It’s getting very close! With just over 57 days left to wait until the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, talk has now centred around the possible England squad for the tournament, with a host of dark horses now being mentioned alongside the nailed-on candidates.
Dear old Roy Hodgson’s been doing the rounds for many months now, popping up all over the country to watch prospective candidates for his provisional 30-man England squad. It’s got to the stage that, almost every time an England player does anything decidedly good or bad, Roy is shown looking on intently from the stands!
With just under 124 days until the 2014 World Cup kicks its first ball, England boss Roy Hodgson is faced with a familiar, almost traditional conundrum; an age old issue that threatens once more to undermine the quality and optimism in the Three Lions camp.
With the Premier League taking another hiatus, an international round of fixtures is about to kick off, with a host of interesting ties occurring over the weekend.
Many players from all corners of the EPL are involved, with the ‘Big Six’ sending many superstars into the mix. Ranging from impressive looking friendlies, to do-or-die World Cup play-offs; football fans will not be short of entertainment in the Premier League’s absence.
Jack Wilshere’s comments on Wednesday on what it means to be an English footballer were blunt and hard hitting,
“We have to remember what we are.
“We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat.
“We have great characters. You think of Spain and you think technical but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that.”
Patriotic to say the least, but Wilshere may have bitten off more than he can chew with his remarks. To cite cliché and stereotype is always a dangerous game, regardless of the subject matter.
Young Jack has inadvertently highlighted the England national side’s core problem once more, and with his proud pigeon-holing, the Arsenal man seems worryingly blind to it.
As Roy Hodgson rolled out the simultaneous praise and justification for England’s drab, hard-earned draw against Ukraine last week, there was really only one man who could say that his performance in Kiev was befitting of his splendid start to the new season.
Gary Cahill is not one to partake in the blowing of one’s own trumpet; but the 27-year-old fully deserves the plaudits he has received for some outstanding displays of late for club and country.
The Champions League is the best football competition in the world for
one simple reason: It brings together Europe’s elite football teams, teams full
of talent and tantrums, brilliance and barbarism, and pits them against one
another in a glorious battle to the death. Each year the competition showcases
the world’s greatest football players, tactics and managers. Players such as
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Ribery, and Van Persie get to show off their
footballing gifts to millions of people, there is also the added bonus of Jose
Mourinho showing off his sociopathic dad routine, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s constant
‘wasp’ chewing.
This year promises to be a mouthwatering display of Europe’s finest, and
the footballing gods have delivered a Quarter final line-up of the highest calibre.
With matches such as Manchester United vs. Real Madrid and AC Milan vs. FC
Barcelona, football fans the world over are just waiting for January to tick
down.
Last year, the trophy was won by the least likely of winners, Chelsea,
who this year have already been knocked out of the competition, stopping them
from retaining the trophy for a consecutive year; a feat not achieved since, bar
AC Milan’s back to back victories in old European Cup format in 1989-90.
A Bit of History
Since the competition’s inception, there have been 22 different club
winners, with 12 winning the coveted trophy more than once. Real Madrid have
the highest affinity with the cup, with no less than 9 wins and 3 runners up
medals. AC Milan, interestingly, come a close second with 7 wins and 4 runners
up medals.
Madrid can lay claim to best goal scored in the final, with
Zinedine Zidane’s left footed volley from the edge of the penalty area against
Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001-2002 final.
2012/13 Competition
This season the competition has already knocked out a few possible
contenders for the trophy. Chelsea, as previously mentioned, were knocked out
in the group stages; and Manchester City, who were hoping to improve on last
season’s early knock out of the competition and finally mount a solid attack on
a first ever Champions League triumph, were once again an early casualty.
The once Dutch ‘giant’ Ajax were also knocked out during
the group stages, lagging behind Mourinho’s Real Madrid by a huge seven points.
Lille, last year’s Ligue 1 runners-up, finished bottom of Group F, winning only a
single match and losing every other.
This year’s last 16 will be a fascinating affair. With the reigning
champions already knocked out, and with the new footballing powers such as Shakhtar,
PSG and Dortmund attempting to
make the jump up the big boy’s table, who are flexing their muscles ready for
action - we will certainly be spoilt for choice come the 12th of Feb.
Links and Pictures: BBC Sport, The Daily Telegraph, talksport.co.uk, youtube.com, bleacherreport.com
Rafael
Benitez, it seems, has drunk deeply from the poisoned chalice – one that he
willingly poured himself. Quoted on Tuesday as the harbinger of the end of the Chelsea ‘old guard’, his words have been met with derision and a bitter
resentment that all but sums up his time in the hot seat so far.
"Everyone knows the legends have been here and what
they have achieved but you have to see new players coming in. It's part of
life.” Benitez said on the eve of yet another damning defeat to Swansea in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, “You have to think about the future and move
forward, bring in new players and try, at the same time, to bring the best out
of those you have.”
These
words will ring truest with Frank Lampard, who has seen his status as
‘untouchable legend’ take a dramatic turn for the worse. He now has the air of
a man out to prove a point, not that his is a point that needs proving. A
glittering career, littered with as many personal and team accolades that could
be attained; Lampard has become one of the finest examples of the beautiful
game in living memory. His recent exploits have seen him lead Chelsea to glory in Europe’s premier stage, and continue over into the new season with similar
swashbuckling roles.
How
then, ask the multitude of fans, players and pundits alike, can Chelsea justify
not offering their living legend, who is on the verge of becoming their top
ever goal-scorer (from midfield), a new contract?
