Friday Qualifiers

Here are the fixtures for the UK and EIRE teams:

Group A - Wales v Macedonia (1945 BST)

Group C - Germany v Republic of Ireland (1945)

Group F - Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland (1700)

Group H - England v Montenegro (2000)


My predictions?

Wales and NI to both draw 1-1

ROI to lose 2-0

England to win 3-1

Think we may score in Germany.

No doubt lose. Cant qualify.

Glad to see Reid, Stokes back in the squad.

3-1 Germany.

Wales 2 macedonia 1 or reverse scoreline.
Azerbajian 2 NI 1

England 2 Montenegro 1.

In Roy we trust.
God Save the Queen.
No backward steps, no retreat, no surrender.
England till I die.
3 Lions with pride.

Come on England!

England to win 4-0, and Hodgson to shove two fingers up to the critics.

Rio here we come.

Just out of interest why do you love the queen so much Duty?

Because the monarchy is part of our country, and has been for over a thousand years. It links us to the great past of our nation. Our monarchy is the envy of many other nations. As is our history.

God Save the Queen.

On another note, there's quite a few rumours that Hodgson will start with Lampard in the middle, rather than Wilshere. Surely not?

Fe godwn ni eto. Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae

Cymru am byth

COME ON WALES

Yes go on Wales, try not to finish below Macedonia!

I don't give a damn what the score is tonight. Just as long as England get the three points.

Duty281 wrote:Yes go on Wales, try not to finish below Macedonia!

We are rubbish I cannot deny that

Given the way we lost our previous manager and now sadly Coleman is just not up to the job things are not going to change anytime soon either

I will still cheer on my country without having to feel mocked though ok Duty

CFCNick wrote:I don't give a damn what the score is tonight. Just as long as England get the three points

England will qualify in first place

I hope we lose...and I don't care if that makes me unpatriotic! The best thing to happen to our national team and football in general in this country is for us to fail to qualify! Perhaps then people will sit up and take note!

I like the fact Hodgson has claimed we will play with a high tempo and attack Montenegro, yet the starting line up in midfield will be Gerrard, Lampard, Milner! 3 of the least mobile players in the squad! May have sturridge, rooney and welbeck up front but that means nothing if they aren't given the chances and are left isolated which i think they will be.

Expect us to scrape through looking very ordinary, possibly draw...qualify and then go to Brazil with over inflated hopes of victory and a crox of 'retired' players to decide they can still cut it and offer something at International level!

Steffan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Yes go on Wales, try not to finish below Macedonia!

We are rubbish I cannot deny that

Given the way we lost our previous manager and now sadly Coleman is just not up to the job things are not going to change anytime soon either

I will still cheer on my country without having to feel mocked though ok Duty

Oh lighten up Steffan. I don't complain when you put up your Brazil or Denmark flags.

In my perfect world, we'd have a Welsh football team good enough to qualify for every World Cup. I bear no malice, merely warmth and kindness.

owen10ozzy wrote:I hope we lose...and I don't care if that makes me unpatriotic! The best thing to happen to our national team and football in general in this country is for us to fail to qualify! Perhaps then people will sit up and take note!

I like the fact Hodgson has claimed we will play with a high tempo and attack Montenegro, yet the starting line up in midfield will be Gerrard, Lampard, Milner! 3 of the least mobile players in the squad! May have sturridge, rooney and welbeck up front but that means nothing if they aren't given the chances and are left isolated which i think they will be.

Expect us to scrape through looking very ordinary, possibly draw...qualify and then go to Brazil with over inflated hopes of victory and a crox of 'retired' players to decide they can still cut it and offer something at International level!

Never, never, never give in.

A very ordinary looking England team went off to Italy in 1990. English football was in the gutter, and Bobby Robson's name was mud.

They came back as heroes, having reached the semi-finals. England were one inch of woodwork from making the final.

This England team are far better than that one. This England team can achieve.

Believe.

I admire your passion and undying belief Duty, sadly your part of the problem! Settling for an average national team and continuously allowing those in the game to think our national set up is world class and can go off and win world cups...sadly that isn't the case and until both fans and people with a real say in the game begin to stand up and tell the FA that they are a useless bunch of yes men conjured up to stroke one another's egos nothing will change!

I must ask then, if our national system is that bad, how have we produced some of these highly-rated players?

Paul Scholes (Rated very highly by a lot of fellow pros)
Joe Hart (I think it's Buffon who rates him as one of the world's best)
Paul Gascoigne (No words needed)
Frank Lampard (An ever present in one of the leading clubs in Europe)
Steven Gerrard (Possibly Liverpool's best player)
Wayne Rooney (United's leading goalscorer under Ferguson)
Joe Cole (Technically superb)
David Beckham (Played for United, Madrid and Milan)

I'm sure there's plenty more as well. The likes of Owen, Terry, Cole, Rio, Neville, Waddle, Sheringham, Barnes, Robson, Charlton, Moore, Banks, etc.

Lampard has never recaptured his club form on the International scene. The same can be said for Rooney who bar Euro 2004 has looked hugely average at every major tournament since.

Joe Cole was technically one of the best players we produced since Gazza, he very rarely got a chance to shine and was often played out of position when he was fit.

