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Yes, my gut instinct is that England will feel less pressurised but Hodgson will want to see some positives for the future. I'm not sure Rooney-Hart as captain and vice-captain will work. They don't strike me as leaders. Having said that, the importance of the captaincy is a very British thing. It's more a figurehead appointment in other countries. But that's for the future anyway.

As for Tuesday's games, a draw will suit both Costa Rica and Italy. We know Italy can play for one if they have to but they're more likely to work for a lead and then hold on to it, saving something for the next stage. They probably have more in the way of players that can change games but Uruguay have to win and will be all out to do so. They will need to be very well disciplined to avoid being sucker punched, something I imagine will be very much part of Italy's game plan: encourage Uruguay on to them and break at pace. Gordon Strachan told us how to reduce the impact of Pirlo the other night. It will be interesting to see if Poyet has passed on the info!

England-Costa Rica is trickier altogether. CR will be happier playing the runner-up from C and can only lose the top spot if they lose and either Uruguay or Italy win by a couple of goals. I can see CR trying to play a more containing match but am not sure if they are used to that, which would make them vulnerable. England obviously have only further pride to lose and will want to show the world they are better than their results suggest (which they are) but too gung-ho an approach will leave them vulnerable too. Am I right in thinking if Greece beat Ivory Coast they will be ahead of them regardless of goal difference? If that's the case I half-expect Greece to be really up for the match and I wonder how IC might react to that. Japan have to go for the win to be in with a chance of second and Columbia might want to save themselves a bit and hope IC don't get any more than a draw.

Either way, I think I'm going to have to find a way of getting two tellies into one room!

<blockquote data-quote="Desert Orchid" data-source="post: 2487325" data-attributes="member: 65242">Yes, my gut instinct is that England will feel less pressurised but Hodgson will want to see some positives for the future. I&#039;m not sure Rooney-Hart as captain and vice-captain will work. They don&#039;t strike me as leaders. Having said that, the importance of the captaincy is a very British thing. It&#039;s more a figurehead appointment in other countries. But that&#039;s for the future anyway.As for Tuesday&#039;s games, a draw will suit both Costa Rica and Italy. We know Italy can play for one if they have to but they&#039;re more likely to work for a lead and then hold on to it, saving something for the next stage. They probably have more in the way of players that can change games but Uruguay have to win and will be all out to do so. They will need to be very well disciplined to avoid being sucker punched, something I imagine will be very much part of Italy&#039;s game plan: encourage Uruguay on to them and break at pace. Gordon Strachan told us how to reduce the impact of Pirlo the other night. It will be interesting to see if Poyet has passed on the info!England-Costa Rica is trickier altogether. CR will be happier playing the runner-up from C and can only lose the top spot if they lose and either Uruguay or Italy win by a couple of goals. I can see CR trying to play a more containing match but am not sure if they are used to that, which would make them vulnerable. England obviously have only further pride to lose and will want to show the world they are better than their results suggest (which they are) but too gung-ho an approach will leave them vulnerable too. Am I right in thinking if Greece beat Ivory Coast they will be ahead of them regardless of goal difference? If that&#039;s the case I half-expect Greece to be really up for the match and I wonder how IC might react to that. Japan have to go for the win to be in with a chance of second and Columbia might want to save themselves a bit and hope IC don&#039;t get any more than a draw. Either way, I think I&#039;m going to have to find a way of getting two tellies into one room!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Desert Orchid, post: 2487325, member: 65242"] Yes, my gut instinct is that England will feel less pressurised but Hodgson will want to see some positives for the future. I'm not sure Rooney-Hart as captain and vice-captain will work. They don't strike me as leaders. Having said that, the importance of the captaincy is a very British thing. It's more a figurehead appointment in other countries. But that's for the future anyway. As for Tuesday's games, a draw will suit both Costa Rica and Italy. We know Italy can play for one if they have to but they're more likely to work for a lead and then hold on to it, saving something for the next stage. They probably have more in the way of players that can change games but Uruguay have to win and will be all out to do so. They will need to be very well disciplined to avoid being sucker punched, something I imagine will be very much part of Italy's game plan: encourage Uruguay on to them and break at pace. Gordon Strachan told us how to reduce the impact of Pirlo the other night. It will be interesting to see if Poyet has passed on the info! England-Costa Rica is trickier altogether. CR will be happier playing the runner-up from C and can only lose the top spot if they lose and either Uruguay or Italy win by a couple of goals. I can see CR trying to play a more containing match but am not sure if they are used to that, which would make them vulnerable. England obviously have only further pride to lose and will want to show the world they are better than their results suggest (which they are) but too gung-ho an approach will leave them vulnerable too. Am I right in thinking if Greece beat Ivory Coast they will be ahead of them regardless of goal difference? If that's the case I half-expect Greece to be really up for the match and I wonder how IC might react to that. Japan have to go for the win to be in with a chance of second and Columbia might want to save themselves a bit and hope IC don't get any more than a draw. Either way, I think I'm going to have to find a way of getting two tellies into one room! [/QUOTE]

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