Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
Should have won it, another MASSIVE let down
Should have won it, another MASSIVE let down
Odds? Stake? Winnings?
Great tournament, but looking at that squad it was a fairly run of the mill England squad that for once had a bit of luck and home advantage.
The 2 tournaments where the squad should have done something were Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. I maintain that in 2004 England were the best team in that tournament, but the dreaded penalties did for us. In 2006 were never really turned up and still got to the quarter finals.
It was a fantastic tournament
euro 2004 wasn't a great tournament (what with GREECE winning and all) so I kind of agree in that England had a good chance of winning it. However, the Portugal side we lost to were very strong, containing several of Mourinho's Porto side that won the Champions League plus Figo, Rui Costa and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Czech's were also very strong in that tournament and insanely attacking. Pavel Nedved was probably the best player in Europe at that time...I really thought they'd win the whole thing but lost to Greece. The Dutch were also very strong and probably would've beaten England in the semi's.
Don't remember much about Englands 2006 exploits other than they seemed to really struggle in almost every game? Had a fairly easy group and a 2nd round victory against Ecuador.
I'd say their '98 squad was probably the strongest I've seen.
2006 in many ways was a stronger squad, although no Scholes, but for whatever reason England did not turn up for that tournament.
The defence and midfield were very strong (was always a big Hargreaves fan and Joe Cole was on good form), but up front they ended up majorly lacking...Started with Rooney, Owen, Crouch and Walcott...Owen got injured in the first game and Eriksson wouldn't play Walcott (should have brought Defoe). Couldn't have truly predicted that Owen would end up missing the whole tournament (even though his injury issues were obvious) but taking one striker who you had no intention of playing was a major gamble.
The defence and midfield were very strong (was always a big Hargreaves fan and Joe Cole was on good form), but up front they ended up majorly lacking...Started with Rooney, Owen, Crouch and Walcott...Owen got injured in the first game and Eriksson wouldn't play Walcott (should have brought Defoe). Couldn't have truly predicted that Owen would end up missing the whole tournament (even though his injury issues were obvious) but taking one striker who you had no intention of playing was a major gamble.
I would say the main issue was that Sven appeared to have mentally checked out of the job months before the tournament.
Owen was fit (ish) going into that tournament, but got seriously injured in the third game against Sweden.
Rooney went into that tournament injured and was not fit at any point.
I would say the main issue was that Sven appeared to have mentally checked out of the job months before the tournament.
Absolutely right.
Sven is such a strange one. He obviously DID have the ability as a manager and knew how to get results BUT he's seen as this comedy buffoon now, moving form one high paid nonsense job to the next without anyone actually expecting him to do anything much beyond letch on local women and make a lot of money
in his 3 tournaments with England they reached the Quarters each time...losing to the eventual winners in 2002, and on penalties in 04 and 06. The tournament before he took over they were knocked out in the first round, and the tournament after he quit they failed to qualify. For some reason he's seen in a much worse light than many England managers who performed worse than him. England beat Germany 5-1 under him ffs....FIVE ONE
Absolutely right.
Sven is such a strange one. He obviously DID have the ability as a manager and knew how to get results BUT he's seen as this comedy buffoon now, moving form one high paid nonsense job to the next without anyone actually expecting him to do anything much beyond letch on local women and make a lot of money
Exactly. I think he quite clearly OVERACHIEVED for the most part with England and yet the tabloid media seem to want to portray him as some embarrassing cock up
Absolutely right.
Sven is such a strange one. He obviously DID have the ability as a manager and knew how to get results BUT he's seen as this comedy buffoon now, moving form one high paid nonsense job to the next without anyone actually expecting him to do anything much beyond letch on local women and make a lot of money
While I do agree mostly with you two that Sven was probably a bit underrated, some would argue he was manager at a time when we had the best crop of English players in a long time - if you consider what a lot of these players did at club level.
It was a fantastic tournament,but we should have been beaten by Spain. For once in our lives (they didn't score) the penalty gods smiled on us.
Depressing to think of those who have gone in to management. They have been utter turd.