BS: England through to World Cup 2006

Subject: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Arnie
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 10:31 AM

Well, at least I think it' worth noting that England have made it to the World Cup in Germany in 2006. It hasn't always been pretty but at least we qualified, unlike the Scots, N. Ireland and Wales. RoI is still in with a mathematical chance. I'm not gloating over the rest of the home teams not making it, but when Scotland go down 1-0 to Belarus then they've got real team problems!! Ok, we lost 1-0 to N Ireland but I wouldn't take that victory away from NI - they played their socks off and deserved to win - they were unlucky to lose to Wales at the weekend having come back from a 2 goal deficit (nice one Gigsy). And just in case our friends over the pond are wondering, the good old US of A are leading their group and may be joining us in Germany next year. In fact didn't they beat England somewhere back in the mists of time??

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Splott Man
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 10:40 AM

1776

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 11:11 AM

I don't think England has ever beaten the Womens team. The last time we faced England we won 6-0, a game back in 2003.

The Mens team has not faired as well. Aside from 1950 the only other memorable win was back in 1993. We've held our own a couple of times after that, but we lost again to England earlier this year.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 11:13 AM

Oh yes, the US team qualified a few weeks ago for World Cup 2006.   Glad to see that England managed to squeak in to join us this time. It has been awhile since the England visited the Cup hasn't it? I hope you guys stay around for awhile.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 01:24 PM

England did actually win the World Cup in 1966.
(Just in case anyone did not know this)

Qualifing from the European section is not all that easy. You can tell that by the fine teams that will have been eliminated from it and that we will not be seeing in the finals.

It would be interesting to see how well some of the teams that have qualified from the other sections (apart perhaps from the South American one) would have fared in the European section.

Perhaps it would be more fair to have the qualifiers from these other sections play-off against against the European and South Amrican non-qualifiers? Although it would not make the finals so much fun or as interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 02:15 PM

England were actually quite appalling on Saturday. They managed to make Austria look like a class side - and that takes some doing. With around eight players on the pitch, whom the German manager would give his eye teeth for, England played defensive football at home, against a team which is nowhere near the best twenty in the world.
I guess England could get their act together and do a lot better than this. However, unless they improve a very great deal, they will have a very short visit to Germany next June. If the temperature goes much above 25°C, they will not have a prayer against Brazil or Argentina anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Arnie
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 04:57 PM

Well, we'll be praying for rain and a first round draw against either Ivory Coast, Togo or Angola......that should give us a chance of grabbing a draw with only 10 men as either Rooney and Beckham will be sent off for brawling before half time.....

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Oct 05 - 08:24 PM

Kevin McCarra, in today's Sports section of The Guardian, summed up what happened pretty well : A performance of outstanding character swept England through to the World Cup finals. It was given by Holland during their 2-0 win in the Czech Republic on Saturday evening, some hours after Sven-Goran Eriksonn's team had meandered to victory over Austria.

Still, the qualification rounds never actually seem to give much indication of how well teams will play when the real thing starts. Either way, if England hadn't got through the amount of TV time given on UK TV to the competition next year would have been cut to a fraction, so well done Holland.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 05:12 AM

Unlike the England team who have qualified with one game still remaining and could still win their group - the Republic of Ireland have not yet qualified. However, if they do manage a win in their last game tomorrow - I will be very pleased. Even if they do not manage to qualify - they will have tried their best - so well done the Republic.

When I was in Ireland last year - I was not surprised at the amount of media coverage and general support given there to the various sporting and other national endeavours. If you were viewing the current World Cup coverage on Irish TV for example - you may find there would not be very much time devoted to the progress of the England team. This should not be too surprising.

If Ireland do not qualify - I suspect the Irish TV coverage of the finals may be a less than if their team had qualified. But those who will be watching the UK TV coverage - should not have anything to complain about.

And if the Republic of Ireland team do make the finals - we will all be able to watch and cheeer their progress on UK TV. And if that coverage is not thought to be sufficient - compared to the coverage of the England team (the only UK country to qualify) - perhaps a move to Ireland for some - to watch their TV coverage would be the sensible and realistic option?

Perhaps the best senario for some would be if none of the UK teams qualified and the Republic's team had managed to. The UK TV coverage of next year's finals would probably not be too much different to what the Irish TV coverage would be. And would not involve a need for a ferry trip for some across The Irish Sea?

