chicago_shearer

The "so many positives...good performance...unlucky result" narrative from the England loss to Italy is being exposed here. One of these Costa Rican centre halves plays for Brugges, one for Colombus Crew and the other for a Costa Rican league side. Yet strangely Pirlo and Balotelli haven't scored.

Yep. In the last 4 World Cups, how many decent England performances with a positive result? Maybe 2? Or 1 (R16 v Denmark in Japan). There's a deeper problem. Other teams seem to approach these tournaments with joy, confidence and excitement. I've been watching the Spanish language coverage of the Mexican and Central American teams (lasses in football tops ) and the attitude to the tournament and their own chances is so different. And I think that mentality motivates otherwise average players to excel. They embrace the occasion. With the English, it's all fear. Nail biting about Suarez or Balotelli or Pirlo, building them up, moaning about penalties or some statistic about Rooney never scoring at a World Cup etc. Bringing a team psychiatrist to Brazil FFS. If Germany play Uruguay in the knockout stages, I can't see them shitting the bed for a week about the PFA Player of the Year. Some good, relevant points above about how they were set up and the failings of that Gerrard/Henderson partnership, but minus Suarez, that Uruguay side isn't particularly good. Suarez took his chances well, but the players in that maligned England back four will undoubtably do a better job against similarly great players when they wear their club shirts next season. The heads just drop when they play for England. Maybe the culture can change with a new generation.

He earned that. There was one fool proof way to shut him up, and that was to mark a player coming off a major knee surgery and likely not fully fit. Instead Jagielka shit himself. I don't have the tolerance for this English pantomime villain routine with good players. All this time fretting about Pirlo, Balotelli and Suarez...and all of them get the job done. Suarez is a horse faced cunt of a player, but this time he didn't cheat. He didn't even work too hard. Defenders just went to sleep.

Personally I think Italy are a good team and that Uruguay side were not very good. Half fit Suarez and not much else. If England can't get the job done there, they won't get it done convincingly against Costa Rica. Deservedly going home .

Nailed on. I hope they do. And I hope England play Milner at right back, Glenn Johnson at centre-half. I'd much rather see Costa Rica go through.

When you have 60% possession, you played a better game. The difference was English frailty. Defensive and psychological. Somehow, I can't see the Italian media nail biting for a week over Luis Suarez. Same with England and Pirlo last week.

Only four more Newcastle seasons until Russia 2018. And then Qatar after that. Just imagine the golden generation lifting that trophy in Doha.

Disappointed that this missed sitter is going to rob us of a slow mo replay of Tiote falling on his arse.

African football will always be held back by weak domestic leagues and non-existent development programs. How many of these countries actually develop their own players? Far too much reliance on dual nationals and foreign-born players. Almost entirely the result of structural inequalities and history, mind. And entirely unreasonable to expect these otherwise impoverished countries to pour resources into developing domestic football programs too. I don't think it's all development. Most of those players are playing regularly for decent European sides. They've been developed in France, England etc. They should be familiar with organized football. They just don't seem to give a s***. Maybe some of that is related to the support or resources they get from their FA...hiring inept managers. Who knows. The Newcastle of world football then basically.

Song, Itandje and a few others here should be investigated for match fixing. Nobody is this shit.

jesus christ Bet his squad bonus on a first half sending off.

Chile have the best national anthem

Excited for this one. Hope it doesn't disappoint.

Didn't look conscious there.

Ha.

Very nice.

Aerial fret.

What on earth does Fellaini offer in this situation?

Well that was a fucking disaster Captain Lukaku, cheers.

This has been garbage.

I'd trade Alexi Lalas on ESPN for Chiles, Savage...you name it. "That was beautiful. That was American."

Looks like another 1-1 win to open the World Cup for Team USA.

Jesus. That gets a replay.

Heart stopped.

SHOLLLLAAHHHHHH