At what point do England deserve some credit?

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I've been reading some of the Ehglish media this morning and, yet agin, it's full of negativity about the performance and the team. Now I'm not saying that England have played particuarly well. but they are now in the quarter finals of the world cup and have a great chance of making the semi final - it's pretty difficult to put a good argument forward for France right now, except the usual 'they are French and capable of anything'. But in all honesty, they are a total mess of a team and the French public should be appalled by the French team, similar to the their football team.

Anyway, back to England, two more 'unconvincing and limited' wins will put them in the final of the world cup, and while they could lose either of those games, they also have a good chance of winning them.

At what point should people get behind the team and give them some credit for winning despite not playing to their potential. Competitive sport is 90% about the result and 10% about performance. Sport is full of 'ifs and buts' yet if JW had kicked even 70% of his goals throughout this world cup then England would have looked far more comfortable, yet he didn't and they still won. England won a tricky opening match with Argentina, yet got widely criticised. In contrast, Wales get widely praised for their opening defeat v SA. But they lost, and utimately they failed.

My own view is that England have done pretty well in this competition so far - two issues have really affected them, goal kicking and giving away penalties at scrums. if they can sort these out they have a great chance to beat France and then it's a close call against probably either Wales or Ireland.

If England win their next 3 games playing the same 'unconvincing, limited, below-par' game then I'll be a very happy person!!

tries win games and cups, kicks by how much!

England deserve no credit whatsoever at the moment as they haven't done anything creditable.

They've beaten the teams in their pool that they were expected to beat (based on ranking), they have done so eratically and without confidence (with the exception of Romania) and off the pitch they have behaved largely like irresponsible teenagers.

They will deserve some credit if and when they've earnt it

They may get some if they beat France next Saturday, but that will depend on whether France turn up for it, if France perform as they have been and England beat them, they will still not have earnt any credit - but they'll be in the World Cup semi-finals and I wont give a monkey's.

Rather a World Cup winners medal than a shed full of credit.