Second Round (Last 16) Discussion

[neekoy]

Maybe they should just not qualify and can stay at home with their families and let a nation that actually wanted to be there play

[Bobby G]

Do you think you guys have the defence to keep Paraguay out dillo dillo?

And do people in Japan believe this is your strongest "team" yet? Ive watched Japan over the past 15-16 years (cause I am an Iranian and our rivalry used to go back a long time) and I think this is the best team you have. I also think Honda is potentially a much better player than Nakata or Nakamura ever were.

[JAL]

Maybe they should just not qualify and can stay at home with their families and let a nation that actually wanted to be there play

Qualification in future could become a big ask for England due to the lack of up and coming talent.

[unluckymorton]

Well, I think it is nonsense, so we'll agree to disagree.

I'm a proud Englishman, and I was gutted on Sunday. And no, I wasn't wearing the cross of St George.

It's beyond me how people can't seem to keep the national team separate from club football. But I'm glad you're letting us all know how you're not really fussed even though you'd "like" to see us do "well"; because it makes watching my national team get an absolute ass-reaming from one of our oldest enemies so much easier to bear.

It would be like you saying that you were gutted Rovers lost and some smarty-pants asking what the big deal was, it's only football. That would make you feel so much better, yeah?

It wasn't meant to make you feel better Bryan, I was just saying it how it is.

I'm a proud Englishman but I couldn't give a toss for the over rated tarts and their foreign manager who let England down in the world cup.

[dillo_dillo]

Do you think you guys have the defence to keep Paraguay out dillo dillo?

I don't know well about Paraguay. I just only one their game W-Cup 2010. I feel like one of odious side of South-American.

And do people in Japan believe this is your strongest "team" yet? Ive watched Japan over the past 15-16 years (cause I am an Iranian and our rivalry used to go back a long time) and I think this is the best team you have. I also think Honda is potentially a much better player than Nakata or Nakamura ever were.

this Japanese team is not so strong you know. We don't have striker (Honda is MF Okazaki drop to sab). I think looking at them in a different way of maintain solidarity. I'm happy to watching the game for !

Honda is superb but also Matsui, Abe, Hasebe and Nagatomo are great. Center back duo (Tulio Tanaka and Nakazawa) is working well.

How do you think about ... FIFA said that thinking about cut down 4.5 to 3.5 countries from Asia. ... That's big problem for us (AFC countries)

I Think we have to take sending back Australia to OFC IF 3.5 countries qualified for World Cup.

[Clitherover]

All the best I hope Japan beat Paraguay, waaay too many South American teams got through to the second round imo.

[Bobby G]

Where did FIFA say they will cut the Asian numbers?

No way. Asia had two teams in the last 16 this year. Africa had only 1 team. There is no way they will take one spot away from Asia.

About your national team, I feel the "team ethic" is much better than previous years. This is your best defence and an excellent midfield. I know you dont have a proper striker, but it hasnt been that bad till now. Okubo I dont rate at all. Morimoto should get a game, but I think he wants Okubo for his hard-working (Kuyt style ethic) on the wing.

I cant see you winning today though.

[Eddie]

So what you are saying is that the SGE era suddenly is looking to be âge d'or of modern English football?

I was never particularly critical of SGE. I thought he did a good job and certainly preferred him to Capello. Getting to the quarter-finals and going out on penalties or in extra-time is by no means embarrassing, particularly when it was to the eventual winners and the losing finalists on a couple of occasions. The fact that we've made a few quater-finals and two semi-final in the past 20 years in various major tournaments means that the English really shouldn't be ashamed.

We will eventually win it again, but my own feeling is that football is now at a level where we are unlikely to ever see an era in which a particular nations dominates the international stage. Hopefully in 4 years will we prepare a bit better, make better decisions when it comes to who we take and then get that bit of luck which you need in order to win it.

[dillo_dillo]

All the best I hope Japan beat Paraguay, waaay too many South American teams got through to the second round imo.

We(my friends, me and some media) called "Copa America @ Africa"

Fingers crossed !!

