Group C - England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia

[cpr]

The England v Slovenia match on Wednesday will be shown on Gay TV.... Apparently the sight of 11 arseholes gettin hammered for 90 mins is far to explicit for terrestrial tele

 

[silentstriker]

SS, did you say earlier that if we win we can still go out? Because that's not true UIMM

No, they win, they go through.

Speaking of England and the US: in case of both winning, both will go through and the seeds will be decided on tiebreaker rules. If they both draw, one will go through and one won't based on tiebreakers, and Slovenia goes through. If one wins and one loses, the one that wins will go through, along with Slovenia. If both lose, than Slovenia and Algeria go through.

 

[silentstriker]

Source: U.S.-Slovenia ref gets poor rating - International Football - Yahoo! Sports

 

[shivfan]

The England team visited an orphanage in Cape Town today. "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope" said Jamal aged 6.

I also find it hilarious that certain sections of the English media are calling for Joe Cole as the latest saviour....

Funny, but this messiah has been given his marching orders by Chelsea, who don't think he's good enough.

And as for reports of unrest in the camp, maybe the England players need to take a good long hard look at themselves, not the manager. The players had problems with Sven, with McClaren, and now with Capello. They will never find a manager capable of making these jokers play well....

 

[Athlai]

The England team visited an orphanage in Cape Town today. "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope" said Jamal aged 6.

 

[wpdavid]

I also find it hilarious that certain sections of the English media are calling for Joe Cole as the latest saviour....

Funny, but this messiah has been given his marching orders by Chelsea, who don't think he's good enough.

And as for reports of unrest in the camp, maybe the England players need to take a good long hard look at themselves, not the manager. The players had problems with Sven, with McClaren, and now with Capello. They will never find a manager capable of making these jokers play well....

Agreed about Cole, although I'd still pick him on Wednesday.

And your final point is absolutely spot on. For years we were told that the problem with Sven was that he was beholden to the celebrity culture of the side and unwilling to upset a few of them. Now apparently Cappello's wrong because he's too dictatorial and he's upset a few of the poor dears. Dead right it's first & foremost down to the players. Heskey may well be a clown, but that doesn't explain why Rooney, Gerrard & Lampard have barely shown up. What we are seeing, as we have seen from around 2002, is that international games are by some distance secondary to club games for these guys.

 

[PhoenixFire]

After watching England's display against Algeria, I can honestly say that I though North Korea played better (against Brazil) than England did. That said, England's peformance was pretty much, with maybe 1 or 2 exceptions, the worst performance from anyone this world cup.

 

[social]

Agreed about Cole, although I'd still pick him on Wednesday.

And your final point is absolutely spot on. For years we were told that the problem with Sven was that he was beholden to the celebrity culture of the side and unwilling to upset a few of them. Now apparently Cappello's wrong because he's too dictatorial and he's upset a few of the poor dears. Dead right it's first & foremost down to the players. Heskey may well be a clown, but that doesn't explain why Rooney, Gerrard & Lampard have barely shown up. What we are seeing, as we have seen from around 2002, is that international games are by some distance secondary to club games for these guys.

Reckon that's a convenient excuse tbh

Reality is that a number of players have been in very average form for quite a while (e.g. Gerrard, Heskey and Terry), some of the more important ones are coming off injuries (e.g. Rooney and Barry), others are inconsistent (e.g. the keepers) whilst others are just **** (SWP)

When you break it down like that, it's hardly a surprise that they've "under-performed" to date

 

[GIMH]

Ignorant, yes. Fickle, no. I don't know anything about the game, and my interest in soccer may be fickle, but my support of the US team isn't.

Wasn't referring to you tbf

No, they win, they go through.

Speaking of England and the US: in case of both winning, both will go through and the seeds will be decided on tiebreaker rules. If they both draw, one will go through and one won't based on tiebreakers, and Slovenia goes through. If one wins and one loses, the one that wins will go through, along with Slovenia. If both lose, than Slovenia and Algeria go through.

it's not quite so simple - if we both win then whoever wins by most finishes top. If we both win by the same scoreline, you finish top. Same with draws - if we draw while scoring three more goals than you, then we go through, if we both drew with the same score, you'd go through. If you bdraw 0-0 and we draw 2-2 (or 1-1 and 3-3) etc then it goes to lots.

