Well I have had a couple days for it to sink in that England are out of the World Cup. England were just not good enough. For whatever reason, pretty much none of the England players “turned up”. The reason is not clear – are players tired, unhappy with Fabio and the camp/setup, playing out of position???
A poor World Cup for England
England have been overall very very disappointing this World Cup. To be fair the game versus USA was OK and if it wasnt for Robert Green’s mistake it properly would have been a win for England (and then who knows). The game versus Algeria was awful – once again the English problem of not keeping possession of the ball. It was better against Slovenia – playing at a much better pace, keeping the ball, passing it about nicely and playing as a team. Even though England were the much better team, England still only won 1-0. After the Slovenia match, everyone was more confident and hoping England would continue to improve. Of course it was against Germany but we had some reason to be confident because on paper, we were better. However that wasnt the case….
Match versus Germany
Its never straight-forward, matches between England and Germany. However, in recent times England have had a good record against Germany. England didnt play well and found themselves 2-0 down. It could easily have been a lot more. Players always losing possession, the ball just being whacked up the field aimlessly. This doesnt work the best of times but when you have small strikers like Defore and Rooney its pretty much hopeless.
England managed to get a goal back after good work by Gerrard. He got the ball outside the box and crossed the ball in. Upson scored with an excellent header. We had played so bad but somehow we were back in it. Less than a minute later Lampard got the ball and scored that “goal”. I am sure you have all seen and read about it. It was about 2 foot over the line and there was shadow of a doubt it was in. Everyone is calling for technology in football and things like goal-line technology. However, in this particular case there wasnt any need!! No need to see if it was over, it was so clear and everyone except the officials could see it was over the line.
England went in at half time at 2-1 down so still in it and after getting a goal back and getting the “equaliser” we had the momentum. Who know what may have happened if that goal counted?? Chances are the result would have still been the same and that “goal” would have just papered over the cracks!
After the teams came out in the 2nd half England did well for a little bit but it went back to “same old England”. However, the lack of defence and the big huge gaps in defence is just not acceptable! When Germany scored the 3rd goal, it all came from England losing the ball way into the Germany half. Almost all the players were in the Germany half and it left just a couple defenders back. Crazy!! Maybe with a minute left needing a goal you throw everyone forward but there was still about 25 minutes to go. Germany got the 4th and that was it all over.
The only person who came out in credit in this game was David James who made some good saves and was commanding in goal. (Maybe he could have done better with the 3rd goal though). Rooney once again was poor. The defence played as if they had never met each other, Defoe was anonymous. It was all too narrow and we didnt get the ball wide enough. Germany’s left back was one of their weaker players but hardly ever did Milner take him on and run at him.
Whos to blame?
It always seems to be the case after England get knocked out of a major competition that someone has to be blamed. At the end of the day its the players on the pitch who have control of what happens. They are the ones kicking the ball. Have the England footballers just confirmed that they are overpaid, arrogant, lazy, prima donnas??
However, as manager, Fabio Capello has to take some blame in the performance. Throughout this tournament he has made strange team selections, even stranger substitutions and seem just too stubborn to change. Some people may blame the FA – they are in control of English football and can influence/decide the development of young English players. A time for a big change?? Coach the coaches, train players properly?? Maybe the influx of all the foreign players is ruining the chances for young English players?? Are players like Gerrard and Lampard, who look so good for their club just not good enough?? Do they just look good because of all the foreign players playing alongside?? Maybe this is what happens in Italy – Inter Milan won all sorts last season and I think they have no Italian players in their first 11 team. Italy crashed out of the World Cup “early” – properly as embarassing as England but maybe not as bad as France!
Going back to Fabio and how he could be to blame. As manager he is the one who sets out how everything works and how things in run in the England camp. Maybe his strict way is just not right for English players?? We did brilliantly in the qualifiers but maybe the players were OK with the strict methods as they would be back at their clubs in a few days. With the World Cup, they are away from home for several weeks. I think England have been away for 4 weeks.
I think Fabio must take some blame with the actual football side of things. Almost everyone wanted Gerrard to play more centrally – whenever he is in the middle behind Rooney he seems to cause problems and it brings the best out of Rooney – its the position they both play for their club. (I know Rooney is a different player to Torres but it was worth a try). With Rooney playing a lone striker role, England would have been able to play 5 in midfield and there would be a much better balance if you actually played players in their normal position – could have Milner/SWP/Lennon/J Cole playing out wide and in the middle Lampard, Gerrard (further forward) and Barry. (Maybe even try Carrick with Barry for more protection and Lampard, Gerrard and Milner). Eitherway, England were just being over-run in the midfield.
Not the best of luck
He didn’t have the best luck with personnel so that made things harder for Fabio. Losing Rio just days into the tournament was terrible news. He was the captain and also the central defender with pace. He lost Ledley King after one half of the game and then was left with Carragher – who looked slow and was anyway missing for a game with suspension – and Upson – who helped a team get relegated. In an ideal world he would have had Hargreaves who would have been in for the tortoise paced Gareth Barry. He also didn’t have Beckham – he would have at least shown some effort on the pitch.
