Come on Germany

[Stef Troll]

Fuck em all. Apart from England the only teams I wanted to see do well were Ghana and Australia.

It's a shame looking at the teams left 'cos you've got Germany who've only beaten one decent team in 5 years and that was on penalties, France who looked utter wank in their first couple of games and would have been knocked out in the first round if Switzerland and South Korea had drawn and Italy who've been pretty average as well. If we'd beaten Portugal there was no reason why we couldn't of gone on to win.

England were piss poor in the world cup, and would have been the worst team remaining in the final 4 if they would have qualified.  France would have beaten England comfortably - thats unless England stepped up a few gears

Germany have been playing good football, and deserve to be in the semis

The Italians have had a lucky draw, but you can only beat whats in front of you.

The French started off shit, but unlike England, when the French said they would improve - they did

Portugal have played some good football, but lack a decent striker who can clinically finish.

I can't see England winning a major international tournament untill they host one of the events

France were much much worse than us in their group games, very very lucky to even get through which we weren't and they weren't that great against Spain. Brazil were playing shite anyway. Had we got through I think we'd have had no problems at all beating France. Italy only scraped through against Australia by cheating. Only Portugal and Germany have actually played well, with Germany it's just home advantage and they're actually pretty shit.

France were defintaely much worse then England in the group games.  However the difference is, France knew they had to improve, and they did.  They stood up to the plate, and improved when they had to.  Their big time players like Viera, Henry and Zidane performed at the top stage, unlike Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard.  England had probably one of the easiest passages to the quater finals.  However like most other tournaments, when England have to play against decent oposition, they lose.  I'd much rather face Ecuador and Portugal then Spain and Brazil.


As for Germany, well i personally feel they are a decent side.  They may not have the household names in international football, but they are both physicially and mentally disciplined. Ask most England fans if they reckon they would have beaten Germany in the final, then i'd imagine that in their hearts of hearts, they'd say no.

[Ben Wah Balls]

Going on the form in this tournament I would much rather of played Brazil than Portugal. I saw all Brazil's games and they were extremely average - worse than us definitely, they were lucky to get to the quarter finals. Portugal on the other hand had been playing well and beat Holland, another very good side.

The only decent side Germany have beaten in 5 years is Argentina and that was on penalties. I don't think there's a chance they'd have got this far if the tournament wasn't in Germany.

[Stef Troll]

Going on the form in this tournament I would much rather of played Brazil than Portugal. I saw all Brazil's games and they were extremely average - worse than us definitely, they were lucky to get to the quarter finals. Portugal on the other hand had been playing well and beat Holland, another very good side.

The only decent side Germany have beaten in 5 years is Argentina and that was on penalties. I don't think there's a chance they'd have got this far if the tournament wasn't in Germany.

What decent sides have England beaten in the last 5 years (where the games have meant something - and not just a pointless friendly)  Probably in 2002 when England beat Argentina ?

[Ben Wah Balls]

This is including friendlies for Germany though. We've beaten Argentina twice and Germany 5-1.

[Stef Troll]

Germany beat England 1-0

Theres no point counting friendlies, as they are pointless.  You have to look at the records in major tournaments - in which case, except for euro 2004  the Germans have been far superior in recent times

[Ben Wah Balls]

Germany beat England 1-0

Theres no point counting friendlies, as they are pointless.  You have to look at the records in major tournaments - in which case, except for euro 2004  the Germans have been far superior in recent times

Not in the last 5 years they didn't.

You can't just discount euro 2004 - it is the most recent tournament that Germany haven't hosted and they were shit.

[Stef Troll]

Germany beat England 1-0 6 years ago then   (or in the same qualifying campaign as England beat Germany 5-1)

You cant discount that the Germans got to the world cup final in 2002 as well, and they won euro 1996, and they got further then England in world cup 1998.  

The Germans are better then England.  England may have better players, but as a team, the Krauts are better.  In this tournament, they've been the most solid and consistent team in the tournament.

[Ben Wah Balls]

Nah they're not better than England, not even close. They've been carried along by the crowd so far but they've not been playing amazingly well. Against Sweden and Ecuador they weren't bad. Argentina v Germany was a poor quality game from both sides, England V Portugal was a better game.

Fact is none of the teams left in it are really that good. If we'd played to our potential we really should have won. That's why it's such a shame we didn't.

[Stef Troll]

Nah they're not better than England, not even close. They've been carried along by the crowd so far but they've not been playing amazingly well. Against Sweden and Ecuador they weren't bad. Argentina v Germany was a poor quality game from both sides, England V Portugal was a better game.

The stats dont lie.  England are a quater final team, and untill they proove otherwise, they wont and shouldnt be regognised as one of the best teams in the world.  

As for Germany being carried through by the crowds - well England have had their fai share of fans in Germany.  All games England played must have felt like home games for them.  Therefore, Germany being carried along by the crowds doesnt really make sense

[Simon Pieman]

You can't just keep changing the argument to make your point  

On paper I think England have been the better team than Germany in the last 5 years. In practice Germany have been better.

To say England haven't beaten decent sides in the last 5 years is silly though.

[Ben Wah Balls]

As for Germany being carried through by the crowds - well England have had their fai share of fans in Germany. All games England played must have felt like home games for them. Therefore, Germany being carried along by the crowds doesnt really make sense

Apart from the tournament being in Germany.... :-))(

The point is the hosts generally do well in these tournaments. eg. South Korea in 2002, England 1966 and 1996, France in 1998, Italy in 1990, Portugal in 2004 etc, that's why Germany are doing well despite not being that good.

England should be recognised as one of the best teams in the world because there aren't many other teams who've managed to get to the quarter finals on so many occasions. France went out in the first round last time, so did Portugal, Germany went out in the first round in Euro 2004, I think Italy did too.

England consistently reach the quarter finals, that doesn't show they aren't one of the best teams it shows they are one of the best teams because you have to be good to do that.

[Dazzza]

Viva La France for me, only really because I tipped them as a good outside bet pre-tournament and to be honest the rest of the sides left I detest them the least.

Cheating Italians to break German hearts is my order of the day.

[red macca]

cmon you dirty german shits,i have germany at 9/1 to win on pens tonight

[DMR]

BWN finally proves he's merely trying to provoke then.

Australia? Whjat the fuck is wrong with you?

[red macca]

fucking wops :evil:  :evil: