England beats Croatia 5-1 to reach World Cup

Hutch - I know that the British bookies are saying that Spain is the odds on favorite to win the 2010 World Cup but I think 2010 will be the year that England makes it at least to the final four! They have the speed and talent to carry them this time without relying on Beckham or any one player. But, there is always the possibility that you are right. I do think Fabio Capello is a better Coach then who they have had in a long time and I think he will have them prepared. In any case, it will be a great World Cup and all I can say is GO Deutschland!!

OKAY! I admit that England gets a lot of media attention in the US and ESPN is now broadcasting the EPL here also. But - it's not like we ask for it - I mean we ran the British out of our Country twice already but they keep coming back!!! Seriously though, they do have a good team but for some reason just can never seem to get it together when it counts. 1966 is their one and only World Cup win and despite their talent laden teams since then, just can't win the big ones! However, I have the feeling that the 2010 World Cup will see England come the closest since 1966 to winning another World Cup! I look for them to be one of the final 4 teams.

@ PACHECO:

*Wow! You wear contacts, glasses? Can't really tell from your gangsta pic? You said: 'diving is what eduardo did falling after he passed the goalie..' What do you think Rooney did?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0UdpLNiD-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hz6Tus-AZc

*Apparently, Rooney is known to be a constant diver:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm5-zLu8S9U
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cmpozcslIA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtwWLaTmiic

*And it seems you haven't a got a clue, what diving is?

*It seems you too have been brainwashed or your just ignorant or both?

*"Everyone who watches me play knows I am an honest player," the 23-year-old attacker defended in regional journal; The Manchester Evening News. "I play the game as honestly as I can." An interview given a few days ago. Hypocrisy? Rooney is a cheat, liar and a big diver. 2 blatant dives in one week, and he gets away with it? Funny Martin doesnt bring this up, yet Eduardo was front page stuff? I hope Fifa deals with this accordingly and if Eduardo was punished for a dive, so should Rooney.

*Pacheco, go get a clue, before you open your mouth again...As for the rest of your comment, I haven't got a clue, what it is your mumbling, its gibberish, where you go to 1960s, plane crash, alien invasion...? Anyway's I'll be patiently waiting for your response.....Cheers

I think England probably has the best team in the World from top to bottom as far as talent goes. However, having the best 11 players in the World does not make that the best TEAM in the World. I know I will get arguements from Brazil, Germany, Italy and everyone else but I feel England does have the best players. England has always had great players but have only managed one World Cup since the WC began in 1930. Germany is another team that man for man is probably right up there with England. Most of the other teams rely on 4, maybe 5 players to carry them thru but their talent level falls off noticeably after that. The only change I would make for England would be to add Michael Owen to their National roster. Afterall - he is their 4th leading all-time goal scorer in International play!

My dear country Nigeria should not loose sleep as God of soccer shall see us trough to the SA either by genuine or otherwise. Congrats Brazil the potential winner and all the countries that have qualified

Gerrard scored 2 goals should be the headline. One of Fat Frank's goals was a PK. Gerrard is England's greatest hope of winning anything.

When it comes to worldcup matches being played at preliminaries, its quite difficult to predict which team will make it to the next level.we have seen Brazil struggling at times to go past group stage despite being voted Fifa top ranking soccer nation.Iwas personally surprised by how U.s played during the confederation cup in S.Africa. They displayed typical modern football despite bein seen as underdogs.keep it up U.s you will be the 2010 world chaps.

England might have the best league in the world so far but that doesnt make them the best in the world,lets wait and see in S.AFRICA,there are the best among the best and the rest. Sorry the QUEENS keep working very hard its just a revenge for what happened in last EURO nothing else. For Argentina add more chilly or otherwise no L.MESSY miracle in African soil.VIVA 2010 VIVA!!!. TITANAH Gaborone BOTSWANA.

Why we alwayes mix our feeling about politics with sports specially soccer.I'm an Iranian which may
hates British policy around the world but I love EPL and English national team.these days they play
fantastic under the Don Fabio coaching and players like Rooney, Lampard,Gerrard.

