World Cup: Group D discussion

I feel like this tournament will suit Italy. If we can scrap a draw against them in Manaus I will be happy.

You are right, Italy have almost your perfect midfield of 3.. I hear what you are saying Robe, I feel like Marchisio offers that balance in the midfield. Motta is certainly a healthy option for defending a lead.
You also have Montolivo on the bench. Great midfield.

Got to say their form leaves much to be desired though. Might tune in for the Ireland game in a few days.

Zealous wrote:Two of of those three are senior citizens and the other is probably not as good as people think he is though.

That's so Euro 2012.

Italy will top the group, the fact that they have the most settled line up in the group will show. The second place will be determined by Woy and how well Uruguay's forward line can carry the team.

Uruguay also has Godin and Lugano, so not only attack. OTherwise it would be a huge suprise if England would top the group, I belive -

Italy 7
Uruguay 5
England 4
Costa Rica 0

Peccadillo wrote:Englands midfield in theory is weak, I'm not sure why so many on GL are so impressed frankly. Its obviously not a bad midfield but its hardly anything to boast about..

- Wilshere has been off-form for the majority of the season and is making too many poor decisions in - a familiar problem for englands midfield at world cups.
- Lallana although brilliant this season is A) Unproven on the international stage B) Very little exposure to football outside of the UK.
- Stevie G, our strongest at the moment, will also probably attempt a number of 80 yard balls to waz, 20% of which will succeed.
- Henderson - Good season but only new to the international stage.
- Sterling - Untested and inexperienced
- Barkley - Untested and inexperienced
- Ox - Another issue with inexperience.
- Lampard - Arguably shouldnt be there.

Meh everyone was untested and inexperienced at some point not really bothered, fact of the matter there's a lot of versatility and talent there.

No one is boasting about it anyway, just that it's very good with capabilities of impacting a game.

Age / stamina should play a key part when you're playing in a hot & humid environment. This is what makes me hopeful of England's chances (against Italy), that England will have more legs & lungs in midfield.

Anyway, this group should be great, joy and disappointment is guaranteed. And we'll see what part Costa Rica will play in deciding the top-2 of this group.

Forza wrote:England v Italy - GL will explode

Awesome, isn't it   

What will be Italy's starting lineup btw?

What will be England's best midfield and attack?

--------------Gerrard
---------Wilshere----Lallana/Barkley?
--Sturridge--------------------Sterling
---------------Rooney

Henderson's a good player, but I just think you need someone technically good, who can link up play B2B and retain possession.

Gil wrote:What will be Italy's starting lineup btw?

Depends on the formation. I reckon Prandelli will switch between 3-5-2 and 4-3-3

3-5-2

Buffon
Barz Bon Chiello
Abate Marchisio Pirlo DDR MDS
Rossi Balo/Immobile


4-3-3

Abate Barz Chiel MDS
DDR Pirlo Marchisio
Cerci Immobile Candreva

Very very interesting group i must say.

I see Italy and Uruguay going qualifying for next stage.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Peccadillo wrote:Englands midfield in theory is weak, I'm not sure why so many on GL are so impressed frankly. Its obviously not a bad midfield but its hardly anything to boast about..

- Wilshere has been off-form for the majority of the season and is making too many poor decisions in - a familiar problem for englands midfield at world cups.
- Lallana although brilliant this season is A) Unproven on the international stage B) Very little exposure to football outside of the UK.
- Stevie G, our strongest at the moment, will also probably attempt a number of 80 yard balls to waz, 20% of which will succeed.
- Henderson - Good season but only new to the international stage.
- Sterling - Untested and inexperienced
- Barkley - Untested and inexperienced
- Ox - Another issue with inexperience.
- Lampard - Arguably shouldnt be there.

Meh everyone was untested and inexperienced at some point not really bothered, fact of the matter there's a lot of versatility and talent there.

No one is boasting about it anyway, just that it's very good with capabilities of impacting a game.

exactly inexperience is such a bogus argument, especially when you got everyone fapping over Belgium as a dark horse.

Rooney and Gerrard have more experience then that whole squad.


People just love to hate on England that is all, because they get so much attention surrounding them and look past the fact that it is actually a decent group of players going, probably the most promising and optimistic squad in years with so many old guard players no longer there.

the amount of replies and views on this thread compared to the other world cup group threads says it all when it comes to England in a major tournament and the attention. (Italy's popularity is probably helping to tho)

Yohan Modric wrote:What will be England's best midfield and attack?

