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

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England."
Sir Winston Churchill

Yes, it's nearly that time. Time for England to begin their Qualifying Campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Those promising, encouraging, and brave displays witnessed during Euro 2012 will have to be built on as the long road to Brazil starts. Along the way, they will play in London, Podgorica, Kiev, Warsaw, Chisinau and Serravale. The aim is simply to top the group and make it to Brazil with a minimum of fuss.

"Ask any man what nationality he would prefer to be, and ninety nine out of a hundred will tell you that they would prefer to be Englishmen."
Cecil John Rhodes

England have been drawn in Group H with Montengro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino. I don't even need to be insanely optimistic this time round. England will top that group. Moldova and San Marino will be the whipping boys. Montengro, Ukraine and Poland will only prove a challenge in their own ground. Wembley will be deemed a fortress.

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first place in the lottery of life."
Cecil John Rhodes

The fixture list for those Qualifiers is the following:

Moldova v England (7th September 2012)
England v Ukraine (11th September 2012)
England v San Marino (12th October 2012)
Poland v England (16th October 2012)
San Marino v England (22nd March 2013)
Montenegro v England (26th March 2013)
England v Moldova (6th September 2013)
Ukraine v England (10th September 2013)
England v Montenegro (11th October 2013)
England v Poland (15th October 2013)

Lovely, simple, finishing with a Wembley double-header. I predict we'll get 28 out of 30 points, perhaps getting a draw in either Warsaw or Kiev.

"Follow your spirit; and upon this charge,
Cry "God for Harry! England and Saint George"."
William Shakespeare

Of course, while England's fate will be defined by those 10 games, the ever important International Friendly will hone the team against more quality opposition. The friendlies currently scheduled are:

Italy v England (15th August 2012)
Sweden v England (14th November 2012)
England v Scotland (14th August 2013)

So let's get the England train rolling, starting on Wednesday, build up momentum before landing in Brazil in nearly 2 years time. Come on England!

“The English are so filled with their own greatness and have won so many big victories that they have come to believe they cannot lose. In battle they are the most confident nation in the world."
Unknown

[Stella]

Well, what a passionate, attacking display that was. Better finishing from both sides and it could have been 5-2.
Wellbeck and Sturridge both contributed through movement and work rate but lacked goals, but they will come if we continue to play in the same manner.
I just hope we play like this come Brazil.

[nasisillmatic]

Very impressed with the performance last night, haven't seen us play like that since Euro 2004. Played without any fear and was rewarded for it.

[super_realist]

Very impressed with the performance last night, haven't seen us play like that since Euro 2004. Played without any fear and was rewarded for it.

Don't forget the defensive fragility though. Poland had LOADS of clear chances.

[Duty281]

Loads of clear chances? I think there was 1, 2 at a push.

[Stella]

Very impressed with the performance last night, haven't seen us play like that since Euro 2004. Played without any fear and was rewarded for it.

Don't forget the defensive fragility though. Poland had LOADS of clear chances.

I do't think we will be quite as open in Brazil. remember it was win or bust, so he had to be a little risky, by asking Towsend and Gerrard to get forward. For all his good attacking play, Townsend was puffing trying to get back, and ultimately couldn't.

[dummy_half]

Well, what a passionate, attacking display that was. Better finishing from both sides and it could have been 5-2.
Wellbeck and Sturridge both contributed through movement and work rate but lacked goals, but they will come if we continue to play in the same manner.
I just hope we play like this come Brazil.

Agree with much of that - while there are still technical issues (why we make so many sloppy passes being the main one), these last two games have shown that when it matters our players can get themselves up for playing in the England shirt.

Sturridge was unlucky not to score, as he brought a couple of decent saves from the keeper and did well with his improvised header that bounced over; could easily have had a couple on another night.

Welbeck I'm still not sure has quite enough quality, but certainly no-one can question his work rate and tackling back. One good chance last night that he just couldn't get balanced for and so shot wide. He's decent running with the ball and winning the ball back in advanced positions, plus does a pretty good job of winning headers, but jut needs to sharpen up his first touch, passing and finishing.

I suspect that in Brazil we'll go back to the 4-3-3 system that Roy used for most of the qualifying campaign, otherwise we will be over-run in the middle of the park. Two sitting midfielders (Gerrard + 1 ) with either Wilshere or Barklay being given licence to get forward more. Also means that our lack of quality in genuine centre forwards is somewhat covered because Rooney will play up top with two support players coming in from wide positions. To be honest though, the formation is less of an issue for England than for the team to play as the sum of its parts. Still, quarter finals would be a good performance and anything more than that a big bonus.

