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

by Duty281 Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:51 pm

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

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:46 pm

super_realist wrote:Steffan,that's still 50% of games since 98 where they've been beaten in 90 mins. Better odds than Red/Black at the casino and since 1996, if you get England to 90 minutes there has been a 100% result in England going home. That includes Euro's and World Cups.

actually sr england beat spain on pens in 96!!

by Stella Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:48 pm

We beat, no, hammered Denmark in 2002.

by super_realist Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:49 pm

Oakey, since 1990 in World Cup England have won only 2 games in knockout stages, and in Euro's since they have only won ONE knockout game since 1968 and that was on penalties against Spain.

I said "since" 1996 Oakey.

I know I'm asserting that England aren't very good in tournament football, but I'm genuinely surprised how few knockout games they have actually won in the last 30 years.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:55 pm

super_realist wrote:Oakey, since 1990 in World Cup England have won only 2 games in knockout stages, and in Euro's since they have only won ONE knockout game since 1968 and that was on penalties against Spain.

so you concede that england actually won a game on pens since 1996(therefore your odds were wrong)

now whats this other point you are making?

what relevance does it have to the initial point?

cant you just concede for once rather than starting up the next strawman?

which is incorrect(again!!) as england have won 4 KO games since 1990 in the WC

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:57 pm

"but I'm genuinely surprised how few knockout games they have actually won in the last 30 years."

which is 7 and much more than the majority of teams in the world.

Maybe you dont understand how rare it is to win that amount of games in knock outs?

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:58 pm

ok yes you said since- well by saying since(our two semi finals!!) all you are doing is manufacturing stats to aid your agenda!!

by Steffan Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:59 pm

Will England make it out of the group stage next year do you think?

by super_realist Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:01 pm

No oakey, I cleary stated it was SINCE 1996, i.e tournaments after then and I said that if you get them to 90 minutes since 1996 they have lost EVERY time.

I'll concede the 5 games they've won in World Cups and Euro's in the knockout stage, my mistake. Still not exactly tournament shaking stuff though.

My point is that England aren't missed in a footballing fashion once they've been kicked out.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:06 pm

see above i got ya.. You are saying since our last semis in both tourneys.. Its a sneaky tactic dude!!

"My point is that England aren't missed in a footballing fashion once they've been kicked out"

i am happy with that comment- i dont think we have been and haven't argued it dude!

I do think we played well in 96 , 90 and possibly the two tournies that portugal took us out on pens(all though we didn't light the place up and weren't missed but we did play well enough)

by super_realist Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:06 pm

I make it six Oakey.
86 (1 to get to QF)
90 (2 to semi)
96 (1 to semi, only 16 teams remember so get through the group and it's QF)
2002 (1)
2006 (1)

Not bad, but considering you need 4 knockout wins to win a world cup, and three a Euro it's not a record which will scare many.

And yes I do believe England will get out of their group this time. under normal circumstances I'd probably expect them to get to the QF, however, given the potential wide ranging climate in Brazil at that time of year, I'm not so sure.

I wouldn't mind if they made QF, they are certainly a good enough team to do that, and if it were in Europe I think given a bit of luck they might make a semi again with the improvements Hodgson seems to have made, but I really think that for all European teams it might be a struggle. I think Germany have the strongest chance from Europe. Spain just getting a little old and weary I think

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:11 pm

yes its 6 your right- just one in the euros!

we have drawn another 5- yes it does not make a blind bit of difference - we lost..

However that's still 11 games that we didn't lose in 90 mins. which was the original point. we are tough to beat in the knockouts.

by super_realist Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:15 pm

Ok, I was a little harsh on the "soft touch" then.

Still very much 2nd tier though and pretty much tournament makeweight. Interestingly I share an office with a pretty cosmopolitan bunch from all over Europe and none of them ever talk England up, even the Scandi's who are generally Anglophiles.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:16 pm

no one talks up england in football mate!! bar maybe our colonist countries

by super_realist Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:19 pm

Here's a question. Given the next Euros is going to be 24 teams, and if teams still have to qualify on the basis they do now (and not by the multi city hosting method as may be the case) which teams are we likely to see there in addition to the usual suspects?

Tricky one.
Plenty teams I wouldn't want to see there, such as ROI after their embarrassing 2010.

by westisbest Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:20 pm

Personally, I would like to see a world cup with the best players playing in it.

As we're not there, having the best players representing makes it a bit more interesting for me.

As I say i'll be keeping an eye on how Benteke does.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:22 pm

I am hoping bale,ramsey.williams and williams get there!!(wales)

All of ex yugoslavia!!

by westisbest Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:31 pm

super_realist wrote:Here's a question. Given the next Euros is going to be 24 teams, and if teams still have to qualify on the basis they do now (and not by the multi city hosting method as may be the case) which teams are we likely to see there in addition to the usual suspects?

