|
||||||||
Realistic Target For England? |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,993
|
Realistic Target For England?
Is the semi-final too much to ask? will it be the Quarters as it has been in the past in tournament football? Or is just getting to the knock-out stage a success considering what happened in Brazil 2 years a go?
|
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 15,843
|
Knockouts would be a relief, anything past that first knockout stage would be a welcome bonus. I think expectations are a bit more cautious this time around, just avoiding embarrassment first of all and see what happens from there is the order of the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,049
|
Get out of the group, probably the best we can hope for with our shaky defense and Roy insisting on playing an unfit, out of form Wilshire
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 12,248
|
Well with 3 going through in all likelihood we will surely get through the group!
Mind you 2nd place might mean facing France.. Top the top and we should win the 2nd round which could then mean facing Belgium/Italy.. |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 76,808
|
With the expanded competition we're almost certain to get out of the group
then I'd reckon 50-50 on winning the first knockout game depending on who we play (obviously !) most likely would be reach the quarter finals then out |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kingdom of Arnor
Posts: 78,227
|
Last 8 should be a realistic target and one I can see England reaching.
Not getting out the group would be a catastrophe even by their standards. |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Somewhere that needs tidying
Posts: 1,189
|
I think it's fair enough to expect us to get through the group. In the knockout stages, I think I'll have to alter my expectations based on the opposition.
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Gehenna
Posts: 7,084
|
realistically the quarters should not be beyond england... i'd say it's the least they should aim for...
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dagenham Essex UK
Posts: 9,714
|
Quote:
realistically the quarters should not be beyond england... i'd say it's the least they should aim for...
|
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,341
|
I'd make Germany, France and Spain the big 3 favourites despite Spain's flop in the World Cup. Would expect 2 of those to reach the semis if not all 3.
England should be looking to join them there, as should Belgium, Portugal and Italy. A few other teams might fancy it too if they get on a run. Poland if Lewandowski inspires them would be an obvious example, but those 4 would be the main contenders for me. You get to the semis and anything can happen. Semis would be very good, quarters solid. First knockout round - well it would depend on who eliminated England and how well they played. There'd be no shame in losing to any of the above in a close-fought contest after a good performance, although if they were to face one of those teams in the last 16 it might be because they didn't play well in the group. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 69,134
|
Let's take one game at a time first and foremost, all of the teams in our group can cause our shakey defence problems, so at the moment I am not looking beyond the group stage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,578
|
If England can't get out of THAT group and with the format that allows 3 teams to qualify, there's really no hope.
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,109
|
I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset. If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose. The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose. If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there. |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 767
|
Quote:
I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset. If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose. The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose. If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there. |
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,578
|
Quote:
I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset. If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose. The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose. If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there. Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 767
|
Quote:
BIB - sorry, but what?!
Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned. |
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,109
|
Quote:
BIB - sorry, but what?!
Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.Maybe Slovakia worth a punt to win the group then at 15/2? |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 767
|
Quote:
Fair enough. The bookies have Russia second favourite's for the group though (England favourites but this will be partially due to them being favoured by patriots).
Maybe Slovakia worth a punt to win the group then at 15/2? |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 17,848
|
England may be struggling already.
Lose to Wales, and it might come be out. |
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: A Sound Expert
Posts: 13,881
|
not going out after game 2 seems reasonable!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 12,248
|
Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough! |
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,013
|
if he plays that same team then i don't think they'll get out of the group stages
|
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 69,134
|
Quote:
Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough! We will be very lucky to get anything from Wales, they are in a positive frame of mind, and will be seeking to knock us out of the tournament (as with all of the pressure on us going into the last match, you just know that we will crumble). |
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 822
|
Quote:
Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough! |
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 5,258
|
I had them getting to the quarters on my predictor. I think semis onward is a success.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 17:09.




Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.