England backtracking on expectation of winning Qatar World Cup

[theonlywayisup]

England's target of winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been softened by new Football Association chairman Greg Clarke.

BBC Sport understands the FA wants the country to be "ready" to win the competition, rather than it being an expectation.
The goal was set by predecessor Greg Dyke (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23963416) in 2013.


"I'm not going to put pressure on and say we are going to win this tournament or that tournament," said Clarke.

The ex-Football League chairman Clarke, who took up the FA role in August, has also criticised the use of a clock at St George's Park to count down to the 2022 final, calling it "daft".
England were knocked out of this summer's European Championship at the last-16 stage by minnows Iceland. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36573171)

Roy Hodgson resigned as manager immediately after the shock defeat in July and has been replaced by Sam Allardyce, who oversaw a 1-0 win in the opening World Cup 2018 qualifier in Slovakia on Sunday.

[Michael]

Have they forgotten that there's a World Cup in 2018? Or are they resigned to finishing below us in qualifying?

[Lancs Harp]

Have they forgotten that there's a World Cup in 2018? Or are they resigned to finishing below us in qualifying?
Things haven't got that bad for us yet :greengrin

[jgl07]

Very wise with Fat Sam allowing Fat Wayne to do as he pleases.

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

They will never win it again, period, they haven't got the players anymore, far too much expectation hyped up by the media, an average European team at most.

[theonlywayisup]

They will never win it again, period, they haven't got the players anymore, far too much expectation hyped up by the media, an average European team at most.

I would never say never, but agree with the direction of your post.

The "best league in the world" is not producing enough English stars. Those that do become very good players are promoted to being "world class" on the back of a relatively small number of good performances in a league where there are lots of chances due to the general "attack minded" style of play. Most of those chances being created by the truly "world class" players that come from overseas. When they get onto the world stage, the standard of opposition is obviously much greater and they struggle. These struggles are becoming more and more evident as we saw in the Euros and last Sunday.

However, I would never say never. If England had Gareth Bale in their team, they could easily have won the Euros given the solid foundation of "better than average" players that they have. Let's hope they don't find a Gareth Bale!!

[Bill Milne]

Got to say it's a relief to hear someone has some sense at the FA. Don't forget that our Anglocentric media would have been yapping about this all the way to 2022!!

[Ergye]

More chance of getting a moist, slippery, shiny, steaming hot stool sample from a rocking horse.