England vs Ecuador: 0-0 Score at Half Time

[Monique]

0-0 at half time

 

[ukmicky]

we won , didnt play to well again . i don't think they can handle the temperature, i never realized germany was so hot in the summer.

 

[NateTG]

we won , didnt play to well again . i don't think they can handle the temperature, i never realized germany was so hot in the summer.

It's not *that* hot. In '94 when the games were in the US there was all kinds of footage of teams dealing with dehydration cramps. I think some of the games in Texas were played in the 120's (almost 50 C).

 

[-Job-]

Unconvincing performance by England but they always seem to win without much trouble. I think the media should switch off criticizing Beckham for a while and switch to the whole team attitude instead.

 

[DM]

England didn't prove to be a strong team throughout the whole match, but the first half was visibly their worst performance.

I'm wondering about Roony's position upfront, I think he needs more support.

 

[NateTG]

I can't help but think that England will loose to a team that manages to score one or two goals but doesn't give up too many set positions.

 

[Teecher]

That penalty in the second quarter was ridiculous. England Shmengland.

 

[J77]

I thought we played much better.

Though, Sven still seems to be trying to **** things up.

Bringing on Downing in the last minute with the threat of extra time, no more substitutes, and a lone Rooney!



Shocking management.

Sven is the anti-christ!

 

[EL]

Sven is the anti-christ!

Haha!
Isn't it strange that whenever England looses Svennis is blamed, and whenever England wins he is also blamed...
Looking at the results he has a quite good record, but maybe that's just because he's been having a great portion of luck...over and over again!

 

[J77]

Looking at the results he has a quite good record, but maybe that's just because he's been having a great portion of luck...over and over again!

Yeah - you can't dispute his record.

However, when you see teams such as Holland and Portugal, with players at the same level (and playing with ours), playing with such intensity, you have to wonder...

Graham Taylor may have been a turnip head but even he had some passion.

And the substitutions...

 

[EL]

Question is what you find more important: Playing attractive football, or winning?

But of course, admit that in the end it all comes down to one fact: He's not English...

 

[marlon]

England is an overestimated team. Once they encounter the big teams, they will lose.

marlon

 

[J77]

England is an overestimated team. Once they encounter the big teams, they will lose.

marlon

Valuable insight.

However, with only 3 to play those "big teams" had better show up soon...

 

[Andy]

I really believe that England have the strongest team of any team in the world cup. With Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Joe cole, John Terry and Rio ferdinand they should win the world cup. But bad management is going to give other teams the edge over us. So sven better sort himself out otherwise he's going to ruin the best chance england have had of winning the world cup for quite a few years.

COME ON ENGLAND!

 

[MemoryOfUs]

I would vote for Argentina instead
Lafin the best !

 

[Bladibla]

England is an overestimated team. Once they encounter the big teams, they will lose.

marlon

Agreed. They have rather ordinary and unimpressive; at the form at which they played ecuador, they are INCREDIBLY LUCKY to not have played Germany and already be knocked out.

However, I admit Joe Cole is a very good player.

 

[ukmicky]

England is an overestimated team. Once they encounter the big teams, they will lose.

marlon

I don't agree with that ,England have a team with huge potential and ability

Its strange things are just not clicking at the moment, the players are thinking to much and not playing to their natural abilities. Hopefully their confidence will improve so they can go on and win it.

Its like they've been built up so much by the media that their afraid to go out and show the world what they can do in case they make that one mistake and then disappoint the fans. They should just go for it .

The only weak link i can see in the team apart from sven is the goal keeper he just aint good enough, he doesn't command the box and its causing england's defensive players problems because they are holding back in stead of getting forward due to their lack of confidence in him and that in turn is preventing the midfield from moving up the field to score or support the strikers.

 

[ukmicky]

Haha!
Isn't it strange that whenever England looses Svennis is blamed, and whenever England wins he is also blamed...
Looking at the results he has a quite good record, but maybe that's just because he's been having a great portion of luck...over and over again!

People who think they know about football.

