If Germany hadn’t scored those two second half goals the sense of grievance over Lampard’s ‘goal’ would have clouded England’s multitude of inadequacies. Instead our players many technical deficiencies were exposed in front of the whole world. And, as ever, the moment we face a team with genuine aspirations to win the trophy we get knocked out.
There’s nowhere to hide anymore. In ninety minutes against a ruthlessly efficient German team, the myths and hubris surrounding the England team were brutally blown away. Outfought outthought outplayed and ultimately outclassed. All over the pitch Germany left England little traps to fall into. And, unable to change, fall into them we did. Each time we got the ball in the attacking third our players were boxed in and isolated. Unable to pass the ball properly, OR maybe even dribble past an opponent (outlandish suggestion though that is) we just ran into brick walls time and time again. Germany were happy to condense play trusting that Englands lack of skill and tactical flexibility would largely nullify any desperate lousy halfarsed threat we might try to conjure up. And, of course, they were right. All they had to do was wait for possession (and it was rarely a long wait) and play. The third German goal came from an England free kick. Lampard was shooting so why not leave three back? It’s not as if we weren’t aware of Germany’s power and pace on the break. TCUP. Thinking Correctly Under Pressure. So many decisions were wrong.
The probem is everyone will revert back to the P word. Englands exit isn’t to do with lack of passion its to do with a players lack of ability. The passion we crave means playing at 100mph and you can’t succeed at the top level just doing that. Sophisticated teams can absorb it with the minimum of fuss. So why can’t the cream of English football play differently? Because they aren’t footballingly bright enough that’s why. In his excellent book The Italian Job, Gianlucca Vialli refers to players being able to ‘think football’. Thinking football leads to flexibility and an eagerness to try different things and test different systems. Instead we have a situation now where any alternative to the usual method leaves England players baffled and confidence visibly drains. For example, Lampard and Gerrard, after six years and three England managers, still can’t grasp how to play together effectively. The problem is that we hype up the Premier League, bring in foreigners to make it more tactically astute and more gifted than the qualities we breed, sell it to almost 200 countries because of its fast paced physical conflict and its relative honesty . . . and fool ourselves that this makes the rest of the world tremble. However, it’s painfully apparent when decent teams play England, they are aware that a side that can barely string three passes together isn’t going to cause too many problems.
So that’s the end of that. What happens now? To simply call for the managers dismissal is, in this case, a quick fix for the short sighted. The inadequacies of England team lie much deeper than the thirst for a scapegoat. For England to metamorphosise into a trophy winning team would require a huge change in approach and the philosophy of the English game would have to totally change. Sadly, I have no faith those who hold the vested interests of the game are prepared to take altruistic action to improve the national teams chances. This ladies and gentlemen boys and girls, could be as good as it gets.
I’ve just listened to an interview with Frank Lampard on the 5Live website and he indicates his goal not being given was what the game turned on. Does he really believe that? If ever anyone wants to know the meaning of the word deluded refer back to that. He’s probably sitting on the plane home feeling unlucky. Unlucky after that campaign? Amazing head in the sand. Hasn’t he ever watched a game of football and seen what happens? Unbelievable.
It’s here. The day has arrived. In a few hours England will face Germany in a knockout World Cup match. The last was 1990 and the nation was transfixed by the tears of a clown. We’ll soon experience this years rollercoaster. In 2030 will we remember tears of joy?
So far it’s been a traumatic tournament for England. Rumours of mutiny and boredom following the bafflingly incompetent showing against Algeria led to some vicious condemnation. Fortunately a football match broke out on Wednesday and we put aside the distractions and won in (relative) comfort. That’s all in the past now. When knockout stages start it’s like a new tournament. It’d be fantastic if Wayne could ‘Write the Future’. Imagine in twenty years looking back on the night we beat Germany!! To make the difference on a stage like this is to become immortal. No reason to feel afraid. There will only be a billion people watching. The time is now. I can’t believe I wrote this paragraph and didn’t use the words ‘Penalty shootout’. AAAARRRGH dam!!
Both knockout games so far have been excellent. Both filled with spritely attacking football and teams going all out for the wins as opposed to waiting to take a chance on penalties. It was thrilling to watch the USA play their way back into their game against Ghana and exciting to see Ghana’s resilience in getting back in front. Both sides were a credit to the game. It’s becoming a great tournament now. Let’s hope it continues.
