Multi-board please admin
Very relevant specially in the light of the recent internationals, is it just an illusion that as supporters (some might say sufferers!) of England, that we think of the team as capable of winning the world cup?
We know England team is pretty decent and "should" beat most teams, leave alone the top 10 in the FIFA rankings.
But, why in every tournament England has taken part in, does the nation's expectation go up by a million notch to the point of all of us harbouring an unrealistic expectations of the team making the semis at least?
I know I speak for a lot of fans who have now literally given up on the international games, and myself would rather not see us involved because of broken dreams and like they say "30 years of hurt"!
Well, it's more than 30 years of hurt now if you're an England supporter.
What is the exact or more realistic expectations of this England side?
Quarter-finals: more or less than this?
Is it just an illusion?
posted on 8/10/17
EU 2016: Knocked out by Iceland
WC 2014: Didn't make it out of the group
EU 2012: Knocked out by Italy in the first knockout round.
WC 2010: 2nd to USA in the group's, battered by Germany in the first knockout round.
EU 2008: didn't even qualify.
Nobody expects us to win... But we should certainly be doing better than we have done the past 10 years.
posted on 8/10/17
Just get out of the group really for now. There are only so many excuses you can give the side about International/tournament experience, sometimes its not an excuse.
The core of this England squad plays for the top teams in the PL now, they are under constant pressure, scrutiny and media attention. Its no different at International level, its up to the players to step up.
posted on 8/10/17
I can always remember when we drew 2-2 with Ghana in a friendly about a year or so after the 2010 World Cup and our players got slaughtered in the press the next day and I always remember one journalist saying 'We should be beating the likes of Ghana'...
But wasn't Ghana in the World Cup Quarter finals and had it not been for Suarez's goalkeeping antics then they would've at least made the semis... So where did we get the idea that we were better than Ghana?
I mean how did we get on at the 2010 World Cup???
posted on 8/10/17
Having watched the last two England games, the only thing I have to say is that Harry Kane deserves to play on a better team.
If you pick a "World Squad" Kane is the only England player who would have any chance of getting on it.
But Lewandowski might stop even that!
posted on 8/10/17
It's hilarious people expect the England team of the last few years to do well. It's not even harsh to say you're a moron if you do/did.
Of course people point to even more unlikely victories, ones for Leicester or Greece but you'd also be a moron for "expecting" those to happen at the time.
No doubt we'll see plenty of delusion next summer too.
posted on 8/10/17
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 15 minutes ago
Having watched the last two England games, the only thing I have to say is that Harry Kane deserves to play on a better team.
If you pick a "World Squad" Kane is the only England player who would have any chance of getting on it.
But Lewandowski might stop even that!
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Kane despite a pen and a last minute tap in was actually pretty average over these 2 games, especially tonight's.
posted on 8/10/17
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 15 minutes ago
Having watched the last two England games, the only thing I have to say is that Harry Kane deserves to play on a better team.
If you pick a "World Squad" Kane is the only England player who would have any chance of getting on it.
But Lewandowski might stop even that!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kane despite a pen and a last minute tap in was actually pretty average over these 2 games, especially tonight's.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, he has to get something to work with. Walker's pass that led to that "tap in" worked because Kane got into the right place at the right time. Rest of the night he got nothing to work with.
The team he is playing in is abysmal.
posted on 8/10/17
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 15 minutes ago
Having watched the last two England games, the only thing I have to say is that Harry Kane deserves to play on a better team.
If you pick a "World Squad" Kane is the only England player who would have any chance of getting on it.
But Lewandowski might stop even that!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kane despite a pen and a last minute tap in was actually pretty average over these 2 games, especially tonight's.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, he has to get something to work with. Walker's pass that led to that "tap in" worked because Kane got into the right place at the right time. Rest of the night he got nothing to work with.
The team he is playing in is abysmal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I admit the service was not good but he was poor when the ball came to him. No great harm in playing poor for England though. It comes with the territory.
posted on 8/10/17
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 15 minutes ago
Having watched the last two England games, the only thing I have to say is that Harry Kane deserves to play on a better team.
If you pick a "World Squad" Kane is the only England player who would have any chance of getting on it.
But Lewandowski might stop even that!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kane despite a pen and a last minute tap in was actually pretty average over these 2 games, especially tonight's.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, he has to get something to work with. Walker's pass that led to that "tap in" worked because Kane got into the right place at the right time. Rest of the night he got nothing to work with.
The team he is playing in is abysmal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I admit the service was not good but he was poor when the ball came to him. No great harm in playing poor for England though. It comes with the territory.
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Well, a least he has not "retired from international competition". I would not blame him if he did.
posted on 9/10/17
I think it is a combination of factors.
I think we learn a set order of quality when we first start getting into football, based on the ideas at the time, that we find very hard to shake. I always see England as being in that second tier of teams, below Brazil and Italy and Germany. When growing up, fifa always had them at about 4 stars and it was just accepted.
This was probably reinforced at the time by the fact that the premier league had a lot of English players as the top players but barely any from Africa or asia so you just accept that these players you see are some of the best.
Add in the nature of tournaments around that time, loss on penalties in 96, 98, 2004 and 2006. Unfirtunate yo lose to Brazil in 2002 and you get the feeling that England could do a lot better with a bit more luck.
This builds to the expectation that England should win against lesser teams that you don't know about and when you expect to win, then any result that isn't a strong win is immediately a failure and 0eople get angry, Which adds pressure to the team.
As a Welshman, I still picture Wales as being completely gash, and so I expect us to not do well. This means that with good runs such as euro 2016 it is a pleasant surprise and ever win brings a feeling of,we will probably go out soon so let's enjoy it whilst we can.