Tricky one.
Plenty teams I wouldn't want to see there, such as ROI after their embarrassing 2010.

Ah, but our fans made up for the Poopie on the pitch.
Does'nt win you games, but wins you alot of friends on the way.
My brother and a few of the lads went over. Was a great time, despite the footy.

Hoping we will be there in 2016.
Love to see Scotland & Wales there. Norway another.
Macedonia I wouldnt mind seeing there as they were great hosts to us in 2011.

by super_realist Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:31 pm

I doubt we'll see the Leek or Haggis munchers there.

by westisbest Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:33 pm

I would hope our style of football changes now that Trapp has gone.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:37 pm

Westisbest i hear ya. My palace faithful are the same in the PL!

And trust me we get the same as you got(abuse about our game), but the fans are loud and sing for 90!

by westisbest Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:43 pm

Well good luck with staying up.

My sister in law is a Palace fan.

We were never going to win the Euro's.
Dare I agree with sr, it was pretty embarrassing, again lot of that down to Trapp.

Now he's gone hoping for better football.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:45 pm

we wont stay up mate

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:50 pm

I would love to see all 5 british isles nations qualify tbh.

by J.Benson II Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:02 pm

England's record in major tournaments over the past two decades reads as this:

Played: 34
Won: 15
Drawn: 13
Lost: 6

What stands out is the amount of games England have drawn during this period. I'm sure as a percentage, its higher than any other major footballing nation during the same period

Turning potential draws into wins is what England have to learn to start doing because out of those 13 draws, 8 were score draws - and in all of those 8 games, England were in a winning position at one point. England's consistency in dropping deep and defending after going in front is what often becomes their downfall, and has been for a long time.

by Duty281 Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:07 pm

J.Benson II wrote:England's record in major tournaments over the past two decades reads as this:

Played: 34
Won: 15
Drawn: 13
Lost: 6

What stands out is the amount of games England have drawn during this period. I'm sure as a percentage, its higher than any other major footballing nation during the same period

Turning potential draws into wins is what England have to learn to start doing because out of those 13 draws, 8 were score draws - and in all of those 8 games, England were in a winning position at one point. England's consistency in dropping deep and defending after going in front is what often becomes their downfall, and has been for a long time.

Which is why it was so good to see England not dropping deep on Tuesday aftr going 1-0 up. OK, it was only Poland, but negative England would have surfaced in that situation in years gone by.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:08 pm

England arent a draw on the international stage? Blinkers on lad, lets make sure you dont see the world around you

by J.Benson II Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:14 pm

Duty281 wrote:
J.Benson II wrote:England's record in major tournaments over the past two decades reads as this:

Played: 34
Won: 15
Drawn: 13
Lost: 6

What stands out is the amount of games England have drawn during this period. I'm sure as a percentage, its higher than any other major footballing nation during the same period

Turning potential draws into wins is what England have to learn to start doing because out of those 13 draws, 8 were score draws - and in all of those 8 games, England were in a winning position at one point. England's consistency in dropping deep and defending after going in front is what often becomes their downfall, and has been for a long time.
Which is why it was so good to see England not dropping deep on Tuesday aftr going 1-0 up. OK, it was only Poland, but negative England would have surfaced in that situation in years gone by.

I agree. Lets hope they can maintain this mentality next year in Brazil.

by mystiroakey Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:16 pm

J.Benson II wrote:England's record in major tournaments over the past two decades reads as this:

Played: 34
Won: 15
Drawn: 13
Lost: 6

What stands out is the amount of games England have drawn during this period. I'm sure as a percentage, its higher than any other major footballing nation during the same period

Turning potential draws into wins is what England have to learn to start doing because out of those 13 draws, 8 were score draws - and in all of those 8 games, England were in a winning position at one point. England's consistency in dropping deep and defending after going in front is what often becomes their downfall, and has been for a long time.

yes it is its pretty scary tbh mate!!

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:26 pm

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ball-thrown-angry-harry-redknapps-2471730

lol

by mystiroakey Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:31 pm

Typical Millwall fans

by Duty281 Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:31 pm

England v Denmark at Wembley confirmed for March 5. That adds to the already-agreed Chile and Germany friendlies in November. One more Wembley friendly for May, then it's expected England are off to Florida in early June to play one or two more warm-up games.

Then it's the World Cup itself, and England may dream...

Before the rising sun we fly,
So many roads to choose,
We start out walking and learn to run,
And yes we've just begun....

by mystiroakey Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:52 pm

seems like a potential banana skin v a team that isn't even going but a decent outfit all the same

by Duty281 Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:38 pm

FIFA have started proceedings against the English and Polish football associations for the use of flares during that WC qualifier.