[Y I Man]

Loads of clear chances? I think there was 1, 2 at a push.

Mainly coming from our RB area. I thought Smalling was poor in his positioning.

[Stella]

Loads of clear chances? I think there was 1, 2 at a push.

Mainly coming from our RB area.  I thought Smalling was poor in his positioning.  

Didn't have much help to be fair.

[Duty281]

Loads of clear chances? I think there was 1, 2 at a push.

Mainly coming from our RB area.  I thought Smalling was poor in his positioning.  

Didn't have much help to be fair.

I'd agree with both statements. Smalling is our 3rd choice RB for a reason, and Townsend isn't the best defensively or in terms of work rate at tracking back.

[hornbloweroafc]

Welbecks first touch is a tackle and it goes further than I can kick it, but yeah his work rate is top notch thought he had a good game.

If he kept the same team formation is there room for Walcott with his pace? England have plenty of options going forward but as others mentioned the defence is weak.

Best England game for entertain I have seen in the last 10 years!

[super_realist]

Looks like Hodgson has managed to get an extra 5% or so out of them.

Still need about another 15% though to compete with the real contenders for tournaments though.

[mystiroakey]

I am starting to think maybe i have been a bit harsh on  Roy. 


My concern is that the lads just haven't seemed to gel or get on or really care about the shirt, i have also had issues with his defence selections and tactics.

But i can't fault him or the team the last 2 games.. 

ANd SR is that a compliment?

[nasisillmatic]

Very impressed with the performance last night, haven't seen us play like that since Euro 2004. Played without any fear and was rewarded for it.

Don't forget the defensive fragility though. Poland had LOADS of clear chances.

When you play that way you're always going to be open to a counter attack against a team with a couple of quality players. We all know we could never play like that against the Germanys' & Spains', but it was refreshing to see us really have a go at a lower quality team.

There is still issues with certain positions but that performance would have lifted a lot of people.

[Duty281]

According to the BBC then:

1) Germany and Australia will be England's opponents for the November friendlies.
2) Denmark will be England's opposition in March.
3) The world cup draw will take place on December 6.
4) Games at the World Cup will take place at times of 17:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, and 23:00 our time, which is very favourable to us. A world away from Japan and Korea - any one remember those early morning games?!

I can't wait! England's best chance since nineteen-sixty-six!

[Stella]

tbh, I'd be amazed if we get to the semi's, that's not saying we can't. I've seen too many false hopes, ever since 1982, to get carried away.
I just hope we put the effort in, play our way, and come back proud. The fans will take that.

[super_realist]

Oakey,
I'm not sure if anyone could get England to a stage when they might win something, seems highly unlikely, but Hodgson has got a team of fairly average individuals of far less talent (or hype) than those of 2000 onwards playing far more like a team than the hapless Eriksson, McLaren or Postman Pat did with what they had.

His downfall though might be that he's too intelligent for your average footballer, especially English ones.

I think it's accepted by most that England are a second tier nation in these tournaments, but that small increments over successive changes might change them from QF at best to occasional SF places.
I don't think that's outwith Englands ability in 10-12 years.

[mystiroakey]

Look this is getting like de ju vu- you came to that conclusion because i told you that the england manager should be Arry over Hodgson because he can relate to them better.

However the fact is Hodgson has just proved to us that he can motivate the team , we dont need someone like harry that can relate.. The lads have shown us some passion for once.

Thats all i care about. Nothing else.. I though Hodgson may have stunted us and looked at systems over individuals..

[mystiroakey]

by the way i dont care about all the QF or SF team nonsense.. 

Once you are there you support the team.. If we get to a qf next year I wont be happy or sad. If we get to a SF i will be happy.

But i am more bothered about the way we play. Will we play the style that makes us proud!  

Thats all. Football isnt just about winning. Most of us religiously watch as many PL games and CL games as we can. We rarely care who wins, we just want to watch good football. And when YOUR team plays good football its good

[super_realist]

Oakey,
Lets not get carried away now, one swallow doesn't make a summer. England as expected have qualified from a fairly straight forward group, just as lots of other countries have done in theirs.
One or two of the qualification performances have been better than previous years, but there have been some abject ones in there too against some average teams.
If, and it's a big if, they put a good performance in against a top team in the tournament I think you can say they are making progress, up until that time though, any improvement is nothing more than fractional, and certainly not likely to scare many countries who genuinely are tournament contenders.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hodgson's shown over time he's a brilliant manager at both club and international level. This is a guy who took Fulham to a European cup final, has won multiple league titles abroad, and took the Swiss to 3rd in the world.