Where did FIFA say they will cut the Asian numbers?

No way. Asia had two teams in the last 16 this year. Africa had only 1 team. There is no way they will take one spot away from Asia.

I Can't find the news in English. sadly FIFA said. that's true.

I laugh about "this World cup is successful!". Africans played boring and poor football. and Vuvuzelas killed some countries(out of african) football chants culture. Rubbish!!

About your national team, I feel the "team ethic" is much better than previous years. This is your best defence and an excellent midfield. I know you dont have a proper striker, but it hasnt been that bad till now. Okubo I dont rate at all. Morimoto should get a game, but I think he wants Okubo for his hard-working (Kuyt style ethic) on the wing.

I cant see you winning today though.

honestly say, It's really big surprise. we dind't working well just before World Cup.

we surprised Okada decision ... changed nearly-fixed starting line-up (S,Nakamura, Uchida dropped)

Now, FINGERS CROSSED!!

[JAL]

I was never particularly critical of SGE. I thought he did a good job and certainly preferred him to Capello. Getting to the quarter-finals and going out on penalties or in extra-time is by no means embarrassing, particularly when it was to the eventual winners and the losing finalists on a couple of occasions. The fact that we've made a few quater-finals and two semi-final in the past 20 years in various major tournaments means that the English really shouldn't be ashamed.

We will eventually win it again, but my own feeling is that football is now at a level where we are unlikely to ever see an era in which a particular nations dominates the international stage. Hopefully in 4 years will we prepare a bit better, make better decisions when it comes to who we take and then get that bit of luck which you need in order to win it.

earth calling eddie

eddie are you receiving

[FourLaneBlue]

Exactly.

Spain, perhaps, before 2008.

Now we really are out on our own when it comes to consistently failing to deliver on the world stage.

[Amo]

ITV saying that Tulio didn't deserve to be flattened by his own goalkeeper because he's having a good game. Do they even think before they speak?

[Eddie]

Spain, perhaps, before 2008.

Now we really are out on our own when it comes to consistently failing to deliver on the world stage.

Portugal? The Netherlands? Argentina for quite some time now?

[Eddie]

The Spain v Portugal game has been of a let-down so far, but I think Portugal can feel pretty hard done by to be behind. They have taken a very defensive approach, but had created the better chances.

[Eddie]

Did FIFA hand out instructions that Spain had to go through?

That was even before that red card. Absolutely disgusting behaviour...I hope that he is suspended for the rest of the tournament.

[ultrablue]

I find Spain extremely boring to watch - they are so blumming good at short passing and move it sooooooo slowly, they keep the ball so much its not good to watch.

At least Cristiano Ronaldo is off my TV screen for a while!

[JAL]

I find Spain extremely boring to watch - they are so blumming good at short passing and move it sooooooo slowly, they keep the ball so much its not good to watch.

At least Cristiano Ronaldo is off my TV screen for a while!

If Spain had to lose David Villa at this late stage, how effective would Spain be then especially with Fernando Torres playing like a Rooney.

[neekoy]

Where did FIFA say they will cut the Asian numbers?

No way. Asia had two teams in the last 16 this year. Africa had only 1 team. There is no way they will take one spot away from Asia.

No doubt they will give it to CONCACAF

[FourLaneBlue]

Portugal? The Netherlands? Argentina for quite some time now?

Even combined Portugal and The Netherlands have well over 20,000,000 less inhabitants than us. Not to mention Portugal reaching a semi-final of the World Cup (better than we have done for 20 years) and a Euro final (better than we have EVER done in that competition) in the last 6 years alone. This is with a population of 11 million.

As for Argentina...well, 2 World Cup wins, a World Cup final and a couple of continental titles since 66 for a nation that is far poorer than England and has a good 10 million or so less of a population...

It just smacks of us, as a nation, of being truly cr@p at football...

Many people around the world think of England as a great football nation. The daft thing is that we really should be. The demographics do not lie. We should have had golden periods like Italy, France, Germany, Argentina etc...

