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

[mystiroakey]

Is it right that United got rid of Ravel??

That club has lost its mind!(if a club could have a mind of course!)

There are screaming out for some like this for the future(surely!)

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

As if Redmond actually got booed when he came on. Classy Ip5w1ch fans

[mystiroakey]

I think overall zaha gets Man of the match for me. But some really exciting talent on display tonight!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Is it right that United got rid of Ravel??

That club has lost its mind!(if a club could have a mind of course!)

There are screaming out for some like this for the future(surely!)

If they hadnt got rid then he'd never have made it. Involved with gangs up there, behaviour was disgraceful. They could have kept him, but Fergie was quite magnanimous

[Ent]

I don't think having 2 good games outweighs dealing drugs, beating your mother for drug money, stealing from the club changing rooms and getting your agent to ask for 30k a week before you've even had a first team game.

He was mental.

[mystiroakey]

What!!!!

Oh my days i didn't know all that..

erm not sure if the best place to go after that is the East end!! but ok!!

But every lad needs a second(3rd 4th 5th ) chance right!!>

[mystiroakey]

The crowd is loud tonight!!

[mystiroakey]

Oh townsend!!!

good effort

[mystiroakey]

Jesus its like we are playing away!

[Stella]

Poland are playing some good stuff. Tbh, this game should have goals in it.

[mystiroakey]

I have a sinking feeling

[Ent]

England need to shut his game down, far to open against a team whilst average have a decent attacking threat.

[Stella]

Getting closer.......

[mystiroakey]

we have missed so many chances . Its sad but i want every next chance to fall to townsend not the strikers!!! who keep getting the ball trapped in there feet!

baines and townsend again the stars of the team!

[Fernando]

#ChesneyForTehCleanSheet

[Stella]

Can't fault our play, it's just the finishing. Bound to score soon?

[Fernando]

England 1-0 Pololand - Shrek

Just need to keep the back door shut now.

[Stella]

Rooooooney. Balinese crossing is much better than cole's

[mystiroakey]

so we go nuts at them attack after attack after attack,(possibly 20 chances in 20 mins)

then we go for a nice patient build up and we score- Rooney- well done sir!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Leighton Baines is just different gravy. What a player

[mystiroakey]

Its great to see rooneys class showing though(both games ) has scored the all important first goal..

His attitude has been very good this campaign

[Breadvan]

Wellbeck having a shocker...

[Guest]

Poor opening 30 mins but can't fault last 15. Excellent. Welbeck is appaling, proving again he couldn't even hit a barn door. Smalling also poor, Townsend looking quality, still not convinced on Rooney/Sturridge partnership though. Basically, england being more offensive has left us so open, poor finishing by lewandowski. Against better quality we would of been punished. Fully expect at the WC us returning to a tighter, more defensive setup that Roy is more comfortable with.

Tense stuff but expect us to go on now & qualify. 3-1 looks a good bet.

[Hero]

So if and it's still an IF England get through shall we take bets on which England players the redtops try to character assassinate prior to the World Cup?

[Hero]

I think Welbeck's doing alright tbh, getting into the position, causing a lot of problems but just can't get the final touch.

[mystiroakey]

Rooney is starting to play very nicely

This is good more measured build up by england..Much better than the first half- which i couldn't fault the effort but it was bull in the china shop stuff

[Henman Bill]

I think Wellbeck and also sturridge are having poor matches, and we are crying out for a Shearer/Lineker/Owen who could have put the game to bed already. Other than that, it's been a good team performance.

Baines and Townsend our best players so far.

[Henman Bill]

gerrard and rooney both playing well int eh second half

[Fernando]

So if and it's still an IF England get through shall we take bets on which England players the redtops try to character assassinate prior to the World Cup?

Sturridge  

[Fernando]

pitch invasion

[mystiroakey]

Great save hart..

Come on England.. get another.. I can't handle this

[Henman Bill]

delicate balancing act but I think England are inviting too mcuh pressure, conceding too much territory, and not going for it enough in attack.

[Fernando]

Lampard on for Carrick

Interesting....

[Breadvan]

How hard is it to put a simple pass in? So frustrating and technically poor...

[mystiroakey]

Welbeck may have been lacking in front of goal. But he hasn't in the other areas.. he has put it about and made some good tackles

[Fernando]

England 2-0 Pololand - Gerrard

[mystiroakey]

         

[Henman Bill]

Gerrard lays the croatia ghost he was talking about!

