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If Brian Clough was still here hed be my 1st choice! Terry Venables would be my 2nd choice such a good man manager and has the respect of the players

nahhh the first person you would want in the dressing room for a influence would have to be gazza himself maybe ian wright, you need someone with undenyable passion for the game who would rouse the players and give them the drive to go on and win.

Sir Bobby Robson... they don't give out knighthoods for any Tom, Dick, or Harry... I hope.

Jack Charlton... great motivational manager (tactically we may not want him but this is motivation - and no-one questions his ability there)... he has genuine passion - and he has DONE it before!

Jack Charlton and Bobby Robson would be well suited for the task as Jack did with Republic of Ireland and he is a World Cup winner while Bobby has done it with Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven.

I was at Wembley in Oct 2000 for the last England game there, vs Germany. Germany won 1-0, and England were abysmal. Kevin Keegan resigned after the game. At half-time, Sir Steven Redgrave, Olympic legend, and a few of the other GB Olympic medallists from the 2000 Games, came out onto the pitch, to a well-deserved ovation. I remember saying to someone after the match, on the train home, that perhaps those guys should not have been on the pitch, but rather in the dressing room giving a talk about playing to win, with pride, passion etc. But if you want someone from football to do it, then I reckon Stuart Pearce should give a talk, telling them what scoring that penalty for England in Euro96 vs Spain meant to him. Maybe it would rouse the players enough to get out there and do the business, as they did in the 5-1 against Germany.

Get Stuart Pearce in there- "Psycho" would gee up any team quicker than a truck-load of NFL cheerleaders...

ME!
Seriously, I would be a great asset for the England team. My motivational skills are second to none!

Stan Bowles. Let's get some sense of perspective.

Germany VS Sweden was Germany at its best. Germany showed that it still has it. It seems as though Germany recovered from its humiliating defeat to Croatia in [World Cup] 2002.

I'd have someone like Sir Alex or Roy Keane. And no I'm not a United fan. But those two people are massive figures in English football and know the requirements in order to do well in today's football.

i would get mike bassett to do englands team talk. His use of language and pure motivational skills at half time in the game against mexico would inspire anyone

I doubyt Sir Alex (being Scottish) or Roy Keane (being Irish) is going to want to or be able to motivate England. Why not William Wallace??

Send Maggie Thatcher in there for a Half Time Team Talk.

Through fear only of failing the Nation they would perform better in the Second Half..

It's obvious who England need - that greatest living Englishman, Gordon Brown - chancellor of the exchequer of all England and parts of Fife.

Bob Paisely (if he were alive)

OR

Psycho

Klinsmanns seems to be doing a pretty good job of motivating Germany maybe he'll pop in to the England dressing room before the game tomorrow.

Remember Gareth Southgate's words about Eriksson's half-time team talk during the England Brazil game at the 2002 Finals: "We needed Winston Churchill, but we got Iain Duncan-Smith".

This says it all. Sven out, El Tel back in.

To Bernie and Emile, I doubt Irish or Scottish people would be any good to inspire England, are people forgetting that George Best was Irish?
Why not Platini or Gullit while you're at it?

I think this world cup is the most frustrating I've ever seen (...and I was at England in 66 as a kid ) The standard of the supply ball from the wing or from free kicks and corners is appalling. Time after time and in every game I'm seeing the ball into the centre go too long.. too high ... too hard. It's driving me crazy! The fault must be laid at FIFA's doorstep. If they're going to introduce a new wonder ball that 'flies' then they should do it after the tournament and give the players 4 years to get used to it. Most of the players have just finished a domestic season of at least 6-7 months and are used to the weight and feel of the previous FIFA regulation ball. The deft flick over the defensive back line. The cross from the winger down the flanks. The supply ball from the midfield playmaker, even the corner kick. All are going long, fizzling out over the back or harmlessly into touch. It's so obviously apparent to me that this skill has been totally scuppered by this new ball to the great detriment of the beautiful game. My suggestion to the organisers would be to gather up all their new superballs, put them in a big sack, give the players a ball they're used to and maybe we'd see some better play. Open the sack after the final and give the new balls out then. The players will then get 4 years to practice with it.

Stuart Pearce & Ian Wright could both inject a significant motivational boost. I reckon Sam Allardyce could too, AND some cogent tactical nous with it. I've also been impressed by Lee Dixon's analysis & articulacy as a Beeb pundit - a pre-Wenger gooner with a brain - who'd have thunk it?

George Best is from Northern Ireland, I don't think he would be good to do a team talk for England. Like Pelé doing a team talk for Argentina.

I'm sorry, but this is all really nonsense - we're talking about grown ups here. If playing for the chance of winning the world cup is not motivation enough then perhaps the big babies could think about their bulging bank accounts to inspire them. Or maybe that's the problem...hmmm?

