The Official *England's Journey to Brazil 2014* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England."
Sir Winston Churchill

Yes, it's nearly that time. Time for England to begin their Qualifying Campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Those promising, encouraging, and brave displays witnessed during Euro 2012 will have to be built on as the long road to Brazil starts. Along the way, they will play in London, Podgorica, Kiev, Warsaw, Chisinau and Serravale. The aim is simply to top the group and make it to Brazil with a minimum of fuss.

"Ask any man what nationality he would prefer to be, and ninety nine out of a hundred will tell you that they would prefer to be Englishmen."
Cecil John Rhodes

England have been drawn in Group H with Montengro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino. I don't even need to be insanely optimistic this time round. England will top that group. Moldova and San Marino will be the whipping boys. Montengro, Ukraine and Poland will only prove a challenge in their own ground. Wembley will be deemed a fortress.

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first place in the lottery of life."
Cecil John Rhodes

The fixture list for those Qualifiers is the following:

Moldova v England (7th September 2012)
England v Ukraine (11th September 2012)
England v San Marino (12th October 2012)
Poland v England (16th October 2012)
San Marino v England (22nd March 2013)
Montenegro v England (26th March 2013)
England v Moldova (6th September 2013)
Ukraine v England (10th September 2013)
England v Montenegro (11th October 2013)
England v Poland (15th October 2013)

Lovely, simple, finishing with a Wembley double-header. I predict we'll get 28 out of 30 points, perhaps getting a draw in either Warsaw or Kiev.

"Follow your spirit; and upon this charge,
Cry "God for Harry! England and Saint George"."
William Shakespeare

Of course, while England's fate will be defined by those 10 games, the ever important International Friendly will hone the team against more quality opposition. The friendlies currently scheduled are:

Italy v England (15th August 2012)
Sweden v England (14th November 2012)
England v Scotland (14th August 2013)

So let's get the England train rolling, starting on Wednesday, build up momentum before landing in Brazil in nearly 2 years time. Come on England!

“The English are so filled with their own greatness and have won so many big victories that they have come to believe they cannot lose. In battle they are the most confident nation in the world."
Unknown

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Really do not rate Andre Wisdom at all.

You can see the difference between Redmond playing week in week out, and Zaha with no gametime here.

[Mat]

What a finish by Berahino

He's gonna be a good player.

[Duty281]

Writing in the Times today, Tony Cascarino suggests that it's time for England to be "bold" and *drumroll* play Steven Gerrard at centre-back!

That would apparently allow England to make full use of Gerrard's long-range passing - like an NFL quarterback I presume - and Cascarino cites Gerrard's display in the Champions League final of 2005 at full-back as why it would work.

Don't worry, I haven't stopped laughing yet either!

[Duty281]

Oh, and Sturridge is definitely out for the Ukraine game. Here comes Rickie Lambert's big test!

[Scrumpy]

Why can't Rooney wear a scrum cap and take some pain killers? England need him now more than ever.

If that tiny scratch was on a rugby player they would just play on.

[Duty281]

Have you seen the size of the gash (insert appropriate teenage joke here)? Not sure a scrum cap would cover it, or if they're even legal on a football field.

[Crimey]

Apparently Hodgson planned to drop Lambert and play Welbeck as a lone striker if he hadn't got suspended, definitely blessing in disguise then.

[Duty281]

Apparently Hodgson planned to drop Lambert and play Welbeck as a lone striker if he hadn't got suspended, definitely blessing in disguise then.

Be interesting to see how Lambert fares in his first big test in an England shirt. He's linked up fantastically well with the midfielders against Moldova and Scotland, and shown an assuring presence on the ball, so it'll be interesting to see if he can maintain it against Ukraine. Especially as it appears England will be playing 4-4-1-1, with the wingers more held back, and Jack Wilshere in the no.10 role his only close teammate.