As far as the U.S. is concerned, I will give you a little tidbit on why the U.S. will probably not get out of group play in the World Cup. Oneywu is probably the U.S. best defender and he said point blank that he had trouble playing in the English Premier League because the game was too fast and he couldn't make his defensive reads fast enough to adjust. The EPL is fast and basically a physical and mental grind. Other leagues I see are more finesse leagues, with the German League being very physical as well but without the speed of the EPL. So, with that being said, the U.S. has an improved offense and a coach that allows them to create somewhat, but its their defense with will prove to be their downfall. Also, they just aren't as athletic from top to bottom as a team like England, Holland, Brazil, Spain.

England is not a contender for the World Cup. Even commentators in England knows they are average at best. Qualifying time and world cup play is two totally different things and although England looks like they can beat anyone in the world, when the world cup comes around, they will be exposed for what they are which is an above average team that will probably not make it out of group play or at the most make it past the round of 16.

I am surprised that nobody gives any credit to African teams whose levels are so much higher than 4 years ago. This next World Cup will show everyone that big name teams will be faced with quite athletic and skilled African teams, that will surprise everyone. Africa has awoken in the domain of sports and when the issue of lack of training facilities (and consequently adequate training) will be resolved, Africa will most likely dominate football. African teams play very beautiful football. Only 5 out of 53 very good teams go to the World Cup. FIFA?

DIVING? U don't know what diving is. rooney didn't dive. its a ref making a bad call. plain and simple not diving. diving is what eduardo did falling after he passed the goalie. as for england's chances at the world cup. football is about recent results. england has them, brazil struggled for about a year before the confed cup.anybody cares to bring that up. ofcourse not! they were like fourth in the qualifiers before the summer started with the cup. as for the u.s. depending on their group they will be lucky to make it out of the group stages. dont judge them on 1 and half games at the confeds by those standards spain and italy should struggle at the wc. will they? no. England only won the wc at home. what??? they won right. france won at home right? what about losing 5 to 7 members of the squad in munich air crash? u think that made a difference for the team of '62?base them on recent results because brazil, italy,germany and argentina, performances of multiple of past championships has nothing to do with what will happen next year!!!!!!!

England may have only one star above their crest but how many countries have NO stars!
England might not be the football power they could be or we want them to be, but they are always
dangerous and a contender at the WC. And as for calling them a joke, well you must be Croatian or a fool!

*I totally agree with thirdsoot!

*Kevin: I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate England, but yes I hate the bias that exists within the media. I'm sick and tired of how England always gets the attention, when other clubs/national sides deserve it more or at least equally, since football/soccer happens to be the world's sport. And yes England are overrated, performances in the last 3 decades proves it! England hasn't won any tourney's recently such as European Cup, Youth World Cups, the Olympics, Confederations Cup...according to past world cup winners, a standard prerequisite to any world cup winning team-ask Brasil, Italia, France, Germany and Agentina. So how can they win the coveted world cup? Lets be real, England are always look good on paper but when it comes to the real thing, they choke and flop!

*When Eduardo dives, he is made an example of, his picture is on every English website or any other football website with English analysts, with a big wanted sign, yet Rooney dives twice in one week, and it briefly makes the news, it just fades away? WTF

*Kelly: I hope you neglecting Spain is just a typo, or are you that naive? Have you checked the Fifa rankings, but more importantly they happen to be European Champions, if you think they dont have a chance in South Africa, then you are watching the wrong sport!

just enjoy the games...

why do people just hate england, look at a comment here insulting them, hate the sport not the team

If there has ever been an overrated side the last two decades it is England. They have one star above their crest and that final was played on home soil. The founders of football are an absolute joke on the world stage.

I'm sorry to break it to you but yes you can discount the US. Even playing their best they are not going to make it past the quarters. I realize this is an American thread but all the jingoism in the world is going to change that.
Argentina will also be hampered by Maradonna's lack of experience. Brazil are always up there with Germany but England are looking better than they have in the last 40 years. Spain are solid and Ghana have a great opportunity on their own continent which has historically been a good indicator of the winner.

Can't discount Spain or the U.S.

Congratulations! England will be among the top contenders for the title along with Brazil, Germany, Holland and maybe Argentina if they get their act together... this will be a good world cup.