Time to start this, and in a few hours the Italian squad will be announced ! :D
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Time to start this, and in a few hours the Italian squad will be announced ! :D
Also very soon I will add a poll and post details about Groups, other squads, etc..etc...
Oh yes. Cant wait Pino. Hope I am allowed to do this. Just let me know.
Here's the England squad for those that are interested.
Goalkeepers:
Caps Goals Joe Hart (Man City) 39 0 Fraser Forster (Celtic) 1 0 Ben Foster (West Brom) 6 0
Defenders:
Caps Goals Leighton Baines (Everton) 22 1 Gary Cahill (Chelsea) 22 2 Phil Jagielka (Everton) 24 1 Glen Johnson (Liverpool) 50 1 Phil Jones (Manchester Utd) 9 0 Chris Smalling (Manchester Utd) 10 0 luke Shaw (Southampton) 1 0
Midfielders:
Caps Goals Ross Barkley (Everton) 3 0 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) *Captain 109 21 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) 8 0 Adam Lallana (Southampton) 3 0 Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 103 29 James Milner (Man City) 45 1 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) 14 3 Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) 2 0 Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) 15 0
Strikers:
Caps Goals Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 4 2 Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd) 89 38 Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) 10 3 Danny Welbeck (Manchester Utd) 21 8
Standby List:
John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).
Steve, off course you're allowed to post whatever you want ;)
Spain's squad :
Casillas, Reina, De Gea,
Azpilicueta, Piqué, Ramos, Jordi Alba, Alberto Moreno, Javi Martínez, Albiol, Juanfran, Carvajal,
Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Koke, Iturraspe, Xavi Thiago, Pedro, Navas, Silva, Cesc, Mata, Cazorla, Iniesta,
Diego Costa, Villa, Torres, Negredo y Llorente
Italy's :
Keepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juve), Salvatore Sirigu (Psg), Mattia Perin (Genoa)
Defenders: Giorgio Chiellini (Juve), Andrea Barzagli (Juve), Leonardo Bonucci (Juve), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Ignazio Abate (Milan), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina)
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Juve), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juve), Thiago Motta (Psg), Marco Verratti (Psg), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Romulo (Verona), Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Marco Parolo (Parma)
Strikers: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Mattia Destro (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
Canada's :
Assistant Ref / Linesman: Joe Fletcher
Ok - it's not as impressive as some of the other squads listed, but as pino would say "That's alright - it's only soccer." ;)
Argentina's :
Keepers: Romero, Andujar, Orion
Defenders: Garay, Fernandez, Zabaleta, Rojo, Basanta, Campagnaro, Otamendi, Demichelis, Mercado, Lopez.
Midfielders: Gago, Biglia, Mascherano, Banega, Di Maria, Rodriguez, Alvarez, Fernandez, Pérez, Josa, Rinaudo.
Strikers: Aguero, Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi, Palacio, Di Santo.
No Tevez !!! :eek:
Coach Sabella, must be crazy. How could he leave at home Tevez, who scored 19 goals for Juve, and bring Di Santo ??? :confused: :crazy:
Di Santo is not going to be in the final 23
- I personally like Tevez but I think there is a feeling that Messi, Tevez and Aguero do not gel..of course he could have been a great sub to come on when others are tiring.. Tevez is practically a machine.
As for Spain, Torres needs to be dropped - he likely won't make the 23 either.. Costa should actually not get selected either..it's ridiculous - why are people who have already played for another country allowed to play for yet another in a few months' time?
I saw a headline on the BBC sport pages
"Ronaldo selected in Portugal Squad"
It just made me laugh as a headline. It read as though it was a shock selection. :)
I agree so much with this. Its a crazy situation. It will become like club football at this rate and you can trade players.Quote:
Originally Posted by Storm
Goalkeepers:
Julio Cesar (Toronto), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Ath.Mineiro)
Defenders:
Dani Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (Roma), Thiago Silva (PSG), David Luiz (Chelsea), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Dante (Bayern Munich), Maxwell (PSG), Henrique (Napoli)
Midfielders:
Ramires (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Paulinho (Tottenham), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Bernard (Shaktar Donetsk), Fernandinho (Man City), Willian (Chelsea)
Strikers:
Neymar (Barcelona), Hulk (Zenit), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Ath. Mineiro)
Hmm a few in who based on performance should not be.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
Smalling and Jones are extremely lucky to go, both were average at best this year. Personally I would have taken Stones and Flanagan, both of whom had exceptional seasons this time round and were far more impressive than the Utd pair.
Apart from that I think this is the best squad Hodgeson could have come up with.
So.... how will England do?
I can see them making the quarter finals, then all you need is luck from there, I can also see them not progressing past Italy and Uruguay in their group.
In anticipation of England's abject failure I will be offering my support to Cameroon and Germany...mainly because I've got them in the company sweepstake.