Hang on, I've just realised that you said 'tiebreaker rules'and probably meant goal difference/goals scored by that. Gonna post anyway coz I cbf to delete

 

[wpdavid]

Reckon that's a convenient excuse tbh

Reality is that a number of players have been in very average form for quite a while (e.g. Gerrard, Heskey and Terry), some of the more important ones are coming off injuries (e.g. Rooney and Barry), others are inconsistent (e.g. the keepers) whilst others are just **** (SWP)

When you break it down like that, it's hardly a surprise that they've "under-performed" to date

Sure, and I said as much a few weeks before the tournament. I still think our all round crappiness goes beyond that though.

Anyway, I surpirsed to see no comment about the attempted player power over the last 24 hours, with JT playing the KP role by speaking 'on behalf of the lads' and then finding that said lads weren't quite as behind him as he'd imagined. A pox on all their houses, afaics. Capello must wonder wtf he's doing in SA with this punch of spoilt brats, and you can't se him sticking around even if we go on and win the thing.

Come on Solvenia - send the buggers packing.

 

[Johnners]

I think they were trying, of course they were. But I think people underestimate the psychological effects on the performances of players. Guys like Gerrard were missing two yard passes and Rooney couldn't trap a ball cleanly to save his life. Every minute gone was another one to worry about. If I were the English team I'd simply stop caring what the general public think and just win it to spite them even. As a neutral who has followed the English team because some Liverpool players have been in it, I don't know of a more ignorant or fickle fan base.

Agree with this so much

 

[Cevno]

I think England just need to play with Crouch and Heskey Upfront along with Defoe looking for knockdowns and with two runners in midfield along with Rooney.
Everyone reckons that England often resort to long balls when they can't get their technical game going properly. So atleast they should then play to their strengths and play the long ball game looking for knockdowns and chasing lost causes.

I am pretty sure it wll be more effective than the dross they are playing currently ,though would be less popular and romantic.And i am prett sure it would cause massive problems for maajority of defences at the world cup. A bit like how Zamora terrorized continenta defences in the europa league this year.

 

[chalky]

Capello trashing Terry's comments.

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/fifaworldcup/news/capellolaysdownthelawtoterry/

 

[wpdavid]

Capello trashing Terry's comments.

Capello lays down the law to Terry - 2010 FIFA World Cup - Football - ITV Sport

There was a lot to be trashed. From memory, standout comments included JT's view that his mate Anelka had been sent home 'because he spoke his mind'. Er no, he was sent home because he gave his manager a fearful volley of abuse that simply wouldn't be contemplated outside the cossetted world of professional football. And his view that no-one apart from Joe Cole & Rooney has the ability to open up defences must really have blessed the rest of the squad.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Terry really is a grade-A moron, why on earth did they let him speak to the press. Should leave it to David James, easily the most eloquent and press-savy of the players.

 

[cpr]

Franks not too bad either, quite an intelligent bloke too. Handled the press taking the mick outta JT's Cole/Rooney comment well n all.

 

[BoyBrumby]

There was a lot to be trashed. From memory, standout comments included JT's view that his mate Anelka had been sent home 'because he spoke his mind'. Er no, he was sent home because he gave his manager a fearful volley of abuse that simply wouldn't be contemplated outside the cossetted world of professional football. And his view that no-one apart from Joe Cole & Rooney has the ability to open up defences must really have blessed the rest of the squad.

& even then he could've spared himself the ignominy by apologising.

Think Terry badly overplayed his hand, myself. If I were to permit myself the vice of armchair psychology, I'd guess there was a hint of score settling dating back to his loss of the captain's armband in his would-be coup.

 

[Furball]

Terry should have been booted out of Stamford Bridge a long time ago, the ****.

Capello should send him home.

 

[Sir Alex]

I hope England wins tomorrow and qualify for next round. It would be boring with other teams. After so many years of failed qualifications and home to richest football league, it would be farcical if they have to exit first round.

 

[GIMH]

It's tomorrow not today