International Football thread

[sussexpob]

An attacking threat that has as many WC goals as Emile Heskey? Ok. I don't understand what we lose from going with an all youth approach. I don't think we'll fail to qualify without him nor do I see us winning the Euros or WC with him. Blooding youngsters now may reap fruits in a few years' time as opposed to sticking with a mercenary, who is a proven failure on the big stage and who is in terminal decline.

Proven failure on the big stage? Wasn't he rated in the team of the tournament in 2004 and came close to the golden boot?

Isn't he the 3rd top scorer at the most successful English team ever?

Isnt he also the 3rd top historical scorer in the biggest domestic league in the history of the world?

Didn't he score in a Champions League final?

Didn't he basically assist or score all of our goals at the last world cup, even though played out of position?

Is his 95 caps and 40 goals for England a bad record?

[shankycricket]

1 goal and 1 assist in 11 WC appearances. At no point, did I question his club prowess (I am an Utd fan) although that has been in decline over the last couple of seasons too. The Euro 2004 is the obvious exception. He was brilliant then.

[Gingerfinch]

Rooney's performances and at times desire, like against Italy in Euro 2012 have annoyed me, but he's still better than what we have. Walcott, Sterling, Wellbeck, are all very similar anyway. If he was early to mid thirties, then it this could be a good chance to start afresh, but he's 28, an age where most players peak, especially ones like Rooney, who doesn't rely on pace. He will imo, be better in the next four years, than he was in the last four.

[sussexpob]

1 goal and 1 assist in 11 WC appearances. At no point, did I question his club prowess (I am an Utd fan) although that has been in decline over the last couple of seasons too. The Euro 2004 is the obvious exception. He was brilliant then.

In 2006, Rooney broke his foot and was clearly unfit in time for the world cup. Much like Beckham in 2002, who could barely run, he was deemed so important to the cause that he was taken anyway, and I don't think he started the first match as he was so unfit.... it was only after Michael Owen's knee blew out (and so did his career as a top level striker) that Rooney was called upon to start.

In 2008, we didn't qualify.

In 2010 he was also injured. He had an ankle injury as a result of a foul vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and he had smashed bazillions of goals that season, and Man United risked him in the return leg... in over compensating on his opposite ankle, he ended with both injured, and was still not 100% fit when he played through the tournament.

In 2012 he missed the first two games of the tournament injured, then popped into the Ukraine game and scored the only goal to get us qualified. He still wasn't 100% by the Italy game.

I think even this time round in 2014 he struggled to see out the season, didn't he have painkiller injections before some of the warm ups?

He has never really gone into a tournament fully fit, the exception being the 2012 Euro's

[Gingerfinch]

Owen, Beckham, Gerrard. How many really good tournaments did they have? Most of our players fail when it comes to major tournys. Rooney has time on his side, and like I said, could get better. It's a bit too easy to slag him off, and not the rest.

[braveneutral]

For the record I don't think that Rooney is considered as part of the 'golden generation'.

One thing that is frustrating is the constant use of * to leave little to the imagination. A bit boring.

[shankycricket]

Another below par performance from Rooney.

[yuppie]

So SP, what can you tell us about Norway this evening?

I am expecting Rooney to score, just a gut feeling.

[Gingerfinch]

Aren't Norway fielding a 15 year old tonight?

[yuppie]

Aren't Norway fielding a 15 year old tonight?

Did he make the squad?

[Gingerfinch]

Aren't Norway fielding a 15 year old tonight?

Did he make the squad?

Not sure? I read somewhere (maybe here) that a 15 year old was playing, or was going to be on the bench.

[Aidan11]

They could play 11 fifteen year olds and still beat us.

[Gingerfinch]

Anyone watching tonight? I may, after the bake off, of course.

Haven't a clue how good Norway are, but I'll expect they'll be disciplined etc etc.

[sussexpob]

The 15 year old Martin Ødegaard isn't playing. He debuted last week in a friendly against UAE, but didn't make the cut.

[sussexpob]

So SP, what can you tell us about Norway this evening?

Get your money on "any score unquoted" as Norway could take an absolute battering tonight. Their whole starting defence is unavailable, which is usually a saving grace, and Jarstein is not listed to start in goal.

Players to watch for us....

Havard Nordtveit - Finally getting a chance at CB where I personally feel he is much better, got every quality to make it to the top apart from pace.
Vegard Forren - Same type of player, lacks pace to make it to the top, but generally can be tidy at CB
Per Ciljan Skjelbred - Naturally a CM, but often gets pushed to the right wing, where he lacks the pace. Tidy passer, can create chances.
Yttergård Ruben Jenssen - Another neat passer, bit better defensively, everything will tend to go through him.
Alexander Tettey - Our Yaya Toure, apart from the fact he never scores, cant pass, but will close down and make tackles all match
Mats Møller Dæhli - Young lad still, lots of hopes he can come through, but very inexperienced.
Joshua King - The Norwegian Danny Welbeck - expect lots of running and energy, some pace, nothing else
Tarik Elyounoussi - Left winger, can be a goal threat and one of the few Norwegians with pace, not brilliant technically.


To be frank, the CB pairing having a good game is enough for me, because these two need to show some of the promise they had earlier in their careers. The midfield can keep the ball, but lacks pace a lot. The striker force are not much of a threat. Jarstein isn't in goal, and has been replaced by Nyland, who isn't very good.

4-0 if England can be bothered.