But he does have a bunch of superstars only if they start playing to their reputation minus the hype.
You can start with David Beckham, the English skipper and face of the team, who's just playing on his past glory and Eriksson doesn't have the balls to drop him from the starting eleven. Eriksson might not have the guts to drop his dead-man-walking captain but he certainly hasn't lost his wit:
'I am not married to him, even if you think I am. I'm not even engaged to him.'
And you can end with Peter Crouch.
But the coach is confident, or at least he makes an effort to sound like one:
We have reached the stage of life or death for the team now, not just for me, and that is extremely exciting. I think we will thrive on it and firmly believe you will see a better performance from England. We will play good football and we will win.
We hear ya.
Upset factor: 4/10.
By the way, if England loses, here's a suggested headline for the British tabloids: "BOTCH IT LIKE BECKHAM"
Portugal over Holland
This is one hell of a tough call. But I would still favor Portugal, although this could go either way. I never like the Dutch anyway.
History favors Portugal. They always seem to get the better off their more storied rivals who appeared in the finals of the World Cup in 1974 and 1978, losing both. In the last 16 years, the two teams faced each other five times (excluding friendlies), Holland managed to win only once, losing three and one game was drawn. Last time they met, in the Euro 2004 semifinals, Portugal took the honors by a margin 2-1.
Upset factor: 6/10
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Article comments
1 - John Jegeso
though,there's a lot of nuisance caused by Englands die-hard fans, the players themselves are maintaining their humbleness. they are the ones whos going to make the difference in the field and likewise create history. so i do believe england have the potential of making it to the finals.with you beckham!
2 - Douglas Mays
hhhmmm...that last offside in the Argentina/Mexico was indeed offside. the rule is being behind the defender, being in the 'shade' of the player is offside. The Argentinian was even with the Mexican defender when the pass was made to him. Good match, both sides have complimentary styles.
The Netherlands. Give them the match over Portugal. They are tough. The country that brought us Johann Cyruff and total soccer. But, you never know, Portugal is a proud country. "We are not part of Spain!"
Other than that, England better win....I agree, they could go far. Or then again.....
3 - Q Bit
John:
I am not so sure about that. They are brilliant individually but quite ordinary when they play as a team.
Doug:
I am sorry to disagree- there was a far side defender whom the assistant referee completely missed. In fact it's not even close--he was onside by at least an yard. If you could watch the replay, you'll know what am saying.
Holland --well past their glory days of total football. They are a good team - will give him that. But are they good enough to beat Portugal? Probably not.
England will win. If Ecuador can play loose they will give a tough fight, otherwise they are doomed - they cannot afford to get overwhelmed by the occasion.
4 - Douglas Mays
Q, gotcha. You know how the TV chops up part of the vision. So there was a straggling defender who didn't move up for the trap? I was just going on TV vision. I couldn't see the peripheral. Tired players at the end of a match leads to game changing situations.
5 - Q Bit
Doug: exactly so !
6 - Douglas Mays
What is with this out of control Portugal/Netherlands match? It is the 83rd minute. It is quite a mess.....
7 - Q Bit
I agree - %$%$$% mess. Totally out of control - one of the classic do as you please games - even hockey games are more tidy - at least they can legally punch.
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
Ivanov just gave me a yellow card too.
9 - Q Bit
Suss : Just curious - can you get thrown out in curling?
Just in:
Ivanov is the pantsdown winner of the Graham Poll Memorial award.
10 - Douglas Mays
Well, the field temp. was 140 degrees or so (exagerated for humor). Even though my blind Polish grandmother could have called a better match, each side still played well within their style amidst the chaos.
Generally, a good match with a hell of a monkey wrench thrown in.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Sportsmanship runs too deep for people to get tossed in curling. Although I'm sure there's some contingency in the international rulebook, but I'm guessing it leads to a team forfeit if it comes to that.
12 - Q Bit
whoa! team forfeit? sounds real scary -- hv u ever seen people turn blue in curling?
But thanks for the info - I hv made a promise to myself that before I die I want to watch one curly , oops curling game live in person.
And Doug, it was indeed a good match..
13 - Douglas Mays
Could you imagine a bench clearing brawl in Curling? The Canadians would do well there. Swinging brooms and throwing stones while trying to stand on ice. Comedy with a bunch of serious injuries.....
14 - Douglas Mays
Curling is so sedate, it would probably be more like a disagreement at a nursing home during a bingo match.
15 - Christopher Rose
I'm no big fan of Beckham, so much so that I was calling for his sale long before United got rid of him but he played well against Ecuador and what a goal!
The Portugal-Holland match was mostly great football marred by yet more shockingly bad refereeing. At least he did England a favour by sending off two of their important players...
So far I'm 100% on the knockout round results so I'll stick my neck out and say that Australia will beat Italy, Ukraine will beat Switzerland, Brazil will beat Ghana (but it should have been the USA) and Spain will beat France.
That will give four fantastic quarter finals with Germany v Argentina (what a prospect that is), Australia v Ukraine, England v Portugal and Spain v Brazil being another awesome prospect.
Then it will be Argentina v Australia and England v Spain for a place in the final! This is definitely one of the best World Cups ever, with lots of attacking football despite the shocking refs.
16 - Snarkattack
England vs. Ecuador was a pretty pathetic game. Ecuador were at least in the first half showing some sort of spirit while the English just flailed around like plastic bags in the wind. Yeah, bad simile, I know, but I'm sleep-deprived from watching the game at my end of the world.
But there was a hint of Becks in his golden boy days when he scored that one goal...christ, it was a genuine Kodak moment. I didn't believe it till I saw it in replay. Now I'm really excited to see who goes how far. Not expecting big things from England though. Alas!
17 - Q Bit
Chris:
Aus beating Italy -- not going to happen.
Spain beating France - Likely but a close call.
Argentina beating Germany - possible but the Germans have this uncanny ability to win against superior teams.
Spain beating Brazil - not happening.
Snarkattack: Can England play any worse?
18 - RJ Elliott
Beckham scores a goal, England wins...
19 - RJ Elliott
"Aus beating Italy -- not going to happen."
Agreed.
"Spain beating France - Likely but a close call."
Agreed.
"Argentina beating Germany - possible but the Germans have this uncanny ability to win against superior teams."
Germany will advance, simply because they are the WC hosts...
"Spain beating Brazil - not happening."
Brazil will CRUSH Spain, like, 4-1 or something...