International Football Thread

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

International Football Thread

RKO · On The Casting Couch

England may not even qualify for Euro 2008 the team has been playing poor need to win our next two games otherwise it will be looking bad.

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

I agree i think if Mclaren is to put any confidence back into the fans then nothing less than 6 points will do.

Heygizmo66 · B List Star

Who do England have in their 2 games?

Scotland have Georgia (Home) and Italy (Away), hopefully we could get at least 3 points from those 2 games although they will both be difficult games.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Isreal and Andorra, we should get 6 pts. We don't and it should be Bye Bye McClaren.

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

It should be bye bye Mclaren anyway hes a bag of ****e. Terry got injured today and might not make the International fixtures.

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

Well with the upcoming qualifers - what are your thoughts on what is a crucial week or so for England and the rest of the home nations??

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

I honestly think against Israel we will be lucky to come away with a draw I have THAT much faith in McClarens ability.

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

Well if we get a draw against them then beat Andorra i think Mclaren will be safe. But i want him sacked!!

Xeno · On The Casting Couch

What ever the score is, it will be a boring match. Personally I can't see England winning it having both Gerrard and Fat Lampard pretty much confirms for me England will play ****.

Xeno · On The Casting Couch

^^^^^^^^^
I'm so right it hurts. McClown continues to pick players out of posistion but no doubt he will buy himself some time with a fluky win over Andorra.

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

They didnt play **** - they played well but didnt create much.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

We should be Andorra tomorrow, but if we dont then that may spell curtains for Steve, who i think is a decent coach, but not good enough for England. We havent much flair in the team, we miss Joe Cole who is a fantastic player and one of our best attacking players who can create something from nothing, if he was available right now, i am sure wed be playing a lot better. Rooneys form this season has been worrying though..

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The FA has given McClaren 'The seal of approval' so if he doesn't win by at least 3-0 he's screwed...

Carlito Cool · The 'Cool' Mod

Well England won 3-0 and it seems that his job is safe for the time being.

N. Ireland got a great result beating Sweden 2-1.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The latest England squad has been announced for what is likely to be McClaren's swansong..

England squad: Robinson, Carson, James, P Neville, Campbell, Richards, Brown, Lescott, Shorey, Bridge, A Cole, Beckham, Wright-Phillips, Bentley, Gerrard, Lampard, Hargreaves, Barry, J Cole, Downing, Young, Smith, Crouch, Defoe, Rooney, Owen.

Beckham SWP and Bentley? That's a bit of overkill on the right I'd say. So whose going to be partnering Campbell in the centre of defnce then? micah or Lescott?

GLOWlad · A List Star

Rooney has turned in far more bad performances than good for England in recent years...I just ferl that for England when the pressure is on, he has a rush of blood and gives away fouls in dangerous areas, or worse gets sent off. Great player for Man U, but England often look better without him.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Well after the dumbass move that saw McClaren use Owen in a non important friendly and see him get injured it seems he's gone with a very daring squad for tonight, dropping both Robinson & Beckham...

Carson

Richards, Campbell, Lescott, Bridge

Barry

Wright-Phillips, Lampard, Gerrard, Cole

Crouch

Means we have a great bench though. I think we'll scrape through with the 2 goals we need, unfortunately that means McClaren will be staying a while longer then...

-- Edited by Darth Mattitude at 09:08, 2007-11-21

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

How crap are we? Seriously, they need to do something and quick...

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The new squad is thus...

England squad to play Switzerland:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Liverpool on loan at Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom on loan at Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)

Forwards: Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)

Good to see Kirkland, Davies, Young & Abonglahor in there.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Well after 2 wins against non entity competition Capello has realised what we have known all along...

England coach Fabio Capello said some of his players failed to perform to their potential in the friendlies against USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

Capello's men recorded a 2-0 win over the Americans on Wednesday before travelling to Trinidad and finishing off the week with an easy 3-0 victory.

"I've learnt a lot over the last 10 days," the Italian told BBC Sport.

"I have learnt some players are good in training but not so good when it comes to the game."

However, Capello said he was impressed with the attitude shown by his squad.

"I'm happy because it's not easy for the players to finish the season and then play away," he added. "All the players did everything that I asked of them."

When pressed whether he had an idea of what his starting XI would be for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra in September, Capello said factors out of his control may determine the make-up.

DEBATE: 606
What are we going to learn from playing James in a friendly?

bizefc

"I have the summer to think about my selections," he said.

"I can't decide on the team because I don't know which players will be fit."

About the captaincy, he added: "I have some idea of who it will be.

"The captain for the Czech Republic friendly in August will be the captain for the qualifiers."

Beckham may be one of those candidates for the captaincy after taking the armband for the friendly in Port of Spain.

The 33-year-old won his 102nd cap for his country against Trinidad and Tobago and said he was "surprised" after hearing he would skipper the side again having stepped down from the role following the 2006 World Cup.

The LA Galaxy player was on the pitch for the first-half before Capello made a handful of changes after the break.

"I was surprised and didn't expect it," Beckham told BBC Sport.

"But I'll always answer the call and be available for my country and captain them as well - it was a surprise but I am honoured to do so."

Despite the end-of-season friendly tag, the former Manchester United midfielder said his England team-mates were told to put in a "good performance".

The lads have had long seasons but they're all here and we've enjoyed every minute of it

Jermain Defoe

"It was a tough performance and the manager was telling us before the game that even though it was a friendly we had to take it seriously," he added.

"It was the centenary game for them but they wanted to beat England and we had to put in a good performance and I think we did that.

"The players in the camp are motivated and whether we have got experienced players or young players we have to play as one.

"The respect is there for Capello and there for one another and that is how it needs to be and the qualifiers are the big thing for us now."

Gareth Barry scored England's opener and his first for the national team with a crisp volley before Jermain Defoe scored his fourth and fifth international goals.

The Portsmouth forward said he was eager to continue "learning" under the stewardship of Capello.

"I enjoyed it. It was important to get the win and I'm delighted to get two goals," he revealed.

"To play for your country is the best thing in the world. The lads have had long seasons but they're all here and we've enjoyed every minute of it.

"I just want to keep learning. When a new manager comes in everyone starts on the same level and to get two goals, I'm delighted."

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Welcome to the England squad Mr.Capello... How crap were we again last night. I'd say we were very lucky. Brain Barwicks bombshell hopefully will be good for the FA as well.

Nice to see Wales gift Georgia the sympathy win in the las minute of the game too...

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Lets face it,our players are simply overpaid and overrated.They put in good performances for their clubs because of the finacial gain for themselves but for england,nothing,no pride or care.Its quite sad to see the likes of Lampard,Gerrard ect play so well for their clubs yet for england they do nothing,either they are being carried by the foreign players in their teams or they just cant be bothered.Our players should watch our olympians ansd inspire themselves to their dedication.

braxious · 500 Club Member

OMG the football was awful, lumpard where was he.

if that is what how we are going to play in the world cup qualliys then we will not be there in 2010

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Lampard is the worst of all.Hes never been a top class player in my eyes,has good shooting ability but nothing else in his locker.

Mollison · 500 Club Member

In fairness to Gerrard he plays so much better for Liverpool as he has the freedom to do as he wishes. In England he has to be tamed to balance out (the waste of space that is) Lampard's forays forward. Similar to Rooney, he needs a proper centre forward to play off. Terry is no captain, ferdinand would be better. I think Capello was worried that taking the captaincy off Terry would have made him worse (possible...?) so decided to let him keep it. Beckham still deserves to be there. Infact without him we possess nearly no attacking threat. I could go on but I wont. Brian Barwick leaving will make no difference to the England team as he has no power over it in any real sense.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

I dont think Becks deserves to be there Molison,apart from one cross,he was just as bad as the rest.Bently did a good job when he came on,he deserves to be on the right now.We cant progress as a team if we keep relying on the old guys.Becks had his day,while an excellent player in his day,doesnt have the legs anymore.Ashley Young,David Bently,Dean Ashton and Joe Hart should be serious candidates for the first team now.My England team in the future,providing they are all fit,would be..

Ashton
Crouch

Ashley Young
Gerrard
Hargeaves
D Bentley

Richards
Ferdinand
Terry (not captain though)
Bridge

Hart

Mollison · 500 Club Member

If it wasn't for Beckham we would have lost 2-1.

Thats the story in most matches these days. Yes we need to move forward but while he's still creating goals he should play.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The person who quite clearly shouldn't be there is (Calamity) James. The best keeper in this country (If he can stay fit) and I have said this for a while is Chris Kirkland.

Mollison · 500 Club Member

James is a good shot stopper. Why does everyone forget us goalkeepers good saves and only remember the blunders. He was Premiership Goalkeeper of The Year last season for a reason DM.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Best of a bad bunch if you ask me. I also play GK when I (Rarely these days) play. So I am coming from experience.

My complaint is that we have a wealth of decent keepers, but we never play them. Why wasn't Hart or even Carson given a run out? They both need the experience and James isn't going to last forever...

Creepfnshow · On The Casting Couch

i think carson should be given another shot

Also, i reckon agbonlahor should be a regular, he scares the hell out of defences if he gets half a yard on them.
I reckon becks should stay and feature in the world cup in africa should we qualify. If capello isn't going to play him in the world cup then he shouldn't feature in the qualifiers, he should start with beckhams replacement whoever that may be, from now.
A regular eleven is the way forward and i would rather have gerrard than lampard any day of the week if it's a choice between the two.
Regardless, he has to play his strongest eleven from now on with no more messing about, it's time to earn your salary capello

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

I would put both Becks and Lampard on the bench as SUper Subs.... They would comein very handy at key moments especially if we are down by a goal and need that extra mile.

Imagine subbing Gerrard for Lamps. SOunds like a sweet deal.

Mollison · 500 Club Member

Creepfnshow, you contradict yourself. You say we need to play our new kids and look to the future but you also say we need to play our strongest squad right now. You cant have both. And winning now is the priority so Becks should still play. He creates goals. Simple. Same goes for the David James thing. He is still the (as DM admits) the best of the bunch. Thus he should play until another goalkeepers performances warrent displacing him.