World Cup: Group D discussion

even tho we lost, that was the most promising England attacking performance i've ever seen in a major tournament

Euro 2016

if these attackers had prime Terry-Rio partnership

Henderson and Sterling were motm for me

Welbeck played well considering all the shit everyone gives him


seems Roy might have a slight clue what he's doing

sbaggio wrote:We did very well considering:

1) No Buffon

2) Decimated defense

3) We are traditionally slow starters

FORZA ITALIA! *****

I am confident in Sirigu so I was not so worried about this thing

About being slow starters, yes if we win against Costa Rica we are already directly qualified ! it would be fantastic and  it's strange to think if we consider our usual standards in group stage
Just  in Euro 2000 , I  remember Italy qualified after having won first 2 matches of group stage ! lol

Sirigu was beyond amazing yesterday. Which leads me to the question: If it had been Buffon, would he have performed similarly?

I don't doubt the man's abilities but based on last year's Confeds, i have some reservations to how he might perform if it'd been him.

one thing I found different about this England performance was that usually when England lose they leave you disappointed, and with a bad taste in your mouth


this game, i felt proud of the effort givin forward by the team, they are exciting to watch and you just want them to keep pushing on....yes they are suspect at the back but I would rather them attack teams then worry about conceding and sitting back....this game was better then every performance from 2010

Robespierre wrote:I am confident in Sirigu so I was not so worried about this thing

About being slow starters, yes if we win against Costa Rica we are already directly qualified ! it would be fantastic and  it's strange to think if we consider our usual standards in group stage
Just  in Euro 2000 , I  remember Italy qualified after having won first 2 matches of group stage  ! lol

Exactly right on the first point. Buffon being unable to go seemed to be taken as a huge boost for England supporters, but it really wasn't that big of a boon. While almost anyone is a step down from Buffon when he is at the top of his game, Sirigu is a top-class keeper and more than capable of starting for a competitive national side.

With Uruguay's loss, it would take a catastrophic failure for them not to reach the knockout stage. Granted, that's not impossible, especially considering Uruguay's quality and Costa Rica's surprise performance. However, they look set to go through, even with a loss in one of their remaining fixtures.

Usually when England loses, you're reminded of everything wrong with national team, and how far behind the rest of the world it is technically and tactically. They don't lose with pride or as the better side, instead being thoroughly beaten and having their inferiorities rubbed into their face.

But at the moment, football seems to be favouring teams with who are strong, quick and good on the counter attack over the possession football that's sort of dominated the last four or five years, and it just so happens that our squad is comprised of players who are strong, quick, and very effective on the counter. That we still struggle to keep hold of the ball for extended periods isn't as much of an issue at the moment.

And yeah, I would much rather lose like last night, looking dangerous for most of the game even if defensively we looked shoddy, than sit through another repeat of World Cup 2010 or Euro 2012. For me, this tournament is more about gaining experience and finding a way of playing ahead of Euro 2016, more than anything.

Against Uruguay, I would really like to this frontline:


Uruguay didn't look comfortable against pace and directness, so I think that attack could do some damage.

Think you're be disappointed Jay, really doubt the team will be changed at all.

Jonathan28 wrote:

Art Morte wrote:If anyone can find a gif of Pirlo's free-kick (preferably from a backside angle where you can really see the curve) and a gif of Rooney's corner for comparison, that'd be great.

The service in this place is awesome

I don't expect Rooney to be dropped simply because it's Rooney, but I reckon Welbeck's spot may be up for grabs. Nobody thought Sterling would start against Italy but Hodgson surprised us all, so he could (I hope) do it again.

He's so good. Would be surprised if Wenger doesn't sign him.

93.2% - Italy's passing accuracy vs England is the highest ever recorded in a World Cup game since 1966.

U mad Spain

Balotelli is simply inconsistent ,l luckily the Euro or the WC lasts 1 month , nay 7 matches in the most optmistic scenario and so he hasn't time to dick around.
Players for tournaments and not leagues basically,  so far.
I predicted his decisive goal for victory  ,because England in his destiny

Yeah, I think Balo really has it out for anything English after he was given such a hard time by the sensationalist English media.

donttreadonred wrote:

Robespierre wrote:I am confident in Sirigu so I was not so worried about this thing

About being slow starters, yes if we win against Costa Rica we are already directly qualified ! it would be fantastic and  it's strange to think if we consider our usual standards in group stage
Just  in Euro 2000 , I  remember Italy qualified after having won first 2 matches of group stage  ! lol

Exactly right on the first point. Buffon being unable to go seemed to be taken as a huge boost for England supporters, but it really wasn't that big of a boon. While almost anyone is a step down from Buffon when he is at the top of his game, Sirigu is a top-class keeper and more than capable of starting for a competitive national side.

