England’s chances?

Tuesday 17th June

Before the tournament began very few of us had high hope for our chances.  Yes, we had got to the finals but our group was tough.  Mind you they all are these days.  Time was when there would be one good European team, one from South Africa and a couple of minnows; cannon fodder that occasionally played well enough to cause an upset.  The reality now is that all 32 teams are formidable.  There are no easy games.  Our first match was against Italy, regular winners of the tournament and still amongst the favourites this time.

And we lost against them.  Only just, though as far as points go that makes little difference.  But we played exceedingly well, and actually had far more chances and shots on targets than the Azzuri.   A little bit of naivety at the back let them score twice against our one great goal.  So it goes.  But Roy hodgson’s decision to go all out for a win and play our new talented youngsters in preference to some of the older slower players was the right one.  How are these younger players going to get international experience unless they play against the best.

As to our chances, of winning the World Cup still none, and even getting out of their group will be hard.  As usual it is all nail-biting stuff.  We have to win our next two matches, because Uruguay who also lost, though more surprisingly than us, are in the same boat and have to win the next match against us.  If we lose that we are out.  And then we have Costa Rica, who if they lose against Italy will be desperate to beat us to qualify.  In a way it mught be better this way.  Had we drawn against Italy we might have relaxed against the next two.  Had we won of course who knows?  Honestly I think we are capable of getting to the next round, but in football anything can happen and with England it usually does.