By now everyone will have seen the England squad, and despite the media focus on Tiny Theo Walcott, I don’t think there were many surprises. Naturally from a Red perspective, it would have been fab to see former Forest skipper Michael Dawson on the ‘plane, but he has still got at least one World Cup and two Euro Championships left in him 
In Forest news: Bryan Roy (fresh from representing the Reds’ Seniors in the Masters tournament) has come up with the usual platitudes about how we “should be in the Premier League”, and also an explanation (but not an apology) for his disparaging remarks when he left Forest; rookie midfielder Mark Byrne has been rewarded for a decent season at Rushden and Diamonds with a new contract at Forest; and one of our own, ten year-old Hannah Tongue, got a VIP day at Wembley and a chance to write a match report on the play-off final – well done Hannah! Of course I am taking it for granted that you all know that Billy Davies is committed to the club and “[looking] forward to this great challenge”.
I hope to blog throughout the World Cup and will naturally be focusing on England’s progress – I am starting to look forward to the football fest! For what it’s worth I think the strongest teams are likely to be Brazil and Argentina (although it is naturally difficult to predict how any team presided over by Diego Maradona will fare!); Spain may suffer by the absence of Senna and possible lack of sharpness (if not fitness) of Iniesta, Torres and Fabregas; and potential dark horses Germany and Ghana will both be missing their midfield talismen of Ballack and Essien.
I don’t want to make predictions about how England will fare, although I am happy to state that I think that, for the first tournament in years, we have a team that has the potential to be greater than the sum of its parts – much like Forest for much of last season!
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Just for a bit of fun: find out what your Brazilian footballer name would be…
Comments
As for Forest, no news yet but it’s early days. I’m very happy that Billy is staying on though. We can build on last season now and look positively to the future.
As for England, I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the Mexico game. Walcott was the stand out and yes, I appreciate he hasn’t been that great this season, what with injuries and all, but he poses the most attacking threat England have and he can score. Why take Shaun Wright Philips who’s done nothing this season? I think that has sealed England’s quarter final exit from the competition once again. And Dawson is much better than Ledley King, should have been on the plane. He must be better that Upson. It looks like a team full of old heads with many not been that great or consistent this season. I would have gambled with youth and experience and taken Dawson, Walcott and Adam Johnson. Watch now, england will go and win it! Ha, I don’t think so. Can’t wait for next weekend however, I’ll still believe and support though on paper, it reads a different story.
Got to say I agree with the above Pachuca Red. There’s probably a degree of bias, but Dawson has had a stonking season and deserved at least 45 minutes to prove himself for England. Why include him in the 30, not play him and then drop him from the 23? I would have taken him ahead of Upson and King. With Upson it is a matter of average season in a poor team vs a player who was key to the defence all year in a top 4 team. With King the worry is that we will need him when/if a key player is cropped and if he has trained too enthusiastically prior to the game he will not be available. Can’t see Capellos logic tbh.