The Big Shiny World Cup thread

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm not convinced there's no way we're winning it.

Before a ball was kicked I'd have us about 4th-6th favourites. Since then we've won very well, Argentina looked ropey, and France have been decimated with injuries.

Still not favourites, but we definitely can win it. There's always areas of the side that aren't perfect, but that's the same for everyone. Most people's favourites Brazil don't have any full backs!

Even I’d say looking round I’m not convinced we aren’t in with as good a chance as most. Our weakness is defensively and centre of midfield.

I suspect against the very best we’d struggle in those areas. But nobody looks brilliant. It’s probably wide open.

[jimbo]

I'm not convinced there's no way we're winning it.

Before a ball was kicked I'd have us about 4th-6th favourites. Since then we've won very well, Argentina looked ropey, and France have been decimated with injuries.

Still not favourites, but we definitely can win it. There's always areas of the side that aren't perfect, but that's the same for everyone. Most people's favourites Brazil don't have any full backs!

Yeah I think we’ve as good a chance as most at the moment. With reduced prep times for everyone you may see teams gel more in the latter stages and improve on early performances. We might have some teams doing similar to Samoa in the RL World Cup last month.

[TANGODANCER]

France went one down to Oz, but recovered and now lead 2-1.

[Worthy4England]

Giddy. I'll put it down to youthful impetuousity.

[Hoboh]

Kames apparently looking dodgy for Friday, ankle injury

[TANGODANCER]

I take it you mean James Hobes?

[Prufrock]

Kane.

[Worthy4England]

Kane.

That's what I read...

[TANGODANCER]

Kane.

Ah, right. Cheers.

[Hoboh]

Kames apparently looking dodgy for Friday, ankle injury

Sorry about that chaps, new phone, still on small text and I hadn't got my reading glasses

[Worthy4England]

Done rule the fcuker out just yet...But what a wonderful day...

[TANGODANCER]

Japan 2-Germany 1. repeat ad infinitum...

[Prufrock]

That also is very funny

[Harry Genshaw]

Canada looking damned impressive here

[Prufrock]

Their good players are very good, but then they concede that...

[Prufrock]

I'm not convinced there's no way we're winning it.

Before a ball was kicked I'd have us about 4th-6th favourites. Since then we've won very well, Argentina looked ropey, and France have been decimated with injuries.

Still not favourites, but we definitely can win it. There's always areas of the side that aren't perfect, but that's the same for everyone. Most people's favourites Brazil don't have any full backs!

Even I’d say looking round I’m not convinced we aren’t in with as good a chance as most. Our weakness is defensively and centre of midfield.

I suspect against the very best we’d struggle in those areas. But nobody looks brilliant. It’s probably wide open.

Obviously I'm getting giddy but I don't really see a weakness. Bearing in mind it's international football and lots are "making do" in certain areas.

I'd argue our midfield is better than anyone but Spain's. None of them are yet absolutely world class, but all three will be, and there's a really nice balance. Even at centre back, they're both v good players, though it's probably the weakest part. Other than keeper and he's always been fine.

We look the best all round team for me so far, though Spain and France look v good too.

[Worthy4England]

Getting giddy? Did you have E numbers for tea? Oh my word.

[Prufrock]

I think others have better "best" players. All the other top teams have two or three who walk into ours where we don't have that many (probably only Kane and the full backs which matter less) but they all also have weak links whereas in not sure we have a stand out "bad" area.

[Worthy4England]

I think at the moment we've been showing our ability to have a "bad day at the office" a little too often. At our best we can match up a lot of what I've seen so far.

Spain and France a bit difficult to judge (but they'd probably say the same about us) and we've not seen no full-backs Brazil yet nor Uruguay/Portugal etc. Feels like the fine margins would need to drop in out favour rather than winning through dominant, commanding performances...

I'm very ungiddy.

[TANGODANCER]

Always the unknown factor of what other teams will do. Who would have prophesised the Saudi and Japan results? Canada were quite impressive but way too early to do a Nostradamus factor as yet . Que sera, sera.