Live on BBC tv, striking legend Alan Shearer said:-

"out of the 4 teams left in the world cup semi's,
you wouldn't pick many of them to go into the England side."


I nearly choked on my popcorn laughing!

It was almost as funny as everybody booing Ronaldo every time he got the ball.

I couldn't work out why Zidane was being booed though.

Ronaldo is like a pantomine villan just now. Deserved to be boo'ed anyway and he played to the crowd with his dive attempt for a penalty.

Martin O'Neil was correct after the game when he said this nation (and at club level) play in such a poor way be default. O'Neil was victim of this when his Celtic team played Porto.

GK Ricardo or Robinson?
Ballack or Beckham)?
Zidane or Lampard)?
ok, Zidane past his best and Lampard just off form - so Deco or Lampard?
Henry or Owen?
Henry or Crouch!
C Ronaldo or Joe Cole?
Gallas or Terry in current form?
Makelele or Owen Hargreaves?

Ok how about picking your starting 11 from the players left in the semis and England?? Mine would be

GK. Buffon (ITA)
LB. Cole (ENG)
RB. Zambrotta (ITA)
CB. Terry (ENG)
CB. Cannavaro (ITA)
LM. Ronaldo (POR) worrying how few decent Lm's there are around kind of a stop gap solution here
RM. Gerrard (ENG)
CM. Ballack (GER)
CM. Viera (FRA)
ST. Henry (FRA)
ST. Klose (GER)

Have no idea what this proves but hey it was fun!

It proves Shearer has lost the plot and going do-lally!

This was same Shearer who recently said "Rooney should stick one on Ronaldo at Man U training". What happened to fair play Alan?

Talk Sport Radio had a phone in yesterday afternoon -
which England players would get in to the Italian team?

Concensus was only Gerrard on current form.

Agree Ashley Cole is good, and we know Terry and Lampard are better for Chelsea than they show for England. But if discussion is based on current International play, then the reality is England players have not performed lately.

Whether that is Sven's fault, or the system the players were asked to play, I do not know!

You have picked way too many English players there.
Cole is the only one that deserves inclusion and thats because most left backs have been poor.

Gerrard and Terry had mares at this world cup.
Thuram is the best centre half left in the final 4 after Cannavarvo.

Disagree, I think Lahm of Germany has had a great World Cup and will surely be picked as the left back in the team of the tournament.

Well thats my team and it was put there to be shot at, why not try the same?

My 11 would be (4-3-3 formation):-

Ricardo
Zambrotta
Lahm
Ricardo Carvalho
Cannavaro
Gattuso
Pirlo
Frings
Klose
Ribery
Cristiano Ronaldo

I must admit it was a toss up between Cole and Lahm when i did mine

Decent side there Gabby.
Basically any Italian must be in with a shout (Luca Toni my type of striker).
Given the way Italy responded after poor opening game draw with USA, and lately with domestic league disaster at their club level back home they have remained focused and got to Final.

Argies Roberto Ayala and Ruiquilme did well. While Henry has been mainly poor, but always capable of grabbing a vital goal (or making meal of a clear foul to earn a penalty!)

Ribery exploded on to scene, but not in my top 11. How about Zidane - scores vital goals when it matters and who would bet against him scoring in his last ever match on Sunday?
What a fitting way to bow out - at World Cup Final.

I think Zidane was immense against Brazil, probably one of the best individual performances of the tourney.

However, I think he has been pretty anonymous in the rest of the French matches, granted he scored a goal v Spain, but I think was quiet throughout, and IMO the whole French team were poor in the dire match with Portugal.

It is fitting that a legend like him bows out in a World Cup Final though - even though I hope it is as a runner up!!

Fifa's World Cup squad of the tournament

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Ricardo (Portugal)

Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Argentina), John Terry (England), Lilian Thuram (France), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal)

Midfielders: Ze Roberto (Brazil), Patrick Vieira (France), Zinedine Zidane (France), Michael Ballack (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Luis Figo (Portugal), Maniche (Portugal)

Strikers: Hernan Crespo (Argentina), Thierry Henry (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Francesco Totti (Italy), Luca Toni (Italy)