Group D - Uruguay, Costa Rica, England & Italy

Discuss all things Group D here.

Er....Come on England!

The Three Lions should be topping this group, against two, quite frankly, overrated opponents and um...Costa Rica.

1.Uruguay
2. England
3. Italy
4. Costa Rica

ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND!!!!

1. England
2. Italy
3. Uruguay
4. Costa Rica

Italy
England
Uruguay
Costa Rica

Expecting draws.

I think everyone might be under estimating Costa Rica a little. I don't think they will get through but I wouldn't rule them out springing a result along the way.

They can spring a result on...Uruguay. That's the way.

Goalkeepers : Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad).
Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).
Midfielders: Alejandro Silva (Lanus), Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), Diego Perez (Bologna), Sebastian Eguren (Palmeiras), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).
Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).
Standby players, who will not train with the squad: Andres Scotti (Nacional), Alvaro Fernandez (Gimnasia-La Plata), Gonzalo Castro (Real Sociedad).

Can't believe Coates is in there, think he went back to his first club on loan but I know he suffered a serious injury.

You have to say, take away Suarez and Cavani and that squad is average.

As I say, England are the best team in this group.

Uruguay are nothing special, Italy don't play at a tempo high enough to trouble England's superior organisation and defence.

I will be very, very disappointed if England don't top the group - not least because it means that second place will equal, in all probability, a second round game versus Colombia.

They've got an experienced team & players that know how to see out games. That could be crucial. You look at Suarez & Cavani as the standout players but Muslera, Godin, Pereira, Ramirez & Cristian Rodriguez are all experienced players who've played in Europe for years at a high level & will be comfortable in those hot conditions.

@Duty - Italy don't play at a high tempo? What do we play at? Slow-motion? They dominated us in the last encounter & controlled the game & possession. Your putting a lot of faith in our inexperienced youngsters to turn that upside down. Also, I wouldn't say we are as defensively sound without Terry & Cole, as you make out. Baines has never been truly tested against top international teams, when he was, he got found out massively by Alexis Sanchez.

Really tough to call. Costa Rica to finish bottom is the only confident predication I can make. Anything else could happen with the other three.

Italian squad looks quite strong & very experienced. Think they will be more dangerous offensively than in previous years too. Balotelli & the dangerous Insigne will cause problems.

John wrote:They've got an experienced team & players that know how to see out games. That could be crucial. You look at Suarez & Cavani as the standout players but Muslera, Godin, Pereira, Ramirez & Cristian Rodriguez are all experienced players who've played in Europe for years at a high level & will be comfortable in those hot conditions.

@Duty - Italy don't play at a high tempo? What do we play at? Slow-motion? They dominated us in the last encounter & controlled the game & possession. Your putting a lot of faith in our inexperienced youngsters to turn that upside down. Also, I wouldn't say we are as defensively sound without Terry & Cole, as you make out. Baines has never been truly tested against top international teams, when he was, he got found out massively by Alexis Sanchez.

Duty is the reason that everyone (including English fans) want England to lose. Proclaiming England as better than they are only makes peple want England to lose to prove you wrong.

In my view England will get 5 points, a win and 2 draws ( but all 3 performances will lack any kind of skill and will be very painful performances).

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain) [reserve: Mirante (Parma)]

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Verona), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Rossi (Fiorentina).

Best squad of the group for me, I expect Italy to get far. I have them getting to the final and being beaten by Brazil.

It's sloooowwwwww down the flanks. England are perfectly poised to win down the wings.

Italy will try and prise you open like a chess game, or rely on Balotelli having one of his (all too infrequent) majestic performances (like against Germany at Euro 2012). England can keep the door shut...again.

No pace? You've clearly never seen Insigne or Cerci play. Even the attacking full backs have pace in Abate/Maggio etc. Talking nonsense. I hope we can keep the door shut but think it's slightly ajar with the inexperienced Baines at this level & no Terry or Cole.

I said they were slow down the flanks, not that they had no pace all over the park.

It's where England can possibly win the game - down the flanks.

Italy look solid at the back, struggle to see them blowing teams away with there attack, gonna be tight games involving them

Agree with you completely Olly. I'd be surprised if any one of the teams from this group goes further than the quarters.

Don't forget the South America factor in this. Uruguay won't wilt and they'll have support. Italy are also lucky to have had the Confeds Cup to get acclimatised.

England will struggle to get out of the group and I ould not be suroprised if we finish 3rd.

England's defence looks very shaky with jagielka who is just returning from injury and baines who lacks experience at this level.

Are CM is also lacking speed with Gerrard, a slightly injured wilshere and lampard.