I love old Woy

[mystiroakey]

Oakey,
Lets not get carried away now, one swallow doesn't make a summer. England as expected have qualified from a fairly straight forward group, just as lots of other countries have done in theirs.
One or two of the qualification performances have been better than previous years, but there have been some abject ones in there too against some average teams.
If, and it's a big if, they put a good performance in against a top team in the tournament I think you can say they are making progress, up until that time though, any improvement is nothing more than fractional, and certainly not likely to scare many countries who genuinely are tournament contenders.

I think you are getting carried away tbh mate.
The whole QF or SF nonsense or no one else will  be scared nonsense is just that at present- Its about playing a brand of football we can be proud of thats all i care about! as stated.

[super_realist]

Oakey, it's a balancing act. If you played that brand of football against a decent team you'd get pumped. If you play like previous tournaments you might make QF.

Surely something in between would be a good change for England fans?

[TopoftheChops]

My Current England Squad for Brazil 2014:

Hart, Ruddy,Forster

Baines, Cole, Cahill, Jagielka, Walker,Johnson, Jones, Smalling

Gerrard, Carrick, Wilshere, Townsend, Barkley, Chamberlain, Morrison, Walcott

Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck, Lambert

[mystiroakey]

Oakey, it's a balancing act. If you played that brand of football against a decent team you'd get pumped. If you play like previous tournaments you might make QF.

Surely something in between would be a good change for England fans?

ewrmm maybe the problem is you dont watch ,many england games. And misinterpret what i want!

But we have being playing a brand of football against all opposition (bar san marino obviously!!)  that is pretty dire.


Its not about playing somewhere in between , its about having options and being able to play both ways when you need to!!

[Scrumpy]

My Current England Squad for Brazil 2014:

Hart, Ruddy,Forster

Baines, Cole, Cahill, Jagielka, Walker,Johnson, Jones, Smalling

Gerrard, Carrick, Wilshere, Townsend, Barkley, Chamberlain, Morrison, Walcott

Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck, Lambert

I'd go with that Lampard looks past it, plus he looked really arrogant as he walked around the pitch at the end.

[Guest]

Oakey, it's a balancing act. If you played that brand of football against a decent team you'd get pumped. If you play like previous tournaments you might make QF.

Surely something in between would be a good change for England fans?

Agree, reminded me of Holland just anniliating us on the counter two years ago. Lewandowski two chances on his weaker foot were great chances, Robben/Huntelaar showed what happens when you step up the quality.

All this positive talk is great but what have we achieved? The expected qualification, that's all. I'm hearing interviews from Roy this morning, its like we've won the WC, `my greatest achievement in management`......embarrassing. If you think come Brazil that we are going to be this adventurous/attacking, in a tight group of quality teams, your delusional. Enjoy it while it lasts, Roy will understand how open we were last night, just looking at him, squirming on the sidelines during that first half showed he wasn't comfortable. In Brazil we will return to the defensive strong unit that he uses in those conditions because it probably our best option. It won't be pretty but its effective to a point, we can't go full guns blazing, well be blown away by technical, possession dominating teams. I mean we even made Poland look good in possession at times last night.

Had to laugh as well at Gerrard stating, ` Rooney is key to anything we achieve`. Yeah, Rooney was sensational but two points. Firstly its only Montenegro/poland & secondly its October. I would like to see Rooney's condition in June after a long season in a hot climate. I think we all know the answer. The Baines/Cole debate is pretty simple for me. Against weaker sides with no right winger, Bained is the man. Up against quality teams! Cole is our man. Both left backs but vastly different players, one of which excels offensively, the other defensively.

Your all going to say I'm negative but just speaking what I think. Great we've qualified but the real work starts now.

[CFCNick]

According to the BBC then:

1) Germany and Australia will be England's opponents for the November friendlies.
2) Denmark will be England's opposition in March.
3) The world cup draw will take place on December 6.
4) Games at the World Cup will take place at times of 17:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, and 23:00 our time, which is very favourable to us. A world away from Japan and Korea - any one remember those early morning games?!

I can't wait! England's best chance since nineteen-sixty-six!

I thought 98, 02, 06 and 10 were our best chances??? Eh???   