Its quite simple Football is a team game but Englands good record has more to do with the strengths and passionS of the individuals in the team rather than the way that the manager gets the team to play. Sven is so crap at his job that even after all this time he still dosent know what is englands best line up or formation.Thats terrible especially when you consider we are in the middle of the world cup.
Sven is so stupid he left behind the top goal scorer from the premeirships and brought along a boy who has never played in the premeirship or had any top flight football experience ,sven had never even seen him play before he picked him for the team, how mad is that. And that was done with him knowing that englands two main strickers Owen and rooney were still not fit after breaking bones in their feet. sven is mad he is a disaster zone

If england get a manager who knows his stuff and plays the team as a team rather than relying on individual moments of brilliance then no team in the world would stop us at he moment.

Im english so yes i am a little bit bias ,but even so they could seriously be that good.

SVEN NEEDS TO GO BACK TO SWEDEN WHERE HE CAN SpEND THE MILLIONs WHICH THE FA HAVE FOOLISHLY GIVEN HIM

 

[J77]

Totally agree with the above!

Especially the thing about passion.

This not only goes for the team, but for us English fans who have to sit through the whole thing every two years (Euros included).

It's not about being pragmatic.

It's not about analysing the team to determine which player's better than which.

It's about playing exciting football. The football we've become used to in the premiership - week in, week out.

 

[EL]

Im english so yes i am a little bit bias

A little...?

SVEN NEEDS TO GO BACK TO SWEDEN

In fact Sven hasn't lived in Sweden since like 84' or something...

 

[Anttech]

England is an overestimated team. Once they encounter the big teams, they will lose.

marlon

What, like Belgium ;)

England arent overestimated, but they are underperforming. Germany have overperformed. If you look at the stats you will see that germany wouldn't have been at this worldcup if it wasnt for the fact they were hosting it. They lost (or drew) to every top flight European team since Euro2004 (and they were crap even before this)

But as Linker once said:

"Football is a game of two halfs, and in the end germany always win"

 

[marlon]

What, like Belgium ;)

I new i had that coming, but you are wrong. Belgium is not overestimated. Our team sucked bigtime and that is why we are not in the compition.

England should not be as well.

England arent overestimated, but they are underperforming.

Very diplomatic

Germany have overperformed.

No comment

If you look at the stats you will see that germany wouldn't have been at this worldcup if it wasnt for the fact they were hosting it. They lost (or drew) to every top flight European team since Euro2004 (and they were crap even before this)

This is irrelevant (and untrue). Besides, it is not very intelligent to compare to a team that is playing great soccer right now. The past does no longer count, man.

But as Linker once said:

"Football is a game of two halfs, and in the end germany always win"

True, but what does this have to do with England being overestimated ? Germany wins because they are the best, it is that simple...
AND YES THEY WILL BEAT ARGENTINA ON FRIDAY

marlon

 

[marlon]

However, I admit Joe Cole is a very good player.

IMO, he is just a very lucky player, if you know what i mean.


marlon

 

[J77]

Marlon, you're talking like a Scotsman.

 

[Anttech]

This is irrelevant (and untrue). Besides, it is not very intelligent to compare to a team that is playing great soccer right now. The past does no longer count, man.

LOL.. Its TRUE, and higly relevant considering its the SAME team. I am going to point you to a link which backs up the hard facts of what I just stated.

 

[Anttech]

01.03.2006	Italien - Deutschland
Florenz (ITA)	4:1 (3:0)		
22.03.2006	Deutschland - USA
Dortmund	4:1 (0:0)		
27.05.2006	Deutschland - Luxemburg
Freiburg	7:0 (3:0)		
30.05.2006	Deutschland - Japan
Leverkusen	2:2 (0:0)		
02.06.2006	Deutschland - Kolumbien
Mönchengladbach	3:0 (2:0)		
09.06.2006	Deutschland - Costa Rica
München	4:2 (2:1)	WM-Vorrunde	
14.06.2006	Deutschland - Polen
Dortmund	1:0 (0:0)	WM-Vorrunde	
20.06.2006	Ecuador - Deutschland
Berlin	0:3 (0:2)	WM-Vorrunde	
24.06.2006	Deutschland - Schweden
München	2:0 (2:0)	WM-Achtelfinale	