We also have a conservative, defensive minded manager at heart, who`s yielded to media pressure & has picked an attacking young squad, who defensively won't be as disciplined & tight as previous years, that Hodgson sides usually are. Mix doesn't seem right to me, between manager style & team`s strength, but who knows what will happen. Guess that's the exciting wait that lies ahead.

Wouldn't be surprised if England top the group, or bow out early doors.

John wrote:We also have a conservative, defensive minded manager at heart, who`s yielded to media pressure & has picked an attacking young squad, who defensively won't be as disciplined & tight as previous years, that Hodgson sides usually are. Mix doesn't seem right to me, between manager style & team`s strength, but who knows what will happen. Guess that's the exciting wait that lies ahead.

You just love to complain, John.

It's not going to hurt you to say...Come on England!

Most italians are not very confident of their chances. The general opinion here is that this italian squad is very poor and will struggle to get out of the group. However, the same was being said before the euros in 2012.

LivinginItaly wrote:Most italians are not very confident of their chances. The general opinion here is that this italian squad is very poor and will struggle to get out of the group.  However, the same was being said before the euros in 2012.

That is surprising.

Other than the forwards where Balotelli is a bit erratic, Rossi injured and the others average I would say this is one of the strongest squads in the competition. I have Italy reaching the final.

Lack of mobility in the centre of midfield, will be reliant on erratic Mario, weak against pace, and starting to age.

I have Italy going out to Colombia in the last sixteen.

I must say, I can see both England and Uruguay having players to frustrate Pirlo and ruin a lot of flow in the Italians play.

I'd also mention the Juventus CB's are used to playing three at the back, whereas I think Italy play only two don't they?

Nothing major, but will take some adapting to

I believe both Italy and Juventus alternate with two or three at the back.

I reckon Uruguay might fly under the radar in this group... but yeah, Italy then England or Uruguay with Costa Rica potentially causing a scare or two as well. Dangerous group really.

News coming out of S.America is Suarez may be out of the World Cup due to a knee injury.

Yep, Suarez to have surgery.

He's still likely to be fit to play. Recovery should take 20 days according to the Uruguay FA.

Don't be surprised to see him start the first group game.

I've seen some miraculous recoveries but playing within a month of knee surgery would be up there

One can only hope that that cheating pillock doesn't take part at the World Cup.

(And if the surgery goes wrong and he never plays again...so much the better)

Whether he is there are not he wont be fully fit. That must be a plus for England. Need to keep the ball away from Cavani now. Can't see anything other than a nil nil draw in the England v Italy game due to styles, conditions in the jungle and the fact its the first game.

I see us getting out of the group, which in itself will be a success. We have a solid squad not spectacular. No real weak areas and few nations can say that. For once I'm looking forward to it. Lete banish the memories of south Africa.

Duty281 wrote:One can only hope that that cheating pillock doesn't take part at the World Cup.

(And if the surgery goes wrong and he never plays again...so much the better)

Daftest post I've seen on these boards since D4 was a member of the boxing section.

Can see Suarez being ready for the second game, it's still a month away. It's keyhole surgery, I know someone who's had that innovative procedure, it's minimally invasive surgery really, reduces the recovery time, less pain and bleeding after the operation. He'll be ready I'd imagine & even if he's not fully recovered, they still have Cavani & Suarez can come off the bench & be a pain for tiring defenders in that heat.

hampo171 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:One can only hope that that cheating pillock doesn't take part at the World Cup.

(And if the surgery goes wrong and he never plays again...so much the better)

Daftest post I've seen on these boards since D4 was a member of the boxing section.

He is utter, utter scum in a footballing sense.

Football would be better off without him.

Duty281 wrote:

hampo171 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:One can only hope that that cheating pillock doesn't take part at the World Cup.

(And if the surgery goes wrong and he never plays again...so much the better)

Daftest post I've seen on these boards since D4 was a member of the boxing section.

He is utter, utter scum in a footballing sense.

Football would be better off without him.

Again, a stupid stupid comment. Plenty of players dive just as much as he does, plenty of players in the past have used their hand to get an advantage (Henry anyone?) To say football would be better off without one of the best players in the world today is just stupid.

He certainly isn't an angel but he is fantastic to watch when he is on form, he can do things certain players can only dream of.

 

Love how Suarez winds people up to the point they wish his legs get broken.
Instead, all that happens is he hits a hat trick in the following game.  

Really does amaze me Benson, can you imagine the stick players from the 70s and 80s would have got for some of the tackles.

hampo171 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

hampo171 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:One can only hope that that cheating pillock doesn't take part at the World Cup.

(And if the surgery goes wrong and he never plays again...so much the better)

Daftest post I've seen on these boards since D4 was a member of the boxing section.

He is utter, utter scum in a footballing sense.

Football would be better off without him.