Much of what can be achieved is down to attitude and approach. Brazil and Portugal were both qualified for the second round but even bearing that in mind their boring violent dirge on Friday was vile. Is that the best they could conjure up? Two sides filled with talent and excitement yet they just spent all game barging into each other and arguing like a load of little kids. Spain have clicked into gear though. Iniesta’s goal against Chile had the swagger and execution Barcelona have shown for the last two years. Villa took his chance well but you can’t help wondering why the keeper dashed out. If Spain continue to improve the only future Christiano will be writing next week will be on postcards from his holiday home in the Bahamas. Wouldn’t that be a shame!!
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!
Who could have predicted that? In the build up questions were asked about the age of the Italian squad. Lippi responded by pointing out that in a World cup you only need to win seven games. The world champions tepid exit will come as a huge shock. Expectations were low but failing to get out of the group is a disaster. Surely the inclusion of Cassano and Balotelli would have brought some much needed energy. The outcome of the group was particularly suprising because Slovakia had been uninspiring and dull in the first two games. Without wishing to demean Slovakia’s victory it was more about Italian lethargy than any silky Slovakian skills. They got through but Holland don’t have too much to worry about. And remember, my predictions are usually 100% wrong!! New Zealand didn’t quite have the craft to open the Paraguay defence but they can be proud of the achievements. To go out unbeaten is impressive. In years to come the Kiwis will look back on this as a special time in their lives.
For Japan’s first goal Tommy took a slight move to the left as it was being struck and that wrong footed him. That was the beginning of the end of Stoke City’s representation in the tournament. The TV companies will be hoping that doesn’t have a detrimental effect on the viewing figures. Across the globe millions will now turn away from the World Cup. Would Adidas and Macdonalds been so keen to invest so many millions in sponsorship if they had known it’d be Stokeless from the second round onwards? Surely not. Blatter will have some explaining to do. To make it worthwhile the TV cameras will be scanning crowds for Stoke fans in Stoke shirts just to satisfy the hunger of sponsors and get some Stokeness in. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Another big question that’s been thrown up is about Maradona. Is he becoming normal? Admittedly, he did say Pele should go back to the museum, but in other areas he’s been saying things other, more sane, less unhinged managers say. He’s even said that Brazil were favourites. In itself, this wasn’t a particularly controversial observation but it was a rare moment of chivalry towards the deadly rivals. Hopefully the pressure of the knockout stage will bring around a bit more madness from him.
So we now have one eye on the game against Germany. One difference between this and the other three games is that we won’t be favourites. Given the fragile metal state of our players will that work in our favour? A bit less pressure maybe? Looking back to the 1990 semi David Platt observed that deep down inside, in their heart of hearts, the England players didn’t believe they could win that game. Will we dogged by those doubts on Sunday? It’s in the head.
That was better. We played with a bit more purpose and opened Slovenia up now and then. Defoe put some much needed mobility in to the forward line and he took his chance well. Fantastic cross by Milner too which was a pleasant surprise. Rooney was more involved and should have scored Rooney the chance that the keeper saved but he was looking a bit better. If he scores one he’ll score another. The defence hasn’t had the credit it deserves. Upson and Terry were rock solid. Apart from THAT moment fron Green we’ve rarely looked like conceding.
The last five minutes were annoyingly tense because we should have scored another one (or two) to finish them off. When the final whistle finally blew and celebrations commenced I looked around the pub and noticed the Americans watching their game against Algeria suddenly go barmy. At first it seemed they were just acting a bit weird then it dawned on me they were going barmy because of the late winner. Afterwards speaking to some of them it dawned on me they had watched and some of them hadn’t really understood what was happening. Talk of a “Late score” and “Desperate interceptions” is unusual football terminology!
Of course, that late USA goal means it’s Germany next. There’s no reason to fear anyone but it’s common sense that Germany avoidance was preferable. We may pay a heavy price for our slackness in the first two games. The dreaded penalties loom large in our collective mind. I fear our journey will end on Sunday. We usually get knocked out when we face a side with genuine aspirations to win the trophy. 1990 was fantastic but, with all respect Belgium and Cameroon weren’t contenders to win the trophy. I’d love to be wrong.
It’s Wednesday now. Following a hair raising few days for the England team, in a few hours our fate will be determined. Will we go through or suffer the indignity of a group stage exit?
The fallout after the Algeria fiasco has been as fragmented as the ‘performance’ itself was. Immediately after the game David James indicated all was not well in the camp. A few days later John Terry, in full glare of the worlds media, implies he’s going to be an Arthur Scargill and confront the boss, but ended up looking more like Arthur Mullard as his colleagues seemed to be indifferent to or dismissive of his threatened revolt, and when FabCap referred to Terry making a “Big mistake” Poor old John Terry looked isolated and, to be honest, a bit silly, leavng us to ponder if he carries bitterness towards his manager after being stripped of the captaincy. Frank Lampard was charming diplomatic and articulate when he put the whole saga to bed. For now the game is more important than anything and a win will put much of this on the back burner but in coming months expect some explosive chapters in otherwise dull updated autobiographies.
Although the England camp is like the Brady Bunch compared to the French. Anelka’s vicious outburst at the coach led to him being sent home. Domenech changed his mind told him that he’d accept an apology which the French FA overruled that and instructed him to leave. That resulted in the hopeless Domench being at odds with his employers, and the team director (whatever that is) saw a nasty abusive outburst from patrice Evra so resigned and in the middle of all this (or maybe at the end, it doesn’t really matter) the players refused to train!! Brilliant stuff!! These shenanigens are the world witnessing the end of an era. Since the glory of 98 and 2000 France have played in fits and starts. In 2006 Zidane single handedly dragged them to the final where, in all fairness, had Zizou not had his headbutt moment, they may well have won another World Cup. But Henry single handedly (see what I did there? Good eh?) got them to South Africa and it may have been more beneficial if he hadn’t bothered. Domenech has looked as effective as Peter Sellers’ hapless union official in I’m All Right Jack and his players haven’t looked willing to protect his legacy. Not in a positive way anyway. Time to create a fresh dynasty. 2016 they host the Euros. Get your money on them.
The next time I post here we’ll know if we’ve made it through. Remember, at World Cups when England have gone to the final group match, we usually get what’s required to go through. BUT also remember, this is the first time the host nation hasn’t got past the group stage so those chains are there to be broken. Hopefully we are all happy on Thursday morning. There’s only one way our players can put things right, and we all know what that is.
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS good luck to Australia . It’s unlikely but you never know.
I watched our 2006 quarter final against Portugal in the pub. KO was 1am. It was well and truly a night of two halves. The first segment was the pre match part. Much ale was consumed and Vindaloo And Three Lions were sung and much frivolity abounded. The second part was from kick off onwards. Where earlier people had danced jigs, waved flags and scarves, and paraded their jolly demeanour to all and sundry, the mood changed completely. Joyous excitement was replaced by unreal calm and anxious scowls at our teams inability to impose themselves on the game. As extra time drifted towards it’s inevitable conclusion, which meant no immediate conclusion, Leonard Cohen’s Everybody Knows came into my mind. You can be sure that when he wrote his darkly brilliant anthem for bitter twisted betrayed lovers, World Cup quarter finals were the last thing on Len’s mind! But with another penalty shoot exit impending, the languid sinister mood of his tortured whispers accurately described the esssence of our slow sad shufffle across football’s bridge of sighs.
The shootout having reached it’s inevitable conclusion, the majority of the pub crowd quietly drifiting off into the night. My mate JD said exactly the precise words that were in my mind. “We are never going to win it in our lifetime” An accurate observation. Those moments were as sickening and horrible as any football moment I’ve ever had the misfortune to feel. Feeling as bitter as Len sounded, I drank three pints in about ten minutes. JD and I sat mumbling to ourselves and each other, bathing in the aftermath of the delicious nightmare. The scale of my misery wasn’t eased by the fact that, like now, I never expected to win the tournament. At that point a Frenchman came to talk to us who was, well, too French. He was so French we felt that he wasn’t French at all and was caricaturing a Frenchman for a laugh. He was good looking stylish and had all the mannerisms of the French stereotype. He was waiting for their game against Brazil and had come over to commiserate with us. A really top bloke but it was hard to talk with him because of our depression and the scale of the Frenchness was hard to get past. A quirky end to a horrible night (and early morning) of stomach churning inevitable loss.
SO to 2010. I am yet to go the pub for an England game in this competition. If we get knocked out could I feel as bad as I felt last time? OR if we get knocked out would it help if I was surrounded by other depressed souls? OR as this could be the last chance to get out and experience it should I just go? OR, we might win and….no, that’s a ridiculous prospect. What should I do? To drink or not to drink? That is the question.
