Like all footy fans whenever it comes to a big international competition I build up my hopes and convince myself that we stand a chance only to see them fall apart when up against any half decent side. You only have to watch the old England vids with Lineker, Gazza, Beardsley, Pearce, Waddle, Robson etc and its easy to see whats missing, a bit of fight and the will to win. When was the last time you seen someone like Pearce screaming his head off commanding the back line and running the show in the middle of the field? you dont!! theres too many pasty faced young kids with their fingers stuck up their a***s playing today.

The press should also butt out as well, all they want is sensational headlines, they want to build people up just to knock them down. The press hounded Shearer out of that team claiming he was finished 4 years ago despite the fact he continues to score more goals than Fowler, Owen, Heskey or any other English striker year after year after year. The press were the ones to appoint Heskey as Owens partner now they are relishing in destroying the bloke.

Individually we have some very good players with Scholes, Beckham, owen and the rest but it just doesnt show when it comes to the crunch. When im England manager it will all be sorted so dont worry, theres still hope.

Paul

Yup I agree.

Shearer is still the best striker in the country. Well English one anyway.

Tell me when Shearer has had a goal drought. They they slow down at some times and then start again but he scores goals.

Heskey, went 35 games at Liverpool without scoring. 35 games!!!!!!. Most of a normal season, when is positions job is to score goals.

He went ages without a England goal too, and I think the time he scored to stop the England drought was the 5-1 over Germany, so his goal wasnt important. Infact I think his was the 4th goal.

I feel the press picks the side too. I see a lot of matches at work and the performace of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand have been very bland and not played well since the world cup. To me Sol have been average since leaving Tottenham. Even though they where out of it for this match, they would have been in if fit. They are not picked for thier acheivements and hard work over the last few months which it should be, 1 or 2 good performances over 6 months ago.