Düsseldorf	2:2 (2:1)		
26.03.2005	Slowenien - Deutschland
Celje (SLO)	0:1 (0:1)		
04.06.2005	Nordirland - Deutschland
Belfast (NIR)	1:4 (1:1)		
08.06.2005	Deutschland - Russland
Mönchengladbach	2:2 (1:1)		
15.06.2005	Deutschland - Australien
Frankfurt	4:3 (2:2)	Confederations Cup, Vorrunde	
18.06.2005	Tunesien - Deutschland
Köln	0:3 (0:0)	Confederations Cup, Vorrunde	
21.06.2005	Argentinien - Deutschland
Nürnberg	2:2 (1:1)	Confederations Cup, Vorrunde	
25.06.2005	Deutschland - Brasilien
Nürnberg	2:3 (2:2)	Confederations Cup, Halbfinale	
29.06.2005	Deutschland - Mexiko
Leipzig	4:3 n.e.t.	Confederations Cup, Spiel um Platz 3	
17.08.2005	Niederlande - Deutschland
Rotterdam (NED)	2:2 (1:0)		
03.09.2005	Slowakei - Deutschland
Bratislava (SLK)	2:0 (2:0)		
07.09.2005	Deutschland - Südafrika
Bremen	4:2 (1:1)		
08.10.2005	Türkei - Deutschland
Istanbul (TUR)	2:1 (1:0)		
12.10.2005	Deutschland - China
Hamburg	1:0 (0:0)		
12.11.2005	Frankreich - Deutschland
Paris (FRA)	0:0 (0:0)

taken from http://www.dfb.de/

 

[marlon]

Again, this is irrelevant AND UNTRUE because you are living in the past. The achievements prior to the worldcup are history. Germany got selected according to the rules just like any other team that is in competition. Since the beginning of the tournament, Germany is one of the few teams that actually played good soccer, just like Spain and Argentina.


marlon

 

[J77]

As an Englishman, I have to admit...

Germany have impressed me, as my team of the tournament so far...

However,

England are just getting going!

 

[Anttech]

Again, this is irrelevant because you are living in the past. The achievements prior to the worldcup are history. Germany got selected according to the rules just like any other team that is in competition. Since the beginning of the tournament, Germany is one of the few teams that actually played good soccer, just like Spain and Argentina.

So using your logic, nobody should think that Brazil is the best team in the world. We should get rid of FIFA rankings because "its in the past" Every team in the world should be judged on the game that is currently getting played.

We both know this is rubbish.

Germanys prior results before the World Cup are relevent. They show that they are performing above expectations currently. How long will it last? Who knows. How many Big countries scalps do they have---- 0 ---- A BIG FAT NONE. Let's see what happens against Arginetina

By the way, If Germany HAD to qualify looking at there prior results, they wouldn't have been able too. But because they DIDNT have to they are here

 

[marlon]

So using your logic, nobody should think that Brazil is the best team in the world. We should get rid of FIFA rankings because "its in the past" Every team in the world should be judged on the game that is currently getting played.

Please, this is a bit easy no ?

I don't get how you can draw such a conclusion based upon what i stated before ? Care to explain ?

Anyhow, i repeat myself once again. Germany got selected according to the general FIFA rules that are the same for each and every country that wants to participate. If Germany was benifited in some way well, than so was any other influential soccer nation. One cannot prove any of these kinds of comments and they mainly arise because of the dislike of some people for a specific team (or perhaps because their own team is playing in an horrible way ).

And yes, every team is only as good as their last performance. especially in these stages of the world cup.

Germanys prior results before the World Cup are relevent. They show that they are performing above expectations currently.

That is what you say. someone else will say : they were underachieving, they were just getting started or they did not put in their full effort because of whatever reason. really, you have absolutely no point here and that is exactly why i say : IRRELEVANT.

How long will it last? Who knows.

Hey, maybe they become world champion, who knows ? But in that case, following YOUR logic, they were just performing above expectations no ? Well, even if this were the case (which it is NOT, but you know that) WHO CARES.

SOCCER IS NOT MATH, you know.

marlon

 

[Anttech]

That is what you say. someone else will say : they were underachieving, they were just getting started or they did not put in their full effort because of whatever reason. really, you have absolutely no point here and that is exactly why i say

Its not only me who thinks this, the majority of the football press aggrees with me. Germany did really well in Euro2004 didnt they?

I don't get how you can draw such a conclusion based upon what i stated before ? Care to explain

This is irrelevant (and untrue). Besides, it is not very intelligent to compare to a team that is playing great soccer right now. The past does no longer count, man.