I was 11 during the Japan/Korea WC. We all went to school 2 hours early and had bacon sandwiches and cups of tea and juice. Was great atmosphere too. Like it was a special club.

[dummy_half]

Re TotChops squad suggestions:

I think Ben Foster will be the 2nd choice goalkeeper, and we need to give a bit of game time to Ruddy and Forster in the friendlies to determine who should be the third choice.

Be tempted to leave one of the specialist right backs at home - Jones and Smalling can both cover CB and RB to a reasonable level (Jones also offering an option as a holding midfielder), so opens up a spot in the squad elsewhere.

Squad looks a bit light in central midfield, especially if we are likely to play 3 there on occasion. Need one more as backup to Gerrard and Carrick - not sure Lampard really has it any more, Milner is versatile but not quite good enough in a number of positions. Henderson? Been playing well for Liverpool so far this season and seems to be winning the fans over after a shaky start. Perhaps Huddlestone will also finally fulfil his potential now he has moved away from Spurs.

I'd also like a spot for Defoe as a potential goal scorer off the bench, which probably means Morrison misses out.

[CFCNick]

Oakey, it's a balancing act. If you played that brand of football against a decent team you'd get pumped. If you play like previous tournaments you might make QF.

Surely something in between would be a good change for England fans?

Agree, reminded me of Holland just anniliating us on the counter two years ago. Lewandowski two chances on his weaker foot were great chances, Robben/Huntelaar showed what happens when you step up the quality.

All this positive talk is great but what have we achieved? The expected qualification, that's all. I'm hearing interviews from Roy this morning, its like we've won the WC, `my greatest achievement in management`......embarrassing. If you think come Brazil that we are going to be this adventurous/attacking, in a tight group of quality teams, your delusional. Enjoy it while it lasts, Roy will understand how open we were last night, just looking at him, squirming on the sidelines during that first half showed he wasn't comfortable. In Brazil we will return to the defensive strong unit that he uses in those conditions because it probably our best option. It won't be pretty but its effective to a point, we can't go full guns blazing, well be blown away by technical, possession dominating teams. I mean we even made Poland look good in possession at times last night.

Had to laugh as well at Gerrard stating, ` Rooney is key to anything we achieve`. Yeah, Rooney was sensational but two points. Firstly its only Montenegro/poland & secondly its October. I would like to see Rooney's condition in June after a long season in a hot climate. I think we all know the answer. The Baines/Cole debate is pretty simple for me. Against weaker sides with no right winger, Bained is the man. Up against quality teams! Cole is our man. Both left backs but vastly different players, one of which excels offensively, the other defensively.

Your all going to say I'm negative but just speaking what I think. Great we've qualified but the real work starts now.

At the same time as being rated highly by many I feel in a way you could say Ashley is quite underrated amongst the English fans. Yet he's probably the only fullback in World football that hasn't been humiliated by Messi. But neither did Bosingwa at Chelsea and he's awful!  

[Duty281]

First time England have qualified for five consecutive world cups I believe. In 66 and 70, England din't have to qualify, and we've come up short in 74, 78, and 94.

I think Roy can steer us to glory. Let's get carried away!!

Townsend will have Lahm on toast if it comes to it.
Wilshere will out-Pirlo, Pirlo, if need be.
Hodgson will quote Shakespeare's Henry V, if we play France.
Rooney will make Maradona's goal in 86 look like a tap-in, after dancing through 6 Argies and back-heeling it in.
Lionel Messi will take up new residence in Gary Cahill's back pocket.
England will have 60% possession against Spain.

Let's get carried away - no harm in it!

[nasisillmatic]

The point about Rooney come June is something I hadn't even thought about. His track record suggests he'll have some sort of problem come the World Cup.

[Duty281]

The last time Rooney went off to a major tournament with England, whilst David Moyes was his club manager, it all went rather well didn't it?

[Stella]

Rooney was injured in 2006 and was just plain sh.te in 2010. Third time lucky? He has the talent, so why not.

[mystiroakey]

The real work doesn't and can't start right now. The lads will go back to there clubs and bar a couple of friendlies that the PL managers will hate and do there best to stop our players pkaying in we have no rioom to work.

England just needs to go out there with no fear.. and try and play some football when the games suit. I backed hodgson during last cup and I thought he did ok. Since then we saw him play the same tactics as we did v Italy against lesser teams.  During the group's in Brazil we will have two teams that are on a siliar level to Poland and Ukraine. We need to just say . Yes we may conceade goals. But as long as we play well we will score more. Whereas what England have done in the past is draw to many. 1 win is usually better than 2 draws.. we will be better than two teams in the group at least.. hodgson needs to remember that or we haven't moved forwards.

