The England thread

[Rafael]

Venezuela is looking sharp recently, they got into the semis of Copa América for the first time and they managed results against Brazil and Uruguay. It's not like we lost to Sweden 4-2 you know, we actually beat them.

With Pato scoring.

TWICE.

Edited November 24, 2012 by RafaelFms

[EddieG]

I actually went into that game with confidence that Venezuela could beat them, they've had a rocky World Cup qualifiers but reckon they could qualify for the first time.

[Khain]

If Venezuela qualifies and Chile don't, I'll kill myself. Our one big problem in the qualifiers is always Brazil. And without Brazil, It should have been so fucking easy but it wasn't.

[Lineker]

If Venezuela qualifies and Chile don't, I'll kill myself. Our one big problem in the qualifiers is always Brazil. And without Brazil, It should have been so fucking easy but it wasn't.

Remember this post, folks (Y)

[Rafael]

Sampaoli is their new coach. He's awesome, he's like Bielsa. If Chile don't qualify for the World Cup with Sampaoli, sorry Khan.... your team sucks.

Edited November 25, 2012 by RafaelFms

[Rafael]

If Venezuela qualifies and Chile don't, I'll kill myself. Our one big problem in the qualifiers is always Brazil. And without Brazil, It should have been so fucking easy but it wasn't.

I miss the times when there used to be a crisis in the national team, then we faced Chile, beat them 8-0 and everything was fine.

[Jimmy]

Venezuela is looking sharp recently, they got into the semis of Copa América for the first time and they managed results against Brazil and Uruguay. It's not like we lost to Sweden 4-2 you know, we actually beat them.

With Pato scoring.

TWICE.

Yeah, but we're higher than you in the World Rankings. :/

[Rafael]

Venezuela is looking sharp recently, they got into the semis of Copa América for the first time and they managed results against Brazil and Uruguay. It's not like we lost to Sweden 4-2 you know, we actually beat them.

With Pato scoring.

TWICE.

Yeah, but we're higher than you in the World Rankings. :/

Do you actually rely on the World Rankings to rate quality?

[Rafael]

Double Post.

Edited November 25, 2012 by RafaelFms

[Jimmy]

Yes. I was being completely serious.

[Rafael]

Yes. I was being completely serious.

You suck, then!

[Jimmy]

hahaha, I don't even know how to reply to that.

brilliant.

[Adam]

I'm not sure why Rafael has been intent to start a rivalry with England for these past few days.

[brenchill]

It's because we pointed out how shit the Club World Championship is.

[Rafael]

No, England just suck.

[Adam]

You clearly just need to be reminded of this again: Reason England are a better team than Brazil.

As you can clearly see Raf, England are twice as good as Brazil.

[Rafael]

You clearly just need to be reminded of this again: Reason England are a better team than Brazil.

As you can clearly see Raf, England are twice as good as Brazil.

Then we suck twice more than England, simple as that.

According to Coca-Cola of course.

Edited November 25, 2012 by RafaelFms

[King Ellis]

This is the England thread, not the Brazil thread. :/

[Colly]

Brazil don't have a thread, that's how shit they are.

[Lineker]

England have avoided holders and strong favourites Spain in the group stages of the 2013 Uefa Under 21 Championship.

Stuart Pearce's team, who were runners-up to Germany in 2009, are in Group A along with hosts Israel, Norway and five-time winners Italy.

Group B appears to be the tougher of the two pools with Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Russia making up the quartet.

The tournament starts on 5 June with the final on 18 June.

Pearce's side qualified for the championship with a 2-0 aggregate win over Serbia, a success which was marred by scuffles between players and staff on both sides.

The England U21 coach said he is "excited" about the competition, but wary of his group opponents despite the draw appearing "easy on paper".

"We will have to be at it from the off to beat the very best young teams in Europe if we are to succeed in this tournament," said Pearce.

"We are in with the hosts and they'll be backed by some great home support. Norway we know all about and there was very little between us in qualifying. Italy are technically very difficult to break down and we have experience of them in the past. On paper it might look easy, but it never works that way. We are excited by it.

"We shouldn't forget that, as much as we're looking around at other teams and talking about their qualities, they'll be looking at us and probably talking in the same terms about our qualities. After all, we are a team that has just gone through a calendar year unbeaten and without conceding a goal - few can boast a record as solid as that. That is credit to the players.

"This will be our fourth tournament, and we'll bring great experience with us in the summer, especially within my staff. That doesn't guarantee success of course and we'll need a strong squad, who are fit and in form. We are coming to Israel to win it."

England senior squad manager Roy Hodgson said he hoped the best players would be available for the tournament - England have suffered in the past with the the withdrawal of high profile players from the squad.

He added: "You can't deny the importance of tournament experience. I really hope the clubs appreciate the value of their players getting tournament experience. It won't just help them internationally, it will help them in their club careers."

Venues and match days are yet to be confirmed by Uefa.

GROUP A

Israel

England

Norway

Italy

GROUP B

Spain

Netherlands

Russia

Germany