But, but, Walcott's fast and defenders hate playing against pace!

Seriously though, I'm with you on this. He offers far too little for the international game, it doesn't matter how much pundits bang on about his speed when his end product is so hit and miss. Besides, Lennon is quicker and has much more reliable delivery these days.

But but but he scored a hat-trick against Croatia...and there's no Becksy-Wecksy for the right-hand side...he's fast...he plays for Arsene's "young" team so must be a genius...and and and...

People forget how young he still is, you know.

England are not going to get near winning the world cup. Quarter finals at best.

One of spain germany or brazil to win it for mine with suprise package ivory coast in the semi's.

England are no different now to what they were under sven. We may have a manger with spine but performance against the top teams are the same - we get passed off the park. We have improved under capello because McClaren was before him.

Our squad now is worse than under sven. All our best players are getting older, the only one in his prime is rooney and he's carrying injuries into the world cup.

For the last 12 years at major tournaments beckham has been on our main sources of goals. From free kicks and his delivery. Now we have no beckham.

We'll go out in the quarters, and don't be suprised if it's penalties again.

We'll win it. You'll see.

Sorry, which top team passed us off the park under Capello? The only bad defeat I recall was against Spain last year. Jagielka, Wright Phillips, Carrick, Heskey and Downing all started that game. No Rooney, Ferdinand, Gerrard or Lampard. I'd hope that with 5 improved players in their places we would at least give it a go against Spain,who incidentally are the best team in the world at this time.

I would definitelylike to see more evidence of these top teams passing us off the park as well when you're ready.

Germany's problem will be goals. Their best striker, Kevin Kuranyi, will never play for the national side whilst Joachim Loew is in charge and the rest are average at best. They won't concede many but if they're relying on Mario Gomez to lead the line, they've got no chance.

Any talk of any major nation having 'no chance' is ridiculous. If Italy won it last time with the pathetic performances they made through the tourny (the second round vs the australlians) then any of France, Germany, Holland, England, Italy etc etc can win.

England have as good a chance as anyone else in it imho but we NEED luck (for a change)

I see your point,a great striker is a must if you have any chance of getting close to winning it,mind you France managed it in 1998.

But the German's still have Miroslav Klose to call on,and a very strong midfield with goals in them...Ballack,Podolski Schweinsteiger and Ortzil(who could be the best young player in the tournement)

Ballack is out of the tournament, I wouldn't be surprised if Germany don't get out of their group now.

I think they will, mind you i've got Serbia (in Germanys group) to get to the semi finals

Can't right off the German's just yet

Can't believe it took that long to get this thread's first World Cup cliche!

Still a while before we have the "lottery of penalties" though

In all seriousness, I wouldn't be counting much on Miroslav Klose either. One goal from eighteen Bundesliga appearances isn't the sort of form you want to be taking into a World Cup.

In my opinion, with Ballack out, Germany's hope lie with Mesut Ozil. He's have to pull the strings in the midfield Germany's best player injured. If he fires then Germany will do alright, if not they won't get out of their group.

Id kick Dawson, Carragher, Warnock, Huddlestone, Walcott, Carrick and Lennon out of the squad.

Start with

James

G.Johnson
Ferdinand
JT
A.Cole

Milner
Barry
Lampard
Gerrard

Rooney
Crouch