We all dream of a team of James Milner's, a team of James Milner's, a team of James Milner's... #underappreciated

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

England’s players will experience severe humidity in Miami when they take on Ecuador on Wednesday afternoon. The game kicks off at 3pm and the temperature at the Sun Life stadium is forecast to be 28C, with 62% humidity. Manaus on Tuesday was 30C, with 72% humidity, though those figures are expected to be lower at kick-off time against Italy.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/03/england-roy-hodgson-italy-humidity-bicycle-sauna?CMP=twt_gu

BUT ITS NOT THE SAME, THE AIR ITS NOT THE AIR THEYLL BREATHE

[skyeman]

Captain Steven Gerrard says the England squad have been practising penalties "a lot" ahead of the World Cup but insists they are not obsessed with spot-kicks.

England have the worst penalty shootout record in World Cup history, with three defeats out of three.

Six of their last 10 major tournaments have ended in shootout losses.


Whilst every team should practice penalties, just sounds a bit negative to me and about the approach they are planning.

If a game does go to penalties, this will only put it in the heads of the players even more.

Don't even mention penalties!

[nasisillmatic]

I'd practise them.

Imagine if we go out to pens again and the team say we didn't do any in training. The press would have a field day.

[skyeman]

Yes practice of course, every team should.

But for Gerrard to say "a lot" is saying to me that the past is in their heads.  Be positive.

Does not matter one jot about practice, it is when any player is under pressure in the run up. And by the captain saying this will only put it in the players and fans thoughts even more.

Someone should have told him to not mention it.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

All the preparation is going well so far touch wood.

No injuries, players enjoying themselves, no controversies, low expectations (bar Duty). 

The press are so bored they're resorting to trying to make practising penalties a negative story!!

[Duty281]

Team for tonight, as predicted by the Times, as England are set to experiment even more than I did when I were 14 (*cough*).

Foster in goal. Milner at right-back, Shaw at left-back, Jones and Smalling the central pairing in defence.

Lampard and Wilshere in the centre of midfield, with the former being captain. Oxlade wide right, Rooney, in an effort to gain fitness, wide left. Barkley 10, Lambert 9.

If that team is the correct one, it will mean only Sterling and Forster haven't started a game, yet, in England's preparations for the World Cup.

I predict a tight game, in the brutal conditions of Miami at 3 in the afternoon, with the most likely result being a draw...fingers crossed for a bit of magic from Gazza...er...Barkley, sorry, to win it for England.

Whilst it is perhaps a disjointed England team, particularly when you consider there's only a week and a half till the Italy game, it will likely be a motivated England team as well, for it is probable that ten of this team won't be starting against Italy as the situation currently stands.

And Olly, I'm not sure what counts as low expectations, but if England went out in the quarter-finals after playing some reasonably entertaining football, I would be happy with that...just.

As for penalty practice - what's the point? I'm sure the vast majority of the squad can bang in a penalty nine times out of ten on a training ground; it doesn't even get close to the pressure of an actual World Cup penalty shoot-out, and it also fails to replicate the tiredness and fatigue that players feel after two hours of football. It's pointless, basically.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Its technique. Muscle memory, technique. Think it adds to your mental strength.

[skyeman]

Six of their last 10 major tournaments have ended in shootout losses.

Frig, just never draw a knockout match 

[Duty281]

You never know - England might get lucky from the spot this summer, just like against Spain in the quarter-finals at Euro 96, the only shoot-out the Three Lions ever won.

And who's that team that England might be playing in the quarters this summer, after topping the group? Why it's Spain!

And then, in the Semi-Finals, it'll be Argentina - now how does this go?

1962 - England win
1966 - England win
1986 - Argentina win
1998 - Argentina win
2002 - England win
2014 - England win to continue the pattern?

Jolly good. Is that a Germany-England World Cup Final, again? How did the last one go...?

The omens are in England's favour!

[Guest]

Don't really see the point in playing Rooney wide left. He won't track back & support Shaw, like Welbeck would do with Baines, so that's an area of weakness that Valencia could exploit. Expecting a stinker of a game with periods of lacklustre play but hopefully some of the fringe players can flourish at certain points & I'm sure Sterling will shine coming off the bench against tired opposition.

Real action begins against Honduras for me.

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