Is there hope after all?

[Guest Gist]

What do we all think about our chances of winning the world cup after todays more posotive performance?

[stulcfc]

we could easyly win imo with the players we have

[Guest Gist]

Yep they are defo capeable just wheter they play to there potential

[stulcfc]

true lets hope they do

[Med]

As long as someone knocks Brazil out we have

[Guest Gist]

dont see why that couldnt be us!

[Durnerz]

Theres still room for improvement defensively but going forward we look full of goals and capable of fightbacks like this and against the second best side in the world it looks good for us. Svens tactics at the start of "stand off" seemed to cause us problems and had Argentina had their shooting boots on from long range we could have found ourselves in a bad position. But theres definate promise for us.

[breadandcheese]

Two world class teams today. I think both teams played well, probably even neither deserved to lose.

Today showed what we already know, in that we do not have to fear any team, and as long as we play to our strengths, we can beat anybody.

I must say that it helped no-end when Riquelme was taken off. I feel that allowed us to really have a go at us because they had less to hurt us with.

[Libertine]

If we put that much passion into every performance, no matter who against, then I don't see why not, especially with both first choice full-backs returning soon.

[Tommy]

We were definately a much improved team as compared to the games against Wales and more so Norn Iron, there was a definate passion between the players in todays game, and I think the win did them the world of good.

All I can say is Come On England

[Foxes_Wizard_Striker]

We should have a real chance but we must improve our defence today we could have lost 10-3 easisly though our first choice full backs is injured

[Thracian]

Certainly we've got a chance. People like Rooney, Lampard, Joe Cole, Beckham, Owen, Gerrard and Terry are serious opposition for anyone.

What worries me is whether Sven has the nerve to win the thing (rather than trying not to lose it, which is different). I'm concerned about our full backs, the balance of our side and who should partner Owen up front (despite Rooney being outstanding today).

Whatever we do we must have the courage to attack because that is where our strengths lie. Quality opposition will always give our defence trouble.

Let's be optimistic eh?

[Alexikokopops]

On the full back thing, I think we'll be ok at Left-back once Bridge gets a few games under his belt.

After all, he has only played 60 minutes of football since Febuary, he was never gonna be perfect today.

Our lack of cover at right back concerns me though, while Luke Young isn't too bad against the poorer teams he ain't exactly world class.

[Foxes_Wizard_Striker]

Certainly we've got a chance. People like Rooney, Lampard, Joe Cole, Beckham, Owen, Gerrard and Terry are serious opposition for anyone.

What worries me is whether Sven has the nerve to win the thing (rather than trying not to lose it, which is different). I'm concerned about our full backs, the balance of our side and who should partner Owen up front (despite Rooney being outstanding today).

Whatever we do we must have the courage to attack because that is where our strengths lie. Quality opposition will always give our defence trouble.

Let's be optimistic eh?

The answer is Rooney he got one goal and Owen bagged a brace enuff said and no one expect perphaps Crouch or Darren Bent is good enough to partner Owen

[Thracian]

The answer is Rooney he got one goal and Owen bagged a brace enuff said and no one expect perphaps Crouch or Darren Bent is good enough to partner Owen

Is Heskey too far gone now?

[Foxes_Wizard_Striker]

Is Heskey too far gone now?

could be

[Guest Gist]

We should have a real chance but we must improve our defence today we could have lost 10-3 easisly though our first choice full backs is injured

yeh your right we could do with Neville and Cole back but considering we played such a good team today we coped well

was poor defending for there first goal .......... but we still won

[MC Prussian]

For a long time, as far as I can tell, the English squad has always been under enormeous criticism and since you're the mother country of football, expectations have been, are and will always be very high.

However, the problem in the last few decades was always the team itself. Players that took themselves more seriously than the rest of the team and coaches who made the wrong decisions. And then there always were some other teams always a little bit better than the English.

You've had very hard times in tournaments since the last big win in 1966. I wish you'd have eliminated Germany in 1990, but then 1998 and 2002 were just abysmal (caused by Eriksson's mistakes and a bunch of egos on the pitch).

Now, it appears to me your team is much stronger. And I congratulate you for that win.

The question that I ask myself is: How can you judge the performance when the World Cup tournament 2006 is still 200 days away? A lot of things can happen in the meantime, so don't get carried away too much.

I would seriously appreciate it if England would make it as far as possible. But then again, there are 31 other teams competing and they're not necessarily worse.

I'd like to see England and Switzerland to be drawn into the same group, proceed to the next phase and then meet again in the final...

[Libertine]

Good post SwissFox.

I do try not to get too carried away, but earlier I was just so happy because of beating the Argie Bargies.

I think we have a strong chance next year, but we have to use today's match as a springboard and carry on playing that well, possibly even excelling today's performance.

[Guest Gist]

Good post SwissFox.

I do try not to get too carried away, but earlier I was just so happy because of beating the Argie Bargies.

I think we have a strong chance next year, but we have to use today's match as a springboard and carry on playing that well, possibly even excelling today's performance.

yeh well said lib spot on

[Bert]

yeh well said lib spot on

Yeah im in agreement too, but one thing me must not do however good the performance and victory was is get carried away about this!

p.s did anyone see how shocked Sven looked when we scored the 3rd??

[toonboy]

There was a problem at full back but this will improve when we get the experience back. But this wont be helped by playing 3 in midfield. With Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham all pushed in infront of King we aren't going to have much width and the full backs are going to be exposed. A team with real wingers could prosper there e.g. someone like Wright-Phillips would probably love playing against that formation.

[Hullfox]

What a frickin weekend that was.

It was an awesome atmosphere, if only we could get a few thousand singing down at the walkers it would be great.

As for our chances, if the players are up for it, no reason why not.

[Gamesmaster]

i though england did quite well yesterday, but the first 40 mins in the 2nd half were poor, visions of denmark appeared.

king is NOT a midfielder. i think young is better than gary neville now.

were the argies at full strenght, cos we certainly wernt.

[davieG]

i though england did quite well yesterday, but the first 40 mins in the 2nd half were poor, visions of denmark appeared.

king is NOT a midfielder. i think young is better than gary neville now.

were the argies at full strenght, cos we certainly wernt.

I guess it depends on how you measure it, I agree it wasn't full of goal mouth incidents but there was some terrific passing and tactical battles going on, that we tended to cancel each other out by both sides have spells of possession doesn't in my mind make it poor. Taken over all the game had a variety of ingredients of which this was one.