I hate all of you

England can go all the way I believe.

Is it two best third place finishers then?

I think England will make the quarters, though we certainly shouldn't be taking anything for granted in our group: beating Russia in the first game is crucial, in my opinion.

Quarters is about right for us. We'll do very well to go further, but anything less would be a disappointment.

comment by shinji: Hafi sans stats (U1700)
posted 7 minutes ago
England can go all the way I believe.

Is it two best third place finishers then?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is the top two in each of the six groups (that's twelve) plus the four best-placed teams in third (making sixteen). Usually, you need four points to qualify in third but fewer is possible.

Yeah 4 would virtually guarantee it but I think a couple of years will get through with 3 points

I have no faith in Russia, not based on ability (though they are weak at the minute) but because Russian teams never ever travel well. Any money I make on football bets comes from betting on the Soviet team to win at home and lose away in a knockout tie

comment by merrysupersteve - Jose'd he wouldn't be our Special One? (U1132)
posted 1 hour, 53 minutes ago
Yeah 4 would virtually guarantee it but I think a couple of years will get through with 3 points
----------------------------------------------------------------------

There was a group in 94 where all four teams finished on four points so Norway went out on goal difference as bottom of the group. Four points probably is enough - but only if you're actually in third place. I don't think many will get through on three points, myself.

This generation I think are a step I up from the golden generation of yesteryear...so I don't think that last 8 is a barrier to how far we go..

Could be an interesting tour no for ingerland

Yeah I'm very optimistically aiming for 4 points, but with third placed teams going through, I think at least one will sneak through on 3 points. With the permutations, it's incredibly unlikely that any team on 4 points would fail to go through. For one thing, it would need at least 4 of the third placed teams to accumulate that many points

1st knockout round defeat on pens to Turkey.

comment by RB&W (U2335)
posted 9 minutes ago
This generation I think are a step I up from the golden generation of yesteryear...so I don't think that last 8 is a barrier to how far we go..

Could be an interesting tour no for ingerland
----------------------------------------------------------------------

How is this generation a step up from the golden generation???

Better players...better managed... Nab the oppo are not as far in front

comment by Robb_Zlatan (U20351)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by RB&W (U2335)
posted 9 minutes ago
This generation I think are a step I up from the golden generation of yesteryear...so I don't think that last 8 is a barrier to how far we go..

Could be an interesting tour no for ingerland
----------------------------------------------------------------------

How is this generation a step up from the golden generation???
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's closer than people think, perhaps, but significantly weaker in defence.

comment by RB&W (U2335)
posted 53 seconds ago
Better players...better managed... Nab the oppo are not as far in front
----------------------------------------------------------------------

How is this lot better than Rio, Terry, Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard, Owen, Neville and Beckham?

Absolutely laughable comment.

Because they were overrated Robb


Work it out for yrself..

Tick tock

comment by merrysupersteve - Jose'd he wouldn't be our Special One? (U1132)
posted 3 hours, 9 minutes ago
I have no faith in Russia, not based on ability (though they are weak at the minute) but because Russian teams never ever travel well. Any money I make on football bets comes from betting on the Soviet team to win at home and lose away in a knockout tie
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Russia tend to be a mixed bag. They'll have at least one decent to good performance in a tournament and in another game they'll be awful. They did this in 2008 and at their best were good enough to put Holland to the sword. Hopefully they'll start slowly this time, as they often do.

But, yes, at this moment I'd probably back Russia to finish bottom of our group. That's why beating them is vital.

comment by RB&W (U2335)
posted 12 seconds ago
Because they were overrated Robb


Work it out for yrself..

Tick tock
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Which of the current players are better than what were their equivalents in the golden generation?

Would you have Smalling and Cahill over Rio and Terry?
Walker over Neville?
Rose over Ashley Cole?
Lallana over Beckham?
Henderson over Gerrard?
Dier over Lampard?
This version of Rooney over Owen?

Sorry mate but there's absolutely no way that this generation are better than what came before. This is England's weakest side in decades.

In a nutshell, yes

Good night

comment by RB&W (U2335)
posted 2 minutes ago
In a nutshell, yes

Good night
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You my friend are bonkers. Night.

Robb one thing this board has deduced over the years is that you my friend are quite unique... Bonkers maybe

comment by RB&W (U2335)
posted 4 seconds ago
Robb one thing this board has deduced over the years is that you my friend are quite unique... Bonkers maybe
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You're the one trying to convince us all that the current English squad are better than that of 12 years ago. Insane.

Robb is correct. However, England have more fire power than at any time in recent memory. There's no Heskey up front now and goals win games.

I stand by my prediction that they'll lose on penalties to Portugal in the quarters

We are nearer our opponents then we were in the golden years

Merry

What will the attendance be too?