Again, a stupid stupid comment. Plenty of players dive just as much as he does, plenty of players in the past have used their hand to get an advantage (Henry anyone?) To say football would be better off without one of the best players in the world today is just stupid.

He certainly isn't an angel but he is fantastic to watch when he is on form, he can do things certain players can only dream of.

And bitten a player. Twice.
And cheated against a non-league side.
And gloated about cheating in the last World Cup.

Can anyone point me to a player, past or present, who's done all that? Or worse.

Duty281 wrote:

hampo171 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

hampo171 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:One can only hope that that cheating pillock doesn't take part at the World Cup.

(And if the surgery goes wrong and he never plays again...so much the better)

Daftest post I've seen on these boards since D4 was a member of the boxing section.

He is utter, utter scum in a footballing sense.

Football would be better off without him.

Again, a stupid stupid comment. Plenty of players dive just as much as he does, plenty of players in the past have used their hand to get an advantage (Henry anyone?) To say football would be better off without one of the best players in the world today is just stupid.

He certainly isn't an angel but he is fantastic to watch when he is on form, he can do things certain players can only dream of.

And bitten a player. Twice.
And cheated against a non-league side.
And gloated about cheating in the last World Cup.

Can anyone point me to a player, past or present, who's done all that? Or worse.

Cheating is cheating isn't it? He isn't the only player who dives, and he isn't the only player who cheated during a World Cup (Rivaldo, Marradonna for example). His behaviour hasn't been great, everyone acknowledges that, however he isn't he only player to be a total kumquat and he won't be the last, still a fantastic footballer.

John Terry....Slept with his team mates wife; done for racism, mocked americans when drunk at an airport in the midst of 9/11 attacks, charged with assault and affray on nightclub bouncer, fined for parking in a disabled bay, accused of racially abusing Ledley King, Cheated on his partner on at least 8 occasions and admitted to it in 2007, reportedly took a £10,000 bribe to how a reporter round Chelsea training ground without permission, kneed a barca player in the back with clear intent...

There just the ones I can think of....I would say he is far more vile and done far worse stuff in my opinion....oh and to boot he got a shop worker sacked all because she called him a 'pig'...I mean come on...is walking around minted with a woman who will forgive you for anything not enough these days; have to go out of your way to get kicks!

Oh and didn't you think he should lead the back line for England Duty!? Given a choice of Terry or Suarez never playing football again I know which one I would take.

owen10ozzy wrote:John Terry....Slept with his team mates wife; done for racism, mocked americans when drunk at an airport in the midst of 9/11 attacks, charged with assault and affray on nightclub bouncer, fined for parking in a disabled bay, accused of racially abusing Ledley King, Cheated on his partner on at least 8 occasions and admitted to it in 2007, reportedly took a £10,000 bribe to how a reporter round Chelsea training ground without permission, kneed a barca player in the back with clear intent...

There just the ones I can think of....I would say he is far more vile and done far worse stuff in my opinion....oh and to boot he got a shop worker sacked all because she called him a 'pig'...I mean come on...is walking around minted with a woman who will forgive you for anything not enough these days; have to go out of your way to get kicks!

Oh and didn't you think he should lead the back line for England Duty!? Given a choice of Terry or Suarez never playing football again I know which one I would take.

excellent post

owen10ozzy wrote:John Terry....Slept with his team mates wife; done for racism, mocked americans when drunk at an airport in the midst of 9/11 attacks, charged with assault and affray on nightclub bouncer, fined for parking in a disabled bay, accused of racially abusing Ledley King, Cheated on his partner on at least 8 occasions and admitted to it in 2007, reportedly took a £10,000 bribe to how a reporter round Chelsea training ground without permission, kneed a barca player in the back with clear intent...

There just the ones I can think of....I would say he is far more vile and done far worse stuff in my opinion....oh and to boot he got a shop worker sacked all because she called him a 'pig'...I mean come on...is walking around minted with a woman who will forgive you for anything not enough these days; have to go out of your way to get kicks!

Oh and didn't you think he should lead the back line for England Duty!? Given a choice of Terry or Suarez never playing football again I know which one I would take.

And there was me referring to on-the-pitch misbehaviour. As I've frequently said, I don't really care what a player does off the pitch (unless it's illegal).  

Now what have we got that's on the pitch in that list?

1) Not a racist (nor is Suarez, hence why I didn't bring it up).
2) Key word for the Ledley King incident - "accused".
3) Kneeing Sanchez was pretty poor form, I grant you.

Is that it?

You mean Terry's never gloated about cheating, never bitten a player twice, never dives and tries to cheat frequently, and is loyal to his club? Shock horror.

To compare the two...ludicrous. John Terry, most of the time, holds himself in high regard on the pitch. The other...is the lowest of the low.