Only 24 hours until England lose to Italy in the World Cup group stage! I'm excited at the prospect of watching Andre Pirlo et al tear Roy Hodgson's team apart, but former England captain David Beckham remains optimistic, and he's confident that England's Liverpool contingent can make an impact on the game.
Speaking to Sky Sports this week, Beckham admitted that he's 'really excited' by players like Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge, and tipped the £60m-rated duo to shine during the tournament. He enthused:
"I think he [Sterling] is a great talent, he plays with the flair of a kid who goes out and just plays. The games I’ve seen him play for Liverpool and England, he’s just stepped into a role and deserves to be here.
"[Daniel] Sturridge has had a great season. He’s a talent that can hurt people".
Sturridge is nailed-on to start against Italy, and that's exactly the way it should be. He is inarguably England's best striker, and leaving him on the sidelines would be an utter travesty.
Sterling should start the game, but I personally don't believe he will. Indeed, Speaking to the BBC earlier this evening, Hodgson acknowledged the 'clamour' for the youngster to start, but hinted that he has a 'responsibility' to ignore the hype, and do what's best for the team.
He's right, of course; and there's no getting away from the fact that Sterling coming off the bench is an excellent weapon to have, especially in the humid conditions, where his pace will be a major problem for tiring defenders.
I suspect it will be another Michael Owen situation: Sterling will start on the bench (just as Owen did in 1998), but will come on, make a huge impact, and then retain a starting spot for the next two games, after which, England will be on the plane home.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to Sky Sports this week, Beckham admitted that he's 'really excited' by players like Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge, and tipped the £60m-rated duo to shine during the tournament. He enthused:
"I think he [Sterling] is a great talent, he plays with the flair of a kid who goes out and just plays. The games I’ve seen him play for Liverpool and England, he’s just stepped into a role and deserves to be here.
"[Daniel] Sturridge has had a great season. He’s a talent that can hurt people".
Sturridge is nailed-on to start against Italy, and that's exactly the way it should be. He is inarguably England's best striker, and leaving him on the sidelines would be an utter travesty.
Sterling should start the game, but I personally don't believe he will. Indeed, Speaking to the BBC earlier this evening, Hodgson acknowledged the 'clamour' for the youngster to start, but hinted that he has a 'responsibility' to ignore the hype, and do what's best for the team.
He's right, of course; and there's no getting away from the fact that Sterling coming off the bench is an excellent weapon to have, especially in the humid conditions, where his pace will be a major problem for tiring defenders.
I suspect it will be another Michael Owen situation: Sterling will start on the bench (just as Owen did in 1998), but will come on, make a huge impact, and then retain a starting spot for the next two games, after which, England will be on the plane home.
Author: Jaimie K
If i recall you are a Scott? so i get your antipathy for England. but whoa mate, this isnt critical realism about liverpool, this is baiting your english readers. Sterlings part in the coming game plays second fiddle in this article.
ReplyDeleteI personally hope Englad this time gets trough from the group. And i hope its Hendo who will shine.
Meh, I think you overestimate how much this would annoy English Liverpool fans. The Scousers at least wont be arsed. Can't imagine too many others would be either.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to Jaimie, and Scots in general. He probably doesn't realise the world cup goes on beyond the group stage.
ReplyDeleteI hope England tear Italy to pieces my Italian friends are going to cop it from me, its so fun to see grown people cry.
ReplyDeleteLighten up; it's just banter.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
Haha. True.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
A bit off topic but I would like to extend my sympathies to poor Cameroun.. Official LFC twitter accounts wished all the teams playing on Friday good luck bar the Africans...lol
ReplyDeleteNot many things are worse than the generally ignorant Australian-Italian football fan, so I'll be happy to see them go down to England. But on the other hand, I love seeing a special player like Pirlo work his magic.
ReplyDeleteI actually think England can do well in this WC. If they had a more technical coach, like Rodgers, they would have a greater chance though. I think players like Sturridge, Sterling and Hendo are a new breed that won't drown in automatic failure like the previous generations.
6 Liverpool players will do what I once thought impossible - get me to actively want England to win a sporting event. I will watch every game with a good deal of anticipation and frankly I think I'll be more interested in watching England than Australia. The Socceroos shouldn't take that personally, I've never really cared that much.
ReplyDeleteHodgson should realise that his team needs to start well and come at Italy full pelt, playing a high pace game and attacking from the start. That's how Liverpool won so many games and most teams have already shown nerves and hesitancy in starting this tournament. England have less to lose than previously high-rated teams and they should throw caution to the wind to launch their campaign. Starting Sterling on the bench would play into Italy's plan, allow them time to settle into a controlled and slow-paced match, the exact opposite of what England will want. I think the better option is to start with maximum attack and then consolidate later on.
Hearing there Pete still remember the Grosso incident the Italians dont let me forget i think this is a tougher and technically more able breed of Poms and they will do themselves proud.
ReplyDeleteProud of the socceroos after a shocking start they really put it up Chile Tim Cahill =Legend.
5-3-2 and long balls over the top appear to be the way to win this tournament so England may actually have a chance...
ReplyDeleteYeah after a rubbish start they did well to get back in it and you can see the progress in style, so imagine what someone like Rodgers could do with England.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked us to win 1 game at least but now that doesn't seem likely. Didn't expect anything with this group, but if we don't win the Asian cup next year then it's same sh*t different year and we'll never take the game to the next level in this country.
You know Pete they really need half a dozen kids to step up to the top level and create a team better than the golden generation of players.
ReplyDeleteLeckie played some nice football he kinda came from no where and may make a decent career in Europe hes just an example i suppose.
I believe the talent is there and it now seems there's a decent coach and set up in charge to get the best out of what we've got. But, if you look at the landscape of sport in this country, football is ranked at least third behind two other codes and footy especially dominates the media. It would take serious progress on an international stage for people to wake up and see what fans like you and I see.
ReplyDeleteYou need the players for that and like you said we need a few more to step up. I don't think we are gonna see a Kewell or Viduka any time soon though.
However, things are changing. I don't know if you play for a local team or you have kids who play the game, but now in order to play for a local club your registration and everything else is processed through the FFA online. It must be a way of spotting more talent and up until last year this process didn't exist. It's the same for becoming a coach too. Hopefully it's a step forward.
I just want the game in Australia to be treated like it is in major Euro leagues as it's the only way to improve. I like the other sports we have but football by far has the most potential.
Dreams and semi-rant over :)
Hodgson is a disaster him and daglish almost destroyed liverpool
ReplyDeletedon't expect anything from hodgson , i wish redknapp was manager
So true there is some fine athletes in AFL and Rugby its time for soccer to take their players.
ReplyDeleteThere is no real great pathway for young players and country people are even worse off.
30c expected..........
ReplyDelete