In 1982 I was outside the Victoria Ground before a home game against Liverpool. The Stoke team bus came and the players got off in bits and pieces. Many larking about and preferring to finish their game of cards on the bus before going into the dressing room to prepare for the match. Five minutes later the Liverpool bus arrived. As soon as the bus pulled up their players were up and ready to enter the stadium and win the game of football. Focussed and ready, they all stepped off the bus, eyes filled with the focus of European Champions. Single file they were ambassadorial and shook a few hands and signed a few autographs on the way, but all they had in mind was winning the game of football. And they did. They thrashed us 5-1. Few sides in Europe could handle Liverpool in those days but the game was won as soon as they arrived at the stadium.
Compare this to the England team bus that arrived at Capetown’s Green Point Stadium for the game against Algeria. As our players left the bus to enter the stadium they had fear in their eyes. They didn’t look focused they looked frightened. The weight of expectation wasn’t an inspiration it was a burden. But why? There weren’t there to face a firing squad they were there to play a game of football, a game they expected to win. In his autobiography Steve Gerrard admits that much of the extra time against Portugal in 2006 he played in a daze such was his fear of taking a penalty in the shootout. This is despite the fact in Istanbul the year before he took a perfect one and only six weeks before had executed one in the FA Cup Final shootout. Fear.
The fear was demonstrated by much of the performance. It’s to Gerrard’s credit that in these two games he has been one of the few to carry the games to the opposition, yet twice against Algeria, he was through on goal and instead of shooting chose to square the ball and the move was snuffed out. Similarly Emile Heskey was through and didn’t take responsibility and chose to try a pass. England’s inability to make the most basic passes was painfully clear for all to see, as was the inability to control a ball. Wayne Rooney may want to, er, ‘Write the future’ but to be remembered with fondness you must perform on the biggest stage. In the two games so far Wazza has been hopelessly inadequate, unfit? Instead of berating the fans who have the audacity to jeer the team for their dull trudging, perhaps he should consider applying himself to his game and trying to justify his status. You know, like an adult would. Can he complain about the pressure on him when he willingly did that advert about writing the future? And what reaction can he expect? Those supporters have spent thousands to be there. Is he so detached he can’t relate to that frustration?
The problem is in the head. While England are far from a World Cup winning team beating Algeria shouldn’t have been a major obstacle. The fear has engulfed the squad. Brian Clough used to say that being relaxed was the key to everything and that nobody can achieve anything with fear in their heart. Seeing our players lunging from one misshaped bodge job to the next and feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders old big eds words are unfathomably wise. After the game Capello was clearly exasperated by his players crumbling under pressure. Of course they will be hurt by that but instead of getting precious it’s make more sense for them to consider his words and respond to them instead of reacting to them, like adults would.
When they get off the bus before Slovenia, for the last chance we don’t deserve, they need to take responsibility, show the arrogance, discipline and psychology Liverpool showed 28 years ago – like adults would.
This World Cup has been underway for nearly a week and the most amazing shocking thing is the refereeing so far…..it’s actually been quite good!! There have been a couple of goals that may have been given offside but overall it’s been competent which is pleasing. This time FIFA seem to have gone easy on the new directives that are introduced on the eve of compettitions which serve only to confuse players and refs alike. Which means Domenech can only blame balltitiude and vuvuzelas for France’s lame tepid clueless unimaginative trudges. The big question is how he’s managed to cling onto his job. He’s nearly gone and few French football fans will be sorry. When Thierry handled them to the finals there were even some French fans who were disappointed because it meant another six months with him in charge. Although the point has to be made, their players don’t emerge from this with much credit either. They never showed any desire to go out and make the difference and win either game. Suicidal against a technically proficient well disciplined side like Mexico. But all isn’t lost. France could yet go on to lift the trophy and, now I’ve praised the refs, Algeria will beat England in controversial circuimstances.
When South Korea pulled the goal back against Argentina it was refreshing that the South Americans continued to move forward. Too many sides would have taken the cautious route and sat resolutely on what they had. They got the reward too. In the hullabaloo surrounding Messi it’s pleasing that Higuain got some acclaim. It’s hard not to feel though that when they face higher class opposition the defence could be exposed and the lack of Cambiasso could yet prove costly to them. Another entertaining aspect of Argentina’s games is Maradona patrolling the touchline with the air of an evil genius. It seems a matter of time until he does something crazy. When they face trouble you can imagine him dashing on the pitch and digging a hole or doing an Ozzy Osbourne and biting a bat’s head off or something.
