Just a draw needed to top the group - but I wonder if they have a preference between Germany and Ecuador? If they do maybe they could... engineer the result if they have to :o

Flat pack! roflmao roflmao roflmao

You know what Sam, I call England FLAT PACK because Sven is Swedish and I swear he runs Ikea! He would certainly be more use selling cheap crap furniture than trying to run a footie team anyway! Be honest, the England team have all the power and personality of a flimsy flat pack MDF bookcase! roflmao

Well that itsinteresting what you say - as in Germany or Ecuador? I think either will be a problem for us. Ecuador I understand are no pushover and are underrated.

Ecuador could be dangerous because they were unknown and now, having shocked the world, they have momentum. However on paper they are worse than Paraguay!

I wouldn't want the Germans in their own country, nice as it would be to take them out early! :D

You know when Sven thinks he's solved a problem, do you think he shouts 'ulrika' instead of 'eureka'? roflmao

roflmao

I don't see his appeal myself. He hasnt; helpe dEngland much and is too busy shagging foreign ladies on his travels! Unles she has some surprise peice of MDF in his flat pack this time! :D

I can't see what attracts women to him eithr - it's very strange!

Naturally I don't fancy football managers - Just stick to the female tennis players my age :P

shocked the world? It was well known that ecuador are a good team - they beat the big 2 from south america and qualified comfortably with a game to spare (ahead of paraguay). They have looked probably the best team out of the four/five that could play each other (England, Sweden or T&T vs Germany/Ecuador). England have to win the group in my eyes because nothing is really gained by playing to get the ecuadorians than the germans and having a 100% record seems the better option to me.

Only one problem from me, Owen "i cant kick a ball to save myself" Hargreaves. Ok im exaggerating but hes had numerous chances and failed to impress each time for the national side though he has been good in the bundesliga. If he doesnt take his chance this time hopefully its the last we see of him in an england shirt.

oh and back to normality...Owen & rooney up front :D

Mkk - Ecuador's achievement in beating Brazil and Argentina in Quito (their capital) is not really that great when you consider that the play at high altitude, giving them a distinctly unfair home advantage. they got 28 points in qualifying - 23 were at home. If they hadn't that advantage they wouldn't have qualified, so they have shocked the world in proving they have some ability.

Owen Hargreaves Is best suited to the system at Bayern Munich, where they run a tight ship and play like one. Not his fault, but England are very different to them.
Carrick should get a go.

i dont like this altitude excuse. at home they comfortably beat all the teams except brazil (they even beat argentina with ease and thumped paraguay) but even on their travels they were rarely outclassed. they managed to confine the "big 2" to one goal (each) and defended well (delgado was injured for a few matches as well). They dropped a few pts away from home as well as they had qualified and rested players. i admit they play better at home - most teams do! but dont you think the altitude was played on a bit too much?

No i don't mkk!

The ecuadorians, having lived there for generations, would be better adapted to the conditions. I believe I read somewhere they have slightly bigger lung capacities to get the extra oxygen!

Maybe the visiting teams used it as an excuse too much - but it is quite a factor I have to say.

looks like the altitude excuse was valid - 2-0 Germany at half time, Klose scoring another two to add to his tally.

I'm surprised a big club hasn't come looking for him - He's lethal!

England will want to get a draw at least now so we can take on Ecuador

You think? I can tell you for sure that is not the team that will come out in the 2nd round (half the team was rested and the main men were missing esp delgado and one of the tenorios).

However, I do agree that it would probably be better to avoid germany now given that they'll now be buoyed and with home support very dangerous. Ecuador will still be very tough in the next round (if england top the group) - england have done nothing to suggest that they will stroll past them. Finishing top would probably have the benefit of avoiding the argies (defo the danger team) in the QF but they both have to get there first and argentina also have to finish top....

Ecuador will have taken a blow though with this result regardless of who they rested. England should be able to take control of the game against them and hopefully may be ruthless enough to make it pay in the second round, although now we have no predatory goalscorer in the squad that could be tricky.

We'll find out how good the Argies are tonight when they take on the Dutch - Serbia were beaten before kick-off with the argies, and the Ivory Coast proved in the first match that they are vulnerable.