2014 FIFA World Cup

[Lineker]

Why would I want Uruguay's best player to be recover in time to play us? Gives us a better chance if he's not on the field :/

Argentina have dropped Werder Bremen striker Franco Di Santo from their provisional World Cup squad. Coach Alejandro Sabella has trimmed his 30-man squad down to 26, with Getafe defender Lisandro Lopez, River Plate right-back Gabriel Mercado and Catania midfielder Fabian Rinaudo also dropped.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro).

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ever Banega (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St-Germain).

[King Ellis]

It just goes to show how shit England are and how shit we are as the England fans. It's not like there's a Uruguayan EWB out there with people quaking in their boots over the prospect of Phil Jones recovering from his knee problem. :/

[Gazz]

Wayne Rooney says 'there is no excuse for me not to perform at this World Cup'.

So, what will be the media excuse when he's anonymous for three games and we come home?

Heat?

Number of games in the season?

Niggling injury?

Lack of Coleen?

Too much Coleen?

Voodoo?

[Thrilla]

a. He's not actually as good as everyone wants him to be.

[Matt]

Suarez will probably be fit, apparently that operation takes about 3 weeks at most to recover from.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

EDIT: Nothing to see here, didn't realise it was already out

Edited May 22, 2014 by JeriCodeBreaker

[Mad Jack]

Why does one of the best players in the world's nationality make a difference?

Because Uruguay are in our group and we have to play them?

People are essentially saying "their best player is injured! Get in!" which I think is pretty sad.

Actually I'm saying Suarez is a massive cunt who dorsnt deserve to be in football.

The fact he plays for Uruguay (a frankly overrated Uruguay) doesnt even factor into it.

[brenchill]

He doesn't deserve to "be in football"?

[Arjen Robben]

I'd have thought that since he is a massive cunt that football is the exact perfect place for him to be.

[TCO]

If we removed all the massive cunts in the game there'd be very few players actually left.

I know I'd be a bit of a cunt if I had all that money and talent.

[Baddar]

You're doing well enough in that respect without it!

[TCO]

You're doing well enough in that respect without it!

You're making me blush!

[Lineker]

England squad numbers

1. Joe Hart

2. Glen Johnson

3. Leighton Baines

4. Steven Gerrard

5. Gary Cahill

6. Phil Jagielka

7. Jack Wilshere

8. Frank Lampard

9. Daniel Sturridge

10. Wayne Rooney

11. Daniel Welbeck

12. Chris Smalling

13. Ben Foster

14. Jordan Henderson

15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

16. Phil Jones

17. James Milner

18. Rickie Lambert

19. Raheem Sterling

20. Adam Lallana

21. Ross Barkley

22. Fraser Forster

23. Luke Shaw

[Jimmy]

I really hope that's not indicative of our starting line-up.

[King Ellis]

Didn't they have complaints the last time they fucked around with the numbers of people like Gerrard and Lampard? You'd imagine Gerrard would be playing but Lamps is probably up in the air.

[Lineker]

Gerrard and Lampard will always be #4 and #8 at every tournament they go to.

[TCO]

I wouldn't read too much in to it. Both Henderson and Lallana are wearing they're club numbers so they might have a preference for those.

[Baddar]

Shaw would have asked for 23 too.

[GoGo Yubari]

USA 23-man squad:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Most notable cut by miles and miles is Landon Donovan, who has admittedly been in really bad form all year. I really don't like this final roster, has an air of "we have no chance of making it out of this group anyway so let's get our youth players experience for 2018."

[METALMAN]

Shaw would have asked for 23 too.

Really? Did he tell you this?