England World Cup Squad 2014

[redman41]

England World Cup Squad.
Are these our World beaters ??
No doubt many will disagree :-))

Goalkeepers
•Joe Hart
•Fraser Forster
•Ben Foster

Defenders
•Glen Johnson
•Phil Jones
•Gary Cahill
•Phil Jagielka
• Chris Smalling
• Leighton Baines
•Luke Shaw

Midfielders
•Steven Gerrard
•Jack Wilshere
•Jordan Henderson
•Frank Lampard
•James Milner
•Ross Barkley
•Adam Lallana
•Raheem Sterling
•Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Strikers
•Wayne Rooney
•Daniel Sturridge
•Danny Welbeck
•Rickie Lambert

On Standby

•John Ruddy
•Jon Flanagan
•John Stones
•Michael Carrick
•Tom Cleverley
•Andy Carroll
•Jermain Defoe

[redman41]

Might be worth a flutter on Belgium at the Bookies, they have a talented Squad and are in the same Group as Algeria, Russia and Korea Republic

[paulllambert]

Defence looks very weak. Heaven help us if Baines picks up an injury. Shaw may be the future, but I'd be worried if he was thrown in with such limited experience. Jagielka still not 100% either. I think we'll be home before the postcards.

[paulllambert]

For what it's worth, Uruguay are my fancies too, possibly Chile as dark horses.

[redman41]

Latest Betting, for what it's worth.....

3/1 Brazil
9/2 Argentina
11/2 Germany
7/1 Spain
14/1 Belgium
20/1 France
22/1 Colombia
25/1 England
25/1 Italy
25/1 Uruguay
28/1 Netherlands
33/1 Portugal

[Arksided]

I'm not a betting Man, but quite surprised that Belgium and France have shorter odds than Portugal (Ronaldo - one man does not make a team) and France (Well not so much... play off hand ball... never forgotten)

I have to believe that England can get past the group stages, even against the mighty Suarez. How many Liverpool fans will tolerate his going to ground at a whisper of grass.

[ichkeria]

" quite surprised that Belgium and France have shorter odds than Portugal"

That may be something to do with the draw. On paper at least Portugal are in a much tougher group (Germany, Ghana and USA who beat them in a recent World Cup). Belgium have Algeria, R****a and South Korea. France have Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras. Not exactly the group of death.

Still remembering how Ronaldo single-handedly demolished Sweden in the play-offs I wouldn't rule Portugal out doing quite well. I will be amazed if Belgium and France do better than them, Who knows though.

[aelmpvw]

well i don't think uruguay, italy or costa rica will be quaking in their boots

[joeluke]

Defensive options are weak, Jones and Smalling are not international class. No cover in squad for right-back if Johnson gets injured, Jones/Smalling would take his place but they are centre-halves and have never impressed when played at right-back (or centre-half for that matter!) for ManU

He's not everyones cup of tea but John Terry is still our best centre-half and Hodgson should have gone cap in hand and persuaded him to come out of international retirement

Defoe is a proven goalscorer for England and should have been picked ahead of the very average Wellbeck

(Seemingly anti-ManU opinions here totally unintentional)

[rowanwitch]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-09/world-cup-belgium-team-profile/5427070#squad

I had a bet on Belgium last year at 33/1 just looking at their likely squad there are a few very very good players there

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-09/world-cup-belgium-team-profile/5427070#squad

I agree with JL about the man u players the only one I think merits a place is Rooney and even then he wouldn't be my first team pick.

[rowanwitch]

Sorry distraction in my ear posted same link twice

[Megan81201]

England last won 1966 unlikely they will win im saying uraguay

[paulllambert]

Not that I'm clutching at straws, but Austria last won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966.

[Arksided]

To be honest I don't care of which club they play for but a little understanding of each others play goes a long way... the last time I saw anything like that was beating the Germans 5-1 on away turf back in 2001 which was mostly made up of Liverpool and United players.

Rooney is one of the three players (Imo) that have played well this season for United.

[mrspirite]

sturridge,welbeck,rooney.what a joke..sturridge needs suarez....rooney not had a good game for 2 seasons....and welbeck's shoot on sight policy not only infuriates his team mates,but hits more spectators than goals he scores.

[Ken4155]

Arksided; I guess that no footy fan would be against Suarez "going to ground at a whisper of grass" - providing he was wearing their shirt whilst doing so:-). Whether you like or dislike the guy, he equalled Alan Shearer's record of 31 Premier League goals in a 38 game season, whilst becoming the first player in Premier League history to score 10 goals in a calendar month. His strike partner, Cavani, isn't too bad either with 25 goals in 42 appearances. I'm as patriotic as the next man but i would rather have my money on Uruguay than England.

[royfromaus]

Is everyone forgetting Uruguay only scraped in through the back door?

[Ken4155]

Royfromus; True they had to qualify through the play off system but i'd hardly call 5-0 scraping through. And they were in a quite fiercely contested qualifying group, which included 2nd favs Argentina (who they beat 3-2 to secure their place in the play-offs). They are ranked 6th in the world and will be playing in a climate they are much more used to than some of the better fancied European sides. Besides, have you forgotten the circumstances in which Denmark qualified for the 1992 European Championships - which they won?

[royfromaus]

Besides, have you forgotten the circumstances in which Denmark qualified for the 1992 European Championships - which they won?

No I hadn't, but everyone seems to think it's a Forlán conclusion that we won't get out of the group.

[Ken4155]

^^^
Of course it's no Forlan conclusion, roy, but it would be Fucile to pin too much hope on the England team.