Come high, come low, a win tomorrow

This is why:


Group E Table

1) Croatia P 4, W 3, D 1, GD 10, PTS 10

2) Russia P 4, W 2, D 2, GD 4, PTS 8

3) England P 4, W 2, D 1, L 1, GD 4, PTS 7

4) Macedonia P 5, W 2, D 1, L 2, GD 1, PTS 7

5) Israel P 4, W 2, D 1, L 1, GD 3, PTS 7

6) Estonia P 3, L 3, GD -4, PTS 0

7) Andorra P 4, L 4, GD -18, PTS 0


And this too:


Robinson;

P Neville, Terry, Ferdinand; Carragher;

Hargreaves

Gerrard, Lampard, Lennon;

Rooney, Johnson.


Are we a nation which considers itself at the national football level too good to fail or is it because we are English that we take for granted we have automatically earned the right to compete in elite football tournaments? Because when England do play, we have a high expectancy of winning the game, be it a friendly or otherwise. For myself, I expect us to win games because of the comparison between us and the opposition and on analysis of the players chosen in both sides.

Most of us presumably are familiar of the Israeli members Tal Ben Haim & Idan Tal (both of Bolton Wanderers), Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United), and a brief glimpse of Ben Sahar (Chelsea), and that does not go on to suggest Israel are inferior to England and a win is therefore inevitable. I say a win is the only result because of the calibre of players we have at present and how they play, they can equal most of the Europe's best. As such we have a stronger chance of doing well in competitions than before, provided the players play fully to their abilities as they do domestically.

I for one would love for David Nugent to come on and score, the first Preston North End player to be chosen since Sir Tom Finney in 1959. But intriguingly is that we have Andy Johnson and Wayne Rooney fit and ready to start, two of many who we have yet to see unleashed fully for England together. Both pacy with a keen eye for goal and they have good attacking midfielders to help them. Quite simply Steve McClaren and John Terry need say no more than go out there, maintain possession, shut down the opposition quickly and attack their goal with fervour.



RedsMan.