Think I would have preferred Welbeck to play in truth.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah I can't say I'm too confident in Lambert, especially after seeing Michael Turner take care of him pretty easily a week or two back. That's never a good sign...

[Liam]

Well he keeps putting the ball in the back of the net so you can't ask much more. Maybe Walcott will play as a cf to give Lambert some options when holding the ball up. Maybe Milner will come in at right midfield.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Gonna be honest I wanna see Milner play right midfield if Kyle Walker is at RB

[Crimey]

Apparently Hodgson planned to drop Lambert and play Welbeck as a lone striker if he hadn't got suspended, definitely blessing in disguise then.

Be interesting to see how Lambert fares in his first big test in an England shirt. He's linked up fantastically well with the midfielders against Moldova and Scotland, and shown an assuring presence on the ball, so it'll be interesting to see if he can maintain it against Ukraine. Especially as it appears England will be playing 4-4-1-1, with the wingers more held back, and Jack Wilshere in the no.10 role his only close teammate.

Think I would have preferred Welbeck to play in truth.

That's worrying, I thought Wilshere didn't get close enough to Lambert all game against Moldova, that might have been a tactical choice, but I think it's because Wilshere is used to playing as a deeper midfielder. He's capable of being a number 10, but he's too eager to get the ball deep and run with it, which he can't do as the closest man to Lambert.

Think it's going to be a draw, England are showing too much respect to Ukraine in my opinion, most of the international sides at our level would take the game to Ukraine. Think England will struggle to score.

Still wouldn't rather have Welbeck, Lambert is better at holding the ball up and passing than Welbeck which is what you're going to need as a lone striker.

[Duty281]

England struggle to score? England never usually struggle. As a matter of fact, England have scored in 29 of their last 30 internationals - the only blemish being the Euro 2012 encounter against Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev...which is where England are playing on Tuesday!

I think England will win 2 nil on Tuesday. Hodgson will set England up perfectly to batter Ukraine on the counter-attack. The pace of Walcott, the touch of Wilshere, the industry of Milner, the drive of Gerrard, and the guile of Lampard - too much for Ukraine.

[Crimey]

They struggled to score against Ukraine the last time England played them, only getting a goal with a late penalty. I will be surprised if England score more than one, expect it to be 1-1.

[Liam]

Yeh I see a close game, not many goals if i'm honest. I can't see England losing, so either a 1-0 or 1-1 as Crimey said.

[Guest]

Konolpienka , yarmolenko gonna cause us problem, can't see us keeping a clean sheet. 2-0 is optimistic in a huge game for Ukraine, they know this is make or break. Expecting a tough test, especially as crimey says, we struggled at home n they outplayed us.

[Guest]

2-0 England i think.

[Duty281]

Konolpienka , yarmolenko gonna cause us problem, can't see us keeping a clean sheet.  2-0 is optimistic in a huge game for Ukraine, they know this is make or break. Expecting a tough test, especially as crimey says, we struggled at home n they outplayed us.

Only reason why England didn't win the home game was because Defoe had a clear goal chalked off, and Cleverley missed 2 sitters. Even then, Ukraine needed a stunning goal to get the draw.

They may have smashed Montenegro, but England have too much class over the park to be seriously troubled.

0-2 England, 1 goal in each half.

[Guest]

What about the other four or five chances Ukraine missed that night and the two konoplienka cross goal attempts that just needed taping in? Thought you miss them out.

Ukraine took the lead mate, they didn't need a stunning goal to get the draw. England were the desperate ones that needed a dodgy penalty to equalise.

[Crimey]

And that was at Wembley.

[Duty281]

England will be fine. They played poorly against Ukraine last time out, and still got a point even with Ukraine playing well. England are more than capable of raising their game on Tuesday, and getting the victory they need.

Over 3 years since England last lost a competitive international; I don't think they'll break that run on Tuesday.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hmmmm it will be a tough game. I would like to see Townsend start on the wing with Walcott with Lambert alone striker.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Apparently Hodgson planned to drop Lambert and play Welbeck as a lone striker if he hadn't got suspended, definitely blessing in disguise then.

