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What was so suprising? By their fielding second choice players it was clear from the start that the Ecuadorians had resigned themselves to finishing in 2nd place.

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Yeah, seems they are hoping for playing England then rather than Sweden or Trinidad & Tobago.

And I want to believe that a light's shining through somehow

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The Ecuadorians are likely to garner a point at least against the Germans & nick top spot in the group via goal difference

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Thanks for this. Armed with this Straw tip and the knowledge that Strawman is never right when it comes to football predictions, I had a tidy sum on Germany winning today. I hope you take advantage of your Sadim touch yourself.

For a more humorous side to the World Cup, check out RTE's after match act at http://www.rte.ie/sport/worldcup/apresmatch.html

You need to be familiar with English TV and football personages for most of them to make sense though (and be able to understand Dublin accents in some cases).

The Walcott one is the best.

Slan libh,

Dara

"I could count my friends on one hand, but I'd look like I was giving an invisible friend a hand job." - Shelle

England don't frighten?

Damn right they don't after that performance. A fine first half - injury to Michael Owen notwithstanding - including a truly sumptuous goal from Joe Cole looked like it had Sweden on the ropes. And then, come the second half, one sloppy passage of play led to Sweden re-establishing themselves. And how. On that second half performance, I'd've been happier having the Trinidad & Tobago centre-half pairing in our team. Christ, I'd even probably have welcomed Per Metersacker.

Oh, ok, maybe not.

We were defensively awful though. Decent on the front foot, but truly awful at the back. If that can't be worked on, no matter how well Rooney et al play, it simply isn't going to matter.

later,
Chris...

I could stay if you asked me,
So for God's sake don't ask me to stay

What the hell was the point in taking him, im sorry but if you dare not bring him on at all what is the point.
Why didnt sven just take gazza so he can get his fake tits out on the coach after its all over.

So, Engerlanders, still think you're going to win the World Cup?

In fairness, the first half last night was the best we've seen England yet. It looked like a bad Premship game between a mid table side (England) against a relegation side (Sweden, and hardly surprising given that so much of their team is made up of Premship failures), but England were comfortably on top. Cracking goal too.

What's more difficult to understand is why England ran out of steam yet again in the second half. They can hardly blame the heat again. I suspect overtraining.

Rooney is England's class act, but still far from fit. He tired alarmingly in the second half and Sven was right to take him off. I'm not sure he has time to get fit before the end of the tournament.

What is Walcott doing in the squad again? Is he just the mascot? Surely last night was the ideal time to blood him. Or has Sven lost faith in his wunderkid now he's actually seen him play?

Defensively England were a bit of a shambles too. I think Robinson is a real weakness. His positioning is poor, which is why he gets beaten even by poor shots like the one Gerrard cleared off the line, and he lacks the force of personality to organise a defence in front of him.

England lack players who will run at people and beat them. Lennon was a breath of fresh air when he came on last game, but Sven seems to be picking players on reputation more than current form.

Beckham contributes absolutely nothing these days from general play, and with Crouch as a lone striker the plan seems to be to hoof long balls to the big lad. Can't see that giving the classier sides much problems. In the last World Cup, England looked like minnows as soon as they ran into a superior side who could hold the ball. I expect the same will happen again.

Slan libh,

Dara

"I could count my friends on one hand, but I'd look like I was giving an invisible friend a hand job." - Shelle

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So, Engerlanders, still think you're going to win the World Cup?

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Yes, i'm confident that the players will get their act together coming to the knock-out round.

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is why England ran out of steam yet again in the second half.

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Good question. I'd like to know what really goes on in the dressing-room during half time, because i think that the problem is more mental then physical.

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What is Walcott doing in the squad again? Is he just the mascot? Surely last night was the ideal time to blood him. Or has Sven lost faith in his wunderkid now he's actually seen him play?

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Fucking good question. I mean, that was an fairly unimportant game, so if he can't be given an opportuntiy there, then how can he be played during the knock-outs??? Sven said earlier, that he wont start him to save him for any pressure, so if he is worried that the boy can't handle pressure yet, why indeed has he been chosen to the world-cup team????



But it's still unfashionable
To believe in principles

Considering the fact that England indeed ran out of steam more than once so far is quite remarkable. If there is one thing a German would expect from them it is power for 90 minutes and longer. As often proven in history. But as it is the English may find it well difficult to get past Ecuador if the South Americans can reproduce their performance of the Poland game: A tight and physically tough defensive line, a full fit and well running midfield and two quick and skillfull enough attackers to put quite some pressure on a team that tires after 60 minutes. If England don't get the job done early or find some fully fit players somewhere they might well be in for an unplesant surprise before the final whistle. Ask the flabby French how that feels.

And I want to believe that a light's shining through somehow

Great news, the cup is propably over for owen. So that leaves us with rooney who is still recovering from an previous injury (thus prone the get injured again), crouch who is unreliable and with walcott, who is basically the last player in the team who erikson intends to play.

But it's still unfashionable
To believe in principles

Considering the fact that England indeed ran out of steam more than once so far is quite remarkable. If there is one thing a German would expect from them it is power for 90 minutes and longer. As often proven in history

Yep, but then there is this saying about the work morale of the nations:

If you ask a German to do a job, he will say 'no' if he can't. If he says 'yes', he'll do the job, no matter what.

If you ask a Brit to do a job, he'll say 'yes, why not', but at delivery time he might come back with only 50%: 'I did my best, that's how far I got'.

Working in international teams, I found these clichees somehow true. And don't think I symphasize with the rather narrow-minded, black-and-white German attitude.

/Carsten

Does the English squad hold only four attackers with Owen, Rooney, Crouch and Walcott? If so Eriksson must be a total dickhead as it was long clear that Rooney was doubtful, Owen not fully fit and out of form and Walcott an inexperienced youngster. Were there public arguments about who was nominated upfront in that aspect? Was anybody left home who could have helped?

And I want to believe that a light's shining through somehow