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Post by tonyw on Jun 20, 2014 12:06:27 GMT
Have to say I'm starting to lean towards wanting Costa Rica to win this afternoon.
Reason #1 - We need putting out of our misery. An Italy victory will just prolong the pain. Even if they do it today, we'll still need them to beat Uruguay in their last game - and Italy will then only need a point in that one. When Italy need just a point to win a group against a solid opponent, I'll bet my house on Italy getting just a point. Best to kill the lingering hope stone dead right now.
Reason #2 - It would be awesome to see Italy and Uruguay squaring off for a place in the knockouts, with one of them guaranteed to be heading home.
Reason #3 - There was so much chatter pre-tournament about the "Group of Death". Italy, Uruguay and England squaring off with only two places to play for. It would be simply hilarious if Costa Rica swanned in and nailed down a knockout spot with a game still to play! Teach us all a valuable World Cup lesson that we ought to already know by now......
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Post by unification on Jun 20, 2014 12:21:00 GMT
You know what, the World Cup with England not in it is still just as interesting to me. I'm not too fussed about who goes through from our group, but I am a fan of reason three - seeing Joel Campbell and Costa Rica top the group with nine points would be very funny indeed.
Switzerland vs France should be interesting later. The Swiss are disciplined and methodical (in their approach off the field too - they did a sterling job of keeping to FIFA's rules with friendlies in order to nab themselves a seeded spot at this WC) and the French will certainly have a sterner test than they did with the Honduras Fight Club. I'd like to see what they're made of against a bunch who could give them a game.
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Post by tonyw on Jun 20, 2014 12:29:50 GMT
You know what, the World Cup with England not in it is still just as interesting to me. I'm not too fussed about who goes through from our group, but I am a fan of reason three - seeing Joel Campbell and Costa Rica top the group with nine points would be very funny indeed. Switzerland vs France should be interesting later. The Swiss are disciplined and methodical (in their approach off the field too - they did a sterling job of keeping to FIFA's rules with friendlies in order to nab themselves a seeded spot at this WC) and the French will certainly have a sterner test than they did with the Honduras Fight Club. I'd like to see what they're made of against a bunch who could give them a game. Switzerland's tactic was basically "Beat Germany in a pointless friendly, Beat Brazil in a pointless friendly, Bob's your Uncle". Worked a charm. Otherwise agree with everything you said!
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Post by m on Jun 20, 2014 13:36:12 GMT
Have to say I'm starting to lean towards wanting Costa Rica to win this afternoon. Reason #1 - We need putting out of our misery. An Italy victory will just prolong the pain. Even if they do it today, we'll still need them to beat Uruguay in their last game - and Italy will then only need a point in that one. When Italy need just a point to win a group against a solid opponent, I'll bet my house on Italy getting just a point. Best to kill the lingering hope stone dead right now. Reason #2 - It would be awesome to see Italy and Uruguay squaring off for a place in the knockouts, with one of them guaranteed to be heading home. Reason #3 - There was so much chatter pre-tournament about the "Group of Death". Italy, Uruguay and England squaring off with only two places to play for. It would be simply hilarious if Costa Rica swanned in and nailed down a knockout spot with a game still to play! Teach us all a valuable World Cup lesson that we ought to already know by now...... Interesting thoughts - I shall ponder this for the next couple of hours...
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Post by John Lennon on Jun 20, 2014 13:41:03 GMT
If Italy win, it will at least make the next few days a lot more bearable. The chances of us qualifying are slim, but a few days of hope, will at least give us something to look forward to.
We can still technically qualify, so I only want the result that suits England.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 13:50:27 GMT
If Italy win, it will at least make the next few days a lot more bearable. The chances of us qualifying are slim, but a few days of hope, will at least give us something to look forward to. We can still technically qualify, so I only want the result that suits England. Not as slim as you might think, of course the media have made it sound 10x worse so they can make a story but if Italy were to beat Costa Rica and Uruguay then we'd only need to beat Costa Rica by 1 or 2 goals. With Italy having to win to put themselves in the driving seat they'll still have something to play for in the final game, so hopefully they don't go for a draw.
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Post by tonyw on Jun 20, 2014 14:00:43 GMT
Not as slim as you might think, of course the media have made it sound 10x worse so they can make a story but if Italy were to beat Costa Rica and Uruguay then we'd only need to beat Costa Rica by 1 or 2 goals. With Italy having to win to put themselves in the driving seat they'll still have something to play for in the final game, so hopefully they don't go for a draw. If they genuinely had nothing to play for in the final game i.e. if they already had the group won by then then I would agree that there would be a good chance of them being relaxed and knocking over Uruguay. However, unless they absolutely crush Costa Rica today, there will still be a scenario whereby they could go out if they beat Costa Rica but lose to Uruguay. If the Italians need a draw to win the group in their final game, I bet they play for a draw. Plus, they're not actually all that good a team, and Uruguay and Costa Rica aren't that bad. I'd put England's current odds of qualification at about 1%.
