FIFA World Cup group stages

[Durhamfootman]

except that we can only beat them with pace. Italy can afford to rely on their better technique to beat us without breaking sweat.

Counter attack. Beat them like rocky beat clubber lang. Tire them out. I've lost it............

Rumble in the Jungle..... England against the ropes for 80mins, guard up. Italy steaming in like Foreman... crowd booing England....... then with 10 mins to go and the Italians visibly flagging, Roy makes a triple substitution... Baines bombing down the left, Townsend bombing down the right, and Wallcott bombing down the middle, with their pedals to the metal, terrorising the Italian defence

[mikesiva]

I'm willing to be the Italy-England match is moved from Manaus...the World Cup is about making money, and FIFA will want the opening match to be aired at a time to maximise TV income. They will probably shift the Uruguay-Costa Rica match to the Amazon city....

[ianp1970]

I'm willing to be the Italy-England match is moved from Manaus...the World Cup is about making money, and FIFA will want the opening match to be aired at a time to maximise TV income. They will probably shift the Uruguay-Costa Rica match to the Amazon city....

As an fan I hope you are right, but TV rights are bought as a "job lot" rather than by the game

[Aidan11]

I'm willing to be the Italy-England match is moved from Manaus...the World Cup is about making money, and FIFA will want the opening match to be aired at a time to maximise TV income. They will probably shift the Uruguay-Costa Rica match to the Amazon city....

Those were my thoughts too.

[Alviro Patterson]

I'm willing to be the Italy-England match is moved from Manaus...the World Cup is about making money, and FIFA will want the opening match to be aired at a time to maximise TV income. They will probably shift the Uruguay-Costa Rica match to the Amazon city....

Those were my thoughts too.

Surely you want the World Cup to be as accessible as possible, not everyone will be in a position to watch the game at 2am UK time.

Though that said watching the World Cup on a night out sounds very appealing.

[dan08]

"@BBCSport: The England v Italy World Cup match in Manaus on 14/6/14 has been brought forward by 3 hours to 6pm local time (2300 GMT)"

[Alviro Patterson]

So the match is going to kick off at Midnight as we'll be in BST in June?

[dan08]

A new tweet has been posted saying that it's 11pm BST not GMT.

[Alviro Patterson]

[andy]

still late for an england game where we will probably lose though lol..

[st_brendy]

England squad gets announced on Monday. No provisional squad malarkey. Just straight in with the final 23 names (although seven reserves will be named, and will initially travel).

Roy says he known his 23 for a while now, and I personally believe that 18 of them are fairly easy to call. I'd be surprised if I'm wrong with any of them. But I am still left with five others: a third choice keeper, a second choice left back, and three of the nine midfielders.

Hart
Foster

Forster or Ruddy

Johnson
Jagielka
Cahill
Smalling
Jones
Baines

Cole or Shaw

Gerrard
Henderson
Wilshere
Milner
Sterling
Lallana

Three out of Lampard, Chamberlain, Barkley, Carrick, Cleverley.

Rooney
Sturridge
Welbeck
Lambert

I simply do not see Carroll or Defoe edging Lambert out now, and Rodriguez's bad injury has sadly denied him the chance to. And I've assumed nine midfielders rather than eight, on the belief that Roy wont bother with a natural back up right back. Little point when Smalling and Jones can both cover there (albeit badly). Plus, Walker is currently injured any way - and Roy so far hasn't given Clyne or Chambers a chance.

If you held a gun to my head, I'd say that Roy will pick Forster, Cole, Lampard, Chamberlain and Barkley.

[SaintPowelly]

Barkley and Chamberlain are almost nailed on IMO.

I'd expect Lampard to go for his experience in a youngish midfield, Forster should get the nod and im 50/50 on Shaw/Cole.

[ianp1970]

My two-pennerth, FWIW


Starting XI:

Hart

Johnson
Cahill
Jagielka
Baines

Gerrard
Henderson

Sterling
Rooney
Lallana

Sturridge


Squad:

Foster
Butland

Jones
Smalling
Stones
Cole

Wilshere
Lampard
Barkley
Chamberlain

Lambert
Welbeck

[SaintPowelly]

I really can't see Stones going, hes a had a solid few weeks and thats about it.

Hodgson has said he has known his team for a while, I can't see anyone not in the squad for the Denmark game going

[ianp1970]

I really can't see Stones going, hes a had a solid few weeks and thats about it.

Hodgson has said he has known his team for a while, I can't see anyone not in the squad for the Denmark game going

Fair enough, Milner will probably get that spot anyway.