Can England win World Cup? Patrick Barclay responds

In his latest debate Patrick Barclay asked if England could win the World Cup in 2010. Here our Chief Football Commentator responds to a selection of your comments:
Pros: England on paper look strong. There can't be many centre backs in the world better then Ferdinand and Terry. Along with Iniesta, Gerrard is probably the best midfielder in the world. Lampard is also a great midfielder. Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world. The Premier League is considered the best league in the world and most of England's players are in the starting line-ups of the Big Four - this must count for something. And Fabio Capello seems a good tactician.
Cons: This side lack chemistry and its rare they find any fluency in their game. As the old cliche goes, the game isn't played on paper. This could cost England. Spain are arguably better then England on paper but it was the way Spain's players connected with each other that made the real difference between the sides when they met. The young players except Rooney don't tend to perform at a high enough level for their country either.Overall: England have a good team but I do not think they have what it takes. Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Italy and France may not always play well but when these teams go into fifth gear they will overcome England as England never seem to find fifth gear. England will need a hell of a lot of luck to win the World Cup. They will have to rely on the opposition making mistakes. Robert Edders
PB: Your ''con'' makes sense, Robert. Togetherness is very important at tournaments, as Croatia and Turkey as well as, of course, Spain proved in 2008. But England are getting there. The other countries you mention, with the exception of Italy, have let themselves down in tournaments from time to time. And Spain were deficient until 2008.
For the people who are obsessed with other countries being better than us, in 2002 Germany made the final. Their run? In the group stages they were paired with Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, and Ireland (England would qualify from that group), the second round saw them face mighty Paraguay (England would beat them), the quarters was a match against the legendary America (England would beat them), the semi was a titanic tussle against the great South Korea (England would beat them). Only in the final did they meet, and lose to, quality opposition in Brazil. This shows all you need is good fortune to make a final, and anything can happen in a one-off game. Can England win the next World Cup? With the luck of the draw, of course we can!Darren PB: Of course you can! The example of 2002 is a good one. England beat Germany 5-1 in qualifying and, like the Germans, lost to a very good Brazil.
If we pass the ball as poorly as we did on Saturday in 2010 then we will finish bottom of our group without scoring a goal. For all the hype around Capello's England, we have only had one good performance. That was against Croatia. Our other good result was against the Germans, but that was an average /poor peformance at best. We are not that good. James, Croydon
PB: No, I was in Berlin and saw a very good performance by an England reserve side (Michael Carrick ran the match from midfield). Also England were good in Belarus. And they will get better. As you say, they'll have to, because they were pathetic in the first half in Almaty, I agree. They should have played a few short passes to get their rhythm going instead of hitting Hollywood balls that ended up looking more like Ealing comedy.
Perhaps for the first time we have a coach who can manage the expectation as much as the men under his charge. The feeling has to be that this is the first genuinely professional coach since the days of Alf Ramsey. A man not fazed by media and supremely confident in his own capabilities. The English style of play is not inferior to any other although many think so. The problem is (and always was) a lack of mental discipline. Played at its best "English" football is dynamic and powerful and has the potential to blow away the opposition. In many ways it is more entertaining and exciting than possesion football.Capello knows what he has got and how best to use it. The players are eager, but not mentally disciplined. If he can get them to engage such intellect as they have England could be unstoppable. This time it's serious. Dan
PB: I gather you approve of Capello. So do I in terms of his ability (though I don't think England should have a foreign manager). I also agree that he is slightly reminiscent of Sir Alf Ramsey (even though Alf must be spinning in his grave at the thought of an Italian being in charge).
Of course we have a chance. We're ranked sixth in the world and we have a top-class manager, some very good players and a 100 per cent record in qualifying (including a 4-1 away victory over the team ranked eighth in the world).Naturally, to win it England would need some luck, but so would any side. Even if Spain won it, it would hardly be a walk in the park for them. Writing England off is totally nonsensical. Let's remember that as recently as 2004 a rank outsider won a major international football tournament. Chris PB: Yes, I think the example of Greece is relevant because they did it with tactics and teamwork. Capello reminds me of Otto Rehhagel in that he's crafty, secretive and aloof - to just the right degree - from his players.
Patrick, you suggested England would win the last World Cup and look what happened...England are light on quality up front, the midfield isn't strong enough either. For these reasons I can see the team boarding the first plane home after the first found of knockout games. Mark NolanPB: Yes, I did think they had enough to win the last World Cup - I curse your excellent memory, Mark - but injuries to Rooney before the tournament and Owen during it (though he should never have been in the squad) make that look a pretty sick forecast. Sven-Goran Eriksson trusted the players too much. Capello will not do that. And they will go to South Africa, most of them, knowing it is their last chance to avoid going down in history as international failures. In 4-2-3-1 formation they can avoid both of the flaws you detect. Lampard has settled in nicely as a semi-holding player in midfield and, as for up front, what's wrong with Rooney and Gerrard supporting Heskey? Or even Crouch?