With Uruguay's loss, it would take a catastrophic failure for them not to reach the knockout stage. Granted, that's not impossible, especially considering Uruguay's quality and Costa Rica's surprise performance. However, they look set to go through, even with a loss in one of their remaining fixtures.

Italy has again a second GK who would play easily in almost all NTs, probably it hadn't an important partnership of 1st/2nd GK since Buffon - Toldo.
the only boon could be Paletta in pitch , and infact he had awful performance, the italian newspapers  have criticized much him , It's enough an insult that an average Argentinian plays as starter a WC for Italy, and he plays also scrub, when there are Italian defenders better than him  not called up( both Ranocchia and Astori are so) . Even if Bonucci is defective in defence to 4 unlike of 3 , I would prefer him and not Paletta to play with Barzagli

Italys pass accuracy was the highest ever at a World Cup last night Vs England.

  

Forza wrote:Yeah, I think Balo really has it out for anything English after he was given such a hard time by the sensationalist English media.

He wasn't given a hard time at all, the english media is the reason he has a cult status & people actually think he's world class. Get's far worse in Italy.

Gil wrote:

He's so good. Would be surprised if Wenger doesn't sign him.

Only good for the Azzurri. Show his stats for Milan.

I think you're a bit biased there, 1991. Balo gets nowhere near as much negative press in Italy and has been one of Milan's best players during the time he's been at the club, despite some trouble with injury and Milan's failure to employ anybody remotely resembling a midfielder who provides consistent assists.

1991 wrote:
Only good for the Azzurri. Show his stats for Milan.

26 goals in 43 appearances for Milan.

You were saying?

1991 wrote:He wasn't given a hard time at all, the english media is the reason he has a cult status & people actually think he's world class. Get's far worse in Italy.

He actually is. At least fourth best CF present at this tournament, maybe behind Cavani, RVP and Higuain. Outside of the WorldCup there is Ibrahimovic and Falcao

Jonathan28 wrote:

So, what did Hart do to Pirlo, it's the second time he made him look stupid


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEZT-ZI1pck/T-ealtOkooI/AAAAAAAAH_0/uP1t43c9prs/s1600/PirloPenno.gif

Sorry but I don't agree with dropping Rooney for Lallana. Lallana didn't start because Roy can't trust him at this level yet. He didn't show anything in that match to justify starting him against Uruguay so I am not sure why people are calling for it..

Rooney didn't actually have a terrible game.. his run and cross got us the equaliser. He was underwhelming for rooney, because we know he can offer more. The media are just being stupid about it.

I can guarantee you if Welbeck had the exact same performance Rooney had, we would be calling for him to start against Uruguay.

Ox - Rooney - Sterling
I think hodgson wil start; Rooney - Sterling - Ox though.

That should be our 3.. yes we were left exposed on the flank, but that happens with 4231.. the duty of protecting Baines is not only down to Rooney. It's also for Hendo and Gerrard to worry about. The left flank was also a problem because Italy were fousing their attack on that side. No one was ahead of Chiellini.

Mourinho wrote:Jose Mourinho has explained why England-Italy is ‘the best game of the World Cup’ so far and praised Cesare Prandelli for his tactics.

The Azzurri began their Group D campaign in Brazil with a 2-1 win over Roy Hodgson’s side on Saturday in a game that for former Inter boss Mourinho was a standout tie.

“So far, the game between England and Italy has been the best of Brazil 2014, a real game,” the Chelsea manager has written in his column for Yahoo.

“It is right to say it was a great victory for Italy, but I have seen the best England in recent years competing at this level.

“It was a very complete game and the teams have played well - tactically, Italy have done very well.

“But, I also liked the philosophy of play from England.

“If it had ended 2-2 it would have been an adequate outcome, but after it went to 2-1, Prandelli has done very well.

“He inserted Thiago Motta in with Pirlo and De Rossi and closed all the spaces. Italy had great maturity, I liked it.”

Pretty much what I said in my thread. Agreed with every word. Mourinho's comments on Italia usually are insightful.

Idiot

Peccadillo wrote:Sorry but I don't agree with dropping Rooney for Lallana. Lallana didn't start because Roy can't trust him at this level yet. He didn't show anything in that match to justify starting him against Uruguay so I am not sure why people are calling for it..

Rooney didn't actually have a terrible game.. his run and cross got us the equaliser. He was underwhelming for rooney, because we know he can offer more. The media are just being stupid about it.

I can guarantee you if Welbeck had the exact same performance Rooney had, we would be calling for him to start against Uruguay.

Ox - Rooney - Sterling
I think hodgson wil start; Rooney - Sterling - Ox though.

That should be our 3.. yes we were left exposed on the flank, but that happens with 4231.. the duty of protecting Baines is not only down to Rooney. It's also for Hendo and Gerrard to worry about. The left flank was also a problem because Italy were fousing their attack on that side. No one was ahead of Chiellini.

So arguably England's man of the match against Italy Sturridge shouldn't start?