England tomorrow morning!! James is replacing Green in goal. Why? What has Green made a mistake or something? Gareth Barry’s return is welcome but he’ll experience a strange kind of pressure. Usually long awaited comebacks are for strikers. There no pushovers at this level but Algeria is a game we can reasonably expect to win. Lets blow the cobwebs away and get the job done. COME ON ENGLAND!! (although I’ll be pleased enough with a dirty crappy 1-0 with the goal a deflection off a passing dog!!)
“Football is a simple game complicated by idiots” Bill Shankly
So holders Italy rather fortuitously drew with Paraguay. Brazil who are, well, Brazil, only beat North Korea 2-1 with the late consolation being one of the more surprising World Cup moments with European Champions and highly fancied Spain beaten by Switzerland.
Bearing these results in mind, can we please put England’s draw with the USA in perspective?? Of course we’d have liked to start with a win, (who wouldn’t?) but the level of criticism it’s provoked is beyond reason. The fact is that in a competition like this every side you face will present problems, even North Korea!! Looking back plenty of teams have made slow starts and gone on to have a fantastic tournament, not least England in 1990. In 1982 Italy were dire in the group stage then came through the pack and proved themselves to be the best side there. It doesn’t mean everything is all right or that FabCap hasn’t made mistakes or have questions to answer. It does show that it’s more important to respond to a situation than to react to it. There’s still plenty of time to do just that. A defeat to Algeria would be the time for soul searching and navel contemplation. And if it isn’t a swashbuckling 8-0 victory so be it. It’s a marathon not a snickers. Just ask Spain….
Spain’s defeat wasn’t really the colossal shock it’s being made out to be. Until 2008 they were known for bottling at crucial times. Winning the Euro might have settled them down but could also have increased unwanted pressure. Whether they are strong enough to handle that pressure we’ll find out in the coming weeks. If the game against Switzerland is a pointer the answer would have to be that they aren’t. Hitzveld and his team did a remarkable job on their more illustrious opponents. For much of the first half they had to allow Spain to have the ball BUT only in areas they knew they couldn’t get hurt. They went back to the simple principle that they couldn’t out play them so they had to outnumber them. And in the centre of the park Spain rarely got the chance to flow. Great work by the Swiss. Discipline and strategy upsetting the flarier team isn’t always the popular outcome but alternatively Switzerland could have let them play with fluidity and got beaten 6-0. If you were Swiss what would you prefer?? And when someone claims to be a football purist it just tells me they don’t or haven’t experienced the game to the same emotional depth that I do. And YES I am arrogant enough to say that!!
Seventeen games gone and this World Cup is starting to ignite. Let’s hope the momentum continues.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. If Reid hadn’t scored that late equaliser for New Zealand, AKA The All Whites, I’d have won $50 in my first accumulatory wager of the competition. Not to win is no huge shock as my predictions are legendarily 100% wrong!! In fact, I thought the result which would bring me unstuck was gambling on Ivory Coast and Portugal drawing which proves I can’t even correctly predict what I’ve wrongly predicted!
When that late glancing header sneaked in cheers could be heard up and down our street. The local New Zealanders obviously prepared to sacrifice sleep to enjoy a piece of history. This morning several local Kiwis rushed up to discuss last nights drama. Several showed me the excited texts they had received from family and friends across The Tasman Sea. Some of them wouldn’t have been born the last time New Zealand qualified in 1982. It’s unlikely that many of these people have ever really considered football before….the All Blacks dominating their national sporting landscape. But there was a significant awareness that this has taken the image of their country into new terrritory. That little kids in La Paz will be talking of Reid’s goal and how Slovakia blew a precious lead. The supermarkets of Sofia with shoppers saying the Slovakia goal should have been given offside anyway. The cafe’s of Sydney with locals disgruntled at being outdone by their Australisian rivals. And, most importantly, those standing around the water coolers of Wellington and bursting with pride.
What happens next to New Zealand isn’t as crucial as that moment. It could be that they never experience that high for another twenty eight years. But the euphoria that goal bright can never be taken away…and well worth missing out on $50!! It was a special moment and it’s enormity shows why football is the greatest and most captivating game on earth.