--------------Gerrard
---------Wilshere----Lallana/Barkley?
--Sturridge--------------------Sterling
---------------Rooney

Henderson's a good player, but I just think you need someone technically good, who can link up play B2B and retain possession.

That's why you have Wilshere there, Henderson offers more energy in midfield and some defensive stability. Gerrard - Wilshere - Barkley/Lallana will only work against Costa Rica.

Alonso, Modric and Di Maria worked and there's no defensive midfielder there.

Anyway it'll depend on the way England play. For possession Wilshere would be the better option. For a more direct, high pressing style Henderson would work.

Yohan Modric wrote:What will be England's best midfield and attack?

--------------Gerrard
---------Wilshere----Lallana/Barkley?
--Sturridge--------------------Sterling
---------------Rooney

Henderson's a good player, but I just think you need someone technically good, who can link up play B2B and retain possession.

Wilshere, Lallana and Barkley over Henderson

Henderson will start, I'm certain of this.

People also seem to underrate his technical ability a bit. He won't dribble past players, but his touch and passing is very good, you don't have to bench him to get better possession / link-up play.

-------------Rooney-------------

Sturridge---Barkley-----Oxlade

-------Gerrard--Henderson----

  

Henderson has to start, I think he will too.

Wilshere's fitness is a little bit of worry, I guess we'll see where he is at during the friendlies.

Lallana and Barkley don't play in central midfield, so if nothing else Henderson and Wilshere get the spots alongside Gerrard by default. If it's a 4-2-3-1 we end up playing, then you can be fairly sure that the 10 will be Rooney, and the only question is whether it's Wilshere or Henderson who plays with Gerrard in the pivot.

In any case, Henderson should be starting for a few reasons; has had a good season, has chemistry with Gerrard and adds an important balance to the midfield that will make it more stable when more offensive options such as Wilshere, Chamberlain, Barkley and Rooney are used. And it's not like Henderson is just someone who runs around, either.

I don't think it's certain Rooney will start as the 10. Hodgson played Wilshere-Gerrard-Henderson against Denmark with Sturridge on the wing and Rooney upfront.

Busby Babe wrote:I don't think it's certain Rooney will start as the 10. Hodgson played Wilshere-Gerrard-Henderson against Denmark with Sturridge on the wing and Rooney upfront.

Think that will be what we will see but with Lallana or Sterling on the wing depending on the opponent and how the two are performing.

would be my lineup, it's definitely interesting because outside of Rooney and Gerrard there is no guaranteed starters, and the players in question are all so close you can't really separate who should start over who except for current form....definitely the most debatable England team in years...which is nice

Stop sucking of Rooney mate. He's been shite for England for years now. It's time to build the team around Sturridge. (The best English player in the country)

Play Rooney at LW for the first game, drop him immediately for Lallana if he doesn't perform. Use Barkley and Chambo as impact subs.

To those saying inexperience is a "bogus" argument, sorry but use your common sense, of course experience is (theoretically) a flaw. Do Gerrard and Rooney offer enough experience to counter balance the overall lack of? Maybe. But when you compare our squad to someone like Italy, it will be a wonder if we can upset them. I don't deny it's possible - just unlikely.

I suspect Italy will start with 3 at the back so I have compared Hendo to Bon;
Hart - Buffon
Johnson - Abate
Cahill - Barzagli
Jagielka - Chiellini
Baines - MDS
Hendo - Bonucci
Gerrard - Pirlo
Wilshere - Marchisio
Lallana - DDR
Sturridge - Immob/Cassano/Rossi?
Rooney - Ballo

See study carried out to support experience = success; http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup/story/_/page/worldcup101-04192010/ce/us/does-experience-matter?cc=3436&ver=global

I would like to say that I think Roy picked a good squad, I am happy with his selection. This squad if definately strong enough to get to the quarters. But no one can deny that this is more of a squad in preparation for France and Russia.

*inexperience is a flaw.

Gil wrote:Stop sucking of Rooney mate. He's been shite for England for years now. It's time to build the team around Sturridge. (The best English player in the country)

Play Rooney at LW for the first game, drop him immediately for Lallana if he doesn't perform. Use Barkley and Chambo as impact subs.

coming from the Hazard family fluffer

I said he's a guaranteed starter not because he deserves to be there, but because Hodgson doesn't have the balls to drop him.

yes play Rooney at LW so he can be even more ineffective just to make a point of dropping him

football genius

I watched the majority of CONMEBOL qualifying and I literally have no idea outside of Cavani and Suarez why Uruguay are so well thought of as a team.

I have England winning the group only because Italy doesn't always storm out of the gates in tournaments.