England

[Kato]

a list of good things to come out of the Hungary game, found this pretty funny. Only put a few in though..

1. David Beckham has his best game for years
Criticised, and rightly so, for recent lame performances in an England shirt, the captain put on a good display of passing. Even his free-kicks and corners cleared the first defender (I cannot remember the last time that happened) and caused mayhem in the opposition defence.

2. No new metatarsal injuries
For once, England players make it through a match without serious inujury. Gary Neville was substituted due to a slight thigh strain but it is no cause for concern.

3. Steve Gerrard does something
Ever the hero when he plays for Liverpool, Gerrard has played poorly for England. His last good game was against Germany in 2001. Last night he scored a good headed goal from a Beckham free-kick and went on a few penetrating runs that unsettled the Hungarian defence. That may not be enough to ensure he plays the second striker role in the World Cup, however.

5. John Terry scores
It was the Chelsea captain's first goal for his country and signifies England's power from set-pieces now that Beckham has remembered how to cross the ball.

 

[Jimmy]

Gerrard will shine if England continues with a five-men-midfield. The problem is that I don't see any team who uses just one striker to be able to win the World Cup. And if England goes back to 4-4-2 it will limit both Gerrard and Lampard. So it's tricky.

Weird to place Carragher as the defensive midfielder though. I thought it would be Carrick. Yes, Carragher is very versatile, but he's no starter in a World Cup on such a position.

 

[Kato]

lol, that was plan C.. it wasn't too bad I guess...

 

[Hammoudi]

The commentators on TV were suggesting that it would be better if Gerrard played behind the front striker, sort of a support-striker I guess.

I think that would be a brilliant idea. Some of the goals he scores show a striker's instinct.

 

[Inter101]

Joe cle's obviously cemented his place in the egland starting 1. He was brilliant last night. beatiful assist to crouch.

 

[Hammoudi]

Yeah, J Cole played well. He could have easily had two goal if the GK didn't save the first and the second didn't hit the post.

Also, Beckham could have had 4 assists as well. Those 2 missed by J Cole, and the assist for the first and second goal.

Crouch's celebration was cool too This guy get so much crap that I wish he scores freely in the WC and sticks it up to those who make fun of him. ( I used to, but I respect him now and think he is more than just height.)

 

[cozzi]

Crouch's celebration was cool too

That was one of the best goal celebrations i have ever seen. I thought he dislocated his back and was trying to pop it back in but it turns out he was trying to do a robot! England has gone robot mad, it was even on the news.

Again WTF was Sven doing playing Owen up front on his own. Its impossible to play a small injured person up front on his own. Please play Crouch more, and never play hargreves again, i lost count the number of times he gave the ball away.

 

[Hammoudi]

That was one of the best goal celebrations i have ever seen. I thought he dislocated his back and was trying to pop it back in but it turns out he was trying to do a robot! England has gone robot mad, it was even on the news.

Glad to hear that. One of the Sportcasters here thought it was stupid, but the other liked it. I loved it, it was fun and cool. I am glad England has gone robot mad!

Man, next time Peter scores in the WC, he better damn do it :boogy:

 

[Frisko]

Katie



Got you one of those too

Plus look at this:

 

[Hammoudi]

:boogy:
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060601/6/70s8.html

Can you do The Crouch?
1 June 2006
by AFP



Enlarge Photo
Photo Gallery

He looked a bit like an unoiled crane trying to manoeuvre in high winds, but Peter Crouch's unusual goal celebration in England's FIFA World Cup™ warm-up game has apparently sparked a dance craze.


The 6ft 7in (2.04 metre) Liverpool striker embarked on the jerky blend of body-popping, robotic dancing and moonwalking after scoring England's second in the 3-1 win against Hungary on Tuesday, to the bemusement of everybody watching.
But the 25-year-old may just have sparked the latest novelty dance like the Macarena, YMCA or the Time Warp.

"Clubs reported punters mimicking the routine within minutes of the Old Trafford game," The Sun said Thursday in a double-page spread with a pictorial guide on how to "Do the Crouch" in five easy steps.
Sky News television played the celebration on a loop, while The Guardian got 12 members of the public, from window cleaners to park rangers, to copy the footballer's moves, marking them out of 10.
The newspaper attempted to shed some serious light on the origins of Crouch's stiff-legged shuffle, sourcing it to gangs in Los Angeles and New York in the 1970s, even getting a street dancer and teacher to give his assessment.