I think Alan Shearer can do that. We all know what influence he had at St. James' Park

How about Benny Hill?
He could really inspire a bunch of clowns.......

How about Benny Hill?
He could inspire a bunch of clowns...

Alan Sugar would not only get rid of their doubts and find their strengths, but also get them start thinking about the actual sport rather than what their hair's doing!

Defintly Alan Shearer. Englands greatest ever goalscorers and captains. He is a true legend that can drive any team on. We all know how well he does in St. James. He has pure passion and love for the game and incredible leadership. 37 years old an can still score 14 goals in the season...not bad! Definitly Shearer!

definately stuart 'phsyco' pearce he could get the squad in the battling mood and make them want to win like he has done with city

Stuart Pearce please

Some of that Italia 90 and Euro 96 spirit!

Shearer - get Shearer in there! Uncle Alan is great.

Terry Butcher - fire the team up with some of that indomitable 3 Lions spirit.

One man for the job;

Stuart Pearce. A born leader, a passionate player and an englishman with a heart like a lion.

Tony Adams. A great man to inspire the weaker players we have out in germany

Well I dont think it works for England, Its too commercialised thanks to hifi premiership players, once 1 is out of the team its as if they have lost the race!!..,No one enjoys such respect anymore..
so it got to be someone in the team..,V cant even think of someone like Maradona in England..,cos the system doesnt churn people like him here anymore!!
Rooney can do the trick

There could only be one man to inspire an England team' the late great BILL SHANKLY.

The late great BILL SHANKLY would be the man to inspire the England team with his no nonsense we are better than them approach to the game

It has to be the great Teddy Sheringham, there has never been a more influential player, 40 years old and still going strong now that is someone to look up to!

stuart pierce he is the man to fire any team up! he has got more than 2 balls he has got plaenty and he wud be perfect fo this situation!!!

Stuart Pearse, Ian Wright and Vinnie Jones - would get some passion back in the team and regrow their match balls!!

I think the best man to do it is Mr. Stuart Pearce

King Henry V gave one of the better team talks in history (mind you, he had a pretty good scriptwriter):

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Note: in the first of those lines he was not talking about cricket, which had not been invented in 1415.

for me it would be a choice of 3 Sir Bobby Robson knows exactly what hes talking about almost the perfect coach absolute legend. Alan Shearer- he is a true leader one of the greatest england and newcastle united captains ever, knows how to inspire team- will make a great manager. Sir Alex Ferguson-also knows exactly what he is talking about one of the greatest managers the world has ever seen hes won everything Man Utd, in one season actually

what about mick mcCarthy. His commentary is legendary and no-nonsense
"that's just dreadful defending"
"no marking, no covering, appaling standard, disgraceful"
i genuinely miss his commentary when they are announced before the game, a massive inspirational figure. Big Mick

without a doubt get stuart pearce in there to give those muppets some motivation. he can teach them something called determination and will.

The way things are going the England dressing room would be more suited to the denigrating sarcasm of Edmond Blackadder than to the fire and inspiration of Winston Churchill.

Motivation is important but doesn't make a team win a game. If the team playing against has more attitude,
spirit,good coach and technique no former player will be able to give enough motivation to make a team win a game against a well prepared squad. The magic bullet doesn't exist!

After having seen the Ashes last year, I would actually ask Andrew Flintoff and Pieterson to pay the English soccer team a visit and let them know what it takes to overcome tremendous odds

Sorry to all those guys who are not into cricket and who don't know the significance of the Ashes

Boris Johnson no doubt!!

We need someone with vision and inspiration. Perhaps, an outsider, who does not know the game. May a new perspective on the game is needed. I am going for Coach Phil Jackson, he knows how to win in tight situations.

Good luck and God bless

I think Sven should do it. He is a c0ck though.

As a Ghanian Abedi Pele would be i deal for ghana

I agree with one of the earlier posters, if the players are not motivated enough already to win the World Cup then we have a serious problem. I just wish we had a manager like Scolari.

i think tony yeboah and abedi pele for ghana and with the english team i think gaza.

This is lazy slob Eriksson's job. He has been paid millions, and yet by all accounts he does not give credible teamtalks, nor did he choose a balanced squad. What exactly he do?!

Even if England fluked their way to World Cup glory, it would have nothing to do with Eriksson.

abedi pele and tony yeboah for ghana and gaza for england

As a Ghanaian and a player i dont think either pele's or yeboah's word's would work. they should hand over to them a $100, 000 for each player to the dressing room for them to see it physically and tell them is theirs only if they win and i bet u the world eleven will not fit them. they will crash every team.they will work magic.

Tony Adams would be the man. Ignore his record with Wycombe. If he was in charge of a load of over paid gutless England players, wouldn't fancy being in a dressing room 1-0 down at half time to a team like Ecuador! I'd have him in charge, with Stuart Pearce as back up and Ian Wright there to cheer them back up. Gary Lineker would make a good tea lady.

