Page 1 of Imagine England without Owen, Gerrard & Beckham.........Arrrgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that Beckham is out, what if Owen & Gerrard are injured as well??? (I just have this feeling that somehow Owen or Gerrard will pull their hamstrings (what`s new??) in one of the remaining matches this season)

So,.. now imagine England play in this World Cup without Owen, Gerrard & Beckham........... Arrrgh!!!!!!! God, please save the three lions.

Cheers,........

I cant believe all the fuss they`re making `cos Beckhams injured!!

The way they`re talking its as if we shouldn`t bother to even goto the Far East if we havent got Beckham!!

1 man doesn`t make a team..... Although he`s quality, if we think we`re that good then we should be able to find someone to replace him!

Always remember that Beckham is the man who got you to the World Cup in the first place and, being the most influential captain of recent years, is integral to the team`s success and morale. Although to be perfectly honest I really couldn`t give a s***..... I`m Irish. Good luck England, I`m afraid you`re going to need it.

<<Although he`s quality, if we think we`re that good then we should be able to find someone to replace him!>>

Isn`t this the crux of the matter? England are a decent side, but we`re NOT realistically world class.

At least not yet, anyway - maybe the 2006 World Cup, when some of the current crop of youngsters have more experience, but I think we`re falling into the usual trap of talking up England`s chances going into the competition, beyond where they should realisitically be set. It just then hurts all the more when we come a cropper!

For what it`s worth, I do think that Beckham is genuinely world-class, and maybe Owen too, but there`s no-one else in my view who would make it into a World XI, or maybe even a European XI.

And before I get flamed for being unpatriotic, there`s no-one who would love to see England win the World Cup more than me - I get as worked up about it as any real football fan, but I just can`t help but think that people are (once again) over-estimating England`s capabilities and how far they`re likely to get - with or without Beckham.

I gree with Mark Turner, England are not "World Class". I wish we were, but to you need to be able to say your first choice 11, are among the best players in the world. And they are not.

Beckham, Owen are among the best, but l don`t think anyone else can be called true world class.

I do think we have a great team who can give the best a real challenge, but when it comes to the crunch, England fail.

The current team do really have the potential to be World Cup winners, but theres a way to go yet!

I will of course wear my shirt and hang my flag out the window come June

"Hope is a good thing, Red maybe the best thing!" -
-Shawshank Redemption

France seem to do well without a team full of world class players. :)

I think its a terrible thing to loose such a good player so near to the World Cup, and it will have an effect on the side because he was the captain and lead by example when it came to determination and spirit.

But one thing the England team always has a habit of doing, is making World Cups memorable and exciting. I think whilst all international squads care about winning for their country, our players (and fans) have been brought up to care just that bit more.

With Beckham being as fit an athlete as he is, maybe he will recover in time for further rounds if our team get that far. This could end up as one of those fairy tale film endings where we win the whole thing despite the odds. But then of course we could just go out in the semis again to someone on penalties.

Either way I`m sure it will be an exciting tournament.

<<France seem to do well without a team full of world class players. :) >>

Can`t really argue with the first part of that statment, Robert - anyone who can win the World Cup and the European Championships within a two year period is doing something right!

That said, I`m not sure I can agree that the French don`t have world class players. Marcel Desailly is getting on a bit, but can still cut the mustard at the back. Zinedine Zidane is arguably one of the best creative attacking midfielders in the world (or, if not the world, at least Europe) whilst Patrick Viera is right up there with the best in terms of defensive midfield duties. Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, when they play to the peak of their abilities, are also amongst the best in the world. And even allowing for his occasional comedy goalkeeping moments, Barthez is amongst the best keepers in the world - off the top of my head, there`s really only Buffon that I`d take in preference.

In terms of Beckham`s availability, I was reading this morning that Ryan Giggs had a virtually identical injury a few years back and was fit and ready to play again within 30 days. Granted, people heal at different rates and there`s no guarantee that Beckham will match that speed of recovery, but I don`t think we should be assuming the worst JUST yet. You can bet your life that Beckham himself will move heaven and earth to be fit again if he can!

...what if Andy Cole is called up?

Heaven help us !!!

I`m off to find some Irish Grandparents just in case !!!

My nan is Irish, does that mean I can support Ireland too? Mind you looking at their football team maybe I`ll stick with England. ;)

To quote Ewen McGregor in Trainspotting

"I haven`t felt that good since Archie Gemmill scored against Holland in 1978"

Beckham or not, England haven`t the bottle to win the World Cup. I`m supporting France due to the Auld Alliance.