How far Will England get?

Couldn't agree with wallis more.

quaters/ semi

Clearly a lot of weaknesses in the England team, some of which were exposed again last night. In some ways, possibly a weaker England side than has gone to the last two world cups. But then against that it is perhaps fair to say they have what looks like a good draw (as far as the semis, at least) and the climatic conditions overall might be more favourable for England's game this time.

When England got tighter and eventually forced the pace of the game a bit more last night, they didn't look quite as vulnerable against Mexico as they did in the opening 20 minutes or so. They will have to beat better teams than Mexico if they are to get much further than the last 16 this time. But if the climatic conditions allow England to play a more aggressive, forcing game, that may go some way to offsetting the clear disadvantage England face when playing against sides that retain and use possession much better than the England players.

Defensively, the team isn't looking great perhaps and England could have done with a player in the squad capable to showing the excellent defensive midfield qualities that Owen Hargreaves showed in his outstanding performance against Portugal four years ago. But going forward, the team is not quite as short of goal scoring threats as some of the sides they are likely to meet. Gerrard and Rooney combining can be as impressive as any at the top of the world game presently; Lennon and Walcott may be a bit one dimensional, but they have pace to die for; Joe Cole could still be very useful as a provider on the left side; and Crouch ... possibly well worth a place in the squad for the few bits of things he does far better than his critics ever credit him for.

If England get the shape right and really go for it without over-complicating things tactically, I can see there being a good chance they could overrun their likely last 16 and quarter final opponents, or certainly make them know they have been in a game. If they get to the semis, who knows .... but ordinarily I wouldn't think the side would be good enough to beat an on song Spain or Brazil, or even the Dutch side.

Quarter-finals again.

To get to the semis you have to sort out one / two of these:
Argentina; Brazil; France; Germany; Netherlands; Italy; Portugal; Spain.

3rd game in the group phase and then get knocked out. useless peasants!

Quarter finals for me.

Draw in the opening game against USA and ending up 2nd on goal difference.

Beating Germany in the last 16 will be the high point before going out on penalties against whoever we play after that.

England must be layed

it always astounds me when this topic is brought up that people can  think 1/4s,  semis, all the way,. it so  daft as  we could be playing a worse side in the semis than in the lasat 16 yet  the same person who thinks we have to go out at the semi stage thinks we are pretty sure in a one off game to beat  the team we meet in the last 16 stage.i on ly think you can form an opinion when you know who we face as to wether or not we can progress each round.personally i think we are prety long odds on to qualify from the group stages then after that its almost evens each the the two at each round.we are capable of losing to at team like srbia and equally capable of beating teams like  italy  germany  france  in a one off game.i genuinely think we have a similar chance to 6 or 8 othevsides of winning the whole shebang but it would be no  huge surprise to lose outat any given time at the knock out stage.surely spain brazil italy holland england argentina and to lesser degree france  germany and others all have  some sort of realistic chance of lifeting the trophy.im sure that  when greece won  the euro champs the same old " we can only get to the 1/4s semis, drivel woulda been spouted out. if wed have reached the final to find greece waithing everyone woulda then thought we would go on and win comfortably and we could all have been wrong YET AGAIN.in truth  any side managing to get thru the group stage and then prooving good enuff to beat another goup qualifier in the last 16 has some kinda chance of going all the way. IT MIGHT JUST BE ENGLAND, HERES HOPING!!!!!!

An very reasoned analysis sickoflayingwinners, especially from someone who clearly doesn't have English as their first language...

Semis is a realistic target, for me the real danger teams are Brazil, Spain, Holland and Argentina and based on the assumption that England win their group (which I think is a reasonable assumption to make) then we avoid those 4 teams until at least the semis (also assuming Argentina win their group which again I think is fair).  Climatic conditions should be much more favourable to England this time than in almost any other tournament.  I don't see France or Germany as major threats.

Can't tackle, can't pass the ball and never in enough decent positions to have shots at goal. 1st round exit.

Can someone point me in the direction of where some of the guys in here get their drugs?

England Semis? WTF??????

If my betfair account had the funds i'd have been laying every penny on them pre-tournament...