Can this team win the world cup?

[Stumpy Tim]

According to the BBC this is likely to be the team that plays Argentina. Given the players who can't get in the side or are injured like Campbell, Ashley Cole, Gary Neville, Joe Cole, SWP, Defoe etc I'm actually quite excited by this. Maybe we've been concentrating too much on the 4th choice striker when we should be looking at the talent we have in the first XI

Robinson (Tottenham); Young (Charlton, Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Bridge (Chelsea); King (Tottenham), Beckham (Real Madrid), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool); Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Manchester United)

BBC

 

[Hiney]

Substitute Ashley Cole and Gary Neville for Bridge & Young and yes, it can.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Substitute Ashley Cole and Gary Neville for Bridge & Young and yes, it can.

I agree, and if all three are on top form I would swap Terry for Campbell

 

[Barrel of Fun]

We can if we bring Peter Crouch to score a late winner in the world cup final. That would shut some of his critics up

 

[Icy Gull]

If we can match or better the Argies I will consider the possibilty that I may be eating humble pie in a few months re Sven's managerial abilities.

 

[Napper]

Don't like the way we are still trying to accomodate Gerrard and Lampard. Providing King can maintain the holding role , midfield 3 in front of him should be Cole , Lampard and Beckham . Prefer Campell to Ferdinand . Terry is automatic choice now. Full backs Neville + Cole. Rooney and Owen up front

 

[Redhead]

Put James in Goal, Campbell in for Terry, Cole And Neville Full backs then, yes it can!!!

 

[dwayne]

If we can match or better the Argies I will consider the possibilty that I may be eating humble pie in a few months re Sven's managerial abilities.

It's a friendly, it means NADA

 

[Easy 10]

Don't like the way we are still trying to accomodate Gerrard and Lampard. Providing King can maintain the holding role , midfield 3 in front of him should be Cole , Lampard and Beckham .

THAT is the absolute crux of the matter Dougal, I think you're spot-on there. If the penny has finally dropped with Sven that he HAS to sacrifice one of his faves in favour of a holding midfielder (whether that be King, Hargreaves or Carrick), then as long as we avoid injuries to Owen and Rooney, I think we'll have a real chance of going close next year.

But (and its a big BUT), if Sven reverts to the Beckham-Lampard-Gerrard-Cole quartet, then England are, once again, doomed to failure probably at the quarter-final stage (at best). No two ways about it.

 

[Icy Gull]

It's a friendly, it means NADA

I can put my knife and fork away then

 

[El Presidente]

No, not good enough in too many positions.

Terry, good stopper but will be found out for lack of pace

Ferdinand: daydreamer

Joe Cole: No left foot

Lampard: Great at scoring goals and at set pieces but does not dominate midfield.

Owen: Sixth choice at Real Madrid says it all.

Rooney: Either very good or very bad. WIll be suspeded at least once in the tournament.

The back up players leave me cold.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

they CAN win it, and given the players weve got SHOULD win..................but we wont!

 

[Bwian]

they CAN win it, and given the players weve got SHOULD win

A pint of what he's drinking please landlord.

 

[Easy 10]

they CAN win it, and given the players weve got SHOULD win..................but we wont!

There's no way you can say we "SHOULD" win the World Cup. I think theres perhaps 5 teams teams that could win it, and we are one of them. The others being Brazil, Argentina, Germany (with home advantage) and perhaps Italy.

 

[Napper]

I think Holland will get to at least the Semis this time. Good team by all accounts

 

[Icy Gull]

perhaps 5 teams teams that could win it, and we are one of them. .

Changed your tune I see, it won't last I promise you

 

[Easy 10]

Holland are a bit like Spain though arn't they - perennial underachievers at tournaments. They seem to have all the ingredients to be successful, but somehow always manage to nouse it up.

Very much like England actually.

 

[Trufflehound]

No.

 

[Marshy]

So Gerrard is on the left they think.........

 

[Gritt23]

Could that team win it?

Bring in Neville, Cole and a proper manager in place of Young, Bridge and dear old Sven, then YES.