chicago_shearer

It's actually 1 since 2002. 2 since 1996. Ecuador and Denmark. Second rate is generous. Did anyone with half an interest in football not recognize that fact though? It's been at least a decade of talking down expectations, missing Euro 2008 etc. A poor qualifying campaign for this tournament. Lowering expectations was the relevant conversation after Euro 2000. I personally don't know anyone who didn't go into this tournament expecting any more than a QF appearance, and that was considered optimism. Quite a few "second-rate" or even third rate countries are on track for that target. The problem isn't that England didn't live up to lofty expectations. They didn't live up to fairly modest expectations, which I believe they had the talent already on-hand to meet. There's a deeper problem when it comes to character and performance under pressure. They stop enjoying themselves and this "we're not good enough - 40/50/60 years of hurt" BS takes over. It's football FFS. Other nations are enjoying themselves.

It may be more difficult for ex-English players to break through in management. I don't buy this idea that they are all thick, 80s style long ball merchants, particularly those that played under some of the best managers in the world. Deschamps didn't spend 5 years managing lower league sides and "learning his trade." Monaco, Juventus, Marseille. Difficult to imagine an ex-England player getting a chance in the top division like that.

Don't think it matters, tbh. Eligible is eligible. Yeah I mean I get if the guy can't speak the language and makes no attempt to learn. That's one thing. But if a good manager from wherever stepped up and wanted to manage England, disqualifying him because he's not English is odd. I've forgotten that Klinsmann is German, tbh. There's a difference between Klinsmann as US manager and Capello as England manager. Klinsmann was living in California for a long while before taking that job right? His family is being raised there. Capello took the job for the money, with no real attachment to the English game, no intention of learning the language and every intention of leaving when his contract was done. Klinsmann speaks flawless English and has some attachment to football in America. If a long time resident like Wenger wanted to manage England, I'd have no problem with that at all. Feels different when they take the job for a pay day.

The idea that the national manager should be the same nationality as the team is not xenophobic at all. "Except a German" is a bit.

If Klopp wanted to manage England, fair enough, bring him in. Xenophobia is stupid. But in real life the actual German national team are getting fantastic results with a former Austrian league manager whose main career accomplishment was winning a German cup in 1996. Plenty of managers who would never get a job in the Premier League doing well in this World Cup with less talent than the England team. The national team have bigger problems than the man picking the team.

I don't have much issue with another foreign manager, but I can't see why anyone who isn't English would want to do it. Wenger's been in England 20 years. Problem is, it doesn't seem like an enjoyable job with a reasonable prospect of emerging with your reputation unscathed. The best reason for a forriner would be a massive FA pay day, which isn't the greatest reason to take an international job or a good indicator of success. Other large European nations seem to do a better job of finding up and coming young domestic managers or dusting off some old man who does a decent job. Roy failed, but I think he picked a good squad and set them up to play decent football for the first time in a while. The players made bad mistakes and missed chances to win. They lacked character and played scared. Roy's failing was an inability to lift the atmosphere of fear and failure that builds 6 months before every tournament and culminates with uncharacteristic mistakes, and professional footballers groveling and apologizing to the public after another early exit. What I think England need is an exceptional man manager - someone who can build up confidence. I have no idea who that might be.

The Shirlo Xaviobi role in midfield was my favourite bit. He should play there from the start against Argentina. Messi v Shola.

Good point Alan. What Roy should have done was call the Uruguay manager an old cunt and then headbutt someone.

So greedy from Nigeria. He's got a rolls royce striker like Shola waiting for that free kick and he does that.

I'd prefer seeing players who might be involved in France '16 qualifying and not a Gerrard testimonial.

They'd have to bring the Drago flag to that. I hope the US get through just because you know Putin is turning up for that one.

Ha. Right in his smug face. Hope he's fit for the next one though.

HOW. How are you offsides there. Fucking arsehole.

Nah. Gotta be Klose. Other teams go behind and shit themselves. Germans shrug, bring on a 45 year old and make World Cup history.

Klose FFS. He could take the next 4 years off from football and still score in 2018.

Costa Rica

Yeeeeeees. GET IN

Love the Jormans personally, ever since 72 and THE greatest international side ever....72/74 side. Outstanding. Admittedly the 90s was hard to take , to put it mildly, but have got to admire the power and will of this side. The team to beat for me, conditions may dictate otherwise but they're favourites for me... Honestly, it's pure jealousy. They are even more intolerable now they are positive and fun to watch. Everything from their development system, more fan-centric league clubs, more sensible league finances, to the confident way they have always approached international tournaments. Detestable.

C'mon Ghana. So sick/jealous of these cocky Germans, Muller's face, Löw and his stupid tango instructor black shirts.

Gareth Southgate! All of England is with you! He's blatantly the preferred successor so I'd rather keep Roy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2289075/Didier-Deschamps-Newcastle-ambition.html

Too Ruizy for them.

Fantastico!

A win for all of the Caribbean.