The 2006 FIFA World Cup

[booder]

who replaces owen when he comes off injured after 20 minutes?

[MrMoves]

Joe Cole will be our key player IMO.

[matt674]

Joe Cole will be our key player IMO.

England odds pushed out to 900-1

[GlasgowBandit]

Rooney ain't going to be fit.

If he does recover in time he'll be short of match practice and is the WC really the place to take risks on a guys fitness?

He could have taken:

Fowler
Bent
Ashton
Andy Johnson


And dropped that numpty Hargreaves am a better player than that boy!  What exactly does he offer the squad?  Does he just pick him because he plays in the Bundesliga?

England are in big trouble if youa sk me.  I was never convinced they would win or even get by the Quarters but now I reckon there could be a few quid in laying them to win through the group stages.

This squad has to be whittled down to 23 doesn't it?  So what 4 does he drop.

Right now I'd get in another striker get rid of David James, Hargreaves and Rooney (the boy just won't be fit)

[matt674]

He's only named a 23 man squad with 4 back up players if needed

[booder]

                                         ROBINSON
N*****E               TERRY            CARRAGHER                    A COLE

BECKHAM              LAMPARD         GERRARD                       DOWNING

                                        J COLE

                                        CROUCH

[ACE2M]

Joe Cole will be our key player IMO.

Personally i play gerrard down the middle as he is far better at breaking the play than lampard and beckham. Lampard is a brilliant link player and would work perfectly with ashley cole attacking down the left flank, lampard has partial use of his left foot which is a bonus. Combine this with the trusted beckham/neville combination down the right, there will be quality balls raining into the oposition box and then you've got rooney and gerrard attacking down the middle when they wish. Bringing on Joe cole and crouch against tired defenders i guarantee will win us a game or two from a tight position, joe cole is really beginning to fulfill his potential and mark my words he will be a star of the tournament.

I made that post in november and still stand by the fact Joe cole will be a star of the tournament.

Didn't SWP go to chelsea to be sure he made the world cup?

[Coca919]

This squad has to be whittled down to 23 doesn't it?  So what 4 does he drop.

I thought he was naming a 27 man squad today, to be cut down to 23 on May 15th.

Turns out he's named his 23 squad today, with 5 stand-by players.

[JungleCat03]

Sven reminds me of the cash game player at the end of the evening,

"OK Lads. It's my last hand for the night. Good game, well played all.

 Don't have much but might as well gamble. I'm allin!"

[TightEnd]

Didn't SWP go to chelsea to be sure he made the world cup?

seious point here, the experiences of SWP and Parker must put young british players off sigining for Chelsea?


Is this a good or bad thing for the English game?


good....talented players not left languishing in reserves

bad...talented young players have less chance of playing in Champs league etc

[Nakor]

Joe Cole will be our key player IMO.

England odds pushed out to 900-1

Its funny I have been so convinced that England would struggle to get out of the group.
Rooney's injury was the final nail for me.

But this squad excites me, yes I see some faults Hargreaves/Jenus - but it is all about pace in the main.
If Walcott gets a goal in the warm up games - remember Richardson last summer - confidence can go a long way.

I do think Baron/Tighty have got the team for the groups about right.
The defence is tight - loads of midfield strength and real pace and beanpole for plan B up front.

We have not got 23 world beaters to take - but at last Sven Gambles and we going to have a go.

So unlike the Monkey - at Nakor's bookies England have come in from 400 - 1 to about 100 - 1.
Could be worse.

As an aside I do wonder if the SWP missing out is two fingers to Chelsea - it is bound to have a knock on effect for future signings.

[fergus8]

rooney will play every game for england at the world cup

[booder]

rooney will play every game for england at the world cup

can i have wednesday nights lottery numbers please

[TightEnd]

rooney will play every game for england at the world cup

thank you Dr Miriam Stoppard.

[smithy69]

As a decent footballer in my day, I have to say that this squad that the berk sven has picked is a joke.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1) Hargreaves is awful- full stop

2)Carrick isn't better than Ledley King. Ledley is injured currently but will be back in a few weeks and has shown he is the best england player at the holding role.

 3) Theo walcott is a huge talent - but has never played a premiership game, let alone a world cup game. Far to early for this lad.

4)Jenas is a waste of space - if one of the centre midfielders got injured then gerrard/lampard/beckham (any 2 of 3) would play in the middle so where does that leave jenas.He simply wson't get on

5) Am I right in saying that if Owen and Crouch started the 1st game (pretty sure that will be the case as sven may figure crouch's height will trouble the paraguyans), and owen got injured we wouldn't be able to call another player up. This would mean that we would have only Crouch and Walcott as recognised strikers. Why pick so many defenders and midfielders, but only 4 strikers , with 2 of them being injured or just coming back from injury.

I think Walcott is superb, and apparently is better than Rooney when they were at the same age - but the World Cup to make your debut. Cmon Sven. Giving him 10 minutes to try and change the game maybe aint such a bad idea, but with only 2 fit strikers and 2 crocked ones (owen and rooney) then Walcott may be playing more than we can ever imagine.

Walcott could be a brilliant selection, but some of his picks are just simply strange.