by bigmick » Sat Jun 03, 2006 3:58 pm
England go into the tournament with the best central midfield partnership in the competition. They also in my opinion have the best central defensive partnership in the world Cup and the best left-back by a distance. The keeper is solid enough, as is the right back while the right midfielder is the best deleverer of a dead ball in football today.
Up top is where the weaknesses lie, as Owen looks nowhere near fir to me and is not in my opinion the player he once was anyway. Crouch while not being World-class will do a job.
It's easy to say "they're not good enough they won't win it" about any cup competition. After all by the nature of a knockout there can be only one winner so almost every time those that pick any team and say "they can't win it" will be proven correct. Based on current and previous form however, it is my assumption that Brazil will certainly reach the semi-finals. Similarly, if they can get their act together then I would expect as the host nation Germany would reach at least the quarters. Argentina are a very good team although like Brazil they originate from the wrong continent in this case. If Rooney was fit, then I would stick my neck out and say I fancied England very very strongly to win it. As it is, I think they go in with a big chance as one of the top three teams in my opinion. We shall see.
As for Shevcenko being the top goalscorer, I think we are confusing being "top striker" with top goalscorer. Knowing football is not the same as knowing gambling.
"se e in una bottigla ed e bianco, e latte".