England V Italy

[Aus Fox]

Ok the real stuff begins next week, the warm up games have been forgettable for both teams:

Italy 0-0 Rep of Ireland

Italy 1-1 Luxemberg

England 3-0 Peru

England 2-2 Ecuador

England 0-0 Honduras

I think it's safe to say, if either team loses this game they will be on the plane home. A nervous 1-1 draw for me, Sturridge to open the scoring, with Italy equalising late on.

Hart

Johnson

Cahill

Jagelka

Bains

Gerrard

Henderson

Wilshere

Lallana

Sterling

Sturridge

[MC Prussian]

Wrong sub-forum. 

[Aus Fox]

Wrong sub-forum.

Thanks MC, didn't realise there was a World Cup sub forum. Can someone move/merge this thread.

[copunk]

in all honesty, I reckon this is the worst England side in a loooooooong time, from last nights side I would say 2 were world class, and one of them was rooney who has lost his way that much its scary, realistically I cant see us getting out the group, fair enough Italy haven't had a great last few games, but I can see them beating us, and can see us struggling against uraguay, pessimistic I know but its got pretty bad

[Guest Bilo]

2-0 Italy.

 

We were incredibly fortunate to make it to penalties in Euro 2012 after having been dominated for two hours, and I struggle to see where we've made progress.

[Aus Fox]

2-0 Italy.

We were incredibly fortunate to make it to penalties in Euro 2012 after having been dominated for two hours, and I struggle to see where we've made progress.

While I agree with this, I believe Italy are in the same boat and have gone back just as far if not further than us since 2012. No win in 7 for the Italians and I do not fear them as much as in 2012.

I do think the winner if this game gets 2nd in the group behind Uruaguy.

[Super_horns]

I wouldn't be surprised given the likely conditions if it ended 0-0 TBH which both sides might accept.

[Grandad.]

in all honesty, I reckon this is the worst England side in a loooooooong time, from last nights side I would say 2 were world class, and one of them was rooney who has lost his way that much its scary, realistically I cant see us getting out the group, fair enough Italy haven't had a great last few games, but I can see them beating us, and can see us struggling against uraguay, pessimistic I know but its got pretty bad

 

In all honesty, I reckon this is the worst post I have read on this forum in a loooooooong time.

 

--

 

Still not scared of Italy, if Roy uses his minute brain and realises that the Italians are there for the taking and sets out to beat them, we could win the game before HT. 

 

Roy needs to unleash Sterling and Barkley from the off, the Italians will not know what has hit them, none (except Balotelli) of slime ball pasta eating jerks have ever come up against Barkley or Sterling (not even in a friendly I think), they will not have a clue who they are! 

 

The team has to be: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Barkley, Lallana and Sturridge. 

 

My only fear is, we have no plan b, yeah we will have a few subs who can make the difference but there is no other formation, Hodgson is obsessed with this 4-2-3-1, it used to be such a free attacking formation but under Hodgson it has become military like, setting up with Welbeck on the left of midfield is ridiculous. 

[katieakita]

Well the so called golden age did not get us very far. Kicking off against Italy  at a time that suits TV is not a help but it is a team game and maybe the team will gel, 1990 we were crap so crap that the media had got rid of Bobby Robson before the finals then of course we went on to have our best overseas world cup and cup have won it. There are some very good young players in the squad who have no baggage. Italy are no great shakes and we can beat them.

[copunk]

In all honesty, I reckon this is the worst post I have read on this forum in a loooooooong time.

 

--

 

Still not scared of Italy, if Roy uses his minute brain and realises that the Italians are there for the taking and sets out to beat them, we could win the game before HT. 

 

Roy needs to unleash Sterling and Barkley from the off, the Italians will not know what has hit them, none (except Balotelli) of slime ball pasta eating jerks have ever come up against Barkley or Sterling (not even in a friendly I think), they will not have a clue who they are! 

 

The team has to be: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Barkley, Lallana and Sturridge. 

 

My only fear is, we have no plan b, yeah we will have a few subs who can make the difference but there is no other formation, Hodgson is obsessed with this 4-2-3-1, it used to be such a free attacking formation but under Hodgson it has become military like, setting up with Welbeck on the left of midfield is ridiculous. 

 

wow I really touched a nerve here didn't I

[Samilktray]

I don't know why anyone would fear Italy and I don't why anyone would think at this moment in time they're better than us.

2-0 England.

[Fox92]

I don't know if they're better than us or whatever, I haven't seen them play since they last beat us on penalties. Can they be worse than us though? I bet their ball retention is better than our's and we struggle to get the ball from them.

 

I'm going:

 

Hart

Johnson -- Cahill -- Jagelka -- Baines

Gerrard -- Wilshere (if fit?)

Barkley -- Rooney -- Sterling

Sturridge 

 

1-1 and that's me being optimistic.

[Samilktray]

Wilshere

[Fox92]

Wilshere

 

Knew you'd say that! But it's either him or Henderson.

 

Nothing wrong with Wilshere. He holds the ball well and at least he runs at players. Something we lack before Wilshere and Barkley come on.

[Webbo]

I thought Wilshire did well last night.

[StanSP]

Henderson did better last night and warrants a starting spot.

 

Got a feeling it'll be 1-0 either way and not the greatest spectacle. Partly due to the heat/humidity if all the hype about the Manaus atmosphere is to be believed.

[Stadt]

We could get out of the group on 5 points so we'll play a for a draw against Italy who'll most likely do the same. Uruguay aren't the force that some portray them to be but they're still a decent side and we should be beating Costa Rica without getting out of first gear.

[Grandad.]

Henderson will be starting, no doubt about that. 

[RowlattsFox]

Think the back 6 will be as expected. Question is who will start on the flanks.

Lallana hasn't really done enough

Sterling hasn't had a chance too.

Ox has been impressive but injured

Welbeck gets unfair stick but is a safe choice

Milner would be last choice

Barkley not a wide player.

I reckon he'll go for Sterling and welbeck, with Rooney and Sturridge. Barkley as first sub.

Wouldn't be surprised with a goalless draw.

[Stadt]

Henderson will be starting, no doubt about that.

Yep, we need as much energy in the side as we can get and that's another reason Rooney should be dropped.

[Grandad.]

Gazza 90, Owen 98 and Rooney 04, all raw talents, unknown and fearless. We have that in Ross Barkley, for me he has to start over Wayne Rooney, how can you have faith in a player who has scored 1 goal in the last three tournaments? 

 

I'm a big fan of Rooney and I do think he is a brilliant footballer on his day, but I don't think he suits the current formation and I think Barkley is the ideal player for the system. 

[Guest Sharpe's Fox]

However much I want us to attack and try and just blow the Italians away, I just don't think it will happen. The game needs to be played to the conditions and games will come faster than January in League 2. I won't be surprised if Milner and Welbeck starts because however much they're mocked there workrate is always very good.

[Grandad.]

Guess you haven't watched much Premier League football then mate if you think Sterling and Lallana haven't got work rate mate, they have the work rate but the attacking intent, the excitement and the ability to beat a man and bring fear to another team. 

 

The Italian full backs will be rubbing their hands together if them pair start next weekend. 

[ScouseFox]

3-0 England

[kingfox]

This is England's best chance of beating Italy for a long time, Serie A is on a downward spiral and it's definitely having an affect on the national team, it's only Juventus dominating now, Inter, AC Milan & Lazio are dropping off dramatically. 

 

They still have a good squad mind, I'm interested to see if the likes of Verratti, Insigne & Immobile get much game time. 

 

From England's point of view, I wouldn't go all out attack against Italy, I can see Hodgson putting Milner in there somewhere, for defensive reason's.

 

Hart

 

Johnson - Jagielka - Cahill - Baines

 

Gerrard - Henderson

 

Sterling - Rooney - Milner

 

Sturridge