Or a need for a Swedish Manager.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Tam the man
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 09:40 AM

1966 again, Well I'm a Scot, and I'm 'glad' that ENGLAND is in the finals.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Mr Fox
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 10:54 AM

Nice to see them taking their brand of comedy football so far. Won't be much further, though - REAL opposition will see them off in no time.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 11:26 AM

England and the Irish Republic the two most boring teams in Europe, in Boxing they withhold the purse if the Boxers are boring the spectators to death, likewise with these two bloody awful loads of rubbish.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 11:32 AM

Really I should`t be too hard, I am spoiled rotten with our two magnificent games of Hurling and Gaelic Football, and throw in Rugby and even Tiddley Winks, reasons galore.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 01:35 PM

Football can be quite majestic. Some of the games in the World Cup of 1998, won by the magnificent French team, reached that standard. So did the Czech Republic against Holland in the European Championship last year. The England v Croatia game was good entertainment too. On the other hand, you can always get a match like the one we saw on Saturday.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 03:36 PM

Ard, if you saw Ard Mhacha winning in Dublin on Sunday, you'd have seen my daughter (White Tiger on Mudcat) taking part in a three-girl pitch invasion. Couldn't agree more about withholding the purse.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Den
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 03:49 PM

Up Tyrone. Can't believe I just said that. Anyway our boys from Down won the Minor Championship Ard, you got me started. And to be on topic, yes congrats England but I really can't see the team going very far in the tournament proper. Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen seem to be brimming with confidence however. Rooney says England can go on to win it and Owen suggests that only Brazil have a stronger team. Talk about setting yourself up for a fall.

Its one thing coming through a group second to Poland with the likes of Norn Iron, Wales, Austria and Azerbaijan as competition. Its another matter when you end up in a group with the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Czech Republic or Mexico.

I can't see Ireland beating the Swiss either. Too many injuries. They will now also be without Damien Duff for Wednesday night.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 04:24 PM

If you've got nowt nice to say, sod off.

"And they will be cast out into the darkness where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth ..."

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Marcus Bennett
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 10:47 AM

Does anyone know when the draw is for the group stage?

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Arnie
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 11:01 AM

Well, after last night's storming performance against Poland (England 2 Poland 1) I think we may get rather further than the first round next year. Great goals by both Owen and Lampard and the Poles are no walkover, having proved our nemesis in a past World Cup qualifier. So England now lead the group and suddenly Sven's position does not look so precarious. Sorry to see that RoI didn't make the playoffs, following a nil-all draw with the Swiss. Nice gesture by the Irish crowd though who applauded the Swiss team as they left the pitch - there's not many countries would do that!!

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 11:02 AM

England and the Irish Republic the two most boring teams in Europe, in Boxing they withhold the purse if the Boxers are boring the spectators to death, likewise with these two bloody awful loads of rubbish.

The game they did play against each other in the Would Cup Finals - must have been the most dreadful international football matches ever.

Lots of World cup news here.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/section?id=worldcup&cc=5739

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 12:14 PM

England will be among the top eight seeds for next year's World Cup finals if FIFA keep the same seeding system as they have used for previous tournaments.

Under the established seeding points system, based on performances in the last three World Cups and the last three years' world rankings, England and France would be in equal seventh place just above ninth-placed Holland.

Under the system used for the last two World Cups, the top seeds would be: Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, England.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 12:24 PM

At least it's being held somewhere sensible. Hopefully, the German police won't have too many drunken idiots chanting "Two World Wars and one world cup" to deal with.*

It would be nice to have a tournament in Europe where we can all focus on the bad behaiviour of the team, rather than the fans.

* And for those who do cause problems, deport them back, still in their England shirt etc, via Glasgow Airport on a Saturday night. Or is that too cruel, sending them to a land with only a minority that speak english and crap beer? It would be a contrast to Germany anyway...

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 12:40 PM

Arnie, The reason why the Irish fans applauded the Swiss off the field was, having paid all of that money to get in they had to applaud someone, as I forecast a poor side with only two men of international standard Givens and Duff, as for England, going to win the World Cup?, they would need a 90% improvement, an overated side in a poor group.

I can`t see the English fans ever applauding any opposing teams in the event of their side losing.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Den
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 02:51 PM

Ard, Duff wasn't playing. He got injured in that debacle in Cyprus. I agree Duff and Given are international standard but you can't leave Keano out of that equation...Roy that is.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST, tir na nookie
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 04:20 PM

as for England, going to win the World Cup?, they would need a 90% improvement, an overated side in a poor group.

I can`t see the English fans ever applauding any opposing teams in the event of their side losing.

penis envy

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 04:30 PM

Den one very good result of the awful show by the Irish team is that Roy Keane will miss the opportunity of playing in the World Cup, he had his chance to play in Japan and he made a fool of himself by his stupid outburst.

