FIFA World Cup 2014

[ederson]

I can`t remember the last time the english team in a major tournament didn`t introduce a few young players with superstar potential

and they never do anything !!

too much hype if you ask me.

[ederson]

[Casperian]

People often say "no offense", only to be very offensive, so if I insulted you, Yoki, I apologize.
Have a TP
But that was straight up "yellow press" talk, and I've had to read that stuff for years, now. Other players at 23/24 have won titles as the best players on their team, they really don't qualify as "youth", anymore.  As I said, Uruguay has a population of 3 million, only a fraction of the money the english FA have at their disposal, yet they continue to put out better players. Some nice young players can hardly be the standard for a country with the size and tradition England has.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Well, Daniel Sturridge, and Raheem Sterling are doing pretty okay in this tournament, and they are 24 and 19 respectively. Danny Welbeck (23) is getting some solid World Cup experience.

They got some young guys (Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw) that are poised to be good, they should play against Costa Rica just to get that "World Cup" rub. As far as youth, England's got some solid youth. Wayne Rooney (assuming he continues to play at a high level) probably has one more World Cup along with these young guys who will grow in the best league on the planet.

lol

No offense, but do you work for the Daily Mail? That's exactly the kind of euphemisms you can read there. "Best league on the planet"? None of them come close to Goetze, Pogba, Neymar or Verratti.

Just because some of those guys can run pretty fast doesn't mean they're even close to international class. You can look at any of the teams at the WC and find some nice, young players.

Don't fall for that nonsense, man.

Well, admittedly I was wrong. 2nd best league (according to UEFA).

But yeah, point taken. Compare to those names listed (especially Pogba), England's youth is hogwash, but still there's promise on those young guys. Sturridge probably has the best potential out of them. 21 goals in EPL is no joke. Sterling is steadily improving. Luke Shaw is highly sought after. There's something there, not Goetze something, but something.

[Vox_Populi]

TP.

Anyway, it was funny seeing this slightly retooled English team be just as offensively impotent as years past. I don't know why Hodgoson played Henderson and Gerrard. You can get away with maybe one, but both stagnates any midfield creativity.

[ederson]

They formed a great duo in the EPL. Liverpool was pretty impressive last season

 The problem is that there wasn't a 3rd midfielder to act as playmaker. Looked like Rooney had this role but he can't pull it off

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Apparently only 38% of players in the English Premier League are English, so that is another issue. Settling down to watch Costa Rica, who have been to 4 World Cups, against Italy who have won 4 World Cups 

[Who]

That looked like a clear penalty for Costa Rica. Italy lucky to get away with that.

Ah nevermind, Costa Rica got the goal they deserved right after the non-penalty call. Bryan Ruiz with the header. Great run by Ruiz to lose his defender and get on the end of that cross. Had lots of ground to make up to get on the end of that cross.

[Casperian]

Clear penalty.

1-0 for Costa Rica!

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

And Costa Rica take the lead.

[azzenfrost]

Doesn't look like Mario will get the kiss he wanted. But there's still plenty of half left. Play on!

[Casperian]

In a way, Italy is pretty disappointing. It's all Pirlo and nothing else in build up play.

[Who]

I hope Insigne can add a spark. You'd think his dribbling skills could a little something extra.

[Who]

Costa Rica have been really impressive. Again. I didn't think Costa Rica had another one of these in them. Kudos. This win guarantees them place in knockout round, right? Sensational achievement for Costa Rica.

Not impressed with Italy. Too open defensively and not good enough going forward to overcome that. Do not like a title hopeful. Disappointment. I think they are going to have to change things around from this system. Not well balanced.

[azzenfrost]

If Italy loses, England is eliminated, right?