2014 World Cup

The rules are not particularly restrictive anywhere in Europe. Some countries limit the number of non-EU players on a roster, but that's as far as it goes.

22 of the 23 players on England's World Cup roster play in the EPL. Only Russia has a higher percentage playing in the domestic league. England just lost to Uruguay, which has exactly one player from its domestic league.

 

England just didn't have that much talent on the roster. I don't think it'd be much of a favorite against the U.S. It was pretty much assumed during qualifying England was in a rebuilding mode. Then of course hopes rose when the Cup began, because that's what happens to everybody.

 

England: in rebuilding mode since 1966.

 

Also applies to US

 

I cherish every England defeat. My gawd, Luis Suarez was brilliant. Two spectacular goals.

 

Well, if true, that I must say it sounds like Shoeless' point is bunk.

 

It is bunk. The EPL is bringing in the foreign players because they are the best players. Any great English player would have every opportunity in the EPL, but the best players are coming from Spain, Italy, Netherlands, etc. Just not that many talented English players. Period. There are many very good English players in the EPL, but most of the best (Lampard, Terry, Gerrard, Giggs, etc.) are past their prime. Rooney is about the only player who could play at a high level in any league in the world, and I'm not even sure about that at this point.

 

So, how bad is Japan that they can't even score against a team that's down a man?

 

The World Cup is a Yankfest!

 

Most of the Mexicans there are from the USA.

http://www.newsdaily.com/business/50cb31b5a9bac0120198c4ef693f5312/many-fans-of-mexico-at-world-cup-come-from-us

 

I have a feeling that any EPL team that tried to go with an all-English (or even mostly English) roster would quickly find itself in the Championship.