[quote=alexjones;73757298]
DO you think Iran will win it one day as well? and South Korea and Botswana? No, because they will not. England will never win a world cup in the next 100 years, although I suspect much much more. Not unless something pretty extreme happens to the FA, nothing will change, as it hasnt in the last 30 or so years.

I would agree that there isn't a great depth of talent in English football but England can put out a good first eleven. When England did get a bit of luck ( against Belgium and Cameroon) they reached the semis in 1990. England often stroll through the qualifying competition. It's just when they get to the finals stages they fail. All teams need some luck, it just hasn't come for England at the right time.

What annoys me is at every England exit there are pundits calling for root and branch reform which they know has already effectively happened. England have a decent bunch of creative midfielders (the sort of players the pundits were crying out for not long ago) but right now there are weaknesses in the English traditional strength of strong defence and goalkeeping. Why England didn't bring their best defender (perhaps player) Ashley Cole to Brazil is a mystery.?

England can win the World Cup again, whether they will is partly down to fortune. I think Germany should have won the Euros in 2012 but they didn't, the inexplicable fate of always losing to the Italians scuppered them yet again.

[quote=alexjones;73757298]
I'm not so much negative as realistic.

It will be nothing short of miraculous if we win it again. Our record against the world's top international teams is absolutely appalling and we only won in 1966 because the tournament was held in our own back yard.

The Premiership is stifling young English players and that won't change. If anything the situation will only get worse.

Probably one of the obvious contenders will win - Germany, Brazil, Argentina, France, Netherlands, Spain.

As a possibility could England win? Yes, but it's never been a likelihood and it looks less likely now than for a long time. But, if you get there, and then lift your performances for a spell of 7 games, and play as a team, and carry some luck, and have sound tactics, and a bit of confidence then...strange things can happen. It happened for Greece and Denmark in the Euros. So I tend to think all outcomes are possible, if not probable, until such time as they get ruled out.