i think losing Owen is a massive blow. i think it will be very difficult 2 win it without him but i'm remaining postitive.

no but then again i never thought they could win it :)



i am a pessimist the glass is always half empty :D

they have a strong squad but i doubt Sven's ability & judgement.

Why did he bring Walcott if he is never gonna play him ? will he ever drop Beckham ? Why were players like Defoe & Ledley King ommited from the final 23 ?

diwash I think all England fans are asking the same questions as you...but because love is blind many of us still choose to believe that something magical can happen.

Losing Owen is a kick in the you-know-where for the England squad both psychologically and physically...During the Sweden match, for a while they seemed a bit shaken and scattered. As if all their plans went down the drain b/c of Mike's departure. Of course they can still do something without Owen, but it looked like they did not believe in themselves.

Having Rooney back in the starting line-up might have been a confidence booster for a moment, but it is not the answer to all their problems--especially if he does not regain his full sharpness. More than that, they should be concerned about Sven's ability to adapt and rebuild w/ what he has left: inexperienced Walcott, hesitant Crouch, the shadow of Wayne Rooney, frustrated Lampard, an anxious back four, a dull Beckham, and so on and so forth. They are losing their grip very fast.

I get the feeling that there is no central figure in the team that can really push them and make them believe that they can win. Becks is there, with the captain armband on, but he is not leading his team--and neither is Sven.

If England do keep on progressing, I think it is inevitable that Walcott will need to be played as a substitute. For his sake I hope the opponents will be having a bit of bad luck on that day. :) Poor lad will probably be too overwhelmed to breathe for the first few minutes.

There are lots and lots of issues about England that could be discussed, I have just jumped around on a few of them! As a fan I am still hoping they get their bloody act together...but so far they have not convinced me that they are capable of going all the way. *sigh*