"If he wants to do it properly he's got to be a lot harder when he hits the moves and he's got to stop faster," Howard Tam was quoted as saying.
But the lofty sportsman himself had a simpler explanation.
Crouch told The Sun it came from him "throwing a few shapes" at a glitzy charity party hosted by teammate David Beckham and his pop star wife, Victoria, last week.

"There has been some great banter this week because of it and I thought it was the best way to celebrate the goal," he said.
"The rest of the lads just fell about laughing. Let's hope the country gets to see more of it during the World Cup."

 

[Inter101]

It's all over england?:dielaugh: I loved it when i saw it. Its not every day you see a 6'2" white guy doing the cryptwalk/robot dance

 

[Alex de Large]

For me Crouch is one of the most underrated players ever, THE GUY IS CLASS HEHEHEHHE much better than Zlatan.

 

[minterke]

Saw highlights, looked as though Beckham was on his game...at least in dead ball situations he was. How did he do overall? Did they play with a 5 man midfield? Why is Gerrard wearing #9?

The following is a 2 part question: A. What is your view on the Canadians in this forum? B. Do you think they'll 1 day take it over?

 

[catanha]

6-0 win over hapless Jamaica.....you would think the English would learn from past experiences.....












Beckham: "Bring on Brasil"

 

[minterke]

6-0 win over hapless Jamaica.....you would think the English would learn from past experiences....




Beckham: "Bring on Brasil"

lol man would I like to see a repeat of 2002. Although this England is an improvement over the one at the last WC, Brazil is as well. Robinson keeps letting in these simple long range shots...and we all know what bad experiences England has with keepers..

First...

Then came...

C'mon Paul...it's all up to you know

EDIT: LOL this is some funny shit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgG09G6U_FI&search=robert%20green

 

[snake]

Im fed up with all this praise towards Crouch. The man is a fkn dufus! He makes Kramer look normal, quite frankly id take both Marcus or Darren Bent ahead of him, id take Harewood ahead of him and the list goes on.

We'l c in the world cup...


Robinson is a freak of a keeper, ill give him that.

 

[Handoyo]

One of the funniest moment this year when a 2 metre freak tried to do a Totti penalty and utterly failed.

Joe Cole has finally answered England's left side problem though. Has been great for his country for the past months or so.

As for Gerrard, drop Becks, play him on the right, bring on Carrick, voila! (This must be my 12345th post about this)


Handyo

 

[minterke]

As for Gerrard, drop Becks, play him on the right, bring on Carrick, voila! (This must be my 12345th post about this)

Han, don't tell me that dropping Becks is a tactical move and not just some sort of jealousy/hatred you have for him

Seriously though, after seeing him recently Beckham is playing with more confidence, he's crossing more and his set pieces usually lead to goals. So why drop him if that 5 man midfield is working well for everyone?

Crouch seems to be a good player as a lone striker, in his current form I wouldn't bench him for any England striker atm. With Rooney coming back and all I would be pretty happy if I was an England supporter.

Joe Cole has finally answered England's left side problem though. Has been great for his country for the past months or so.

I agree 150%, I love Joe Cole and I think he's the best dribbler England's had in a long long time.

 

[Handoyo]

To be honest with you, I was immensly impressed with Beckham over the past 2 friendlies, against high-flyer Hungary & juggernaut Jamaica. But that doesn't change my opinion of him that much. Against tough teams, he is pretty much useless and what's most importantly, Gerrard can do everything Beckham does and some things Beckham doesn't.

Dropping Becks, Gerrard right, Carrick center means that England will only sacrifice their 'Captain Marvel'. But this will give Gerrard more freedom to cut in and have a run to the box just like he does so well for Liverpool.

You can't leave the centre of the pitch abandoned, which will be the case if Gerrard & Lampard are to be given the freedom to make those run into the box, but you can surely abandon the right flank once in awhile.


Handyo

 

[minterke]

Well Han, these past 2 seasons for RM Beckham has been a key player for them and their most consistent winger. Hamed posted somewhere that he had the most balls that lead to goals in the entire league or something like that.

Against tough teams, he is pretty much useless

That's a huge overstatement. Beckham at Man Utd was a CL king, even at Real he played terrific in the CL and the Classico last year...I disagree with you entirely.

Not saying Beckham is incredibly good, but you can't say that he's completely useless either