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Post by backonthecoupon on Jun 20, 2014 14:07:50 GMT
11% according to the bookies, although they will of course have priced in some patriotic money.
I wouldnt back it. Italy wont beat Uruguay if they dont have to.
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Post by John Lennon on Jun 20, 2014 14:49:17 GMT
I quite like believing that Italy will win both games, and us beat Costa Rica. It makes the pain of yet more disappointment feel slightly easier.
I am aware that is probably isn't going to happen, but I don't see the point in giving up when there is still any kind of chance.
I appreciate others will accept it won't happen, so have given up. I understand why, but I'm not like that. Even though I am trying to convince myself to be.
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Post by jammydodger on Jun 20, 2014 15:05:17 GMT
All that needs to happen is Italy to beat Costa Rica and Uruguay. That would put Costa Rica and Uruguay at best on a goal difference of +1 and -2 respectively. We will need to beat Costa Rica by at least 2 goals to put us on a GD of 0 and Costa Rica on a GD of -1.
A point for England against Uruguay would have meant we may only need to beat Costa Rica by one and Italy would only need to avoid defeat to Costa Rica and could lose to Uruguay but we would still need to beat Costa Rica and score more goals than Costa Rica and Uruguay overall in the group.
All this could happen and we get knocked out to Colombia next Saturday and we'd still be as p*ssed off with England as we were last night.
However this could be and probably will be the most pointless post come 7pm today.
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Post by Paul Cannell on Jun 20, 2014 15:39:50 GMT
3-1 to Costa Rica would be perfect; then, as tonyw says, we get the Italy vs Uruguay tie with both teams needing to win. That would be a proper battle, perhaps literally.
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Post by unification on Jun 20, 2014 16:48:23 GMT
Costa Rica 1-0 up and should've had a penalty too. More shocking officiating.
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Post by Hicko on Jun 20, 2014 16:51:29 GMT
The ref has been awful. im starting to think he's italian.
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Post by Toeby on Jun 20, 2014 16:51:36 GMT
Costa Rica deserve this. If they hold out against Italy, I'd like Italy to smash Uruguay to wipe the smile off Suarez's face.
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Post by ox1yellow on Jun 20, 2014 16:56:08 GMT
I'm not convinced we'll beat Costa Rica to be honest.
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Post by sox on Jun 20, 2014 17:01:01 GMT
I'm not convinced we'll beat Costa Rica to be honest. Fantastic understatement fortunately it won't matter
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Post by oxrox on Jun 20, 2014 17:04:39 GMT
Costa Rica will tear England apart in the final group game.
Perhaps we can all enjoy the tournament without the British press hyperbole.
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Post by East Challow Yellow on Jun 20, 2014 17:46:26 GMT
Italy have been absolutely dreadful. Pedestrian and how many times have they been caught offside??? Unbelievable.
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Post by Eaststandboy on Jun 20, 2014 18:00:14 GMT
Well done Costa Rica. Thank you for putting us all out of our misery now.
Now on Tuesday cram it full of youngsters and give them a go!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
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Post by tonyw on Jun 20, 2014 18:13:51 GMT
Genuinely delighted for Costa Rica. They've been outstanding through two games, and come into a group with three of the traditional powers of football, a group in which noone gave them a hope, and they've gotten out of it with a game to spare. This being a country of less than 5 million people with a GDP per capita about a third of ours or Italy's.
One of the great stories of this World Cup. Shame we had to be on the other end of it.
Uruguay vs. Italy is going to be absolutely epic now though - going to be great to watch knowing that one of them is also going to be packing their bags. (assuming I can find somewhere to watch that, as opposed to a meaningless England friendly)
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Post by Junior on Jun 20, 2014 18:30:58 GMT
Yep, fair play to Costa Rica. Played a decent style and deserve their place in the last 16.
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Post by John Lennon on Jun 20, 2014 18:40:45 GMT
Costa Rica were the easy game in the group. Most expected them to finish bottom of the group. Truth is, they have been brilliant. They deserve to win the group.
I am devastated England are out. We deserve to be out, and can't complain. But the depression I feel now isn't just because we have been knocked out. This is Italy 90, Sweden 92 USA 94 (didn't even qualify), Euro 96, France 98, Holland/Belgium 2000, Japan/South Korea 2002, Portugal 2004, Germany 2006, Austria/Switzerland 2008 (didn't even qualify), South Africa 2010, and Poland/Ukraine 2012 all rolled into one. We had pride in 90 and 96, but both felt like we deserved more. The rest were so disappoining, and it all feels horrible right now.
