[0762]

So it has already started!!! Well that didn't take long esp after a fairly unconvincing victory v a stuffy Tunisian team whose players must have been 'kicking themselves' for not 'seeing out' a 1-1 draw with a few mins remaining and conceding a goal that was absolutely avoidable with a wee bit of discipline (don't concede a stupid corner when it can be avoided and defend your goal posts!). I wonder how much money Owen was paid to say that kinda stupid remark so early in such a high profile footie tournament!? There are clearly a lotta better quality and highly experienced teams than Southgate's Engerland and one can merely peruse the bookies' odds to confirm that fact as well as just observe what Engerland have to offer 'on the pitch' anyway, particularly in the midfield area. Also take into account the effects of injuries and tiredness in such a 'footie marathon' that is not being held at Wembley, Engerland will do well to reach a quarter-final with the current group of players. No wowwww factor I'm afraid Michael!

[Lord Snooty]

In what context has he come out with this statement? If it's a journo asking him "can England win the World Cup?" What's he supposed to say?

If however, he's written a newspaper column about it, then fair enough, the lad's deluded.

[0762]

It was discussed on bbc radio this am. What about a pragmatic response - we got a good result but 'early days', nothing to shout about. It wouldn't surprise me if it was journo inspired!

[Amelia Chaffinch]

I'm sick of leading questions from presenters that then become an official statement from the interviewee.

[turkeydinner]

I dunno they haven't looked as bad as some, still very early days yet but big guns have disappointed thus far

The way it`s looking at the moment is a Russia V Poland final

Russia looked dominant in their win and Poland we haven't seen

[0762]

Ha ha ha! That's one logical way of viewing the proceedings lol! Imagine if the Russians had an English style RW media/tabloids currently backing them - that would be different but effectively 'setting them up to be eventually shot down'!

[spireitematt]

Ha ha ha! That's one logical way of viewing the proceedings lol! Imagine if the Russians had an English style RW media/tabloids currently backing them - that would be different but effectively 'setting them up to be eventually shot down'!

0762 what would be the point of going to the World Cup and entering it if you didn't enter to win!. Will we win the World Cup? Who knows. Can we win the World Cup? It's not impossible and we've got a good group of players but what lets us down is the mentality, that and penalty shootouts.

[Lord Snooty]

Ha ha ha! That's one logical way of viewing the proceedings lol! Imagine if the Russians had an English style RW media/tabloids currently backing them - that would be different but effectively 'setting them up to be eventually shot down'!

0762 what would be the point of going to the World Cup and entering it if you didn't enter to win!. Will we win the World Cup? Who knows. Can we win the World Cup? It's not impossible and we've got a good group of players but what lets us down is the mentality, that and penalty shootouts.

Denmark and Greece had no chance of winning the Euros, but they did. Owt can happen.

[0762]

That was the Euros. However, there is a lot more serious competition in the World Cup and the winning team generally has a 'wowww factor' attached to it although an element of luck tends to prevail in certain matches. I hope the team that 'plays the beautiful game' in the proper way, with gusto and dynamism, picks up the trophy. Engerland comes nowhere near that pre-requisite and, of course, they are not playing on their home patch. As previously commented, the bookies' odds generally indicate the quality teams who will 'come through' in the end and previous notable experience of World Cup final participation is invaluable. Agreed every team competes to win it but reality eventually 'kicks in' when one realises the frailties and restrictions that 'your team' displays when severely tested plus that collective lack of real quality.

[spireitematt]

That was the Euros - there is a lot more serious competition in the World Cup and the winning team generally has a 'wowww factor' attached to it although an element of luck tends to prevail in certain matches. I hope the team that 'plays the beautiful game' in the proper way, with gusto and dynamism, picks up the trophy. Engerland comes nowhere near that pre-requisite and, of course, they are not playing on their home patch. As previously commented, the bookies' odds generally indicate the quality teams who will 'come through' in the end and previous notable experience of World Cup final participation is invaluable.

At the moment there has been no wow factor. Germany have lost to Mexico, Argentina held to a draw by Iceland, Brazil held to a draw by Switzerland. Only match which has had wow factor in this tournament so far is Portugal vs Spain. There is still a lot of football yet to be played and I guess there will be more twists and turns and anything can happen.

England have only played 1 game and did very well against a very physical side. We also did well to score a last minute winner, in the past we would have ending up drawing that not winning it. We should beat Panama, Belgium will be a struggle as they are a good side and a lot of there players play in the Premier League, so would take a draw against them. In the last 16 we will end up playing Japan, Columbia, Poland or Senegal. The quarter-finals we could end up meeting Germany or Brazil and that will be the real test.

A lot of football to be still played and a long way to go anything can happen. If we go out in the quarter-finals then we will still have done well seeing as we haven't made the quarter-finals since 2006. Anything better than quarter-finals then fantastic.