They don't like us, do they? We don't care.

English football shall rule the world once more.

by Breadvan Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:45 pm

I'd prefer the friendlies to be played away to see how the team performs out of the wembley comfort zone.

by NickisBHAFC Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:09 pm

Breadvan wrote: I'd prefer the friendlies to be played away to see how the team performs out of the wembley comfort zone.

This.

by Guest Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:16 pm

WHY THE F*** WOULD WE WANT THE WORLD CUP TO EXPAND TO 40 TEAMS

Platini & Blatter are plain and simple id**ts, just bored & believing stupid ideas that come into their heads.

Yeah, let's expand the WC to 40 teams, lets throw in some useless teams that werent good enough from the start, have pointless one sided group games & just make us endure poorer quality football for a longer three week period. stupid.

by Duty281 Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:35 pm

Yep, I fully agree with you John. In an interview with the Times, it's shocking how much drivel comes out of the mouth of Platini. According to him:

1) In rugby, Scotland and Wales compete. In football they never have the chance to participate.

What's qualifying then? That gives them a chance doesn't it?

2) He admits voting for Qatar, but knew at the time it would be impossible for them to hold it in the summer.

Didn't he know the vote was for a SUMMER world cup?

3) He wouldn't sanction clubs by taking away points, or throwing them out of competitions, if that club had an element of racist fans - like CSKA recently.

And he still supports the official behind the goal instead of goal-line technology!

Him or Blatter as head of FIFA in 2015?

Poison or bullet?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:34 pm

The FA ‏@FA 5m
Forwards: Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck.

The FA ‏@FA 5m
Midfielders 2/2: James Milner, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere.

The FA ‏@FA 5m
Midfielders 1/2: Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard.

The FA ‏@FA 6m
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker.

The FA ‏@FA 6m
ENGLAND squad - Goalkeepers Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy.

That's the squad for the Chile/Germany friendlies.

Rodriguez, Lallana called up, still no Delph which is amazing considering the form he's been in since about 10 games from the end of last season

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:48 pm

Delph? Ravel not making that squad is a joke. Jordan Henderson.

Disappointed really, feels like a wasted opportunity. Lampard wont play so don't bother with him, same with Milner, Defoe

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:50 pm

Ravel's in the U21's for their crucial qualifiers, same with Berahino. Otherwise would've been called up apparantly

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:00 pm

I accept this, thank you sir. Nobes should have made it though.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:02 pm

Noble/Delph/Howson any of those 3 should've made it over Cleverley

by **hampo17** Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:06 pm

Henderson has had a very good start to the season, been ever present for us and looked a different play so far. Fully deserves his call up, hopefully he'll only keep improving.

Cleverly has done nothing when I've seen him play this season, plenty of players who should have been selected infront of him.

by Guest Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:17 pm

Cleverley.....Christ sake!

Rodriguez???? Yeah, I know its a friendly but this guy should be nowhere near the England side in all honesty.

To be honest we`ll probably win both games at the comfort of home, won't really learn too much. Friendlies mean nothing as far as I'm concerned. We beat Spain 1-0, but who went on to win the Euro`s, while we pathetically attempted to play football vs Italy in the QF`s.

by mystiroakey Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:23 pm

Is barkley involved?

by **Mat** Thu Nov 07, 2013 2:17 pm

Olly wrote:Ravel's in the U21's for their crucial qualifiers, same with Berahino. Otherwise would've been called up apparantly

Happy about that, at least regarding Berahino. Saido's got plenty of promise but he isn't ready for senior international football.

by Duty281 Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:41 pm

I imagine some of the players have been called up just so Hodgson can view them in training, and see how well they blend into the squad.

by NickisBHAFC Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:57 pm

Team ill go for

GK Forster
RB Walker
LB Baines
CB Cahill
CB Jagikela
RCM Barkley
CM Whilshere
LCM Gerrard
ARM Townsend
ST Rooney
ALM Sturridge

No idea why Rodriquez and Cleverly are in that squad.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:57 pm

hampo171 wrote:Henderson has had a very good start to the season, been ever present for us and looked a different play so far. Fully deserves his call up, hopefully he'll only keep improving.

And then he played against Arsenal and we all remembered he is awful when hes not being carried. The guy doesnt have an ounce of technique, has been easily outperformed by many players, definitely doesnt deserve his call up. I really dont think he'd get into a lot of Premier League teams.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:00 pm

I like the inclusions of Lallana and Rodriguez. And I like Roy's justification of Rodriguez, basically saying he'll fit into Welbeck's role of wide striker with pace (simplified point).

I don't really see the need for Lampard, Henderson, Cleverley, Milner or Defoe in that squad. In fact, I'd have rested Cole too and given Gibbs or Shaw a look.

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