England v Chile 15/11/13

[sputnik]

Meaningful friendly or a waste of time ?
I expect England to win comfortably, though tbf I know fuck all about the quality of Chilean football.

[Sanguine]

Were heading out of the World Cup, but turned it around with five wins and a draw to qualify third from CONMEBOL. They've also had friendly draws with Brazil and Spain (both away from home) in their nine match unbeaten run. Barca's Alexis Sanchez is their star player. Arturo Vidal of Juventus ain't half bad either.

[Sanguine]

Fwiw, since that embarrassment against Croatia, we've only lost twice at home in 6 years (yes that game was 6 years ago ) and 35 games.

[Big Foot]

Frank Lampard set to get golden cap before kick off for getting 100 caps

[stealthpapes]

Portugal vs Sweden >>>> this

frankly Nigeria vs Ethiopia tomorrow is >>>>> this

[soggy biscuit]

I think the Portugal Vs Sweden game is on Sky.

Will probably watch that instead

[Hoop Blah]

I think these two games, and the rest of the build up to next summer will potentially be quite interesting.

I like the way Hodgson is bringing unfashionable but good young players into the squad. They're mainly reasonably technical and intelligent players who could really envigorate the squad and have chances of pushing out some of the established players given a good run of form and a bit of confidence. It reminds me a little of when Sven first took over and he picked a lot of players purely on form.

There will no doubt be some chopping and changing and there's potential for a disjointed performance, but it's going to be interesting to see how Hodgson handles the squad.

[sandman]

Frank Lampard set to get golden cap before kick off for getting 100 caps

A great achievement that will go well with his multiple World Cup and European Championship medals in a stellar international career.

[Stuka]

Just been given free tickets in CLOLub WembLOLey

[jd82]

Frank Lampard set to get golden cap before kick off for getting 100 caps

A great achievement that will go well with his multiple World Cup and European Championship medals in a stellar international career.

I'm not in the BF/NFA Lampard love in, but you've made yourself look a right oxf*rd here sanders.

[Big Foot]

Frank Lampard set to get golden cap before kick off for getting 100 caps

A great achievement that will go well with his multiple World Cup and European Championship medals in a stellar international career.

I'm not in the BF/NFA Lampard love in, but you've made yourself look a right oxf*rd here sanders.

Agreed - it's all a bit

[sandman]

Frank Lampard set to get golden cap before kick off for getting 100 caps

A great achievement that will go well with his multiple World Cup and European Championship medals in a stellar international career.

I'm not in the BF/NFA Lampard love in, but you've made yourself look a right oxf*rd here sanders.

I don't know who you are but thanks anyway for your irrelevant opinion.

Don't really see what is wrong about a comment on Lampard and his failure to win silverware during his international career. I would say the same, and have in the past, about the rest of the English "Golden Generation".

Hard fact is he, along with his team mates who have reached 100 caps, have failed to fulfil their promise and no amount of posturing over the internet by NFA and his mini me can hide that.

[jd82]

To use the vernacular, you know someone is rattloled when they pull the "don't know who you are" line.

I'm presuming you think getting 100 caps for your country is of no consequence.?.

[jd82]

In response to your edit, the only promise I can see they've failed to live up to Is the massive pressure/overhype thanks to the red tops and thier readership.

[sandman]

Believe what you want to believe. I genuinely couldn't care less what someone I don't know on an internet forum thinks of me and I am sure you would say the same.

No, I don't think that in the grand scheme of things that it's a great achievement, especially given the fact that there are so many more friendlies now compared to when the likes of Charlton and Moore reached the same amount of caps.

I think Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol and Fernando Torres would agree with me that whilst it's an achievement to get 100 caps it's what you achieve whilst winning those caps that really counts.

Can just imagine the conversation between Torres and Lampard at the Chelsea training ground,

Lampard, "I've just been presented with a Golden cap for reaching 100 international appearances. Do you want to see it?"

Torres, "Yeah I've got over 100 as well. I've also won two European Championships and the World Cup. Do you want to see them?"

[sandman]

In response to your edit, the only promise I can see they've failed to live up to Is the massive pressure/overhype thanks to the red tops and thier readership.

Given their achievements at club level both Domestically and in Europe I'd say that Red Tops or no Red Tops they have failed to live up to their promise.

[jd82]

So in summary - all international careers are meaningless unless you win something.

[Sanguine]

No, I don't think that in the grand scheme of things that it's a great achievement, especially given the fact that there are so many more friendlies now compared to when the likes of Charlton and Moore reached the same amount of caps.

Not true. At least, not on the face of it. Bobby Moore's 108 caps came in just over 11 years. Bobby Charlton's 106 in a shade over 12 years. Ashley Cole has 105 caps in essentially the same time period. Beckham's 115 took him 13 years.

Gary Lineker won 80 caps in only 8 years in the England team. Lampard has the longest, in terms of time span, England career of any outfield player (just under 14 years), except Stanley Matthews, who was playing for England aged 43.

[stealthpapes]

So in summary - all international careers are meaningless unless you win something.

Its relative to expectations of both player and team.

But its notable to see the hint of expectation ramping on this thread for next summer.

[NewCorkSeth]

So in summary - all international careers are meaningless unless you win something.

As an Irish man and Irish national team supporter who has many English friends I get no end of abuse whenever I criticise the English National Team, most of which goes along the lines of "Ireland are shit" and "When have Ireland ever won anything" My response is usually to point out the population of Ireland is 4.5 milllion(thats under half the population of London), that our footballing organisation is a joke (in terms of league and management) and that we have next to no youth development.

But anyway back to my point! All international careers are not equal.. You cannot compare the careers of Irish internationals to English internationals. Why I hear you ask? Simple! It boils down to two main things 1)Nations footballing prowess and 2) Players available. In both those categories England is in the top brackets in the world! They have a fantastic league structure up there with the top leagues worldwide and they have fantastic players in many positions. They, in short, have everything required to build a successful team and more importantly competition winning team. After all the point of competitive sports is to win and be recognised for winning. Ireland dont have the players to build a competition winning team but they can build a successful team because success for a small nation is much less than success for a big nation.

Getting 100 caps for Ireland is less impressive than getting getting 100 caps for England due to the competition for positions England has. However getting 100 caps for England during a time where the team has not won or come close to winning any competition is as impressive as an Irish international getting 100 caps.. So yeah.. 100 caps for England you say? well done! he really played an important role in all of Englands recent success.