Again, this is irrelevant AND UNTRUE because you are living in the past. The achievements prior to the worldcup are history.

...

Do I need to explain?

You are stating that prior results are irrelevent, I am saying they are relevent, and even more so considering german hasnt played a top ranks Euro team (any team) yet. If they beat Arg I will retract what I said. But I don't think I will need to...

 

[marlon]

Its not only me who thinks this, the majority of the football press aggrees with me. Germany did really well in Euro2004 didnt they?

But didn't they do quite well in the 2002 worldcup ?

...

Do I need to explain?

If you wanna, yes. But quoting me will certainly not help gettin' your own point across.

If they beat Arg I will retract what I said. But I don't think I will need to...

Well first of all, YES you will need to...

But actually, what you say is quite strange because you whine about Germany but what about the top teams losing to the smaller teams ?

Really, i just think you are a bit frustrated about Germany performing so well and England performing so...err, well, you know...

I think, one of us is going to be very happy on friday.

regards
marlon

 

[Anttech]

Anyhow, i repeat myself once again. Germany got selected according to the general FIFA rules that are the same for each and every country that wants to participate.

This is confusing, Yes they followed the FIFA Rules, but these rules are NOT the same for each country wanting to participate. As I have stated 2 times already, they did not need to qualify for the world cup because they are the host nation. This rule for qualification is different from every single other country, who HAS to qualify.

 

[Anttech]

Marlon, I am not English :)

I couldn't give a toss if England don't win..

 

[Anttech]

But didn't they do quite well in the 2002 worldcup

Ohh so they weren't trying for euro2004? LOL

The Team they had at 2004 is closer to the same team this year, than that of the worldcup 2002.

Didnt England do good in 1966??

 

[marlon]

This is confusing, Yes they followed the FIFA Rules, but these rules are NOT the same for each country wanting to participate. As I have stated 2 times already, they did not need to qualify for the world cup because they are the host nation. This rule for qualification is different from every single other country, who HAS to qualify.

Yes but we all know that the host nation has a team that is very representative in soccer. This is one of the unwritten laws of FIFA when the host nation gets chosen. It is as simple as that.

Besides, why do you always talk about how germany should not have been qualified based upon their results ? One cannot say this if you look at the FIFA rules which you just stated in your last post.

Hey, maybe the German team just did not give it it's all because they did not care about gettin' selected. Maybe the pressure was not there. Well, it is there now and look at how their results have changed.


marlon

 

[Anttech]

yeh I suppose they were resting during Euro 2004 also...

Lets wait and see Marlon, Germany haven't had a stiff test yet... They will soon, if they beat Arg, I will retract what I said...

 

[marlon]

Ohh so they weren't trying for euro2004? LOL

Huh, when did i ever say that ?

The Team they had at 2004 is closer to the same team this year, than that of the worldcup 2002.

Yeah right

Didnt England do good in 1966??

Yeah but who was the host country ? Maybe, they shouldn't have been selected in the first place because their pre-WC-results were quite poor

Besides, if you want to talk about history : didn't Germany perform a bit better than the UK in the entire WCup past ?

marlon

 

[marlon]

yeh I suppose they were resting during Euro 2004 also...

Ohh man, c'mon, no reason to be so cynical.

Lets wait and see Marlon, Germany haven't had a stiff test yet...

True but that does not mean that they have a bad team or that they should not be at the place where they are right now.

They will soon, if they beat Arg, I will retract what I said...

You will retract what you said ? But this is the point i don't get : the result against Argentina has nothing to do with what we are talking about.

So you can "retract all you want", the main point stays the same.

regards
marlon

 

[Anttech]

The UK has never played in the world cup... Need to brush up on your geography matey :)

BTW: are you trying to say that the DE team of 2002 is closer to the team playing now than that of 2004?

 

[Anttech]

You will retract what you said ? But this is the point i don't get : the result against Argentina has nothing to do with what we are talking about.

Seems you don't get anything I am saying to you...

It has everything to do with what I am talking about.. For the bloody last time:

GERMANY HAVENT BEAT A TOP FLIGHT TEAM SINCE BEFORE EURO2004. IN THIS WORLD CUP THEY HAVE NOT COME ACROSS A TOP FLIGHT TEAM. THEY WILL NOW AGAINST ARG. YOU SEEM TO THINK THIS FACT IS IRRELEVENT, I THINK IT IS HIGHLY RELEVENT. WE WILL SEE...

