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How Do England Stack Up?

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
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According to the FIFA World Rankings, England are Europe's 5th best team. This (coupled with a small debate I'm having in the "Capello Is The Man" thread in Spurs Chat) made me wonder whether my opinion of England being little more than cloggers capable of serving up nothing better than their usual turgid football was wrong.

I thought I'd do a comparison of what I believe to be England's best side with the possible match-day squads of the top European teams - although I don't know anything about Portugal or France so haven't included them. Bear in mind that there is opinion involved here. I'm not producing what I think England will play at the Euros, but what I believe to be the best team, and the same goes for the others.

England
---------------Rooney----------------​
Young-------Wilshere------Johnson​
-----------Milner----Parker-----------​
Cole----Ferdinand--Terry--Richards​
-----------------Hart----------------​
Subs: Carson, G. Johnson, Cahill, Gerrard, J. Cole, Lennon, Zamora.​
Germany
----------------------Gomez--------------------​
-----------Götze------Özil--------Reus--------​
--------------Khedira-------Schweini----------​
Schmelzer---Badstuber---Hummels---Lahm​
-----------------------Neuer--------------------​
Subs: Zieler, Boateng, Höwedes, Kroos, Müller, Schürrle, Klose.​
Spain
---------------Llorente------------------​
Silva-------------------------------Mata​
----------Iniesta--------Xavi------------​
-----------------Alonso------------------​
Alba--------Pique----Puyol------Ramos​
------------------Casillas------------------​
Subs: Valdes, Arbeloa, Albiol, Busquets, Fabregas, Pedro, Soldado.​
Netherlands
----------------Huntelaar-----------------​
Robben--------Sneijder-------------RvP​
----------van Bommel-----vdV--------------​
Pieters----Heitinga--Mathijsen-----vdW​
---------------Stekelenberg---------------​
Subs: Krul, Braafheid, Boulahrouz, de Jong, Strootman, Wijnaldum, Kuyt.​
Looking at that, I think England's strengths and weaknesses compared to the others are pretty plain. Certainly, England ought to be solid. The defence is certainly better than the Dutch and Hart is on a par with the other 'keepers.​
It's the midfield where England struggle. Milner and Parker is again solid and balanced, and between them they have a decent range of passing, but they lack the creative spark of the other central midfields on show. Bringing in Gerrard for one of them could provide creativity but would damage solidity more imo. The 3 behind the striker will cause teams problems with pace and trickery, but the lack of intelligence of the wingers is highlighted when you compare with the options that other teams have. Moreover, you worry what would happen if one of Wilshere or Rooney was out.​
Overall, I'd say England are clearly capable of being a decent team, but are certainly the weakest of the 4 here - so perhaps the FIFA rankings are remarkably accurate, and at the same time, maybe a run to the semis of Euro 2012 is not out of the question! As I say, I know nothing of Portugal or France - perhaps these are better or on a par. What does everyone think?​
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
Ha, I've just seen the BBC's main football headline. I guess that England team will have Gerrard or Cole in it then.
 

ItsBoris

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
7,468
8,604
England would be:

Hart
Richards Lescott Terry Cole
Carrick Wilshere
Lennon Rooney Young
Welbeck

IMO. Rooney never plays on his own up top, he is too influential to play there. Team doesn't look too bad. I don't think I would have either Parker or Milner in.
 

donny1013

Well-Known Member
Nov 4, 2005
5,646
946
Technique and passing ability loks the most obvious difference compared with those 3 sides, they can keep the ball for fun.
 

Partizan

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2005
6,573
3,405
FRANCE XI:

---------------------------Lloris--------------------------​
Sagna------------Rami---------Abidal--------------Evra​
---------------------------Diarra--------------------------​
-----------------Cabaye------------Nasri-----------------​
----Remy-----------------------------------------Ribery--​
-------------------------Benzema--------------------------​

