England vs Algeria – place your bets

Thing is if a miracle was to happen! they would be forever tainted in my view.
It's a sad day when a fan (me) prefers to watch other countries play.
Hey ho.
Still certain they'll scrape through? problem is then all the dreadful stuff is forgotten, and that's wrong.

Capello said he's seeing much better performances on the training pitch – maybe that's due to the poor quality of the opposition on the training pitch?

😆

thanks iDave that has cheered me up this morning.

I'm still desperately clinging to the hope that we can pull it around because as our celtic cousins will tell you, it's far more fun when your team's still in it.
What worries me is that in other WC's where we've been on the brink and then turn it around to play quite well, change was forced upon Robby Bobson and bringing Beardsley and Hodge in during 86 and changing to 5 at the back and bringing Platt in at Italia 90 were changes that he was able to make for the better. This time around, I just can't see what Capello can do or who he can bring in. All this talk of Gerrard playing off Rooney in a 4-5-1 is fine in principle but I can't see Capello deciding to use it with 4 days preparation.
I think we've got to face the fact come Wednesday, after looking so strong in qualification, we'll be out of the WC before the knockout. Poor.

Straw clutching time…

We can still qualify, we haven't lost a game, it is still in our own hands. At least we're not the French, just have to hope we avoid Germany in the next round cos they will on current form absolutely humiliate us.

England would do OK against someone like Germany – "we" are a bunch of fit and fairly well-trained players who can do a fairly disciplined job against a strong team. Not saying we'd win, but I doubt there'd be more than a goal or maybe 2 in it, and we'd have the odd counter-attack.

What we lack, horribly, is the wit to break down a team that does a fairly disciplined job against us. Virtually no movement in attack and midfield is as stilted as I've seen in ages.

If I was Joe Cole I'd get "injured" right now & rule myself out of the next match, as ALL hopes seem to be shoved onto him at the moment and there's no way any one player can turn that around, let alone "only" Cole

hangover wearing off. Part of me still feels we will qualify after all it's slovenia surly we'll be good soon. Although when I think about it we don't deserve to get through with our boring football. I don't care about there pay, surly they want to win the WORLD CUP!

why didn't Capello change it early on last night? Anyone hazard a guess as to why?

because he has no plan b if Rooney is off form

aye but it wasn't just Rooney was it. It was the lot of them. There was at least the option to bring 3 different players on for at least half an hour and he could have still left Rooney on. Bringing Crouch on for 5 mins was a waste of time – he may not play the prettiest football but his England scoring record can't be sniffed at. Joe Cole I rate highly (not sure why, he's always injured), why wasn't he given a chance or is he going to be last WC's Walcott. However, from my armchair it's all very easy but I'd like to know reasons why Capello left everything (uninspired same ol' same ol' subs) so late.

From the top (Capello) to the players on the whole, what an utterly shameful performance and you thoroughly deserved to be boo'ed off by fans who pay thousands to see that shitte you produced. The tactics were crap, the spirit, heart, desire and will to win was totally absent and they were too scared to do anything or take any chances and that's why they failed beat a very third rate team.

shame he didn't ruffle a few collars and deck prince will

So misterfrostie, did you stand for the national anthem when the bbc played used to it last thing at night? Happy to be a subject and not a citizen? I've noticed over the years that quite allot of northern players haven't sung it and in general i,ve noticed much less support for the royals since moving North.

Maybe if Capello treated the players a bit less like subjects and a little more like citizens/adults they would perform a bit better? Do you really think that because Rooney doesn't sing GSTQ he cares less than you, who can't be bothered to support the team any more? best go and put your Brazil shirt on now eh!

because he has no plan b if Rooney is off form

I know. Thats the awful truth. We are lacking any firepower and you can't really slate Green for his previous fumble of the ball- The defenders are supposed to provide defence/goal-protection aren't they?

As a whole, our national team has lacked depth for many years.

Sorry Inkster I'm not old enough to remember the national anthem being played last thing at night.

However, regardless of the contents of the song, it IS our national anthem and I feel a sense of pride whenever its played, either on the box or at an event. And I will stick my hand on my chest and belt it out when I'm at a national game.

I just think its crap that some players don't think its necessary to join in. I reckon theres more pride in the national rugby union squad.