Group C- Slovenia v England, BBC1, 3pm and USA v Algeria, BBC red button

[chopper99]

I'm genuinely nervous today, got butterflies and everything!!

[tcoleman1]

England will only manage a draw, whilst USA will beat Algeria.

I think this will then be the kick in the backside the FA need. Hopefuly a new manager will come in get rid of all the players 29 and over in squad and build a team to conquer in Brazil.

If your serious this is a very funny post. There are certainly some players we could get rid of but tbh I can't think of many who are as good as them to step up. Walcott and Adam Johnson the only two others I would have considered and tbh I think Johnson should have come.

[football_master_94]

I am appalled at the lack of Ashley Young tbqh

[skybluedave]

One bad result and it's "clear the squad out, bring in the youth" Always makes me chuckle.

You'd think failing to qualify for the Euros would give the FA a kick up the backside.....

[pouncer]

I'm nervous but I'm ready. Come on lads.

[big_bob]

England - Germany in the last 16 is not likely to happen because Germany needs a win no matter what against Ghana to qualify and that win will get them the 1st place in their group for sure. Germany either win the group or go out.

It will only happen if England finish second in their group, which means that England and USA both win their matches, but USA wins it with a higher margin than England.

England - Serbia and Germany - USA will probably be the next round matches.

[Razzler]

If us and the Yanks both win 1-0 then the Yanks top the group as even though the goal difference is the same they have scored more goals by virtue of their 2-2 draw with Slovenia.

Basically, they are in the driving seat and we need to win by more than them and not the other way around

[big_bob]

England needs a bigger win to be sure of the first place and not depend on the yankees game, yes.

[Razzler]

So not sure how you can see 'England - Germany is not likely to happen' as it seems quite likely unless we outscore the Yanks. Other side of that side is Serbia win and Germany draw with Ghana and Germany would still go through

[skybluedave]

If Germany draw and Serbia win. Germany are out. It's pretty hard for them to finish 2nd really.

[skybluedave]

I've stuck a fiver on over 2.5 goals today. Optimistic!

[big_bob]

Germany can finish 2nd only if they draw with Ghana and Serbia draws with Australia. But Serbia will trash Australia. I can feel it.

[Razzler]

ah, thought Ghana were on 3 points as well there

Basically, we need to win by more than the Yanks, same situation after we drew with them.

The most annoying thing aside from the performance is that we knew they drew ... yay, if we beat Algeria we'd be back in control of the group and then we went out and played like that and put ourselves back in this position.

Idiots

[tcoleman1]

If Serbia win and Germany draw, the Germans are out, are they not?

[Razzler]

Indeed they are

[big_bob]

Yes, they're out.

[Rob1981]

If Serbia win and Germany draw, the Germans are out, are they not?

Correct...

[Razzler]

Basically Germany need to win to be in control of what happens and if they do win they'll top the group unless there's some goal swing as they already tanked the Aussies

[skybluedave]

Really drawing with Algeria dented morale more then anything. Didn't really effect the group. We'd still need to get a result against Slovenia even if we beat Algeria. Now we pretty much have to win. Hopefully that'll bring us out more, play more attacking.

[GillsMan]

I've stuck a fiver on over 2.5 goals today. Optimistic!

I've put £15 on a draw (returns of £42) and £10 on a Slovenia win (returns of £80). That way, I'm happy win lose or draw.

[skybluedave]

BBC said last night the reckon the side will be:

Milner

Barry

Gerrard

Lampard

Joe Cole

Rooney

Though you'd think Milner might play right wing and push Lampard alongside Barry. Gerrard AM.

But Sky had a standard 442.

Milner/Joe cole

Lampard

Barry

Gerrard

Defoe

Rooney

They were undecided about who plays right wing. Really not sure which one I'd prefer.

[samba23]

I am appalled at the lack of Ashley Young tbqh

I'm appalled by the lack of people who are appalled by the lack of Ashley Young tbf. He is the best left winger in England and has been for the last two years.

[SeanNUFC]

Can't see that happening

No, you're right, we would beat Spain on penalties!(again )

[Qolumbo]

If England don't win the group, we might well end up with Uruguay, South Korea, USA and Serbia competing for one of the places in the semi finals.

[Pukey]

I'm appalled by the lack of people who are appalled by the lack of Ashley Young tbf. He is the best left winger in England and has been for the last two years.

Didn't Ashley Young have a poor season?

[skybluedave]

BBC now saying Milner and Defoe will start. So maybe Sky's line up was the correct one.

[big_bob]

If England don't win the group, we might well end up with Uruguay, South Korea, USA and Serbia competing for one of the places in the semi finals.

If you beat Germany in the next round.

[Razzler]

If England don't win the group, we might well end up with Uruguay, South Korea, USA and Serbia competing for one of the places in the semi finals.

We would play Uruguay / Korea in the 1/4 finals if we did win the group and beat (Serbia, Ghana, whoever).

Finishing 2nd may get us Germany in the last 16 and possibly Argentina in the 1/4 finals so ... winning the group is the best bet and we knew it was the best bet when the draw was made, when we drew with the Yanks and when the Yanks drew with Slovenia before our tepid performance against Algeria ...

[Razzler]

BBC now saying Milner and Defoe will start. So maybe Sky's line up was the correct one.

Everyone is saying that, seems like it is.

I hope Milner's performance against the Yanks was related to some sickness and not him bottling it in some way or something

[Qolumbo]

If you beat Germany in the next round.

I was using we in a universal sense. I have no connection with the England team.

[skybluedave]

Pfft, don't write Mexico off against Argentina.

[craigcwwe]

Didn't Ashley Young have a poor season?

He had an average season really.

[Sir Stuart Wilson]

Come on Slovenia:cool:

[skybluedave]

Abe \0/

1010101

[tcoleman1]

The important question for me is has Razzler got different jeans/shorts on? If not we are ****ed.

[big_bob]

I hope Joe Cole plays from the start.

[Razzler]

I am wearing a pair of cargo-y type shorts thing with a belt so not a total tramp but didn't want the planets to mistake my jeans as the old jeans when they are clearly are not, don't want to leave anything to chance

hair cut - check

different pub for the game - check

[tcoleman1]

I am wearing a pair of cargo-y type shorts thing with a belt so not a total tramp but didn't want the planets to mistake my jeans as the old jeans when they are clearly are not, don't want to leave anything to chance

hair cut - check

different pub for the game - check

5-0 England. ****ing commeeee onnnnnnnn!!!!

[Razzler]

The sad thing is the press will no doubt overlook my part in all this, I don't do it for the glory, I do it for the team, you see

[Rob1981]

Gutted for Heskey if he misses out today. Really hope Fabio sticks it to everybody and picks him again.

Milner for Lennon on the RW, Upson in for Carragher. Other than that I'd genuinely keep it the same.

[tcoleman1]

Tbh I don't mind Heskey. Yes it ****es me off when he misses but he's never our worst player out there. I just want a different formation but we won't get that.

[gillsminnow]

Supposed to be going into canterbury with a couple of mates for this. Getting kind of nervous now.

I want:

Hart

Johnson

Cole

Terry

Dawson

Milner

Cole

Barry

Gerrard

Crouch ©

Rooney

Bring Lamps on at some point.

[football_master_94]

Mon Slovenija, get a point or nick a win to progress

[Razzler]

Tbh I don't mind Heskey. Yes it ****es me off when he misses but he's never our worst player out there. I just want a different formation but we won't get that.

Whs

No problem with Heskey but maybe a different goal scoring threat would be handy, something needed changing up front and right wing but ultimately I would have prefered the extra body in the midfield

[tcoleman1]

Whs

No problem with Heskey but maybe a different goal scoring threat would be handy, something needed changing up front and right wing but ultimately I would have prefered the extra body in the midfield

I sometimes think Heskey and Defoe would work well but I would never leave out Rooney. Proper pace and power up front as I sometimes think Rooney likes to do some of what Heskey is put in the team to do and then gets a bit lost. Doesn't know whether to come deep or stay up the top. Against Algeria Heskey collecting the ball in our half and ran at defenders, this must not happen again

[Rob1981]

With Rooney struggling for goals and form and confidence already, I can't see the argument for playing him up front on his own and potentially leaving him even more isolated. That system has never worked for England on the handful of occasions that we've tried it.

There's definitely an argument for starting Defoe, but if Fabio really wants him in, we should play him instead of Rooney not alongside him.

[tcoleman1]

With Rooney struggling for goals and form and confidence already, I can't see the argument for playing him up front on his own and potentially leaving him even more isolated. That system has never worked for England on the handful of occasions that we've tried it.

I wouldn't want that anyway tbh. I think we need two players up front but we could mix it up a bit in the midfield. The problem for us is that we play a 4-4-2 with effectively 1 winger and 3 CM's. Would like to see Gerrard behind Rooney for a game and put Cole or Milner on the left.

[Razzler]

That's the problem, this doesn't seem as simple as 'he's playing bad cause of the formation' as he was so abject (like everyone else). I guess if Rooney isn't firing on all cyclinders still then at least Defoe is more of a goal threat. Just hope he retain the ball better in midfield (do we say this before every game?).

Anyone else remember Sven being dragged over the coals for daring to play Rooney up front on his own in Germany '06? "He needs a partner"!!!

[gillsminnow]

We're automatically ****ed as Crouch isn't starting.

Capello resting him for knockout stages.

[tcoleman1]

I do like Crouch. I feel like he would stick away a chance Heskey wouldn't and I loved his majestic piece of play against Algeria where his giraffe legs bamboozled a couple of Algerian players

Crouch and Rooney up front starting would be nice.