I know Duff didn`t play, I seen the match, woeful fare from both sides.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Den
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 04:34 PM

I don't know Ard. I think you would have to have been in his shoes. I have read an awful lot of articles on the topic and a very extensive interview with the man himself and I'm not convinced that the course of action that he took was all that wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Albaman
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 06:06 AM

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Noddy
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 06:20 AM

Just remeber that Scotland have been to more World Cups than England!

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 06:35 AM

What lately?

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 08:09 AM

Just remeber that Scotland have been to more World Cups than England!

The England team have now qualified in 1950 - 1954 - 1958 - 1962 - 1970 - 1982 - 1986 - 1990 - 1998 - 2002 - 2006 and were the hosts and winners in 1966.

I make that 11 qualifications and one apperance as hosts - which is total of 12.

How many World Cup final appearances have the Scotland team now managed?

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Noddy
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 10:55 AM

Oh Dear.
In 1966 England did not Qualify as they were host and in 1970 they did not qualify as holders so that makes 10 including this year.

Scotland qualified by right in 54 58 74 78 82 86 90 and 98 making 8.
So you are right but only just.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 10:59 AM

And you were only just wrong, Noddy. Apologise, I dare ya.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Arnie
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 11:06 AM

Four England players have just been nominated by FIFA as Player of the Year candidates - Owen, Becks, Lampard and Rooney. Only Brazil, with 7 nominations has more candidates. Even Italy only got 3 nominations. The smart money now is on a Brazil v England final next year but I think a lot will depend on injury. That is, if Beckham and Gerrard get injured and we play King and Wright-Philipps in midfield instead, then we may be in with a chance......

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 01:38 PM

Any team that loses to N Ireland cannot considers themselves favoutites to reach the Final.   England can count themselves lucky to have been in a very poor group.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:00 PM

But just think how delighted you'll be if England fails in its quest. You'll be able to start a thread on Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:10 PM

BPL, There is a rumour circulating that they are thinking of opening Colditz again, in view of the many lager-louts who will be travelling with England.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:11 PM

Ard, West Germany lost to East Germany in 1974. They also reached a final after losing to one of the North African countries in a first round group match. ( I can't recall which country it was, but they did). In 1990, in which they won the World Cup, they won a grand total of four out of nine games before the tournament began.
Brazil have a record of unimpressive pre tournament form and then winning the thing. In the last tournament, England drew against Nigeria and Sweden, but defeated the magnificent Argentine side deservedly.
The way these things often go is that the better teams play their best football against each other. Once the tournament proper begins, previous form is of little significance.
I am certainly pissed off to see virtually all of England's friendlies treated as if they were Sunday morning kick abouts, but I have a sneaky feeling that unimpressive form going into the tournament is unlikely to damage any side much - especially England. In 1990, England squeezed past the first stage before putting up two very impressive performances against Belgium and Germany. That side gelled very suddenly in the Belgium game. It's early days yet. Mind you, if England repeat that rubbish of last Saturday, I think I shall like them about as much as you do!

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:25 PM

Alan Englands record in the European and World championships is very poor, I was in working in London in 1966 when England won the World Cup.
I was present at the Argentine game when Rattin the Argentine centre half was sent off for questioning a poor decision by the referee, it was no worse than many other players in the English League were doing in every game.

Even then they scraped through with a late Alan Ball goal, another big factor in Englands win was the fact that they played every game at Wembley, the semi-final against Portugal was to have been played at Old Trafford but despite Portugals protests the game was switched to Wembley.

England to my knowledge were the only team to win the World Cup by playing all of their game on the same ground.

Apart from the Final that World Cup provided poor fare, and we now know that the lead goal by Hurst never crossed the line, definitely Englands record in both major championships is very poor.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:27 PM

BPL, There is a rumour circulating that they are thinking of opening Colditz again, in view of the many lager-louts who will be travelling with England.

ROTFFLMTO! Did you come up with that one by yourself?

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:34 PM

BPL, Make sure you stay off the bottle, if you go to Germany,, you know how poor you are at handling the beer.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:37 PM

You too, ard ... oh, wait ... you're not going, are you? ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:42 PM

In 1966 England did not Qualify as they were host and in 1970 they did not qualify as holders so that makes 10 including this year.

Qualifying is qualifying. A qualfication as Champions and World Cup Holders in 1970 - is still a qualification for the final stages on merit. You could argue that being the host country in 1966 is also a qualification.

But I will give you that one - if you accept that this statement - Just remeber that Scotland have been to more World Cups than England! - is wrong. And that The England team has in fact now qualified more times than Scotland - as well as actually winning it for the first time in 1966.

The second time will be in 2006! When I confidently predict that England will beat the host country 4-2 - after extra time (with the help of a Russian linesman).

