Milner was turned over all ways by Ecudor the other night..all he will do is give away free kicks in pirlo territory. Hope he doesn't play and hope oxlade chamberlain is fit enough to play.

I don't know why people are suggesting a draw will be "good enough" No it's not. If you go by what's expected to happen then most people have Uruguay finishing top (They have a decent team and are more accustomed to the climate). That means it's a straight fight between us and Italy (though I don't really want to write Costa Rica off). Nobody wants to go out in the group stages on goal difference.

I'm quite optimistic about the game and can see us getting a narrow win.

England didn't go to the Uruguay or Argentina world cups

I think if you look back at some of those games played in central and southern America, the heat did affect us. Not so much in South Africa though.
Of all the games we are likely to play, the Manaus venue for Italy is the worse. It's not just the heat, humidity can reach 99% in June/July as well.
As you say, some of the other venues should only be pleasantly warm, but a few will probably be "scorchio". Lovely, wish I was over there.

But the game has a late kick-off.
That must lessen the impact of the humidity.

Italy does not have a humid climate.
Hot yes (at least in the south of the country). But not humid.
Would they have that much of an advantage - even if it is humid?

I see Hodgson is urging world cup caution. Whilst describing Sterling as breathtaking in training!

I'm still puzzled as to why Manaus was chosen as a venue in the first place considering it's climate and location.

Probably bribed FIFA in someway..

I heard one of the stadiums built is in a city whose team only get 1/2k for their matches!

Not particularly. But hot, humid weather would suit their slower, languid style more than it does ours. They have changed as well though, they no longer play most of their games at a walking pace like they used to years ago.

You could equally say that our younger players would cope with conditions better than Italy's key players (especially Andrea Pirlo - who is not very mobile) if we could impose our style of play on the game

I'm not the biggest football fan in the world - snooker is more my thing to watch - but I'd just like to wish England all the best in World Cup 2014. C'mon, England!

Can't wait for the world cup to kick off. I think England have a good chance at coming runners up in the group. Hopefully win, if they put up a good fight against Italy!

Yes, should be ok if they pace themselves. It's if they try to play a high, pressing game that they might run into trouble..that's hard enough to keep up in normal UK conditions.
But they're not stupid, and all possibilities will have been covered..presumably.

Love Zonal Marking's team by team preview for the World Cup. Has really good knowledge of the game. This is his conclusion and quick guide to how England might set up.


http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/06/...14/#more-10360

Not that it matters but this is the team I would like to see put out and told to express themselves. I'd have Chamberlain over Sterling if fit. What is there to lose?

Gerrard sitting and Wilshere playing quick passing football with the other 3 like he does for Arsenal.

.............Hart...........
Johnson...Cahill...jagielka...baines
Gerrard.....Wilshere
Sterling...Barkley....Lallana
Sturridge

Sounds like Welbeck is now an injury doubt having picked up a thigh strain in training, but I think Sterling had a chance of being selected ahead of him in the starting line up anyway.

Must have been all those cartwheels and dancing he was doing with the Brazilians

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27775964

Telegraph article on the state of the Manaus stadium has a photo of the pitch. Looks like something at my local allotment.

Really hope the pitches in Brazil are as good as the European ones which allow for slick passing and attacking football. Looking at those pictures I can see commentators and managers complaining about the playing surface.

Pitch in Manaus: http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/11/englan...great-4757666/

Terrible!! I can't believe that a lot of the stadiums are not ready. Sepp Blatter should be more interested in sorting out this mess than lining up the next set of bungs.

It was stupid to build a stadium there in the first place.

Its amazing how we always seem to get niggles, injuries as soon as a world cup is about to start, its like some kind of curse, its that shirt.

Well, other teams have injuries too, it's just we're more focused on England, because, we live here and have to read the endless news coverage!

I thought Hodgson said there was nothing wrong with Gerrard