Their is also a case of, is it the players who are great or those around them who make them look great. You couldn't honestly sit here and tell me the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Rio and plenty of others from the Golden Generation ever looked as good for England as they did for their clubs....

Even your reasons themselves point out the fact they are all rated at club level...

Individually we have very good players, but as a unit they have never produced over the past 15 years, that for is a combination of poor tactics, ego's in the dressing room and certain players being found out when they are not surrounded by foreign talent from the clubs they turn out for each and every week!

we failed to qualify in 2007, has anything significantly changed since then?

owen10ozzy wrote:Lampard has never recaptured his club form on the International scene. The same can be said for Rooney who bar Euro 2004 has looked hugely average at every major tournament since.

Joe Cole was technically one of the best players we produced since Gazza, he very rarely got a chance to shine and was often played out of position when he was fit.

Their is also a case of, is it the players who are great or those around them who make them look great. You couldn't honestly sit here and tell me the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Rio and plenty of others from the Golden Generation ever looked as good for England as they did for their clubs....

Even your reasons themselves point out the fact they are all rated at club level...

Individually we have very good players, but as a unit they have never produced over the past 15 years, that for is a combination of poor tactics, ego's in the dressing room and certain players being found out when they are not surrounded by foreign talent from the clubs they turn out for each and every week!

Exactly. We have the talent, we produce the talent. It's now a case of utilising that talent, and getting the best out of them. Something England have, so far, failed to achieve. If it is achieved, then England can do well.

JamesLincs wrote:we failed to qualify in 2007, has anything significantly changed since then?

We have a better manager, and a better team. Coupled with lesser expectations, I would say England have taken several steps forward.

absolutely love your passion, but i have to completely disagree with you. weve been standing still since the 90's and going backwards for the last 10 years. it does look like we are trying to stop that reverse motion though, but its going to take many, many years before we can be serious contenders to win major tournaments

INJURY NEWS:

Tom Cleverley is out of both of England's qualifiers.

I must admit, I'm not going to cry too much!

Wilshire won't be starting. 

I don't want a rigid 4 4 2 from hodgson!

@physioroom: (via @OliverKayTimes) #England Team : Hart; Walker, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard, Lampard; Townsend, Rooney, Welbeck; Sturridge

That's a team I wanna watch on the move!

That is seriously attacking!

good!

Roy Hodgson has lost all reservation. He's going to point at Montenegro's goal, and say attack! He's got some balls, I'll give him that. Playing a debutant in a crucial world cup qualifier. Similar to when he played Oxlade against France.

He's not negative Roy any more!

England 4 nil Eastern Europe

As I'm slightly Brahms and List right now, you can't take my opinion too seriously. Obviously.
Well done Roy.

Seen this earlier and thought of you lot:

If that is his team then you might be spot on! smashed or not!!

I think NI , wales and england will win tonight.


Ireland have a mountain to climb!!!- but i think they will  keep it tight and last ditch defend and just lose out on a draw in the 90th minute!!(

I hope this comes off ya know.

If it does then England may play woth more positive intent at the WC.

6 attacking players in the team plus an attacking left back shows intent(that or that Hodgson has finally lost his mind and gone completely the other way!!)

And Kyle Walker.
And Cahill likes to pass the ball.

Maybe Keegan's picked the team?

AZE V NI 0-0 
 16 MINS

The Aze keeper is having a good day. NI on top

Wales v Macedonia 0-0 so far. Come on Montenegro

England have  started in good spirits. No finished article as yet , but its aggressive stuff

Baines is running the show on the left!


Coe on england - make this count!

All England so far. Come on Monte sort it out boys

ukraine have scored late v poland, england haven't scored yet!!


Its getting a little bit less comfortable!!!

Why aren't you watching wales Steffan?

mystiroakey wrote:Why aren't you watching wales Steffan?

Been ill so havnt gone down to the match

It must be on telly?

no?

mystiroakey wrote:It must be on telly?

no?

Sky Sports. Which I dont have. 'Watching it' on BBC text plus got radio on

oh ok

Basically the greedy wasters at the FAW sold our soul to Sky after BBC Wales had stuck by them for years. Disgrace and now fans like me who usually go to the matches are not able to watch it unless we are there. Wasters

Steffan wrote:Basically the greedy wasters at the FAW sold our soul to Sky after BBC Wales had stuck by them for years. Disgrace and now fans like me who usually go to the matches are not able to watch it unless we are there. Wasters

Get sky then.

Not sure I've ever seen England this on top in a game - yet they don't look like scoring.

We have to somehow try and draw them out or get a long range shot in. Monte are doing a chelsea CL special against us at the moment- well set in defence

Sky are the evil empire. They will not get a penny from me ever again (other than the small portion they take from Virgin for me to have free SSN).

ANd we did, but couldn't capitalise!!!

Ent wrote:

Steffan wrote:Basically the greedy wasters at the FAW sold our soul to Sky after BBC Wales had stuck by them for years. Disgrace and now fans like me who usually go to the matches are not able to watch it unless we are there. Wasters

Get sky then

Wont pay the astronomical fees into Murdochs pocket just for a few football matches. Money is tight as it is as well

we need to just keep sticking to the wings- walker and baines are ruling those areas