England has no weaknesses – Landon Donovan
Posted on June 9, 2010 12:10 pm
This is a gift, or a trap. Where to begin?
#1 Goalkeepers
Capello doesn’t even seem to know who his No.1 keeper is. Joe Hart is potentially brilliant but red raw, Rob Green is meh, David James is an accident waiting to happen. I’d take Tim Howard above all three.
#2 The captain on crutches
Rio Ferdinand was the best centre-back at the 2006 World Cup. A dodgy back means he’s not as reliable these days, but his composure and experience will still be missed. Rio’s replacement, Ledley King, is hardly more durable.
#3 A right-back who can’t defend
Glen Johnson is the only right-back in England’s 23-man squad. He gave away a penalty against the Platinum Stars. For a defender, he’s surprisingly bad at defending.
#4 The Everlasting Gerrard-Lampard conundrum
England has NEVER been able to get the most from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. So why should Saturday be any different?
#5 After Rooney… nothing
Wayne Rooney is awesome, we all know that. After Rooney, England’s forward roster is barely better than what the USA has. Crouch, Defoe, Heskey – not one is truly top class.
#6 England has beaten a World Cup-winning nation only ONCE (not including in its home World Cup in ’66)
That’s right. Sixty-six apart, England has only one win over a World Cup-winning nation at a World Cup finals. Ever! (Twas against Argentina at the group stage in 2002, when D-Becks scored a penalty.)
So, er, let’s not kid ourselves that England has a first-class pedigree in World Cups.
Apart from that though, Mandon is right – no weaknesses. Nada.
Love the picture.
As a U.S fan, there can be no question that the deck is stacked against us, there is nothing but quality (sans Ledley King) in England’s starting XI but this U.S team plays very hard for each other when they’re big underdogs and this sort occasion brings out the best in them.
Yeah, England will probably win, but you can bet that the U.S is gonna make’em earn it.
Here’s to a great game though.
If somebody offered me a 1-1 draw, I’d take it in a heartbeat.
I disagree with your forward analysis. Jermaine Defoe is awfully good, and just the kind of player the USMNT has trouble with (see Giuseppe Rossi).
But Landon is kind of setting them up. The US loves being the underdog, and would love for England to go in underestimating us.
I have to agree with “Clint Eastwood”. I think this is a trap. Especially since the US loves South Africa.
Lou Holtz in the house
Lou Holtz in the house
Posted Today at 11:49 AM by Wearethecrew1
“We have great respect for our opponents, this is a great team from the University of the Naval Academy”
Fact 6 is incorrect. England have beaten world cup winning nations other than the 1966 tournament and the Argies, they beat France in 82, Aregentina in 62. Its also pretty stupid point as England have beaten world cup winning nations at European Championships as well.
Nope, it’s the opposite of incorrect. As I said.
And what we’ve done in the Euros doesn’t really equate to World Cups. Different beasts.
USA is saying all the right things. They sound like the 2007 New England Patriots before they smattered my beloved–and more talented–San Diego Chargers 38-14 (American Football for those of you outside the USA). Hopefully they play like them too.
Admit it Ollie. You just really wanted to post Admiral Akbar.
Defoe may not be one of the top 10mplayers in the world, but he’s certainly more than ‘nothing’ [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0grmRb15WEQ"]YouTube- Best Video of Jermain Defoe Compilation[/ame]
Sounds like ol’ Lando Golscore-Rissiagain has not been speaking to Altidore, nor Findley lately.
You lost me after “Rio Ferdinand was the best center back in 2006″. Pretty sure any objective observer would agree that Cannavaro was just a wee bit better!!
I believe fact 6 is correct. France had yet to win the World Cup in ’82 (there 1 and only was ’98), and Argentina were also trophy-less in 1962.
Stop digging thats not what you suggested in your op and you know it.
So your critcism of England was that we have only beaten a world cup winner once since 1966?
Well considering there are only six sides to beat who are world cup winning nations its a pointless critcism. The world cup only occurs every 4 years and one of those winners was in 1998.
The groups are seeded by success and even then you must reach the latter stages to even get the opportunity to beat a world cup winning side.
Since Uruguay have done nothing since 1950 and France had an awful record pre 98 that leaves Italy who England have faced and lost to once in Italia 90 in the meaningless 3rd place playoff.
Brazil who defeated England each time they lifted the trophy.
Germany who beat us in 1970 and DREW with us in Italia 90.
Argentina who won by the hand of god and DREW with us in 98.