Who could inspire them?

The two guys that are planning to walk to the South Pole and back later on this year - something that has never been done before - makes a game of football seem like a walk in the park....

I'm disgusted that I'm the first to mention Sir Bobby CHARLTON.

A man who won the World Cup, the European Cup with the first English team to do it, and lest we forget, our reigning top scorer.

I'm 22 but I'm amazed that a man of such stature has been so overlooked.

Anyone who has seen him talk about football and the '66 final can't help be moved by it.

Take the motivation from the man who did it all.

Maradona?

The cheat who used his hand in a blatant foul and then was subsequently proud of it?

Why are his views relevant?

Pep talk is supposed to give psychological advantage but IT WON'T WORK for this bunch of overpaid, hifi, self-immortalised English players, except for Rooney. His metartarsal takes 6 weeks to heal while Ashley Coles's and Michael Owens takes 0.5 year, and to come back with a whimp with lots doubts about their mental capabilities. Gary Neville, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand are past their used-by date, just like Zidane. They just don't have the mental capabilities to absorb and any form of mental stimulation! I was surprised England made it to the last 16 but my money is on Ecuador. They will run riot and the England team will be like like pinballs. So you can forget psychological pep talk. Sven should have dump these players in the first place and pick from the Championship side who have better fighting qualities, staying power, able to take hard knocks and most of all the daredevil attitude of winners.

Let Argentina v Mexico be an eye-opener. Mexico represent all I said earlier. Argentina was just lucky. The kind of luck Sven prays for.

For England, the halftime pep-talk should come from the Captain himself... Beckham needs to lead and lead in and out of the field. I am sure that he has enough credibility and acceptance to raise the team spirit. Let him be what he should be.

For Bangladesh, we need Salahuddin to do the talk!

Whilst applauding the attitude of "we are the greatest" Every fan has his rights.
We as not England supporters do not need to know the workings of metatarsals and wether Sven his getting his leg over"

With Love
Faria Allam

Mmmm, Ferguson (scottish). Gordon Brown, chancellor is also scottish halfwit! arent very many talented english people to choose from why not get that paraguay defender that scored the own goal...he's the only person who has done good for that crap team. (England 0 Ecuador 4)

David Brent would be perfik
Del Boy too- "this time next yeaar you'll be world champions."

Its sad that we are discussing this issue !!
Sven is paid millions to do it and obviously does not know how.
John Terry should get fired up like he does with Chelsea and give the lads a right bollocking !

If the captain - fraidy cat DB who jumped over a ball in Japan to avoid injury - can't talk the team up he should be fired. Put Rooney in there, and bring in a winner to give a pep talk: B Charlton, Seb Coe, Red Ken...

If the captain - fraidy cat DB who jumped over a ball in Japan to avoid injury - can't talk the team up he should be fired. Put Rooney in there, and bring in a winner to give a pep talk: B Charlton, Seb Coe, Red Ken...

Oh. And this Sven whoever who can't raise his voice. Join DB, friend, and talk about it over a drink. Meanwhile find a real coach to inspire the real players. Lennon, Walcott, if they are there, let them run their hearts out: if they have the skills to be here, let's use them. Sven, you've broken down Owen. What more damage can you do? Lose against Equador? Because if we lose, it's your fault. Give up your pay check to a charity!

IT WAS HANDBALL

I once saw a video of the Rugby British Lions tour of Australia, or South Africa, in the late 1990s. They had these two guys giving the players an inspiring teamtalk before, and midway through the games they were playing. These guys were the best, but I can't remember their d**n names.

David Brent,

He was actually hired by an agency because he skills were that good.

DENZEL WASHINGTON......guys hv u all forgotten 'REMEMBER THE TITANS'......

We already have the guy in the dressing room - Stevie Gerrard! - Who better than the hero of Istanbul and the premier driving force in the English game.

Get the '66 squad back together (those still alive) kitted out and ready to take the field at half time. That'll show these boys what it means to wear the 3 Lions. Sir Bobby, Sir Jeff, Wee Bally, Gordon Banks, etc just need to get dressed for the part with their medals around their necks, then you'll see passion
Sir Alf and Bobby Moore will be turning in their graves anyway a Swede running the England team. To make matters worse he was put there by a Jock.
Mr Maclaren time for you to be counted my friend. Lets see what the next 4 years have installed for us, get these boys motivated. Nothing else matters. I believe the great Bill Shankly once made reference to football being more than life or death. Come on Becks, Lamps, Steve G, JT prove it. Prove all these media muppets wrong and put some pride back into that shirt.
Sven should show a photo of Gazza before the game crying against Germany in 1990. That boy may not be the brightest but he understood and showed the passion........
Good luck against Ecuador

England seems to be stuck in its World War II past, which is understandably so with such greats as Churchill and Montgommery. So without a proper war how do we ever find our great leaders? Unfotunately the 'mad bovine' Thatcher is just about as close as we get to real leadership, and motivational parlance. Even more disturbing to advise is that after that 'Red Ken' has got closest in recent times. Left meets Right and all that.... Time for a war me thinks.

