ijjysmith
Calm
'He's got.....some people are on the pitch.....they think it's all over....'
It probably will be in about 3 games time.
vs.
So here it is. The moment we've all been waiting for. The (hmmm) Mighty England get their World Cup campaign under way this Saturday night, and this preview goes out to the whole nation, no matter what your location, if your nationality is English....this is for you.
It couldn't get much harder to start with either. Bloody Italy, fresh from giving England a 0-0 schooling at Euro 2012, and with sexy swines all over the pitch, it really is a tough one.
Having said that, the last time England played Italy, Tom Cleverly inspired a decent comeback win in one of those weird friendlies that happens in Switzerland for no apparent reason.
So yeah tough game.
We'll start with the Italians.
God they're good aren't they? Or are they?
Pre-tourno friendlies weren't all that. A draw against Luxembourg and a Pro Evo style snotting of Brazilian club side Fluminese doesn't give too much away.
It's hard to hate Italy. they have so much style. And an utter loon up top who is capable of putting a fire work in the Italy showers, but just as capable of putting one of these in the onion bag from 30 yards:
(Those who know what this is...well in)
The Italians are dripping with talent, new Dortmund signing Ciro Immobile is a live wire, Lorenzo Insigne is great, De Rossi and Motta guard the middle and the back well, and i've not even mentioned the main man yet.
If Rooney get this close to god....I mean Andrea Pirlo on Saturday night then England will be doing alright.
He might be getting on a bit these days but he's still got magic feet. Feet that FIFA should probably have a closer look at to make sure that there's nothing illegal in there. Not that they'd be arsed thinking about it.
In the aforementioned game against Fluminese, Pirlo came on at half time, with the Eye-Ties struggling to contain the club side. He soon put a stop to that and was pinging balls about like it was a game on FIFA 16 (where I assume the long balls will have been fixed). But hey, his legs have to go at some point. Let's hope it's in the warm up Saturday evening.
Buffon will be in nets - For Christ's sake.
So what's the point in England even turning up then?
Well, and this is my own opinion, England have done super well to even get here.
Mr Hodgson persisted in playing the liked of Danny Welbad and Tom Cleverley throughout the qualifying rounds and we had to call on the ultimate one trick pony Andros Townsend to actually use that trick to finally get us over the line.
You have to wonder if the manager actually chose the best players then England may just be alright, as qualifying with that load of tripe is impressive.
We can all pick the line up for Saturday I think, Hart in goal, the back four is obvious despite the desperate need for a decent right back, Liverpool (c) will be in the middle, then Lallana, Rooney and Welbad/Sterling behind Sturridge.
It's not awful. Just perhaps not ideal. Good enough to beat Italy? Not sure on that one.
Lots has been said about the heat and humidity in Manaus, in the jungle, or something.
Odds are the Italians will be able to cope with this a little easier than England with their pale white skin on Rooney's bald spot that is defo DEFO appearing again.
Legs will tire, water breaks will be needed and for me, subs will be crucial.
Which brings us nicely to the main man:
As Evertonians we know how good Ross Barkley is. And we also know that when he's not on it, it's not all that. Which is normal for a 20 year old lad (19 really as he had a year out with his terrible injury), he will make mistakes. But when he's on it, phwooor there's nobody like him in the whole squad. I just hope England are still in with a shout by the time he gets his chance on Saturday.
It may need one of these night again.
Hard to imagine England outplaying Italy for any large periods of time, and whereas in previous years 'the nation has expected', the nation does not seem to this time. Which is right if you ask me.
I've not met a single England fan who expects much this summer. But maybe, just maybe there'll be a shock for us all.
Naaaaah....
That's more like it.
I'll take a point here and no mistake.
Got this ready to lob in next doors garden just in case though:
It probably will be in about 3 games time.
So here it is. The moment we've all been waiting for. The (hmmm) Mighty England get their World Cup campaign under way this Saturday night, and this preview goes out to the whole nation, no matter what your location, if your nationality is English....this is for you.
It couldn't get much harder to start with either. Bloody Italy, fresh from giving England a 0-0 schooling at Euro 2012, and with sexy swines all over the pitch, it really is a tough one.
Having said that, the last time England played Italy, Tom Cleverly inspired a decent comeback win in one of those weird friendlies that happens in Switzerland for no apparent reason.
So yeah tough game.
We'll start with the Italians.
God they're good aren't they? Or are they?
Pre-tourno friendlies weren't all that. A draw against Luxembourg and a Pro Evo style snotting of Brazilian club side Fluminese doesn't give too much away.
It's hard to hate Italy. they have so much style. And an utter loon up top who is capable of putting a fire work in the Italy showers, but just as capable of putting one of these in the onion bag from 30 yards:
(Those who know what this is...well in)
The Italians are dripping with talent, new Dortmund signing Ciro Immobile is a live wire, Lorenzo Insigne is great, De Rossi and Motta guard the middle and the back well, and i've not even mentioned the main man yet.
If Rooney get this close to god....I mean Andrea Pirlo on Saturday night then England will be doing alright.
He might be getting on a bit these days but he's still got magic feet. Feet that FIFA should probably have a closer look at to make sure that there's nothing illegal in there. Not that they'd be arsed thinking about it.
In the aforementioned game against Fluminese, Pirlo came on at half time, with the Eye-Ties struggling to contain the club side. He soon put a stop to that and was pinging balls about like it was a game on FIFA 16 (where I assume the long balls will have been fixed). But hey, his legs have to go at some point. Let's hope it's in the warm up Saturday evening.
Buffon will be in nets - For Christ's sake.
So what's the point in England even turning up then?
Well, and this is my own opinion, England have done super well to even get here.
Mr Hodgson persisted in playing the liked of Danny Welbad and Tom Cleverley throughout the qualifying rounds and we had to call on the ultimate one trick pony Andros Townsend to actually use that trick to finally get us over the line.
You have to wonder if the manager actually chose the best players then England may just be alright, as qualifying with that load of tripe is impressive.
We can all pick the line up for Saturday I think, Hart in goal, the back four is obvious despite the desperate need for a decent right back, Liverpool (c) will be in the middle, then Lallana, Rooney and Welbad/Sterling behind Sturridge.
It's not awful. Just perhaps not ideal. Good enough to beat Italy? Not sure on that one.
Lots has been said about the heat and humidity in Manaus, in the jungle, or something.
Odds are the Italians will be able to cope with this a little easier than England with their pale white skin on Rooney's bald spot that is defo DEFO appearing again.
Legs will tire, water breaks will be needed and for me, subs will be crucial.
Which brings us nicely to the main man:
As Evertonians we know how good Ross Barkley is. And we also know that when he's not on it, it's not all that. Which is normal for a 20 year old lad (19 really as he had a year out with his terrible injury), he will make mistakes. But when he's on it, phwooor there's nobody like him in the whole squad. I just hope England are still in with a shout by the time he gets his chance on Saturday.
It may need one of these night again.
Hard to imagine England outplaying Italy for any large periods of time, and whereas in previous years 'the nation has expected', the nation does not seem to this time. Which is right if you ask me.
I've not met a single England fan who expects much this summer. But maybe, just maybe there'll be a shock for us all.
Naaaaah....
That's more like it.
I'll take a point here and no mistake.
Got this ready to lob in next doors garden just in case though:
)