[mystiroakey]

Good performance really.. not classic but the better team and Roy picked a goodside again.

[Henman Bill]

Good team performance but I quite like the individual ratings:

Hart 7
Smalling 6
Baines 8
Jagielka 7
Cahill 7
Gerrard 7
Carrick 6
Townsend 8
Wellbeck 5
Rooney 8
Sturridge 5

[Mad for Chelsea]

fair play to Hodgson, when he needed the wins, he made the big calls, he got the attacking players on the pitch, and Townsend proved to be an inspired pick. Full marks to the man in charge for that, I'll happily admit I got it wrong - somewhat (bigger tests to come of course)

[mystiroakey]

Wellbeck 5.. come on. Had a great all round game and held up the ball well Just couldn't finish first half

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well done Roy, well done lads, off to Brazil we go!!!

Stevie Gerrard always should've been our captain. What a leader

[Guest]

First half towards the end we were good but apart from that it was a struggle. Second half not great, showed our limitations. Lucky Lewandowski didn't show up, would of been punished by better opposition. Getting that balance will be key for Roy next summer, however I expect a much more defensive line up.

England have qualified but getting out the group next summer is no guarantee. Good job & end to the campaign but work to be done in getting our first XI sorted/settled. Major positives - Baines/Townsend/Rooney

[mystiroakey]

Yes very positive to see Rooney in this form mentally and physically. He has grown up!!!

Baines great player with the best lb in the world as cover!!!

If only we had that in all the positions.

Townsend has amazing technical ability(for an England player) A great final ball and a great shot..(seems to hallways hit the target)

Hopefully wishires domestic form will improve and that could make all the difference to us retaining the ball..

The key concern is the other striker. Hopefully sturridge will improve in the white shirt.. otherwise I would go back to Lambert tbh.

[mystiroakey]

Also hart did nothing wrong at all. The media shouldn't have got on his back..

[Duty281]

England make it. Top of the group, and unbeaten. Never a shred of doubt.

If we're going for ratings, I'd like to say the first half was 7/10, whilst the second half was 6/10.

After the wide-open 20 minutes to begin the first half, England settled and tore Poland apart. How were England only 1 up at half-time? The goal was absolutely delicious though. The perfect cross by Baines, to supply the perfect header by Rooney right in the corner.

The second half was a lot more tentative, understandably so. Good to see England didn't completely revert to going in a shell; rather they kept the ball and didn't drop too deep. Poland never really threatened. Captain Gerrard scoring the goal to send England to Brazil was just fairytale stuff.

Individually, I would say Townsend is just a complete raw talent. He's going to run at defenders, he's going to ping shots off his left and right foot, because he has the utmost confidence and belief in his ability. The Walcott-Townsend debate is a fantastic one for England to have. Quite similar to Sturridge I'd say, who isn't shy, has sexy footwork, and always shows flashes of his potential. Rooney and Welbeck link up with each other perfectly. The former is brilliantly suited to a free role, whilst the latter is growing in confidence with his role down the England left. Much like Leighton Baines, who must surely be England's no.3 in June. Moving along the defence, Cahill and Jagielka are forming a good understanding - you know England's defence is solid. Finally, in the centre of midfield, I still don't understand the point of Carrick. Wilshere would offer sooo much more.

Off to Brazil then. Will be seeded second, so will have quite a challenging group to begin with. Shouldn't be a problem. Semis must be the target.

Well done England.

Bring on next summer!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I don't think having 2 good games outweighs dealing drugs, beating your mother for drug money, stealing from the club changing rooms and getting your agent to ask for 30k a week before you've even had a first team game.

He was mental.

Two good games? Do you have any insight yourself or is it all just fed from the media? The boy was young and very clearly made mistakes. He's still young, looks to be sorting himself out, let's see if he does and hope so for our and his sake.

[sportform]

So we are there! Now for the 8 months of slowly building us up as world beaters. By the time England kick off their first game in Brazil, the games will just be a formality before we lift the cup in the Maracana.

On another note, I can't have this talk of playing Leighton Baines ahead of Ashley Cole. Just plain nonsense. Ok Baines is good going forward but he plays in defence and I want first and foremost for the left back to be the best defender.

I would rather have Cole vs Ronaldo, Navas, Hazard, Muller, Robben etc than Baines anytime.

[Duty281]

Yes we're there, unlike France, Portugal, Sweden, Croatia, and Uruguay who have to get through a play-off to get there.

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