Hart, Cahill, Johnson, Smalling, Jagielka, Henderson, Sterling, Gerrard, Milner, Sturridge and Rooney.Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
That's pretty well much the default XI and to be honest, the only reason I'd see that England have any need to play anyone else is to rest that XI before an important match. Secure escape from the group stage and then revert to an XI which in theory should be able to hold up fairly nicely in a European Champions League match.
...
Aside:
I think that Australia is massively overrated in the press here. Having seen the squad of 30 before they play a friendly against South Africa, I can honestly see Australia getting belted to the weeds. My prediction of losing all matches and conceding 20 goals still stands.
You've selected 3 CB and no left back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
Hart
Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines
Gerrard, Wilshere
Stirling, Rooney, Welbeck
Sturridge
That's how I'd play, attack attack attack
I'd go with that too Jon.
Maybe switching the Ox if fit or Lallana for Welbeck personally, but its the same basic team.
Groups :
Group A
Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B
Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C
Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D
Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E
Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F
Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G
Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States
Group H
Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
Poll added with 10 options, if you guys want more options, just let me know ;)
Where's Greece? :p:
I think the predicting the winner is a no-brainer. Historically Brazil have always been contenders - even in a bad year. And they're playing at home which history tells us leads to teams playing above themselves. But who will they beat in the final?
History also tells you Brazil didnt cope very well all round when they hosted it in 1950.Quote:
Originally Posted by D-Type
Different times I know, but any wobble and the crowd will get on their backs. They must be up there but I wouldnt be surprised if they choked.
I voted for England :). I tried really really hard not to, but some how it just happened any way.
Brazil will be hard to beat at home, but how will they handle the extra pressure?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Storm
Just announced :D
Goalkeepers:
Orestis Karnezis, Panagiotis Glykos, Stefanos Kapino
Defenders:
Kostas Manolas, Jose Holebas, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Vangelis Moras, Giorgos Tzavellas, Lucas Vyntra, Vasilis Torosidis
Midfielders:
Alexandros Tziolis, Andreas Samaris, Yannis Maniatis, Kostas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis, Panagiotis Tachtsidis, Yannis Fetfatzidis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Panagiotis Kone
Attackers:
Dimitris Salpingidis, Giorgos Samaras, Kostas Mitroglou, Fanis Gekas
Right I always do this for some fun and as there is a thread on here I guess I might as well publish it for you all to laugh at.
Group A
Brazil 3-1 Croatia
Mexico 2-1 Cameroon
Brazil 2-2 Mexico
Cameroon 1-1 Croatia
Brazil 3-0 Cameroon
Mexico 1-1 Croatia
1.Brazil 7
2.Mexico 5
3.Croatia 2
4.Cameroon 1
Group B
Spain 1-1 Netherlands
Chile 4-0 Australia
Australia 1-5 Netherlands
Spain 2-1 Chile
Australia 0-2 Spain
Chile 2-2 Netherlands
1. Spain 7
2. Netherlands 5
3. Chile 4
4. Australia 0
Group C
Colombia 1-0 Greece
Ivory Coast 1-1 Japan
Colombia 2-2 Ivory Coast
Japan 1-1 Greece
Japan 1-1 Colombia
Ivory Coast 2-1 Greece
1.Ivory Coast 5
2.Colombia 5
3.Japan 3
4.Greece 1
Group D (being honest not with England tinted glasses)
Costa Rica 1-3 Uruguay
England 1-1 Italy
Uruguay 2-1 England
Italy 2-0 Costa Rica
Italy 1-1 Uruguay
Costa Rica 1-2 England
1. Uruguay 7
2. Italy 5
3. England 4
4. Costa Rica 0
Group E
Switzerland 0-2 Ecuador
France 2-1 Honduras
Switzerland 0-0 France
Honduras 1-1 Ecuador
Honduras 1-1 Switzerland
Ecuador 2-2 France
1.Ecuador 5
2.France 5
3.Honduras 2
4.Switzerland 2
Group F
Argentina 3-1 Bosnia & Herz
Iran 1-2 Nigeria
Argentina 5-0 Iran
Nigeria 2-2 Bosnia & Herz
Nigeria 1-4 Argentina
Bosnia & Herz 3-0 Iran
1.Argentina 9
2.Bosnia & Herz 4
3.Nigeria 4
4.Iran 0
Group G
Germany 2-2 Portugal
Ghana 2-1 USA
Germany 3-2 Ghana
Portugal 1-1 USA
USA 0-2 Germany
Ghana 1-1 Portugal
1.Germany 7
2.Ghana 4
3.Portugal 3
4.USA 1
Group H
Belgium 3-0 Algeria
Russia 2-1 South Korea
Belgium 2-0 Russia
South Korea 2-1 Algeria
South Korea 2-2 Belgium
Russia 3-0 Algeria
1.Belgium 7
2.Russia 6
3.South Korea 4
4. Algeria 0
2nd Round (I used 1-0 in brackets as Penalty win)
Brazil 3-2 Netherlands *AET
Ivory Coast 1-2 Italy *AET
Ecuador 2-1 Bosnia & Herz
Germany 3-1 Russia
Spain 2-2 Mexico *AET (1-0)
Uruguay 3-2 Colombia
Argentina 2-0 France
Belgium 2-1 Ghana
Quarter Finals
Brazil 2-1 Italy
Ecuador 2-3 Germany
Spain 1-2 Uruguay
Argentina 2-1 Belgium
Semi Finals
Brazil 2-2 Germany *AET (0-1) Pressure and German Penaltys
Uruguay 2-3 Argentina *AET
3rd/4th
Brazil 3-1 Uruguay
Final
Argentina 2-1 Germany
Just for fun and will probably be completely wrong. :D
Option for Belgium please - best chance of all European teams imvho
Don't laugh. At my first job where coworkers were normal and funny I started a game where everybody should guess the result of every match. Matching a result meant you'll get some points, wrong result meant you have to pay and the winner of the game should take all the money involved. It was a laugh and I managed to find 42 players. We had 2 winners, one took his award, the other took us out for beers. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
BTW. Like at every WC I'll support Argentina but I voted for Brazil.