Think Welbeck looked the best player on the park at Wembley. 

On the Gerrard playing at centre back article, I do get Cascarino's point. I often think, during the games with the likes of Moldova I hasted to add, that Carrick should be used as a centre back rather than Jagielka. In those crap games our defence doesnt get tested, so might as well having someone sweeping up who can pass it really well from the back but has the discipline to defend when/if needed, especially as most of that "defending" is just winning it back on the halfway line.

[Scrumpy]

Have you seen the size of the gash (insert appropriate teenage joke here)? Not sure a scrum cap would cover it, or if they're even legal on a football field.

It would be fine, also Cech wears one and I'm sure I saw an Italian defender wear on in a Seria A game before.

[J.Benson II]

England will play for a draw against Ukraine and most probably get it.

[dummy_half]

I hope we don't set out to play for the draw, as we aren't usually very good at doing it - tend to get pushed too deep and invite the pressure on to ourselves rather than realising that the best form of defence is to attack (within reason).

Lambert is a WAY better option as the lone forward than Welbeck - he's going to need to hold the ball up with his back to goal and play in the runners around him, which he looked very good at against an admitedly poor Moldova and which is probably the weakest aspect of Welbeck's game (both his first touch and short passing are very inconsistent).

[Mad for Chelsea]

It will take a miracle for England to score two goals in Ukraine (for those predicting 2-0). Hodgson seems to be making noises about Milner starting, and it's safe to assume we'll be going with a pretty defensive mindset, satisfied with a draw.

Something needs to be done about the National team TBH. Thinking quotas in the PL, and some sort of arrangement similar to what is done in rugby with the EPS (or even cricket with the central contracts, though that's a pipe dream really). Also I think I read the other day that if players miss an England game they can't play for their clubs in the following 5 or 7 days or something? Is this true? If not maybe it should be, would prevent silly situations we've seen far too often where club managers pull their players out of international games so they can rest...

[Duty281]

It will take a miracle for England to score two goals in Ukraine (for those predicting 2-0). Hodgson seems to be making noises about Milner starting, and it's safe to assume we'll be going with a pretty defensive mindset, satisfied with a draw.

Something needs to be done about the National team TBH. Thinking quotas in the PL, and some sort of arrangement similar to what is done in rugby with the EPS (or even cricket with the central contracts, though that's a pipe dream really). Also I think I read the other day that if players miss an England game they can't play for their clubs in the following 5 or 7 days or something? Is this true? If not maybe it should be, would prevent silly situations we've seen far too often where club managers pull their players out of international games so they can rest...

Not allowed due to the fascist EU.

[Mad for Chelsea]

It will take a miracle for England to score two goals in Ukraine (for those predicting 2-0). Hodgson seems to be making noises about Milner starting, and it's safe to assume we'll be going with a pretty defensive mindset, satisfied with a draw.

Something needs to be done about the National team TBH. Thinking quotas in the PL, and some sort of arrangement similar to what is done in rugby with the EPS (or even cricket with the central contracts, though that's a pipe dream really). Also I think I read the other day that if players miss an England game they can't play for their clubs in the following 5 or 7 days or something? Is this true? If not maybe it should be, would prevent silly situations we've seen far too often where club managers pull their players out of international games so they can rest...

Not allowed due to the fascist EU.

I'm sure you could have some sort of agreement though, maybe big bonuses for clubs who pick more English players (I'm pretty sure something similar happens in cricket with counties and Kolpak players?).

[Crimey]

If English players are good enough they will make the teams, clubs aren't actively choosing not to use English players, they're just not good enough for their clubs and if that is the case, they wouldn't be good enough for the national team either. 

