Italy's drive for five

Definitely have the team to do it. 

 Lets hope so

Did you mean the dive for five? jk  

but in all seriousness  Traffic will move smoothly on college and St. Clair this year.

Unfortunately, Spain will likely tika-taka their way to another cup. Getting kinda boring, but their midfield is too damn good. Add in, they now have a great striker in Diego Costa.

Italy are as bad as England.  They get knocked out in the Round of 16.  Too old and slow, no creative striker.

. At cricket maybe. 

Forza AZZURRI !!!!!  .....

Uruguay or Argentina to win the World Cup. No European team has ever won in South America. Love how all the European teams always get so much recognition and hype. All these games will be like home games for Argentina and Uruguay as they are neighbors with Brazil. We'll see what happens this summer. 

Would agree with that with certain conditions but it's down to the manager to pick the right players. I've said this in another thread. If he picks the squad as I expect full of aging stars and big clubs players, we are not better then Italy. Probably marginally worse given no tactical advantage. Two "experienced" squads full of big names on reputation but in reality, nothing more then average. Pirlo vs Gerrard will be some game for sure and one game I'm looking forward to watching two superb veteran players in the twilight of their careers.

Just wondering has anyone watched football today? We spoke about experience and Glen Johnson is without a doubt absolutely shocking. He is more "experienced" then Raheem Sterling yet it was him who kept panicking and giving the ball away all game!. Experience indeed! He's been doing it all season and Flanagan surely has to be go ahead of Johnson but wouldn't hold my breath with the big names likely to get in.

Everton's John Stones continues to impressed and I'd be disappointed if Smalling or Jones were picked ahead of him assuming Jagielka and Cahill are the two CBs. Jones' confidence is truly shot and he'll be brutally exposed at the World Cup. But I expect Stones to be left out in favour of perceived bigger club players.

Once again Wayne Rooney has shown nothing to warrant his "world class" label with another tepid display vs Everton.  He just slows down the tempo too much and whilst he's still good enough as a squad option, he'll be the first name on the sheet in Hodgson's view. Don't take my word for it, just watch the games! Incredible how much Ferguson got out of an average squad of players and highlights the importance of a manager's philosophy.

Italy to old and slow? England better than italy? You guys obviously know nothing about soccer.

says the man who called football "soccer"!!!! Only in North America. Old and slow is a matter of opinion I'll grant you that. It's subjective but when you have two teams reliant on two veterans in Andrea Pirlo and Steven Gerrard to control the games in midfield, there's little conclusion but old and slow at first glance!

I have to say I do agree it's a little lazy to generalise but I know if Hodgson plays it safe by going for "experience" we will not be good enough and too old and slow especially in conditions that will be very humid and stifling.

Italy has an excellent midfielder in Marco Verratti but there is little world class talent in the squad compared to other nations like Germany and Spain. Italy will be solid defensively as usual parking the bus but I don't see a change in culture to a more attacking style away from the traditional catennacio. The midfield will do its job to protect the defence but where's the creativity through sheer pace and brute force?? All I see is good passers with the vision to unlock any defence but that philosophy only works in a possession based culture and high defensive line.

PIrlo, Montolivo, Marchissio, Verratti and Thiago Motta are a solid midfield unit but again, that term "slow" is at the back of the mind. Perhaps not the right term. Where's the midfield pace to stretch teams on the counter attack? Balotelli is a wild card but I've seen more then enough in his time at Manchester City to know he's capable but he'll need much more support especially as a lone striker. If his midfielders cannot find the legs to get up the pitch to keep defenders honest through movement then he'll be marked out of the game easily.

For me, ENgland has much more scope then Italy but that is dependant on Hodgson picking the right players. If he insists on sticking to the tried and failed formula, all he will have done is repeat previous mistakes whilst expecting different results; the very definition of insanity!