Fabio seems obsessed with the 442 formation. It just didnt work and may have been a factor in England basically being crap. (Although saying that if you can’t keep possession, give the ball away and just smack the ball upfield it doesnt matter what formation you play!). Hardly any of the big teams now play 442. Spurs are properly the only ones who do it regularly. Also Fabio makes some odd substitution decisions. Just looking at the Germany game, when England needed a goal, why not bring Crouch on who has a great England record?? (He just doesnt seem to trust Crouch and in the whole tournament I think he gave him about 15 minutes). What is the point on bring on Heskey? Goalkeepers have scored more than him!! Also, what is the point on bringing SWP on for about 5 minutes?? No need to timewaste!!
End of Golden Generation
This is now the end of many from the “Golden Generation”. There are a good handful of good young English players and hopefully they can continue their development and become a success. Players like Joe Hart, Ryan Shawcross, Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson. The likes of James Milner, Aaron Lennon (needs to learn to cross), Ashley Young are still young enough too. Established England players who still should be in next squad are Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe. However, this is properly last World Cup for Gerrard, Lampard, James and co. As for Heskey……
Maybe no one is to blame and we are just not good enough no matter what system or manager?? Many of the players are over-rated e.g. John Terry. Other teams show much greater technical ability – not just the “big” countries but teams like Japan, Chile, even Algeria.
Maybe 2nd round/quarter final is all we should expect at the World Cup?? Looking at record since 1966 we have rarely got past the quarter final:
1970 – knocked out by German first knock out match
1974 – Did not qualify
1978 – Did not qualify
1982 – Drew 0 – 0 with West Germany and Spain in first knockout phase
1986 – Beat Paraguay knocked out by Argentina in Quarter Finals
1990 – Beguim and Cameroon after extra time, beaten by West Germany in the semi finals
1994 – Did not qualify
1998 – Beaten by Argentina in first knock out round
2002 – Beat Denmark beaten by Brazil in Quarter Final
2006 – Beat Ecuador, beaten by Portugal in the Quater Final
2010 – Beaten by Germany in the first knock out phase
Players rating for tournament
- David James – Did pretty well overall. Properly Englands best player but not hard.
- Glen Johnson – Nothing special and just confirms (as if we didnt know) that hes good going forward but suspect at the back. Excellent block in game against Slovenia
- Ashley Cole – Did alright but overall disappointing
- John Terry – Pretty poor. Out of position on many occassions especially in Germany game. Did make some great blocks against Slovenia and an extra point for literally throwing himself in the path of a football to block a shot.
- Matt Upson – not good enough. OK versus “lower” opposition but against decent teams hes not good enough for England. Admittedly hes argubly 5th choice
- Gareth Barry – terrible. Lost the ball so often you wouldn’t what team he was on. Also looks SO slow! Why were Liverpool so desperate to get rid of Alonso and replace him with Barry?? Ozil gave him a 10 yard head start but still beat him. Just think we were all praying that he would be fit for World Cup after his injury – he shouldn’t have bothered!
- Milner – Had a good game against Slovenia with some Beckham-esqe crossed. Was kind of getting into the game versus Germany but strangly taken off?? However, he didn’t put many crosses in and for some reason didnt attack the dodgy looking left back for Germany.
- Gerrard – at least he looks like he wanted to be out their at some points unlike his team mates. Alongside James as properly England’s best performing player. Good cross for Upson goal v Germany. Tried his hollywood passes too often.
- Lampard – disappointing most of tournament. Did better in Germany game compared to others and had a goal wrongly disallowed. Good freekick that hit the crossbar but he still wasnt the same player we see for Chelsea.
- Rooney – we were all saying he was the big hope and if he played well, England had a good chance. He never got going but even if he did the rest of the players were awful. Maybe hes not fit even though they say he is. He wasnt sharp like he is for United. Not chasing everything. People will put some blame on Rooney and say he couldnt handle the pressure but he didnt have great service. Thats not to say his first touch most of the time was shocking.
- Defoe – forgot he was on the pitch sometimes. Like the game v Slovenia he can go for ages without touching the ball. However V Germany he wasnt given much service.
- Lennon – ran a lot and thats about it. Always cuts inside. Why he doesnt use his pace, knock the ball wide and in front and run I dont know??
- Shaun Wright Phillips – same as Lennon but a tiny bit better
- Joe Cole – didnt do much. Properly not 100% fit. Only given brief sub appearances for some reason. For the short time he was on he lost the ball a few times. I think he deserved longer. He could have given England something different and in some of England warm up games did really well
- Heskey – to be fair he worked hard and held up ball. Did pretty well against USA. However, why have a striker who doesnt score goals. Everyone said he played just because Rooney plays well with him but thats not right now!
Stubborn or stupid?