Fact six is the most stupid and irrelvant critcism there is it critcises England for not beating the most succesful sides in the world. USA dont have the credentials of the superpowers I could understand if England were playing one of those sides but they arent.
While it may not be true factually, I believe the spirit is still correct…and that spirit is that England, historically, is VASTLY overrated.
Now, do I think the US will win this weekend, no. BUT that does not alter my opinion whatsoever that England is one of the most consistently overrated teams in world competition, year in and year out regardless of the tournament. It’s truly amazing how long England has been able to profit on their name alone.
Just my two cents though.
Yeah man. I’m a US fan and scared of him.
Overrated by who?
England ave never been the clear favourite for any world cups. In 98 were just another also ran pre tournament. In 2002 we were in the group of death and won it but were not labelled favourites.
2006 was the supposed golden era where we looked good. Our big players were on form, Rooney and Owen were two of the best strikers in the world and our defense was outstanding. However we were never labelled as the favourite just one of a list.
England have a world cup win and a strong domestic league. Their record in the World cup is pretty good, England havent lost in open play since 2002 and 86 in recent times and they were both to the eventual winners. I think Englands placing as one of many such as the Dutch and France is quite justified as our record speaks for itself. I dont see anyone placing us in the same category as the Germans, Italians, Argentians and Brazilains.
I just don’t get the whole ‘England are always overrated’ thing.
We are never favourites to win….we are always ranked in the top 10….always given an outside chance of getting to the final.
And we consistantly get the the last 8 and tend to get knocked out by teams who themselves tend to go a long way (quite often after extra-time and penalties).
We are rated just about where we should be…. we definately should get to the last 16….should get to the last 8 ….have a reasonable chance of last 4….would be lucky to get to final….and are an outside shot to win it.
Ive never heard anyone seriously suggest anything else more ambitious….so how are we overrated?
this article is dumb
As a Spurs fan, I can tell you King is top class, though Capello might be better off pairing him with his usual central partner, Michael Dawson. But you’d need serious balls to sit John Terry, despite his poor form the last few months.
Jermaine Defoe is not top class. He is very streaky. Not that he’s going to be on the field until late in the second half, and even then if he’s on the field, that’s good new for us; it means England needs goals.
Fact #6 is not about the number of times that England has played previous World Cup champs; Ollie is implying that it’s impossible to win the cup if you can’t beat any of the previous winners, let alone lesser teams.
It would behoove the english to listen to Ackbar, however late the caution maybe.
And this has to do with the USA what?
England have been eliminated by Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Argentina again since 1986.
In those competitions they did not lose to anyone else before they were eliminated. I dont see how this gives the USA any confidence at all as if anything it shows England have an excellent world cup record and if the US were to win it would be Englands worst result at a world cup in 24 years. History favours an England win not a USA one, it was meaningless and rubbish analysis.
Lando’s advice is as true on Saturday as it was a long time ago the US team will last longer against the star destroyers than the death stars.
I consistently hear English fans (and pundits) talk about how England is a lock for the semifinals. It seems to be part of the English constitution to believe that England will make the semis of the World Cup.
For proof, the last two world cups, in which England has gone out in the semifinals, have generally been met with dismay and angst in England.
Now, I’m not saying that both of you believe England is a lock for the semis, but many English fans and pundits do (regardless of how good the team is), and that’s what gives England fans a bad name.
What a load of rubbish…
Firstly, I have never heard ANYONE even hint that England are a lock for the semis.
Secondly, England made the quarters…not the semis…in the last two world cups…and that was met with dissapointment, but not suprise, in England.
Nobody was “dismayed” by losing to Brazil in the quarters…that is the expected result….disappointed to be knocked out, but not dismayed.
There was more disappointment with Portugal…but it certainly wasnt viewed as a suprise result….at the time the two countries were very closely rated.
Your living in a dream world.
Meant to say quarters….good catch on that…had my mind on the word, “semifinals” too much
Moving on to your main point, maybe lock is too strong a word, but I stand by my point, nonetheless. Every year we seem to hear about how this is England’s year, and they will finally win their second world cup (or at least make the semifinals). Then, the national team fails to deliver and England is again left with ’66.
For comparison, let’s look at Spain. They always have the talent to win it, and some people always predict them to win it. However, what happens year after year? Spain gets knocked out before they can even sniff the cup. What is Spain called? Underachievers and OVERRATED….
I ask you: how is this any different than England recently?
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