England played with refreshing discipline against France. Our players kept focus and came away with a deserved point. It was particularly pleasing to see the midfielders protect the defence properly. Steve Gerrard didn’t stray forward and Terry and Lescott were solid. If we continue to defend with such composure the kerfuffle over Rio Ferdinand’s absence will soon be forgotten. Our forward play caused France problems, but we lacked that extra bit of craft and confidence on the ball to sustain pressure. When Rooney returns against Ukraine he will provide our attacking play a much needed extra dimension. It is worth noting however that despite France dominating possession, it was England who created the clearest chance of the game.
While lacking the style and panache of the 98 and 2000 sides, France have improved greatly since 2010’s catastrophic World Cup campaign. On Monday we got a draw against Europe’s in form team. When he was appointed we knew that Roy Hodgson would put emphasis on shape. It’s pleasing to see positive results.
When the draw was made back in December it was surprising that much of the media seemed to regard England’s qualification for the quarter finals of Euro 2012 as a formality. Every side you face in a tournament will cause you problems. When England beat Sweden in a friendly in November it was the first time we had defeated them since 1968. If anyone becomes complacent and believes a corner has been turned, bear in mind that England have never beaten Sweden in a competitive match. Ukraine are the final opponents and facing the hosts always provides an extra challenge. We have made an encouraging start to the campaign but the notion that England will easily reach the quarter final is naive. Long way to go.
Elsewhere in the tournament the Dutch appear to be on their way home. For all their skill and style they have failed to defend properly. Germany‘s two goals were brilliantly created and taken but their opponents helped them along. For his first goal Gomez found acres of space between the two German central defenders. Schweinsteiger’s ball was incisive but why were Holland so generous? They still have a chance of reaching the quarter finals but need to defend as a unit. The rumours of player unrest in the camp hardly inspires confidence.
‘Arry has left Spurs. Who could have predicted that at Christmas? Fabio Capello’s departure co-incided with Redknapp being found not guilty of tax evasion and it seemed his stars were aligned to light the path to manage England. Unfortunately for Arry the speculation about managing England led to a serious dip in Spurs form. He was sacked over a contract dispute. Despite what he said it’s hard to believe Champions league qualification wouldn’t have helped his cause. Will he manage in the Premier League again? He may fancy a lucrative contract overseas.
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.
“I’m not one for jumping over the moon or off a cliff” Alf Ramsey
England’s World Cup campaign finally got underway. For the neutrals it must have been a cracker. But I’m not neutral! Overall though the performance wasn’t half as bad as some are making it out to be. Gerrard started with a hunger enthusiasm and purpose reminiscent of Beckham against Greece back in 2001. After taking the lead we fell off with Milner badly exposed and seeing yellow. It raises the question why he was picked when 1 he’s been ill and 2 there are other options? The most infuriating thing about THAT huge mistake is that when Milner was replaced by Shaun Wright Phillips we’d just seized the initiative and started to take the game to them again. Then Green allowed that hopeful pot shot to go through him. Keeper remains a problem for England and the question has to be asked…why hasn’t Hart been more involved in the build up to the tournament?
In the second half we battled stoutly and after Heskey wasted that marvellous opportunity it was apparent we’d blown our chance. Rooney tried a long range shot and Heskey put that header over. Lampard took that free kick and skied it as badly as, as, well er, as badly as all the other free kicks in this tournament so far!! Could it be the new lightweight ball? As ever with England, plenty of endeavour but a lack of craft. And, especially against solid underrated opponents like the USA, you need more than sweat.
All isn’t lost. Far from it in fact. If we win the next two matches we’ll be in the round of 16. And, crass though it sounds I honestly believe a win or draw hinged entirely on Green’s error. But what an error. The only way to rationalise it is to say that’s football and it happens.
Because I don’t have an effigy of Rob Green hanging from my house to urinate on it doesn’t mean I’m happy with it all. It’s very disappointing not to win a game you’ve been leading in. But the end of the world it isn’t. It’s football and these things happen sometimes. Upwards and onwards. What a difference a win would make. Algeria next!!