 

[marlon]

The UK has never played in the world cup... Need to brush up on your geography matey :)

Matey, you know very well what i am talking about. It is not my fault that there is a UK, a Great Brittain and England...all i see is just an island with a very bad kitchen and a contra-European attitude. Anyhow...

BTW: are you trying to say that the DE team of 2002 is closer to the team playing now than that of 2004?

What do you mean by "closer"... As i understood it, "closer" means quality in play right ? If so, than YES the 2002 team is closer to this team than the 2004 team. This has nothing to do with "the same people" or whatever, but with "evoloving and getting THAT good that you are worldchampion-worthy"...alstublieft

regards
marlon

 

[marlon]

Seems you don't get anything I am saying to you...

It has everything to do with what I am talking about.. For the bloody last time:

GERMANY HAVENT BEAT A TOP FLIGHT TEAM SINCE BEFORE EURO2004. IN THIS WORLD CUP THEY HAVE NOT COME ACROSS A TOP FLIGHT TEAM. THEY WILL NOW AGAINST ARG. YOU SEEM TO THINK THIS FACT IS IRRELEVENT, I THINK IT IS HIGHLY RELEVENT. WE WILL SEE...

NO NO NO.

JUST BECAUSE GERMANY DID NOT BEAT A TOP TEAM YET DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN DEGRADE THEM LIKE YOU DO FOR WHATEVER MYSTERIOUS REASON. IT ALSO DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BEAT A TOP TEAM. STOP LOOKING IN THE PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE. JEEEEZUUS. WE HAVE HAD SO MANY TOP TEAMS LOSING AGAINST SMALLER, LOWER RANKED TEAMS AND YOU DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT ?

marlon

 

[Anttech]

No by closer I mean the personel...*sigh*

Matey, you know very well what i am talking about. It is not my fault that there is a UK, a Great Brittain and England...all i see is just an island with a very bad kitchen and a contra-European attitude. Anyhow...

LOL.. But it is obviously your fault that you don't know the difference between the political state and countries within the aggrements..

Anyway so when is France your home nation playing? (annoyed yet?

 

[Anttech]

JUST BECAUSE GERMANY DID NOT BEAT A TOP TEAM YET DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN DEGRADE THEM LIKE YOU DO FOR WHATEVER MYSTERIOUS REASON. WE HAVE HAD SO MANY TOP TEAMS LOSING AGAINST SMALLER, LOWER RANKED TEAMS AND YOU DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT ?

Examples please?

Ohh yeh that would be costa rica getting beaten by Germany, is what you are referring too.. I would aggree there

 

[marlon]

No by closer I mean the personel...*sigh*

No reason to get all cranky just because you are not able to impose your "opinion".

LOL.. But it is obviously your fault that you don't know the difference between the political state and countries within the aggrements..

Obviously, but that does not imply that you knew exactly what i was referring to (ie England). Don't go changing the subject just because you ...

Anyway so when is France your home nation playing? (annoyed yet?

Again, don't go changing the subject just because you ...

marlon

 

[marlon]

Ohh yeh that would be costa rica getting beaten by Germany, is what you are referring too.. I would aggree there

So you are saying that Costa Rica is the big team and germany is the small team ?

And ,please, don't tell me that you cannot find one single example where a big team lost or tied against a smaller team ? Have you watched any soccer the last two/three years ?

marlon

 

[Anttech]

Obviously, but that does not imply that you knew exactly what i was referring to (ie England). Don't go changing the subject just because you ...

I didnt know what you were referring to, Wales N.Ireland Scotland, and England have all played in the world cup, did you mean there accumulative success? or did you mean 1 of the countries within the Political Union?

 

[marlon]

I didnt know what you were referring to, Wales N.Ireland Scotland, and England have all played in the world cup, did you mean there accumulative success? or did you mean 1 of the countries within the Political Union?

I am talking about the team in which there is now a guy called Beckham. Yeah, THAT team...the one i mentioned in my last reference.

marlon

 

[Anttech]

Ok England... Yes German have a beter track record than England. Actually they have the second best track record behind Brazil.

I am still waiting for the BIG upsets you have been talking about in this world cup?