Why haven't we?

Capello - nor any manager - can be blamed for that.

[Mr. E]

Even combined Portugal and The Netherlands have well over 20,000,000 less inhabitants than us. Not to mention Portugal reaching a semi-final of the World Cup (better than we have done for 20 years) and a Euro final (better than we have EVER done in that competition) in the last 6 years alone. This is with a population of 11 million.

As for Argentina...well, 2 World Cup wins, a World Cup final and a couple of continental titles since 66 for a nation that is far poorer than England and has a good 10 million or so less of a population...

It just smacks of us, as a nation, of being truly cr@p at football...

Many people around the world think of England as a great football nation. The daft thing is that we really should be. The demographics do not lie. We should have had golden periods like Italy, France, Germany, Argentina etc...

Why haven't we?

Capello - nor any manager - can be blamed for that.

England could have reached the finals in 1998 and 2006 had the referees not berried them. Regardless of what counts as an excuse or not, England have lost on penalties/suffered much more from referees than nations like Italy, France, Germany and Argentina. This is a fact.

[neekoy]

England could have reached the finals in 1998 and 2006 had the referees not berried them. Regardless of what counts as an excuse or not, England have lost on penalties/suffered much more from referees than nations like Italy, France, Germany and Argentina. This is a fact.

hahahaha.......

I reckon Geoff Hurst would disagree

Lost on penalties? How is that down to anything other England's inabaility to win a match in normal times and they are ###### penalty takers who fail under pressure?

Fact, you were ripped by the Hand of God incident, everything else is just an excuse.

[SouthAussieRover]

Let's not forget the time Gasgoine was harshly sent off against the Germans. I think it was 1990.

Beckham getting sent off thanks to the Argie's dying swan act. The Argie should have gone too.

[cn174]

Let's not forget the time Gasgoine was harshly sent off against the Germans. I think it was 1990.

You mean the yellow card v Germany?

Or did he get sent off another time?

[Oklahoma]

Spain were the best team yesterday.

Portugal made a defensive approach mainly because it is where we are stronger. Offensively, we are not that good.

Queiroz prepared the team well but made two casting errors: Pepe (out of shape and not needed agaisnt a non phisical team) and Ricardo Costa (offers nothing going forward and had 2 right backs on the bench).

Than, he made is worst mistake: take out Hugo Almeida, who was working well and putting in an attacking midfielder.

After the goal, Spain kept the ball pretty much like Barça does. One of their advantages is that their national team is built around Barcelona's team.

The ref was biased and, to make it worst, the goal was offside. I don't blame the linesman or the ref, it was a normal mistake.

But one has to wonder why Fifa picked a South American referee for this match and for the 4th time for Portugal. Weird, isn't it?

At least, Spain finally received a yellow card lol

[thenodrog]

Even combined Portugal and The Netherlands have well over 20,000,000 less inhabitants than us. Not to mention Portugal reaching a semi-final of the World Cup (better than we have done for 20 years) and a Euro final (better than we have EVER done in that competition) in the last 6 years alone. This is with a population of 11 million.

As for Argentina...well, 2 World Cup wins, a World Cup final and a couple of continental titles since 66 for a nation that is far poorer than England and has a good 10 million or so less of a population...

It just smacks of us, as a nation, of being truly cr@p at football...

Many people around the world think of England as a great football nation. The daft thing is that we really should be. The demographics do not lie. We should have had golden periods like Italy, France, Germany, Argentina etc...

Why haven't we?

Capello - nor any manager - can be blamed for that.

I think our demise has been previously carried out in Scotland. That tiny nation produced lots of excellent footballers and managers and exported most of em to us. But whats happened? The well seems dry. Genetics don't change that quickly so lets look behind the scenes at the social changes over the years. What has altered the scottish psyche? The Welfare state banishing absolute poverty possibly (relative poverty means nowt btw)? Comprehensive education? Glasgow's industrial base disappearing?

Whatever it is somethings altered up there.... and now it's moving south.