Neil

Incredible bargain on paper. Switzerland have some quality players tbf. Shaqiri and Inler being the 2 stand out names I guess, the likes of Xhaka, Lichtsteiner and Stocker all bring considerable quality on their day and they have a striker who had a class season with his club. Ecuador have less 'household' names (if you can call the above 'household') but I think they've shown they have enough pace and quality to score goals at this tournament. Plus they have a slight home field advantage I guess. I'm expecting a good game, so basically I've ensured a shite 0-0.

You never know but Swiss is the most organized team of football I've seen in a long time defensively. Hitzfeld has worked magic with them defensively. I'd guess u2.5 goals would be the best bet, but it's the World Cup. They might lose 5-0 as well. I really liked the look of Ecuador when they played us, and generally the times I've seen them in the past year or 2, I think they're a dangerous opponent. No world-beaters, yeah, but I think they'll cause them problems, albeit appreciate Hitzfeld is a hell of a coach to have and it'll be tough. Also think it'll follow the trend of an open World Cup so far and while I don't think it'll be 4-3 or anything, I think 1-1/2-1 Switzerland is very realistic.

BTTS in the Swiss game is my first bet. For some reason I'm positive it's going to happen.

Good value that like.

Lot of confidence in Switzerland in this thread. Don't think Ecuador are mugs at all IMO.

Thought Ecuador were alright against us. Think they'll score.

Messi up top?

Probably the worst imaginable time to start doing backshift during the week. Need moar football. Therefore Switzerland Ecuador is getting seen to, as well as the later games.

Wullie that 7/1 Bony bet was a shout and a half. Class value.

In short, we were vastly improved from that toothless 2012 performance, but still not good enough. Encouraging signs for the future, though.

Reserv also out.. Sirigu's not injured?

Flip or someone can probably say more but at a guess, are Colombia the 2nd best supported team generally this tournament? Would imagine Argentina will get a bad reception wherever they go, but are Brazilians generally getting behind the others?

Mint.

Oh look, another anthem better than ours.

BBC >>>>>>>>>>>>>> ITV. Seeing class former players like Juninho and Seedorf actually talking about the countries playing the game, not just blithering on about England's upcoming game then at 4.58pm going "right, here's a game of football."

Higuita up front hopefully.

Juninho.

A bad spell. Aye, just a wee little spell.

This, logically, is the reason. It's just me being biased. I hope Lallana does show his quality tonight if he does start. Clearly talented but thought he struggled in his couple of appearances past couple of weeks.

Exactly; the evidence being the seasons he spent immitating a Premier League footballer at City. That Diego Forlan was a shit footballer also because he failed in the premier league, oh wait, he won best player in the last world cup :lol:

Biased I know but it's irking me a little that Lallana and Sterling are seen as automatic starters (or near enough) and Barkley is seen as being on the outside. Begrudgingly he might actually be better as an impact player in this particular game. Still, he's shown more in these pre-WC games than Lallana, for example.

Greek blart.

But if you think that already, then surely you won't be truly disappointed as such, as your expectations are already subconsciously low? HAVE THAT

Do people think the fact Welbeck is at Man Utd is playing a factor in Hodgson's love for him?