England == India?

In my view, the English football team is similar to the Indian cricket team. Both teams look extremely strong on paper and the media never wastes an opportunity to spin up a frenzy about either team's chances. Rooney and Owen in the front, Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham in midfield, and John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell at the back. Similar to how Dravid, Sachin, Ganguly and Laxman were hailed as the best middle order, the English team appears invincible based on the star value of its members. But, just like the Indian middle order that rarely fired in unison, I am skeptical about England's chances at the World Cup. I can't really put my finger on a particular reason for my pessimism. But, based on past experience, my hopes for England are not too high. There was similar hoopla about England in the last World Cup as well as during Euro 2004. And, on both occasions, the English challenge just fizzled out. If the scan of Rooney's foot tomorrow shows that he will be able to play (I believe at the earlier from the third match of the first round), I am sure the hype will be raised to another level. I am not certainly buying into the hype as yet ...

BTW, what the hell has Lara been smoking?!! To quote him:

At the end of the day, it's a sport you're playing and you got to trust the guy who you're playing against. There are situations where we can't come to a decision. Of course, it's left to the umpires. But if we can't back each other as a team, it doesn't say much for the sport. I just felt that the spirit of the game was being tested.

Let's make things clear. Dhoni says that Ganga himself told him that he wasn't sure whether his boots touched the ropes. And, there has been no statement from anyone contradicting this. Then, where the hell does the question of trust arise? The fielder himself is not sure whether the catch was legit, and Lara wants people to trust his guy! Either it must be really hot in the Caribbean, or it is time to put Lara through a doping test :)