Yes I know but it's still my favourite sport and I always enjoyed playing football more than I enjoy cycling; I think it's the team aspect.
Thinking about the last two England games, I think England have good attacking options but I can't see Gerard and Lampard/Carrick being competitive in Brazil. I don't think either of them can run fast enough any more. Gerard in particular has had players run through mid-field and get ahead of him. That never used to happen. One run tonight by a Polish player reminded me of Peter Reid trying and failing to keep up with Maradonna in the '86 World Cup (2nd goal).
It appears that Lampard can't play two hard games back to back and Carrick doesn't seem to be able to dominate the mid-field. Roy Hodgson needs to really look at his options here. They're very limited (I can't think of many alternatives beyond Wilshire and, perhaps, Phil Jones) but I think he needs to be very ruthless and to try out other players in the friendly games between now and Brazil. Young and full of running will have to be the way, especially as the temperatures in Brazil could well be 30 deg. C.
Defence ? Baines and Cole are world class, Smalling is good but he'd be better as a centre half. Neither Jagielka nor Cahill dominate as much as England need. Right back ? Glenn Johnson, Kyle Walker seem quite flaky. Late run by Micah Richards ? Let's hope so.
Attacking ? Rooney still seems to be a step ahead of most of his team mates although his execution tonight didn't match his ideas. Welbeck works hard but he seems to miss too many (although he got a bit of a kicking tonight) and Sturridge needs to work on using his other foot. Townsend needs to work on his 1st touch but otherwise he's showing the way forward for Walcott and Lennon; if there's space, push the ball past the full-back and then cross it or get fouled. And keep doing it. Unless you
occasionally come inside.
Townsend also has other work to do: he looks like a gazelle when he's going forward and an (arthritic) elephant when he's going back to cover.
Hodgson has too few world class players: Hart, Baines, Cole, Rooney. Sadly two of those play in the same position.....
Quarter finals, semis of we're lucky/get it together.
My opinion only and I'm an MU fan and I would have sold Rooney in August, so what do I know ?