I don't want to see the Premier League's quality harmed by trying to improve international football which is a lot more boring than club football in general. Very rarely is an international game as exciting as a club one. Almost all Premier League clubs have a core of English players anyway, Hodgson has a lot to choose from, for me one of the big reasons that there perhaps isn't a better pool of English players to choose from is because none move abroad. Every other country in the world has players who move abroad, but English players would rather sit on the bench in England or drop down a level in England rather than move abroad. 

I would like to see Lambert starting but with two pacey wingers either side of him, so he can hold the ball up and then unleash them down either flank. Instead I imagine we'll have Milner, for his defensive and crossing capabilities and use him and Gerrard to whip balls in for Lambert which is a waste of his talents in my opinion and means we'll struggle to break down Ukraine.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Super Frank will START tomorrow night in Kiev

[Crimey]

Surprised by that, thought Carrick would start to offer more protection.

[Liam]

carrick should be starting regardless imo. The centre midfielder England have been missing the last 3 years.

[Duty281]

carrick should be starting regardless imo. The centre midfielder England have been missing the last 3 years.

Awful against Poland and Montenegro. No real reason to suggest why he'd be any better than that if he started tomorrow.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah it's a fairly bold move by Hodgson I'd say keeping the same midfield 3

Although not sure who would come in when you think about it

[Trebs]

I think Roy is telling porkies

[Duty281]

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/new-liverpool-fc-boy-tiago-5873683

New Liverpool signing Tiago Llori has not ruled out playing for England, although it remains highly unlikely.

[Duty281]

Looks like Glen Johnson's injury is worse than first feared, and he will miss England's double header next month.

[Guest]

Good News. Theo is out of the qualifiers next month due to an operation. Thank god. Theo has consistantly been dire for England & even when he's matched up against 30+ year old defenders, with no pace, he still seems to struggle. I thought he was improving but time & time again for England he just runs, runs, runs......loses it or runs it out of play. As for his passing  

Welbeck, Rooney & Sturridge in, Walcott out - suits me.

[NickisBHAFC]

I actually agree John, Walcott has been dire for England recently and actually usually is. Has the odd class game e.g. Sweden in Euro, but that's not good enough for a player who shows class most weeks in the Premiership.

[Duty281]

Bad news I would say. Now we're much more likely to see James Milner starting.

[Guest]

Bad news I would say. Now we're much more likely to see James Milner starting.

No we`re not. Milner gets played away from home, when Roy wants to play negative & win 1-0. At home, this will be Welbeck on the left, Rooney up top & Sturridge on the right.

[Guest]

- - - - - - - ROONEY- - - - - - -
WELBECK- - - - - - - - -STURRIDGE

- WILSHERE-BARKLEY-GERRARD- - -

BAINES- JAGIELKA- -CAHILL-JOHNSON

- - - - - - - -HART- - - - - - - - - -


That is the England side I want to see, no question. Until I see it, I won't be happy watching England.

[Duty281]

Would Sturridge be best in a wide right position? I would rather see Rooney in the centre of midfield, Welbeck on the left, Sturridge in the middle of attack, and Walcott wide right. If Barkley keeps up his form though, I wouldn't mind putting him in midfield and have Rooney wide left.

Anyway it doesn't matter currently as England will be missing both Johnson and Walcott this month, so I would prefer Walker and Milner down the right for the next 2 games.

[Duty281]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24362315

Work is behind schedule for the Brazil World Cup, and it's been halted in Curitiba because of safety concerns. Only about 8 months till the World Cup as well.

Not too late to move it to the home of football is it?

Wem-ber-leeeeeee!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I can't be the only seeing Joe Hart doing a "Scott Carson" in the next round of qualifiers...

[Duty281]

At least Joe Hart has amazing hair, and doesn't waste his time on so many beauty products. That's the important thing.

Probably.

[Duty281]

England squad gets named today for quite possibly the biggest week and a bit of Roy Hodgson's reign. Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge are expected to be selected.

2 wins, and we can think of next summer.

[Kenny]

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere.

Strikers: Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck.

[Kenny]

I don't understand the inclusion of Cleverley ?

[Sponsored content]