I'd be shocked if Italy make the semi finals but good luck

I am one the biggest fans of the Italian National team you'll ever meet  and even I have to admit that Italy's chances to win the World Cup are very slim. Our supposedly "top" offensive player, Mario Balotelli, has showed the world today that he's way too immature and self-absorbed when he needs to step it up a notch or two in big games and/or against big teams.

giant_causeway, in case you don't know we call it calcio in Italy...what I'm trying to say is that I don't think it's fair to make fun of people because they call the beautiful game, soccer. I could also tell you that you should learn how to spell Marchisio's family name (only 1 "s" mate). Moreover, not sure I trust your football knowledge when you say that Thiago Motta is a solid midfielder. This guy is a disgrace and shouldn't even be on the Andorran National team. As for Montolivo, he's an average midfielder at best who, him to, shouldn't even be on our National team. Lastly, you don't even mention De Rossi...I think that any football fan from any country has heard at least once about DDR.

No worries Campobasso. Calcio, fussball, futbol, voetbal etc. All the same but in the English language surely the North Americans should pay respect to the country that invented the beautiful game and term it football not soccer!!! Only jesting mate! lol.. Nothing serious! Only banter and I apologise if Juveunits took offence.

Daniele De Rossi is incredibly another guy who is "highly rated" by some of the British teams with links to Manchester City, United and Arsenal in the last year or so. Thiago Motta is a water carrier for me and Pirlo far better in that controlling position. I mentioned him but not going to name the entire list of Italian midfielders!!! Nothing special but I don't see him that far behind the likes of De Rossi who you obviously like.

It's all about opinions really. You think DDR is good? Fair enough. You think Thiago Motta is crap? Well unfortunately your opinion doesn't count. We all have gripes about certain players. Mine is the over importance of Rooney and Glen Johnson who, despite being a Liverpool fan, am not blind to his faults. Best of luck with Italy in the World Cup but you'll need to start quicker then you traditionally do. GL

Forza Azzurri but.........defence is weak this time around, team isn't ready for a CUP run.  I think Prandelli likes his chances in 2018 and is building towards that.  Can't see BRAZIL losing at home again

giant_causeway, I really wish my opinion would matter  no clue why Prandelli keeps selecting Motta. He does way more harm than good (remember the few minutes he played in the 2nd half against Spain at the last Euro...he cost us the game, we were only trailing 1-0 at that point). I do like DDR, not only because he's a Roma player and a Roman, but because he's a great holding midfielder (and a also a decent central defender when need be). He's a warrior who fights in every single game like it was his last one, however, he tends to get to many cards for his own good and the good of the team he plays for.

Pressed the "submit" button too fast...

I suspect it could be a bore draw. First game for both I believe. Hot and stifling humidity, Italy always slow starters but England as envisioned won't be creative enough to break the Italians down. Cannot see either side going all out for the win at all.

Needs a goal to break things open. If Italy score they'll probably revert to type and sit back. If England score, it could leave Italy vulnerable on the counter especially with Sterling and Sturridge in the team. On balance I think England will be marginal favourites.

Both managers I suspect will be relying on individual moments of brilliance then any brilliant masterstroke by design from either Prandelli or Hodgson. Don't know Prandelli that well but Hodgson is a cautious manager who had been exposed at Liverpool. Don't think Prandelli will have any problems out-witting Hodgson and the key is whether the Liverpool contingent can bring their club philosophy and experience to the big stage.

Chances are they can if Gerrard, Henderson, Sturridge and Sterling plus Lallana all start. Gerrard will surely have learnt plenty under Hodgson and will effectively be the team coach in telling his players the importance of keeping the ball in these conditions. The worry for me personally is Rooney.

If he goes ball hunting in these conditions as he normally does instead of performing a disciplined role and conserving energy, he'll be knackered at half time and Hodgson will not take his "star man" off even if it's abundantly clear he's ineffective. He will keep him on and effectively gamble on Rooney producing that one moment of brilliance he is capable of.

Too early to tell obviously but the friendlies before the World Cup starts will be educational. Can Steven Gerrard exert his influence and do Hodgson's job for him in preaching possession football? Will Hodgson go for players on merit in his squad selection or on account of who they play for and "experience"?? Will Prandelli throw caution into the wind and attack?

Cracking game and main event for me is Gerrard vs Pirlo. Two "quarterbacks" with influence and stature to override coaching instructions. Both are not strictly defensive midfielders and holding midfielders implies limited influence. Controlling midfielder a better term perhaps but I think the term Libero or sweeper best describes Gerrard and Pirlo.

Good luck! Both teams will need it!