Groundless expectation, damaging expansion and hopes of a clean sheet
Why are England dogged with such ridiculous expectation? There is absolutely nothing to justify the notion that England are a superpower. Our record since 1966 isn’t great. In the last 45 years we have reached a World Cup semi two a Euro semi and several World Cup quarter finals. In the same period Holland have reached three WC finals and a semi and won the European Championship. Bulgaria got to a WC semi and a Euro final. Sweden have got to a WC semi and a Euro semi. Poland reached a WC semi and finished 3rd in 1974. Belgium have reached a Euro final and a WC semi. Turkey have reached a Euro semi and, of course, Greece were European champions. That’s only the middle ranking European sides.
So since 1966* our record, when compared to other European football nations, gives new meaning to the word average. Yet people get annoyed because, for example, we’ll never ‘win anything with Capello.’ Its unlikely we’ll win a competition whoever the manager is. We’d all love to but to actually expect England to win a tournament is based on wishful thinking. There is no great tradition to justify a demand like that. We should keep our hopes in perspective. But if we qualify for Poland and Ukraine we can still expect the same filth and fury when we get knocked out. I’m certainly not saying we shouldn’t try to win tournaments. But I am saying we should keep our hopes in perspective. Personally, I always look at getting through the group then take it from there. Usually as soon as we face a side with genuine aspirations to win the tournament we get knocked out. In 1990 it was great fun but, with all respect, Belgium and Cameroon weren’t contenders to lift the trophy. *our record before 66 wasn’t great either…Bela Horizonte anyone?
From 2016 the European Championship will ludicrously be expanded to 24 teams. One reason the Euro’s is such a good competition is that so many of the sides have genuine aspirations to win it. From 2016 that quality will be diluted. Did UEFA decide this because the cash cow that is England didn’t reach the last one? I’m guessing it’d be a significant factor. They forget that England didn’t qualify because we weren’t good enough. They want to ensure everyone gets there that to maximise income…. at the cost of quality. Nearly half the teams in the qualifying competition will be in the tournament. A preliminary competition to wed out some the cannon fodder is long overdue. Failure to do so leading up to the 2016 competition will result in a farcical loss of prestige for what has often been a truly top notch competition.
The suspension of the J-League is jeopardising Japan’s participation in this year’s Copa America. Their domestic league may have to finish too late for their players to prepare for the competition. If they do have to withdraw it would make sense for Australia to try and take their spot. It’d be the sort of competitive experience that’s essential if they are to continue to grow on the world stage. Playing against teams with expansive systems of play would prove beneficial for their game.
England’s victory over Wales was solid steady and professional. Wales had little to offer. Had Gareth Bale been fit it might have made some difference but as it is England were rarely threatened. Parker and Wilshere were composed in centre midfield… is it now time to start phasing out the Lampard Gerrard combination? It’s certainly time to start building the team around Wilshere. He showed that he can grow into the playmakers role and develop into a top class international midfielder. With such a dearth of English talent his skill mustn’t be wasted. England’s qualification could rest on the final game away to Montenegro in October. If that’s the case we have to hope we don’t fall victims to the horrendous catastrophe that befell Steve McClaren’s team in 2007.
Amid the excitement of the forthcoming FA Cup Semi…. and the organised chaos of the ticket scramble, it’s easy to forget that we have a game on Saturday against the reigning champions. Chelsea have returned to form yet still lack the dominant strut they paraded early in the season. It would be typical Stoke if Torres scored his first Chelsea goal against us. We are yet to play in a 0-0 draw this season. If our first arrives on Saturday we wouldn’t be complaining. A clean sheet will suffice!