Capello has worked wonders with the same basic team that were so useless under Steve McClaren. Can Capello carry the England team on his back all the way? England has a propensity to self-destruct, especially on the big stage. So, Capello may be limited by this major failing.However, they should get to the quarter-finals. And if they meet Spain, Capello will make them win. It takes more that technical skill to win the big ones. It takes, guts, pride, true grit, and a never-say-die attitude. England, the country, has demonstrated this in spades on many occasions. They would need to call on this deep reserve of absolute bulldog toughness, but they could do it! C. Elder
PB: If England are such a bulldog breed, why do they run off and buy a foreign manager at the first sign of trouble? And England weren't useless under McClaren. Not all the time. They beat Hiddink's Russia 4-2 on aggregate, remember. I don't agree with anything you say, in fact.
England won't win it. There are several things going against them, not least the array of teams that are more complete units, such as Spain and Holland to name but two, plus the likes of France and Argentina, who with a change of coach could go all the way. Other than opposition, add the media pressure and hype that will be placed on the team from the day they qualify and once again a major championship will come and go. Chris
PB: We'll have to differ on that one. What makes you think France and Argentina will change coaches? France will change only if they fail to qualify and, as for Argentina, we'll have to wait and see. To Holland and Spain, incidentally, I'd add Italy, who truly do know how to make a gritty unit and keep proving it in tournaments. Plus Russia, my dark horses. But England are as good as any.
It is easy to say that Spain are favourites, that there are loads of teams that are better than England and that we have no chance. I know, because like a lot of people I too don't really believe in my heart of hearts that England will win the World Cup. My dark horses to win are the Russians.But as long as we are in the hat then there is a chance. You don't have to be the best to win it, you just need luck and belief. What I would say is that, like Stefan has said, the media should hold back on the over-hyping of our lads and let them go out and play their game without the weight of expectation, without the stupid bookies odds that always say we are one of the favourites. Then maybe, just maybe, we might surprise a few people.Richie Woodcock
PB: Sorry, Richie, but the job of people in the media is to say what they think and not hold back in the interests of the England team's psychology. I mean: we're talking a football tournament here, not wartime! So dare to dream - and I'm interested to note that, like me, you have a fancy for the Russians. They have youth on their side and an excellent tournament manager.
Why are we assuming that Spain will not improve in the next 13 months too? Sure Capello may be able to close the gap. From huge to just big. Let's stay realistic and maybe lower expectations will get them to outperform this time. For now enjoy the fact that they will qualify with ease. StefanPB: Why will Spain not improve? Because Marcos Senna, a key man in front of the back four, is ageing. There's no other reason, I confess. If they do improve, they will take some beating. But I saw them a lot during the European Championship and their defence, if probed, can be dodgy. That's why Senna matters so much. Spain without him will be a bit like Real Madrid after Claude Makelele.
Can England win the World Cup? No, Spain will. How many England players would get into Spain's team? Casillas is one of the world's best three goalies. Ferdinand, Terry and Cole would perhaps make up three of the back four (Ramos is far better than Johnson). That's where it ends. Would Rooney displace Villa or Torres? No. Would Gerrard get into midfield ahead of Xavi, Iniesta, Silva or Senna? No. All things being equal (of course we know they aren't) Spain should win the World Cup. Here's hoping they don't and we have a chance. Patrick Moore
PB: My Spangland team would be: Casillas; Ramos, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole; Xavi, Xabi Alonso; Iniesta, Gerrard, Rooney; Torres. But don't forget that the cool weather in South Africa (like an early English summer in most places) will suit England.
Yes and why not? Who could have believed Italy would win the World Cup in 2006 apart from the most ardent Italian supporters? They proved that the form book gets thrown out the window in the knockout stages and it's anybody's game. Luck also plays its part. With a favourable draw in the early stages, any of the top six or seven Fifa-ranked teams could win it. England are sixth at the moment. Most importantly it's the players who have to believe and we as supporters need to back that belief all the way. That's the least we can do. Subba
PB: Very pragmatic. But you are absolutely right. For the reasons you give, it's hazardous to make any forecast, but I just have a hunch about England. Maybe, just as the law of averages helped Spain in 2008, it will be of assistance to England in 2010.
Yes of course. A bit of luck is always needed. We have decent players and just need to learn how to take penalties. Spain favourites, but we are as a good as Brazil, Argentina, Germany etc.Gavin
PB: Penalties could be crucial. They must practise, practise as the tournament approaches. I agree that England are as good as Brazil and I think they are much better, at the moment, than Germany or Argentina. Their target is to become as professional a national side as Italy - fortunately, they have an Italian to show them the way!