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:45 PM

England to my knowledge were the only team to win the World Cup by playing all of their game on the same ground.

Good job they actually did win it then.

They may also be the only side this time to have qualified without playing on the same home ground?

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 04:25 PM

World Cup Records, Germany 3 World Cups, 3 European Champions, Italy 2 World Cups, 2 European Champions, France I World Cup, 2 European Champions. England 1 World Cup.

This from memory must look up Italy I think they may have 3 European Championships.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Amasterdam Tulip.
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 04:48 PM

Italy have won 1 European football championship, right with the others, don`t forget Holland 2 world cup runners up and 2 European champioships, the dutch have a small population in relation to the other world cup winners, Italy 58 million population, while all of the other countries have 60 million or plus, size does matter.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:12 PM

Yaaaaaaaawwwwn!!

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Den
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 10:01 PM

Alan, Brazil's pre-tournament form is usually down to them not being able to select their best players for these games as they all play in Europe. Its always the old club v country problem and its a long way to travel for the players who earn their living in Spain, Italy and Germany. Having said that the fact that they can qualify usually with a second string team and yet go on to win speaks volumes. I can't see anyone even coming close to beating them in next years competition. This has got to be the best Brazilian team I have seen in years. Robinho and Adriano up front are unbelievable. I mean its saying something when players of the calibre of Ronaldo can't get their place in the starting eleven.

Maybe we should start another thread about the world cup. We seem to be hijacking this one. Anyway good luck to you English fans. I think you're going to need it.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:38 PM

O dear I see from to-days Daily Mirror that the English supporters boohed the Polish anthem, par for the course here, and one of their players Crouch was boohed when he appeared as a sub, our lads are getting ready for the World Cup, roll on Germany.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Joe Mc Crory.
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 01:05 PM

But we are told on this site that that these guys are always as good as gold !

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 12:47 PM

The usual European suspects are through, with the exception, perhaps, of Denmark.

Ard Mhacha's list is of course restricted to European teams, worldwide Brazil is leading.

Another ranking would be by reaching the semifinals (therefore being among the top 4 teams):

Brazil and Germany 10 (Brazil with 17, Germany with 15 participations)
Italy 7
Argentine, Uruguay, Sweden, France 4

BTW, Brazil and Germany are the only teams who never yet failed a qualification for the world cup when they did enter.

A good thing about Scotland: They were the only unbeaten team in 1974.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 21 Oct 05 - 07:41 PM

Ard, you must have been watching the wrong games (certainly you were if you were watching England all the time). There were some terrific games in '66, including West Germany's games at Hillsborough (they had a truly worldclass team), and of course North Korea v Eusebio at Goodison Park.

You're right that the cards were stacked for England right from the start. It was embarrassing. But England would surely have won again in 1970, when they had one of the best teams ever seen, if it hadn't been for the crazy Bobby Moore episode, and Paul Reaney breaking his leg just before the tournament.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Ooh-Aah2
Date: 21 Oct 05 - 09:50 PM

God football is boring. It's a real come-down after the fabulous cricket we saw recently. Hopefully England will be swiftly knocked out so the nation's eyes refocus on the REALLY 'beautiful game.' I say that as a patriotic Englishman!

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Oct 05 - 02:30 AM

The 1970 finals were also infuluenced by goalkeepers. England had a good one then and a good enough replacement - we may have thought.

England's hopes had certainly had a boost now that we know that David James is not going to come on at some vital part of a game and give away his usual two goals to the opposition.

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 22 Oct 05 - 03:41 AM

I think England should have made the final in 1970 Peter. Bobby Moore, in particular gave four displays of defensive perfection. However, one of England's main strikers, Francis Lee, did not have the reflexes to score goals at that level. England were unlucky in losing Gordon Banks for the quarter final and Paul Reaney for the whole tournament. However, any side which included players who ignored Alf Ramsey's instructions to hold the ball, as some of the England players did, was asking for trouble against Germany. I don't think England could have beaten that Brazil side, had they played them every day for a year - especially on a hot pitch in Mexico. Let's pray for mud and rain in Germany next summer!

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 09:20 AM

1314

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 08:48 PM

Oh F***********************

Will you morons who do this thing please go somewhere else and kill each other?

Subject: RE: BS: England through to World Cup 2006
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 21 Oct 06 - 06:52 PM

Lets hope it never happens again. Figures released a day or two ago showed domestic violence jumped by a third when England were playing in the world cup.

We can do without the wife beating, as well as the celebration of overpaid morons, the jingoistic atmosphere, the excess hype and all the other trapping of professional football.