1966 was a great year, or so I’m told by those of an age able to remember it.
It has been a long time since England lifted the highest honour in International football, too long in fact, and many have been brave enough to predict South Africa will be the location for the Three Lions to finally end the years of hurt for the England faithful.
Trouble is I’ve heard all this before, and after so many England related predictions that have fallen short I am now perhaps not sceptical, more cautiously optimistic on how the team will actually faire in the pressure cooker environment of the tournament proper.
Even the most cynical of fans must admit however that circumstance is a little different this time around.
Firstly there can be no question marks over the pedigree of the man charged with leading the side into battle. Fabio Capello is as good and as astute as they come. His trophy hall at club level all over Europe is to vast to list exhaustively, but suffice it to say it would be quicker to go over what he hasn’t won than what he has. There have been no signs that he has had any trouble translating his talents at club level to the International stage, his England appearing a very different prospect from that which he inherited.
So no excuses that England have the wrong man at the helm… so what about the players?
If England are to threaten winning the trophy next year then Wayne Rooney will have to have the tournament of his career so far. He has been in great form for club and country this term, flourishing in the new found responsibility thrust upon him at United now that Ronaldo has moved on. This can only benefit England as Rooney is growing into the talismanic, or as the Americans would like to call it ‘franchise’ player that England will need him to be.
The other main protagonists aren’t too shabby either, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand, A. Cole would get in most if not any side in the world. Not a bad spine to the team then either.
The supporting cast have blown hot cold at various points since Capello took charge. Lennon has seemingly shaken off his persistent injury problems and found the sort of form that first got him into the side. Glen Johnson seems to be the only real option at right back for England at present. Better going forwards than backwards he is certainly a pressure point opposing teams will look to exploit.
The Goalkeeping position is still a hotly contested debate, although Capello has stated he knows who his first choice for the tournament is already. He hasn’t told us yet though I notice. Ben Foster has looked much improved for United in recent games but is yet to convince. Again England have many options here and I feel the race is still open for one of them to claim the shirt as their own before the end of the season.
Coming back from injury are Downing, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves who could yet feature for England in South Africa. If fully fit and firing, all three players would be a great asset to the squad although only time will tell what sort of season each will have. England have a number of wide options to choose from when you consider Walcott, Lennon, SWP and Young are also all in contention. (Discounting Beckham and Gerrards new found role in the team playing wide left).
And so it would seem that England certainly have the tools for the job on paper. There is also a new found steel and grit that the team was sorely lacking under previous regimes. However I still feel there is a delicacy about the way England’s fortune is decided. Beaten by Spain and France (although in friendly games) under Capello shows that the side is far from unbeatable when faced with top class opposition. No disrespect to Croatia but I don’t hear anyone touting them as potential winners in South Africa.
As everyone knows this England side are in a now or never moment. The big players are peaking in terms of their age and relative performance levels, and it will be all downhill for them in the main after this tournament. Capello continues to build and improve the side with every passing fixture and I for one would not doubt his ability to pull it all together for the big show next summer.
Still I can’t seem to shake that though in the back of my mind that takes the form of a penalty shootout that prematurely ends what could be a year to remember for English football.
I am a big fan of the guy and thus biased but I think the possible success of England will depend on whether Hargreaves is fit and playing as defensive midfielder or not. Looking back at recent tournaments and league winners, the holding midfielder, rough tackler or player with brilliant position play has been instrumental for the success of their team.
We don’t have to look far to think of names of those players: Makelele and Deschamps for France, Gattuso for Italy.
On club level, again there’s Makelele for both Real and Chelsea (except for the year under Capello, Real hasn’t won anything since Makelele left), looking at United when they did the Double Hargreaves was pivotal, last season just think of the impact of Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher in certain games, before that there was Keane. Arsenal could do with (a) Viera again.
Hargreaves when fit and on top of his game is right up there with Gattuso, an agressive tackler but also one of the most offensive minded defensive midfielders and when the time runs out he knows to push everyone in front of him even more up front.
I can not wait until he returns.
Check Out The New England World Cup Song (2110)
http://www.youtube.com/thisisjohnnyblack#p/u/2/UQrp5GbpJBw
Why are people still writing stuff like this. For the last four years people have wrote about how great all the players are and how they should be talented enough to win, and they have failed to do anything, yet this stuff still gets written. How many of our players would get into Spain or Brazils team? Or Frances, or any of the teams which have got to a major final in the last ten years?
That’s a good question you know – a ‘best of France and England’ XI…hmmm.
Hi Matthew, as a non-Englishman (but one who has always supported them in big tournaments)I’d make a couple of points:
Re Capello: “His trophy hall at club level all over Europe is to vast to list exhaustively, but suffice it to say it would be quicker to go over what he hasn’t won than what he has.”
One CL win is poor and, having gained initial success, he got some of the top jobs. But, that said, I agree that he is a quality manager.
And: “Glen Johnson seems to be the only real option at right back for England at present.”
Short memory! Wes Brown is just getting back to full fitness and he ‘owned’ the position for both club and country the season before last. For me he’s a much better defender than Johnson, offers cover at CB and must be included as England must have at least 2 RB’s?
By the way, I sat thru the 1966 WC Final and supported England all the way while the rest of my family were up for Germany (West). A memorable game from my childhood (had to get that in in case you think I’m totally ancient!)
But the main question I have is this. How would you compare this squad with the one in 2006? In 2006 England were hugely hyped as a real chance to win it, and I agreed with that.
We all know how that turned out. The core of the squad hasn’t changed, certainly not the ’star’ players (bar Owen). But it’s hard to make the case that this squad is better if you go thru the names and look at the ages (as they’ll be next June…..Rio, Lamps, Gerrard, Becks all 30+) and problems with GK and 2nd striker. Nobody is really staking a claim in the wide positions either.
I agree totally on Hargreaves though. Hopefully he stays fit and gets back to his best.
The best scenario for England fans is to keep expectation in check and…just maybe…they will excel and (for once) win the inevitable shoot-outs when they come around.
They’re a chance….but I’m keeping my powder dry right now.
god you’re old…
@Ahmed: Cheek!!
Come on Sing for England, on youtube, – It’s simple, catchy and memorable, just needs a good group to do it justice, any ideas?