SUBS: Mandanda, Kaboul, Mexes, M'Vila, Malouda, Valbuena, Giroud​

ITALY XI:
-------------------------------Buffon---------------------------------​
Maggio-------------Barzagli----------Chiellini-------------Balzaretti​
--------------------------------Pirlo-----------------------------------​
------------De Rossi--------Montolivo--------Marchisio------------​
---------------------Rossi------------Cassano-------------------------​
SUBS: De Sanctis, Abate, Bonucci, Motta, Giovinco, Balotelli, Pazzini​
PORTUGAL XI:
-----------------------------Eduardo-------------------------------​
Joao Pereira------------Pepe----------Carvalho------------Coentrao​
-----------------------------Veloso---------------------------------​
------------------Meireles-----------Moutinho---------------------​
-Nani-------------------------------------------------------Ronaldo​
------------------------Postiga----------------------------​
SUBS: Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Rolando, C. Martins, Danny, Varela, Almeida​
That's how I think these 3 teams would look like if they were at full strength, if that isn't it, then it has to be somewhat close. Picking the XI and Subs for France was particularly difficult though, as there are a few others that I couldn't fit in and probably deserve to over others.​
Most of these players with the exception of Rossi, Abidal and Carvalho should make it to the Euros.​
 

Luka Van der Bale

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2011
6,041
13,611
Think France are better than England in a technical, on the ball sense as well. That leaves England as (at best) the 5th best team in that regard.
 

Dundalk_Spur

The only Spur in the village
Jul 17, 2008
4,956
7,688
In don't think England stack up at all.

No outstanding midfielder that can produce that bit of magic, and consistently go past a man or two, probably haven't had that since Gazza. They only have one top class striker, who won't play the first two games anyway. The back four all have a mistake in them,as well as discipline problems, and the centre halfs at the moment are injury prone. Going back to the midfield, Milner?? What has he done to deserve a starting place, and Lampard will probably play anyway.

Another thing that is important, is the team spirit. None of the other teams (maybe except the Dutch) let club team loyalties get in the way, but with England you always sense there is an undercurrent between some players. Probably haven't had this since the 1996 Euros, is the PL to blame??

I am English born, but lived in Ireland most of my life, and I have always supported the English football team, which has earned me a few bruises. However, the shite that we as a club have had to put with because of the FA, and to be honest the thoughts of cheering the likes of Cole, Terry and Rooney makes me feel ill.

So even though they have no chance of getting out of the group, I am going to be green, white and gold in June, and support a team that hopefully will fight for each other against the odds.
 

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
26,946
61,826
Greece didnt stack up that well in euro 2004, but it didnt matter. Like it or not we are never going to "outplay" these teams. Hopefully the england management team (whoever they may be) have watched the recent chelsea performances and taken note.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
Just thought I'd bump this back up now that squads have started to be announced and there's some discussion in the other thread.
 

kishman

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2005
10,575
771
Reporter: Roy, how do you feel not having Wayne for your first 2 games at the Euros?

Roy Hodgson: Why the fuck you givin me a weather you fuckin' pwick!
 

kishman

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2005
10,575
771
I would be surprised if Terry is in the squad. Anybody know if Cahill is going to be fit? Or even Dawson.

Who are the CBs going to be? Rio, Lescott are almost certain. The other two could be any from, Smalling, Jones, Caulker and Jagielka.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,563
I would be surprised if Terry is in the squad. Anybody know if Cahill is going to be fit? Or even Dawson.

Who are the CBs going to be? Rio, Lescott are almost certain. The other two could be any from, Smalling, Jones, Caulker and Jagielka.
I think it'll be Lescott, Jagielka, Cahill if fit and Rio. If Cahill's not fit then one of Smalling or Jones, probably Smalling. Don't think Caulker will be called up regardless of how well he's done at Swansea.
 

InOffMeLeftShin

Night watchman
Admin
Jan 14, 2004
15,104
9,113
England
---------------Rooney----------------​
Young-------Wilshere------Johnson​
-----------Milner----Parker-----------​
Cole----Ferdinand--Terry--Richards​
-----------------Hart----------------​
Subs: Carson, G. Johnson, Cahill, Gerrard, J. Cole, Lennon, Zamora.​

That England squad is horrendous compared to some of the opposition sides.

I think it'll be Lescott, Jagielka, Cahill if fit and Rio. If Cahill's not fit then one of Smalling or Jones, probably Smalling. Don't think Caulker will be called up regardless of how well he's done at Swansea.

I would say this is probably right which means that Caulker will be almost nailed on for the British Olympic squad.
 
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