Too many matches so it's quite hard to predict.
I prefer to watch instead :smokin:
I'll do that too I guess. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by odykas
Only for fun. Already worrying about predicting Portugal as my one shock knock out in the group stages. :eek:
:rotflmao:Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
Are you embarrassed easily? I am. But it's nothing to worry about; it's all part of growing up and being British.
Just like following Tim Henman-man-man-man and Jenson Button, following the England football team is a sure fire way to be pleasantly disappointed.
That's why I'm supporting England all the way to the quarter-finals where they'll be knocked out on penalties by some nation who was once vanquished but has practised at playing football and is now better than England.
Anglorum - ambitiosa nugas!
There was no option to vote for Australia then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
It's quite odd that no one has ticked the Germany box. Sure they have been under achieving for the past few years, but you can bet they will stand up at the tournament.
That's a pretty optimistic performance from Australia that you're expecting.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
Yep. Normally, it's the Netherlands I go for in WC. But this time, I'm jumping onto the Benelux rival bandwagon!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
Lukaku for golden boot!
Lukakuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Australia just got held to a 1-1 draw against South Africa, that didn't play close to it's strongest team!
Yes I watched the match
South Africa had about 8 out and struggled to get a team there. To be fair Australia looked better in the first half but couldn't put any chances away
If chance couldn't be put away against a second string SA team. what hope have we got against a full strength Netherlands, Spain and Chile???
There's been a disgustingly complacent attitude here, the last 8 years. After a respectable performance during the 06 WC, it was expected we'd do better since. Being included in Asia was supposed to mean we'd get more, higher quality games, and a fairer path to the WC. Whereas really, it was all about getting an easier run. Instead of producing a better team, it produced a significantly inferior one.
Since then, we'd slowly, slowly declined to the point now we're the worst team participating. The blame has been dumped onto our two coaches since Guus Hiddink, Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck. However, this is absolute BS. There was a deluded sense of entitlement from the whole of the Aus football/soccer community here since the 06 WC. A complete lack of understanding and respect for how hard it is to succeed at international level. Expectations have been lowered for the WC as far as progressing is concerned, but there is still some there regarding a spirited performance, particularly with one eye on the Asian Cup. But this will be squashed with our coach.
Verbeek and Osieck have been criticised here, particularly Osieck. But the idiots here are happy with Ange Postecoglou "coaching" the team. He's not much more than a church league coach, he wouldn't even be considered for a CCL2 team.. But we're dumb. We've got him running the national team at a WC. It wasn't til the morning after the game. when Mark Bosnich was interviewd on radio in Melbourne, that I've heard anyone acknowledged that we've got deep rooted problems that won't be fixed overnight. In other words, what Verbeek and Osieck have been saying for 5 years!
When the time comes, if you're a betting man, put money on us to fail to qualify for 2018, or at least not to qualify automatically.
I love pickems :DQuote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
I am not going to predict all the matches but these are the teams I think are going to advance to the second round. It looks like everything is set for a Argentina - Brazil final... so it probably will be a different final!
The team I most hope to fail is France, and they have such an easy trail they are in the quarter finals almost by default :mad:
The team I root for most is Belgium. For the first time in 12 years present and this is going to be their year!
I expect quite a bit from Japan, seeing as it is sort of a home tournament for them. They have a reasonably easy poule and quite a decent squad. For some reason I do not think the African nations are going to do really good, no idea why...
There is a lot of talk about Poule B here. In my opinion people are underestimating Chile. They play fantastic technical football and they are at their best against other technical teams. That they are paired with Spain and The Netherlands does not mean that they are already defeated. I could even well see them as group winners.
Group A
Brazil
Croatia
Group B
Spain
Chile
Group C
Colombia
Japan
Group D
Italy
Uruguay
Group E
France
Ecuador
Group F
Argentina
Bosnia & Herz
Group G
Germany
Portugal
Group H
Belgium
South Korea
Of the 60 penalties missed in Word Cup shoot-outs, 14% have been missed by England.
That means we havent missed 86% though ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow