Not forgetting South Africa, who only went out on GD as well.
World Cup 2010 - South Africa Thread
- Thread starter Jax
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Not forgetting South Africa, who only went out on GD as well.
Yeah I know, they juset seem more of an unknown quantity than Germany, far more unpredictable.
I agree. If we play like we did yesterday and have a little bit more luck up front then I think we can beat them.
Rooney has been inefectual so far but sooner or later he is going to come good I think, what better place to start than against Germany?
Beating Germany then Argentina would be a wonderful prospect wouldn't it, don't know how likely it is but like you say; mouthwatering!
Biggest disappointment of the last World Cup wasn't NOT winning it, but NOT playing any of our traditional rivals. Going out to Portugal was bad not because we lost, as we're used to NOT winning the World Cup, but it was because we went out to a side that means very little to us without ever playing a rival in the tournament.
This time around, at the very least we're guaranteed a game against Germany, and possibly Argentina beyond that should we win.
Even with Ronaldo's shenanighans the last time around, I still couldn't give a fcuk about Portugal.
This time around, at the very least we're guaranteed a game against Germany, and possibly Argentina beyond that should we win.
Even with Ronaldo's shenanighans the last time around, I still couldn't give a fcuk about Portugal.
I like Beckenbauer, got a lot of respect for him, but the comments he made were ill-advised. They were made on the basis of one game at the time? Under different circumstances I might have thought that he was trying to land an early psycological blow, but I think Franz is usually above that sort of thing.
On yesterday's respective performances I'd imagine that he's a little worried right about now.
Either way, can't wait until Sunday, hopefully another WC classic between the two nations.
EDIT: I take it all back, I've just read his latest comments; England were "stupid" to fall to a last 16 meeting with Germany.
I think the lack of urgency in getting a second goal yesterday that would have ensured winning the group reflects the fact that they aren't particularly bothered about facing Germany in the next round. To be fair, based on last night's performance, why would they?
Beckenbauer's helping do Fabio's job for him in motivating the England players. If I were Capello I'd just keep pinning up all of his comments on the board for the players to remember.
On yesterday's respective performances I'd imagine that he's a little worried right about now.
Either way, can't wait until Sunday, hopefully another WC classic between the two nations.
EDIT: I take it all back, I've just read his latest comments; England were "stupid" to fall to a last 16 meeting with Germany.
I think the lack of urgency in getting a second goal yesterday that would have ensured winning the group reflects the fact that they aren't particularly bothered about facing Germany in the next round. To be fair, based on last night's performance, why would they?
Beckenbauer's helping do Fabio's job for him in motivating the England players. If I were Capello I'd just keep pinning up all of his comments on the board for the players to remember.
Oh I don't know I don't think there was a lack of urgency, if nothing else irrespective of winning/second place another goal would have calmed everyone's nerves a bit, and on another day I think we'd have run out 2 or 3 nil winners.
I thought Capello's tactics were pretty good, the only thing I disliked was taking Rooney off for Cole. I think he should have put Heskey (or Crouch) on then, Defoe isn't suited to a lone striker/holding the ball up role.
I thought Milner was excellent though, and Upson didn't have a bad game. I hope he keeps both in.
I thought Capello's tactics were pretty good, the only thing I disliked was taking Rooney off for Cole. I think he should have put Heskey (or Crouch) on then, Defoe isn't suited to a lone striker/holding the ball up role.
I thought Milner was excellent though, and Upson didn't have a bad game. I hope he keeps both in.
Well, at least we didn't fail at the group stages.We couldn't have emerged on a worse side of the tournament if we'd tried.
The way it's looking, Brazil is going to have no trouble getting to the final on their side, while England, Germany, Argentina, and maybe Spain battle it out, with probably Paraguay, Denmark, Mexico and Portugal getting in the mix as well.
At least we have some good matches to look forward to, and at least one small team will make the semis. I'm calling Uruguay.
I really don't want to go out in the round of 16 though. That's almost as bad as the group stages.
I do think that this is not going to be the only epic round of 16 match. I'm thinking Netherlands vs Italy, and possibly Spain vs Portugal will turn up as well.
Yes, and there's also a good chance for Netherlands and Italy to be in Brazil's side of the bracket. I think it's pretty balanced actually this year, but we'll have to wait how the rest of the group matches turn out to know more.
You sir, are TRULY evil on a level even the Master cannot approach!
It's funny to see that Beckenbauer's comments cause so much of an outrage in England. He says stuff like that all the time. I wouldn't take him too seriously (or seriously at all, to be honest). In any case, I don't think any of the teams need additional motivation before that classic.
Also, I seem to have seen a different English team yesterday than some in this thread. I think it's worrisome that even after all the malaise they only scored one goal against Slovenia and only two in the whole group stage. Sure, the German defense left a disastrous impression yesterday, so if it stays that way, England will be able to score, but you really can't count on that. I think both teams have good chances to win, depending on whether they'll get their act together and how, but it isn't a sure thing for either side.
I predict an entertaining game with lots of back-and-forth and a screw-up by James.
Also, I seem to have seen a different English team yesterday than some in this thread. I think it's worrisome that even after all the malaise they only scored one goal against Slovenia and only two in the whole group stage. Sure, the German defense left a disastrous impression yesterday, so if it stays that way, England will be able to score, but you really can't count on that. I think both teams have good chances to win, depending on whether they'll get their act together and how, but it isn't a sure thing for either side.
I predict an entertaining game with lots of back-and-forth and a screw-up by James.
For my money James looked far more assured yesterday than the German keeper. I'd imagine that Gerrard and Lampard will be bearing that in mind
Up until yesterday we struggled to craft chances at all. Yesterday we did, and could have scored 5 or 6 quite easily. If they create as many chance again I doubt we'll be as wasteful.
Important thing for Germany is to NOT let Rooney score. If he does, then I expect he'll be off and running for the tournament and with the prospect of an extremely fragile German defence the carnage that could be wrought with an on-fire Rooney is very appealing.
By contrast, I'm not overly concerned with Germany's strikers. They look like exactly the type that Terry and Upson will be effective against.
Just use Barry to shackle Ozil and that should just about do it.
Sounds good on paper, obviously practicality is an entirely different matter!
I think whoever wins this one I'll want them to go on and win the tournament.
Up until yesterday we struggled to craft chances at all. Yesterday we did, and could have scored 5 or 6 quite easily. If they create as many chance again I doubt we'll be as wasteful.
Important thing for Germany is to NOT let Rooney score. If he does, then I expect he'll be off and running for the tournament and with the prospect of an extremely fragile German defence the carnage that could be wrought with an on-fire Rooney is very appealing.
By contrast, I'm not overly concerned with Germany's strikers. They look like exactly the type that Terry and Upson will be effective against.
Just use Barry to shackle Ozil and that should just about do it.
Sounds good on paper, obviously practicality is an entirely different matter!
I think whoever wins this one I'll want them to go on and win the tournament.
For my money James looked far more assured yesterday than the German keeper. I'd imagine that Gerrard and Lampard will be bearing that in mind
Well, unlike Neuer, James didn't have that much to do yesterday. The Slovenian offense was rather harmless on the whole. That said, I have no idea how good of a goalie Neuer actually is. They can't all be Kahns, I guess.
People often berate James, but where England's concerned, he doesn't actually do that much wrong. He seems to get lumped in the same group as Robinson, Carson and Green who've all made absolutely, fundamental howlers. James has never done that for England.
Neuer, looked nervous. Probably because of the circumstances. Trouble is, now it's knockout time, and England is a huge game, there's no time for nerves. Gerrard and Lampard will defintely look to test him.
It would be great if both teams just went out and played with freedom, with the weight of expectation and the gravity of the game weighing them down.
Neuer, looked nervous. Probably because of the circumstances. Trouble is, now it's knockout time, and England is a huge game, there's no time for nerves. Gerrard and Lampard will defintely look to test him.
It would be great if both teams just went out and played with freedom, with the weight of expectation and the gravity of the game weighing them down.
Let's hope they do. The German team is more a team of the future, anyway. It would be great to see them play again like against Australia.
And it would be great if England could show its potential at least once in this World Cup. I still can't believe they only managed a goalless draw against Algeria.
And it would be great if England could show its potential at least once in this World Cup. I still can't believe they only managed a goalless draw against Algeria.
Let's hope they do. The German team is more a team of the future, anyway. It would be great to see them play again like against Australia.
And it would be great if England could show its potential at least once in this World Cup. I still can't believe they only managed a goalless draw against Algeria.
There's no way of saying this without it sounding arrogant, so I'll just say it. A lot of the smaller teams see England, along with Brazil as being the ultimate scalp, and as such put in much more effort against us. Watching the game against the US yesterday, I just wished they'd put in the same performance against us.