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David Beckham: 'England are too good not to qualify for Euro 2008' The rest of us: 'No, we're shit'
David Beckham said recently of Stevie Mac's England: 'They will be fine, they have got too many good players to not qualify [for Euro '08] … I've spent a lot of time playing and training with these players and they are some of the best players in the world.'
Part of me hopes that we lose to Israel, on the condition that Steve McClaren, so obviously out of his depth, loses his job. And I have to laugh at anyone who really thinks England is somehow 'too good' not to qualify.
March 20, 2007 in International football | Permalink
Comments
'Out of his depth'
Well Said! And to think that top league winning coaches like Wenger and Capello have both shown interest in the England job without them being as much as approached...
But Wenger's contract expires in '08, so if England fail to qualify (likely) or have a crap Euro 08 (even more likely, if the former doesn't happen), he'll be in like Flint
Posted by: Jay | Mar 20, 2007 12:40:16 PM
Is Carragher really that much of a detriment to England's chances? Yes, the Neville's are complete shit, but Carra is playing awesome for Liverpool at the moment and I believe it will transfer over to the Three Lions shirt.
Posted by: Zach | Mar 20, 2007 12:53:02 PM
Leave Carragher out of this! He's been class!
Posted by: Matt | Mar 20, 2007 1:03:34 PM
I'd rather have Nugent in there than Crotch. He's playing some decent stuff at the moment. I think he'll make a massive mark in the Prem next year, be it with Preston (If they get promoted) or Everton (Moyes would love him back)
Posted by: Col | Mar 20, 2007 1:08:33 PM
I'm not picking on carra, who is a world-class centre-back. however, he is not a world-class full-back. not his fault at all, just being played out of position, a typical England f**k-up.
Posted by: Ollie, Pies Ed. | Mar 20, 2007 1:18:09 PM
What's the evidence for Carragher being a world class centre back? He's hardly played on the international stage. At best he's a good player in an under-achieving Liverpool side
Posted by: Dan | Mar 20, 2007 1:27:38 PM
agree with ollie here. carragher isnt a threat going forward despite how good he is as a centre back. i'd like to see Gareth Barry given a chance. he wont be though methinks...
Posted by: bryn | Mar 20, 2007 1:48:59 PM
The way I see it, England has way better than average odds of qualifying. Three teams- Andorra, Estonia, and Macedonia- I can't possibly see surviving the qualification round. Croatia is more or less a shoo-in, whether they nab top spot or not. I see Israel as sort of a dark horse, they might surprise everybody, but I doubt it. That leaves England and Russia, and unless something goes horribly awry this autumn, England is definitely in there. Whether or not they perform up to expectations in the actual tournament is a whole 'nother matter...
Posted by: Timothy B. | Mar 20, 2007 2:17:47 PM
dan, i'd say that the champions league is of an equal standard to most international games
Posted by: Ollie, Pies Ed. | Mar 20, 2007 3:07:36 PM
Re the people saying Nugent will be too lightweight because he's in the championship, at what level are most Israeli and Andorran players? The former side would consist of mainly upper League One/lower Championship players (With only Ben Haim and Benayoun at Premiershi-grade), the latter will field players that would do well to be in the Conference.
Give Nugent a shot, at least v. Andorra. Our own Johnny Haynes made for one of England's finest captains (behind Moore and Butcher, leagues ahead of David 'How does my hair look?' Beckham) whilst a Division 2 player.
Posted by: Jay | Mar 20, 2007 3:08:53 PM
good points jay
Posted by: Ollie, Pies Ed. | Mar 20, 2007 3:43:06 PM
How could Nugent do worse than Peter Crouch? If he can run and kick its already an improvement. Having Crouch in is like playing with 10 men unless your thrashing Jamaica.
Posted by: joe | Mar 20, 2007 11:27:16 PM
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