Think we've lost the plot here. Surely Nelson would have been the gentleman to inspire any team. If he could get an a few thousand poorly paid seaman to stand in amongst huge lumps of wood and have 100lb balls of metal fired at them with a defence of "lay down to reduce your target size", I'm confident he could motivate the lads. Come on England...............we expect! Huzzah.....huzzah.......huzzah

GOSH!!!
just GARY LINEKER

as those boys are crabs!!
please get SHILTON to help the goal keeper. that's the only thing England needs to do!!

Has no-one remembered the greatest footballer to ever grace the game - The man Pele himself! He's won three World Cup medals & knows better than anyone what it means to play for your country. A true one-club footballer, who played for love of the game & not the money

i tink we shud get luiz felipe scolari

lol i cant believe what i'm reading....year after year all i hear is people moan how we never do well at the world cup....here we are in the 2nd round and people are STILL moaning.

Its not realistic to expect that england will play lightning, blinding, dominating football for 90 minutes, score 5 goals per game and let none in every game.

We're in the 2nd round, we're unbeaten so far, we've only conceeded 2 goals in 3 games and we have time to get better....stop bloody moaning.

How was that for motivational? if you ask me, your talking about the wrong people needing motivation...how about motivation for you lot to SUPPORT the team.

Peter Shilton would be my choice.

More caps than you could shake a stick at, legs wide enough apart to nutmeg beatifuly - bring 'im on!

Well Said!
I agree.
I'm Scottish and have spent more time defending the England team than some of my English mates.
Ok the England team didn't play brilliant football to get where they are but they got the results needed and topped their group - would it be better to play brilliant and fail to get the results?
I have no doubt they will improve.
The Media have alot to answer for... it's always the same - they build the team up so much beforehand only to pick fault and put them down when they should be supporting them.

Terry Butcher always seemed to fire his team up, and seeing him in the media in Scotland frequently he talks a lot of sense too. I actually thought he should have been a candidate for the England manager's job, but after the problems with Sven the FA have obviously stuck with someone they know.

Up in Scotland you can see the difference some national pride can make. Going from Berti Vogts to Walter Smith with Ally McCoist in the coaching team has improved an abject team almost beyond recognition.

Perhaps get a Dalek in there, my kids always show alot of excitement when they hear the words "Exterminate"... something needs to stir up those players passion for England.

Geoff Boycott.....Fred Trueman...give em a bit of no nonsense patriotism and grit!!!!

I think Maradona is unique. I don't think there are many national teams who would have anyone in their dressing room b4 an important game. But he is an exception, in this day an age of football superstardom, Maradona still transends the generations. I watched the celebrity game for UNICEF a few weeks back & even seasoned pros like Gullit & Mattheus greet him with stars in their eyes.
He is one of a kind and I don't think we will ever see another like him. Imagine your countries greatest ever player being up there in the stands cheering you on as passiontely as the average man on the street, a true footballing legend...........Diego Armando Maradona

johnsy - Scotland

They have 50 million people willing them on and believing in them, a fortune in wages and superstar status and they still need motivating

iam sorry but this is the funniest question ive heard in ages. WHAT THE HECK IS SVEN
PAID TO DO ??? If he is not
motivating the team then why
have you not got ridd of him? england are now a laughing stock in the football world and will be even more if God fobid Ecuador cause an upset.

Tunde
London

Celina - No contest Stuart Pearce any day of the week. Imagine it before an England game with him in the dressing room, would a player dare go out onto the pitch not ready and stirred up!!

PS - Nice mini skirt on MOTD the other night!!

Hmm, if I could have anyone, for me it would be a mixture of living icons and legends no longer on this mortal coil.
I think I would start with Sir Bobby Charlton and (Sir) Bobby Moore, two of Englands finest, with the requisite experience and passion to ignite passion and belief into the team.
Then maybe I would have Sir Laurence Olivier or other thespian, deliver the speech from Henry V - "...once more into the breach..." or a nice poem, for a bit of motivation.
I would then show a montage to the players of all Englands greatest football moments - and the not so great, for a bit of team bonding.
Finally I would show images/footage of the England fans, cheering on the team, watching in the cities, reactions to goals scored and conceded with "Land of Hope and Glory" or something playing in the background for a bit of pride.
COME ON LADS - WE BELIEVE!!

Celina,

Are we destined never to read your blogs again?

Waiting in anticipation...