[mystiroakey]

And remember even though we won't be a top seed we will target to win the group. That may take one defensive draw. Which is well within our reach against any team. But to top it we will need a good goal diff in the other two games.

[CFCNick]

The last time Rooney went off to a major tournament with England, whilst David Moyes was his club manager, it all went rather well didn't it?

Not really. We got knocked out on penalties.

[mystiroakey]

Rooney did play well though. But we all fear the worst deep down. We will have loads of injuries, hodgson will then have an impossible job and then he may be pushed into playing an imperfect system because we haven't got the depth(correction we do have the depth just not the depth playing regularly enough!!)
Fingers crossed that the Transfer window yields a lot of english loans like zaha. Because what ever squad is good today , won't be the squad we will have available in june..

[Steffan]

I said England would qualify no probalems at the starty of the campaign

And being as us Welsh have yet again failed to do anything I now I have someone to cheer on in Brazil  

[mystiroakey]

I said England would qualify no probalems at the starty of the campaign

And being as us Welsh have yet again failed to do anything I now I have someone to cheer on in Brazil  

You mean every team playing against us? 

I remember your flags during last years euros . Its all good though. Creates some banter!!

[Steffan]

I remember your flags during last years euros . Its all good though. Creates some banter!!

Yeah whoever England play  

I remember back in 2006 shops in Cardiff were selling flags of the nations England were playing really cheap so I bought some and put them up at the local pub

The local pub is also a motel and there were some gobby English workmen staying there who got well annoyed with flags as to which we told them if they didnt like it then by all means go back to where you came from

It was all good crack though and was very sweet when England lost to Portugal in 'Ronaldogate'

[Stella]

Coleman will get another four years after drawing with Belgium..............good luck  

[Duty281]

It's good if Stephanie puts up his foreign flags during the world cup - England have't lost while he's done that. He was absent for the England-Italy game and look what happened! He's our lucky mascot!

[Steffan]

Coleman will get another four years after drawing with Belgium..............good luck  

Nah knowing the FAW they will keep him on and then after another load of losses sack him halfway through the campaign just to really screw us up

[Steffan]

It's good if Stephanie puts up his foreign flags during the world cup - England have't lost while he's done that. He was absent for the England-Italy game and look what happened! He's our lucky mascot!

Wow making fun of my name. Very mature

[mystiroakey]

Come on mate you dish it. Just learn to take it for once!!

[mystiroakey]

i am gutted about the draw by wales and win by scotland.

i backed wales to win and scotland to draw!! massive odds !

[Steffan]

Come on mate you dish it. Just learn to take it for once!!

Adult banter is good. Getting my name insulted by some little runt who would never say it to my face is not why I come on here

[Guest]

Im glad my rooney/june comment finslly got noticed. I expect his level to have dropped a few notches come june, which is unfortunate but the reality. Still not convinced on the Rooney/Sturridge link up, both want to play no 10 role, coming deep & then Welbeck cuts in & it all gets too congested.

Mystiroakey, do you seriously believe come the groups at the WC, we will face two teams in the same mould & quality of Poland? Delusional. Montenegro even finished ahead of Poland in this group, we were lauding the win over Montenegro, that's the same side that just got thrashed by Moldova 5-2 last night. Our group, thanks to the poor results Roy achieved throughout this campaign & its effect on rankings, will inevitably lead to a very difficult group. That in turn will force Roy/England back into our shells, add in injuries & I fully expect the 1-0 win `hope tactics/dark ages` to return.

[mystiroakey]

yes 100%

i am not saying exact but very similar.. I mentioned poland and ukraine, but i could have included monte, bosnia, croatia, switzerland, slovenia, serbia,norway,romania and hungary,iceland as well.

I would put all those on very equal standing with many of the other qualifiers(some of the above have anyway) as a lower standard than england and a very equal footing in terms of quality.

teams like 

USA,chile,ghana,aus, cote d'ivoire,costa rica, honduras, paraguay,south korea, iran,etc(that all look like qualifier(well most do anyway or already have- i haven't got time to check it out properly)

A great and sad example of this qualification is that currently Wales are ranked higher than aus- Aus seem to allways get a spot , wales never ever do!

[mystiroakey]

by the way dont bother worrying about dead rubber games(mote v moldova) once teams have been knocked out of a tourney(they are less competitive than friendlies)

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