I hope Greg Dyke can make the changes we need to make our national side a threat in major competitions. This country comes together in such a great way for the big tournaments. I love that millions of pubs and houses are full of people who get together as one country. It's fantastic passion, that deserves better than going out after the second game of a World Cup.
If Italy win on Tuesday, I will love it. Suarez was to cocky last night, so I hope his joy backfires.
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Post by Eaststandboy on Jun 20, 2014 18:48:14 GMT
Watch out B Leagues about...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
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Post by tonyw on Jun 20, 2014 18:53:27 GMT
I hope Greg Dyke can make the changes we need to make our national side a threat in major competitions. This country comes together in such a great way for the big tournaments. I love that millions of pubs and houses are full of people who get together as one country. It's fantastic passion, that deserves better than going out after the second game of a World Cup. This is true, but we shouldn't kid ourselves that we're the only nation that feels/acts like this. Everyone does (even the US are getting in on the act) and that's what makes the World Cup the globe's greatest sporting event every four years. Hell, it makes it the world's greatest event full stop. There's 30 other countries who are going to get the same despondent feeling at some point this tournament (three of them even beat us to it......) and who will probably feel they deserved better. If there's anything that makes us special, it's that we codified the game and therefore are the game's true original home. And we get to play host to one of the World's finest leagues. Unfortunately neither of those things helps us at all in the task of actually winning tournaments, and the latter genuinely seems to hinder us.
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Post by chippsy on Jun 20, 2014 18:55:58 GMT
Costa Rica were the easy game in the group. Most expected them to finish bottom of the group. Truth is, they have been brilliant. They deserve to win the group. I am devastated England are out. We deserve to be out, and can't complain. But the depression I feel now isn't just because we have been knocked out. This is Italy 90, Sweden 92, Euro 96, France 98, Holland/Belgium 2000, Japan/South Korea 2002, Portugal 2004, Germany 2006, Austria/Switzerland 2008, South Africa 2010, and Poland/Ukraine 2012 all rolled into one. We had pride in 90 and 96, but both felt like we deserved more. The rest were so disappoining, and it all feels horrible right now. I hope Greg Dyke can make the changes we need to make our national side a threat in major competitions. This country comes together in such a great way for the big tournaments. I love that millions of pubs and houses are full of people who get together as one country. It's fantastic passion, that deserves better than going out after the second game of a World Cup. If Italy win on Tuesday, I will love it. Suarez was to cocky last night, so I hope his joy backfires. Absolute fair play to Costa Rica .. Deserve everything they are getting at the moment. Not sure I agree with the Suarez comment... He celebrated in just the same way any England player would have done had they scored those goals..
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Post by John Lennon on Jun 20, 2014 18:56:08 GMT
Watch out B Leagues about... Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk To be fair, it's a poor idea that won't happen, but its an idea. We need brave thinking to make a difference, and I can understand the thinking behind it. At least Greg Dyke is trying, and I bet he does more than the others. As for Suarez, it was his dig at England fans afterwards that got me. He got done for racist language, and bit a fellow player. He deserves the criticism for that, and while he was right to celebrate the goals the way he did, talking about redemption, and asking how all his critics feel now, which was partly aimed at the English fans, were over the top. I hope he cries on Tuesday. Tony, I agree a lot of countries will feel the same. But looking at the stats for English players in our own top league, and the problems we have with the number of coaches, and the lack of quality training for our very young English children, I think we have more to gain than most with big changes to the way we do things in this country to help the national team.
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Post by andystroud on Jun 20, 2014 19:14:31 GMT
Now I know how it feels to be Scottish! Home before the postcards.
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Post by East Challow Yellow on Jun 20, 2014 19:53:32 GMT
Absolutely, totally dejected.
When England do well the whole nation come together - football lovers and otherwise, the economy gets a boost and it is great for grass roots.
Right now, I feel like the national side is treading water at best...the same as it has been for 20 years. It hurts like hell.
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Post by Paul Cannell on Jun 20, 2014 22:15:57 GMT
Uruguay vs. Italy is going to be absolutely epic now though - going to be great to watch knowing that one of them is also going to be packing their bags. Please God there'll be a stream that works. I'm hoping Italy have no answer to La Garra Charrua and that the best striker in the world will be smiling. It'll be a proper contest, whatever.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Jun 21, 2014 8:37:03 GMT
Uruguay vs. Italy is going to be absolutely epic now though - going to be great to watch knowing that one of them is also going to be packing their bags. Please God there'll be a stream that works. I'm hoping Italy have no answer to La Garra Charrua and that the best striker in the world will be smiling. It'll be a proper contest, whatever. You don't need a stream. It's on the telly on ITV4 at the same time as England are getting battered by Costa Rica on ITV1
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