Wayne Rooney celebrates his goal against San Marino (Picture: Sky Sports)
Sadly, no. They can't attain European immortality. They cannot win the European Championship come this year in France. Although they are blessed with immense talent, this particular group of players as well as other groups of players in the past, can't just emulate the dominant performances of the Germans, the Spanish, the Dutch, the French, or the Italians to mention quite a few. England have never gotten to the final of this competition, the closest they've come to a final was in 1968 when they lost to Yugoslavia in the semi-finals of that particular tournament held in Italy. For some reason, this 'superpower' in world football blitz through qualifying phases of competitions, but like the vanishing spray being used on pitches, disappear on the big stage.
An area that contributes to this constant failure of England's teams in European tournaments is the manager. Previous managers in the past (Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan, Peter Taylor, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson (current manager) and so on) just can't get it right tactically on the big stage. To win any tournament of any sort, the coach/manager/trainer, must get it right tactically no matter the opposition. Spain, most recently, have shown us how vital a manager is to the success of a team in any tournament. Most football fans all over the world eulogise about the tiki-taka brand of football displayed by the Spanish side in recent tournaments. This brand of football was conceived by Luis Aragonès (1938-2014), who was the manager of La Roja in 2008 when Spain won an international tournament since 1968. In that particular tournament, La Furia Roja needed only one penalty shootout to progress (against Italy). They won the remaining in normal time. The final against Germany in Vienna was settled by a sublime Fernando Torres chip over Jens Lehmann after a through-ball from Xavi Hernandez. A manager decides the players to be picked and the tactics to be employed in a match. The Three Lions sadly haven't had a manager past and present who gets it right when it matters. England's style of play is predominantly based on quick movement of the ball and a heavy reliance on the wide men to supply the crosses. This has not worked so far. This crop of players do not have what it takes to produce when it matters on the big stage. Yeah, they may do it in friendlies like at the Olympiastadion last friendly when they produced a comeback of comebacks to win 3-2 after being 2 goals down.
Previous occasions show that England do not turn up when it matters. The manager must be able to read a game and know when to make changes either to go for the kill, or shut up shop. It happened yesterday with Jamie Vardy and Ross Barkley, but we are talking about tournaments here. England won in Munich back in 2001 against a German side who had some extremely gifted players like Oliver Bierhoff, Michael Ballack, Oliver Kahn, Dietmar Hamann. Michael Owen and Emile Heskey had a feel day in that game. It ended 5-1. The Three Lions, then and now, can't stand even a shadow's length with Die Mannschaft. No, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Another element that contributes greatly to this team's continuous dire predicament in European tournaments is their defending. The Three Lions over the last decade or so haven't been blessed with world class defenders par John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. That's two out of probably 30 defenders. Really sad that is. Mind you, both Ferdinand and Terry didn't have the best tournaments in their illustrious career. Their club exploits testify to that actually. When both centre backs protected either David Seaman, David James, or Paul Robinson, the closest the Queen's team ever reached to winning a tournament was the quarter-final. In European championships, they lost to Portugal in 2000, and France in 2004 after Zizou left them bewildered and bothered in truth. So yeah, England's defence needs to be bettered to say the least if they are to attain footballing immortality.
John Terry and Rio Ferdinand training for England. (Picture: Zimbio.com)
Though they won last night against Die Mannschaft, there were many instances which showed that the defence at times can be as weak as Ted Cruz's campaign speeches. Toni Kroos' goal is one of note. First of all, why would Smalling pass the ball back to Butland who's under pressure from German frontman Mario Gomez? Why not clear it out for a throw-in or pass it to another defender? Also, why are Clyne, Dier, and Cahill backing off Toni Kroos? That's like Clark Kent sleeping in a room full of green kryptonite! He'll obviously die. Moreover, where were Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling when Mario Gomez had time to direct his header past a hapless Fraser Forster? I mean, those pieces of defending were really disappointing to watch if you're an England supporter. This particular group of defenders (Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Chris Smalling, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Gibbs, Danny Rose, Nathaniel Clyne, and so on) can't stand shoulder to shoulder with the defensive juggernauts in sides like Italy, Spain, and Germany. Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'Attack win you games, defence win you titles.' England have to sort out their defensive frailties, and quickly or they might be as empty in terms of cups as any atom of sense is in Thomas Müller's 'goal celebrations.'
Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka in action for England. (Picture: ProvenQuality.com).
Any title or cup-winning side have two or three midfielders who can either nimbly weave his way past oncoming challenges with his dribbling ability, pick out a pass amidst the argy-bargy in the opposing defence, or score a goal completely out of the top-drawer. Do this present side have any of that? Unfortunately, no. Jordan Henderson, is only good at running round the pitch. Yeah, he scored an absolute peach of a goal against Manchester City last season, but Simon Cox scored an even better one some seasons back against Tottenham Hotspur. It is evident that Henderson isn't that good of a set-piece taker given the fact that he isn't even the first or second choice set-piece taker in Liverpool. Philippe Coutinho (1st) and James Milner (2nd) are thought of for set-piece duty before Henderson. In England, Wayne Rooney and Leighton Baines are more preferred choices than he is in terms of set-piece duty. Last night assist was a rarity in truth and England need assists on a regular basis to win cups. Adam Lallana is more of a nimble player, but not as nimble and skillful as required. He's shown some good form under Mr Jürgentainment (Jürgen Klopp), but he needs to do it more often. Bamidele Alli, the Nigerian-born midfielder was absolutely brilliant last night, and has been very good this season. He could be a real gem with his work-rate and attacking positioning. He also has a stern tackle on him. Roy Hodgson needs to protect that player and make him an integral part of the squad.
Dele Alli and Harry Kane, England will look up to them in the summer. (Picture: BBC)
The final room of this crashing castle in terms of international success, is the attack. In the past, England had an array of talent in attack that banged in goals season-in, season out for their respective clubs. Michael Owen, Teddy Sheringham, Alan Shearer, Andrew Cole, Gary Lineker, Sir Geoff Hurst, and the likes; were renowned for finding the back of the net for consistent periods of time. This present crop (Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Jermaine Defoe) can't guarantee you success on the big stage. Wayne Rooney has been off it completely this season. A large part of England's footballing contingency want the England captain dropped. This is surprising since he is the record all-time scorer. That's no way to become successful internationally, O Three Lions. Harry Kane, though blitzing in the Barclays Premier League, isn't tried and tested on the big stage. That is a worry in itself. Same goes for the man from Leicester (Jamie Vardy). Look at the successful sides in the European Championships: their strikers are tried and tested. They can be relied on. In this team, there isn't any striker who can be relied on. This season's exploits may point to Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, but mind you: we are talking about international success here. And oh, these exploits have only been seen in two seasons (Kane (2), Vardy (not a complete season yet)). The Spaniards, French, and the Germans, excel in goalscoring both club and country. The strikers in those countries can be relied on. That's what you need: Reliance on a striker who can grab a goal even when your team isn't playing well. One who sniff a half-chance and bury it, or come off with a moment of sheer genius (like El Niño in the Euro 2008 final against Germany, or David Trezeguet against Italy in the 2000 final when he scored a brilliant volley with his Weaker left foot to win the final in extra time). That is what you need, ladies and gentlemen: reliance. This England team can't be relied on. Arsene Wenger has a better chance at being the best manager in the world, than at England being a reliable team to bring home international success.
picture: Mirror.co.uk
This group of players have a lot of work to do, as well and most importantly as Roy Hodgson and the English FA, if they are to win a major tournament since 1966. Staggering to say the least, absolutely staggering. Given the sheer talent they have. It's not about having just talent, but translating it to points, victories, cups, and extensively footballing immortality. We'll see if they can come through in this year's edition in the summer in France.
By Fowora Ayotomiwa.
 Sadly, no. They can't attain European immortality. They...){kind=link}
Post a Comment