World Cup 2014

[killersheep]

It's nice that one of these teams showed up.

[Mark TKO]

The problem is getting them to perform on the national stage - we weren't expecting much this world cup but we weren't expecting first two defeats. Once again we've come up short.

Ok Uruguay and Italy weren't particularly better than us on the nights but they took their chances when it mattered. On another night Rooney could have easily scored 4 against Uruguay - and should have had one against Italy. And as for Suarez's second which was straight down the middle.....and why couldn't Gerrard but one of our guys through on goal like that !!

Anyway - maybe someone will now have the balls to take some action back home and realise (what we've all known for years) something HAS t happen re the foreigners in the premier league. A serious lack of home grown talent.

But yes there is potential out there. We just need to fucking do something with it

Robbie Savage sad something earlier in commentary that was spot on "other countries players put on their national shirt and it raises their performance, with English players it has the opposite effect"

[El Kabong]

I think England's National Team is having the same sort of pains the USA Basketball team had for a while. It's not that your guys don't have talent, it's not that those players can't achieve on the pitch, it's that a team of superstars doesn't always make the best TEAM. I think you guys need a manager who isn't a afraid to leave a few studs off the roster if they don't fit his style. You guys are caught between tiki taka and longball and it's hurting your performances. You need a manager with a set style who chooses players who best fit that style...they might not be the best players, the most athletic, the fastest, the best passers or dribblers or whatever but you need a team that works together and meshes.

[OumaFan]

I think England's National Team is having the same sort of pains the USA Basketball team had for a while. It's not that your guys don't have talent, it's not that those players can't achieve on the pitch, it's that a team of superstars doesn't always make the best TEAM. I think you guys need a manager who isn't a afraid to leave a few studs off the roster if they don't fit his style. You guys are caught between tiki taka and longball and it's hurting your performances. You need a manager with a set style who chooses players who best fit that style...they might not be the best players, the most athletic, the fastest, the best passers or dribblers or whatever but you need a team that works together and meshes.

Who the fuck are these superstars?

[OumaFan]

France looks kind of shockingly good.

I expected Costa Rica to be surprisingly good, but I didn't think they'd make it out of the group, much less after two games.

[El Kabong]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

[Master]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

I think the premiere league product has screwed the national English team. Not enough quality coming through and when they are there they are overpaid and end up spoilt little shits who do not give a monkies.

[ryanman]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

I think the premiere league product has screwed the national English team. Not enough quality coming through and when they are there they are overpaid and end up spoilt little shits who do not give a monkies.

The thing is though it's deeper than that. We do produce good players, and circa 2002-2008 produced a whole team of good players, but still didn't do it. So it's about more than producing players. It's true what Lyle says about stuck between two playing styles PLUS the crippling and vindictive judgments waiting for our players from the press and fans clearly weighh heavily on their shoulders. Other nations look like they enjoy the world cup, but we look like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Understandably so given our press and our part time fans ready to crucify any mistakes.

[ryanman]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

Maybe not superstars now. But your point still holds when you think of the England team of circa 2002-2008 featuring Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole, Lampard, Gerrard, Owen, Rooney et al. All peaking together near enough. That team should have done so much more but didn't for the reasons you correctly identified.

[Master]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

Maybe not superstars now. But your point still holds when you think of the England team of circa 2002-2008 featuring Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole, Lampard, Gerrard, Owen, Rooney et al. All peaking together near enough. That team should have done so much more but didn't for the reasons you correctly identified.

Portugal had a golden generation who did sweet FA too.