The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[White Wolf]

I wish I had your optimism Glasgo.
I'm looking forward to the World Cup - because it's more football, and I'm looking forward to seeing Brazil/Spain/France etc., but I feel so little towards England. Southgate has helped that in making us so horribly boring but even I'm apathetic about watching England and I've seen nowhere near the level of disappointment most people on here have. I remember being excited for 2006 and 2010 but then I was a kid, easy to be passionate about it. 2012 was ok, we met expectations really, and I did enjoy the 3-2 against Sweden. 2014, I went to some of the friendlies beforehand that were preparation (Chile and Germany in November 2013, Peru about a month before the WC) and they were so horribly, horribly boring. And we were just awful. That game against Chile is one of the worst performances I have seen, wish I hadn't. Then we did rubbish in those warmups against Ecuador and bloody Honduras, I had pretty low expectations. That said we were unlucky with the group we got and especially unlucky in that game against Italy. I remember for a moment thinking Sterling had scored in the first minute but it was downhill from there.

2016 I let myself get hyped up, actually seemed like we were building towards something and that victory against Germany in the friendlies had so many positives. Thought we had a decent chance of getting to the semis thanks to the new (rubbish) format. But then we just messed everything up. I still believe we could have done what Wales did quite easily if Hodgson had made some different decisions.

So, expectations low again. We've got lucky with the draw again but I'm going to predict us to go out at the last 16. We'll probably end up 5 points then lose to Poland or Colombia in the second round, or just any half-decent team.

 

[Langers]

Ricky Wilson from the kaiser Chiefs and Andrew flintoff are releasing a version of Boney m's Rasputin dedicated to Harry Kane!

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

1996 I've been over many, many times as to how it's a myth that we were a great team there. 1992 was as bad as 2000 or 2010. Even 1990 wasn't that special if you look at it objectively, Cameroon really should have put us away for one thing.

There aren't too many highlights to look back on.

While I would agree that we weren't that great in 1990 or 1996, you could definitely make the case that had we got through both semi-finals we could have won either of those tournaments. 1996 did have some stand out moments too, the Holland, Scotland and Germany games are up there with the 2001 Germany & Greece games as the most memorable England matches I've seen (we were lucky to beat Spain though). I didn't realise until watching a documentary on the 1990 World Cup quite how poor we were in that tournament. I agree we should have gone out to Cameroon. We *could* have beaten Argentina though if we'd made it through. I do still love Italia 90. It's what got me properly obsessed with football.

I stopped really caring after 2006. Being knocked out between 2010 and 2014 hurt but I was able to brush it off a lot easier than I had done previously. In 2016 I was more amused by how bad we were against Iceland than annoyed.

I am starting to get a bit excited for it now. It just doesn't excite me or make me nervous in the same way it used to.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

We played well against a ragged Dutch team, yeah.

We were absolutely shite against Scotland in the first half and then we're a penalty save away from not beating them. In fact, who knows what happens if they score.

We were fucking terrible against Switzerland and would have lost if Grassi hadn't hit the bar from about three yards out.

Germany was an even game, could have gone either way, Gazza and Anderton missed golden chances but then they had what was probably a legitimate golden goal chalked off.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I don't disagree with any of that. I'm just saying the tournament had some memorable moments. If you asked me to pick out England games that I immediately remember then those 3 games from Euro 96 would be in there. The Shearer goal v Hollland, the penalty save/Gazza goal v Scotland and then Gazza being inches away from the golden goal are all iconic moments for me.

We were worse in 1990 than in 1996 IMO.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Yep, probably just about. Although I liked Sir Bob a lot more than I ever liked Venables, so they get my vote.

By the way Anderton's miss vs Germany is worse than Gazza's (and it gets forgotten). All he has to do is knock it in. Instead for some reason falls on his arse Dave Edwards style and hits the post. Open goal.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

I wish I had your optimism Glasgo.
I'm looking forward to the World Cup - because it's more football, and I'm looking forward to seeing Brazil/Spain/France etc., but I feel so little towards England. Southgate has helped that in making us so horribly boring but even I'm apathetic about watching England and I've seen nowhere near the level of disappointment most people on here have. I remember being excited for 2006 and 2010 but then I was a kid, easy to be passionate about it. 2012 was ok, we met expectations really, and I did enjoy the 3-2 against Sweden. 2014, I went to some of the friendlies beforehand that were preparation (Chile and Germany in November 2013, Peru about a month before the WC) and they were so horribly, horribly boring. And we were just awful. That game against Chile is one of the worst performances I have seen, wish I hadn't. Then we did rubbish in those warmups against Ecuador and bloody Honduras, I had pretty low expectations. That said we were unlucky with the group we got and especially unlucky in that game against Italy. I remember for a moment thinking Sterling had scored in the first minute but it was downhill from there.

2016 I let myself get hyped up, actually seemed like we were building towards something and that victory against Germany in the friendlies had so many positives. Thought we had a decent chance of getting to the semis thanks to the new (rubbish) format. But then we just messed everything up. I still believe we could have done what Wales did quite easily if Hodgson had made some different decisions.

So, expectations low again. We've got lucky with the draw again but I'm going to predict us to go out at the last 16. We'll probably end up 5 points then lose to Poland or Colombia in the second round, or just any half-decent team.

Not optimistic at all about our chances, very realistic.

I just want some pride put back in the shirt and country.
:Listening to that twat Carragher, and then Ferdinand, Lampard, and Gerrard, admitting they never spoke and would not sit at the same table really grinds my gears.

I said a few times drop the fooking lot and play players that want to play ad would make a team.You could see when they were together they could not be fucking arsed, there was no laughing, no togetherness.

Now we have a team I wanted one with no pricks like the afore mentioned players, where the players have come up together are a team, where for once the sum of the parts may well be better than the individuals.
I wanted those that failed in the Euro's binned, I wanted them out I wanted players picked for what they did and not who they are.
IMHO we now have that, and i'll support them fully, they may not be the players from previous years but they are together, they are a team, they seem to be enjoying each other company, you watched players from man U and Man City laughing together, You saw Liverpool players and Manchetser Utd players enjoying each others company.

Taking world renown mangers
Having Supposedly world class players

Has Fucking failed for 30+ years, now it'd time to take a manager who knows the players has worked with them before, and Players that people say fuck me he's shit it cannot be any worse than 2 years ago, at least these players care.

to Quote Dele when asked how he would cope with the boredom previous squads complained about.... "Why would I be Bored i'm away with 33 mates".

We have Seen u21's containing these players do well in tournaments, we have seen U17;'s, U18's, U19's all perform well in Tournaments, now lets get behind the team and hope they perform better than they have ever done before, and hopefully make at least the Quarter finals

 

[Tony Towner]

We were poor in 1990 drab games against Holland, Egypt and ROI in the Group stage. Last minute of extra time winner in another drab game against Belgium and beat Cameroon with two penalties. The best we played was in the game we lost.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

We were poor in 1990 drab games against Holland, Egypt and ROI in the Group stage. Last minute of extra time winner in another drab game against Belgium and beat Cameroon with two penalties. The best we played was in the game we lost.

i'd take that again if it meant a semi Final.
fuck , i'd take 8 shit 1-0 wins if it meany we won the world cup, I would not care if they were voted the most boring football team ever, if they got us another Star on the jersey.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

By the way Anderton's miss vs Germany is worse than Gazza's (and it gets forgotten). All he has to do is knock it in. Instead for some reason falls on his arse Dave Edwards style and hits the post. Open goal.

I had forgotten how bad it was! That's another reason for me to dislike him now.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Watching the games back (as I have, as y'know, how else do you fill your time), we were very good against the Netherlands in 1990. If the ref gives a proper free kick as he should have done rather than an indirect one then we win 1-0 through Pearce.

We did get a bit lucky though, no way that Bob would have dropped Captain Marvel even though he was obviously way past his best and we had a better player on the bench. No injury = no Platt.

The Ireland game was appalling from both teams - although you always got that from Big Jack's teams - and the Egypt game has to be viewed in context, you had a stupid group where everyone entered the final day on 2 points. You couldn't go hell for leather there. We did enough.

We were ok vs Belgium and probably just shaded it, the Cameroon game is dire to watch back though. Don't do it. It isn't that much better than Iceland 2016 for the most part.

 

[Tony Towner]

i'd take that again if it meant a semi Final.
$#@! , i'd take 8 $#@! 1-0 wins if it meany we won the world cup, I would not care if they were voted the most boring football team ever, if they got us another Star on the jersey.

I agree, just pointing out that 1990 has a rose tint about it which isn't really based in the reality of how we played.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

I agree, just pointing out that 1990 has a rose tint about it which isn't really based in the reality of how we played.

I remember it well, and it was shocking the best we played was the Semi Final

 

[Langers]

i'd take that again if it meant a semi Final.
fuck , i'd take 8 shit 1-0 wins if it meany we won the world cup, I would not care if they were voted the most boring football team ever, if they got us another Star on the jersey.

Yeah, I would - 100%.

 

[nimrod]

I agree, just pointing out that 1990 has a rose tint about it which isn't really based in the reality of how we played.

Sir Bobby got away with it massively in 1986 too.
0-1 portugal
0-0 morocco. when ray wilkins got sent off i thought we were done for before we even got started. fortunately morocco didn't really go for it and we escaped with a chance.
he follows the calls to start with beardsley after that and the rest is history.
even then in the QF we tried to play a more containing game v the argies. they were rocking in the last 20 or so when we had a go. poor tactics did for us regardless of maradona's HB.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

So, how do we think England will do?

England only need to beat Tunisia and Panama to get through to second round. So I think they'll manage that.

Then they play Senegal, Colombia, Poland or Japan.

You'd have to fancy us beating any of those (although Poland could be tough)?

Then it's the quarter finals where they will meet some quality (Brazil or Germany a very real possibility) and probably go out.

So I think Quarter finals is realistic, 2nd round is surely a certainty.

England are between 8th and 16th in the world, so that's about right if that's how it pans out.

So it could be argued that anything less that QFs is a failure, QFs is parity, anything beyond that is a success.

 

[jd1981]

Agree on 1990 England’s best performances were against Netherlands and Germany. Very fortunate against Belgium and Cameroon. An appalling game against Ireland which both sides should have been ashamed of.
The best side won the World Cup in 90 without a doubt.

 

[jd1981]

Think QF is the best we can expect unless results are kind to us, but wouldn’t be surprised with a 2nd round exit.
In a one off game England could surprise someone but it’s unlikely just don’t have the quality that the 5 top nations do at this tournament.
Expectations are as low as I can remember.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Get in Rashford. Bit of quality.

 

[Kenny]

Quality strike