Perhaps
Benitez should have delved into the quote books, and presented such a statement
as one Harold Wilson, ex-Prime Minister, delivered - “He who
rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which
rejects progress is the cemetery.”
It has
been said ever since Carlo Ancelotti’s
departure in 2011 that Chelsea are a team in transition. Transition is not an
overnight sensation; it is a carefully constructed beast, with a multitude of
cogs and parts, physical, and emotional. And this process is still young at the
London club, even though the seeds have been well and truly sown for all to
see. The aged front line of Malouda, Drogba and Anelka has been successfully
phased out, and in its place, a vibrant, youthful and clinical array of stars
are now terrorising defenders all over the country.
Clubs
that look to revolutionise their playing style, and construct a new-look team,
often start building from the back. But this is not the case at Chelsea. With
some claiming that Chelsea won last season’s Champions league purely on the
merits of their unbreachable defence (as well as a bit of luck), it seems that
the backline is not in need of an overhaul. It is rather their attack that has
seen an influx of new talent. Now all that’s left to address, logically, is their
midfield.
Already with Ramires and now a reshuffled David Luiz, they have two
young, vivacious Brazilian destroyers; one much akin to a terrier, the other a
rabid sheepdog. So where does a 34 year old Lampard, so tuned to the old
Chelsea playing style, fit into this new machine?
Take the
case of Alessandro Del Piero. A stalwart if ever there was one, his 19 year
dynasty was brought to an abrupt end as Juventus saw an opening for change.
Fans of the ‘Old Lady’ were beside themselves with grief and anger at the news.
None could fathom why the board had decided to dispense with their hero, a hero
who had followed them down to Serie B following the 2006 match fixing scandal,
and then led them to an undefeated 2011 top flight championship.
At 37,
and his contract drawing to a close, it was time for a new era to begin. His
work was done, in the eyes of the Juventus hierarchy. And have Juventus
suffered in his absence? Not a bit. Oozing fast, exciting football, dark horses
for the Champions league, and holding a five point lead in Serie A, Juventus
are a team that have successfully completed a full footballing cycle. Del
Piero’s exit was inevitable, despite the obvious melancholy. Change is often
necessary, but correct timing and handling of it is even more vital.
Benitez understands this, saying “They (Chelsea’s older
players) were so successful that now everybody can see only the players who
won, but you have to see the new players coming and maybe winning in the
future. It is difficult."
In Juan
Mata, Eden Hazard, and Oscar, Chelsea have laid down the blueprints for a new
system. The overpowering triumvirate of Lampard, Essien and Makelele that
brought about so much success for the Blues is almost but a loving memory.
Their power and physicality, with Drogba and Michael Ballack also fitting the
bill, defined an era for Chelsea.
Now, armed with a new array of weapons,
Chelsea’s minute trio are looking to usher in a new decade of dominance – which
leaves Frank Lampard a beloved relic of times gone by.
As with
Drogba, now with Lampard, and maybe even Ashley Cole and John Terry in the near
future, sacrifices are part and parcel of change. We must praise Chelsea’s
willingness at attempting to change an entire team’s heart and soul, rather
than lambast them for the inevitable casualties that ensue.
We are looking at a
situation not unlike a cocoon hatching into a butterfly; as the hunt for young
blood continues to transform Chelsea from their rock solid foundations, into a
beautiful, free flowing footballing entity.
However, Chelsea fans will pray
Roman and his millions ultimately forge something natural and prevalent, taking
their beloved club away from the Frankenstein-esque muddle that Benitez oversaw
against Swansea.
Continuity gives us roots; change
gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights. ~Pauline
R. Kezer
Links and Pictures: BBC Sport, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Youtube, www.dawncompk.files.wordpress.com, www.taipeitimes.com, The Daily Mail, www.english.gazzetta.it
The Alan Pardew ‘dynasty’ is certainly off to a lousy
start. Having signed an almost unprecedented eight-year deal in September, his Newcastle
side can now be found nestled between a flailing Aston Villa, and a Sunderland
side so tentatively taking its first steps to an overdue recovery. The Northern
club have found Premier League life this season an almost intolerable mess of
minor ups, and consistent downs. Out of the League Cup, and with their best
striker beetling off to Chelsea earlier in the week, today marked a new, bitter
low for the beleaguered Alan Pardew as his side were roundly beaten by a decidedly average Brighton side in the FA Cup.
It marks the 16th successive away day for
Newcastle without a win this season, a staggering statistic for a side still in
European competition, and who are (albeit not so much anymore) considered by
many to be a top 6 team. Yet, the writing is not as yet on the wall for the
Newcastle boss, and mutterings are still at a bare minimum. Sure, the pundits
and sceptics are already seeing Pardew as a man without a paddle, but the media
storm usually whipped up around such managerial tightropes has not materialised
as most expected. Does this not seem a little odd? With Di Matteo sacked for
losing a handful of games, and Redknapp ditched by Tottenham for nothing more
than a change of emphasis, surely Mike Ashley’s mind must be on pastures new?
There is still however real faith among the echelons
of St James Park for the Londoner, and they are evidently not ready to begin
sharpening the axe next to the chicken hutch. A dynasty takes time, and perhaps
that most valuable of commodities is still on Pardew’s side.
Speaking after the 2-0 loss today, the Newcastle
boss blamed the youthful line-up, and Shola Ameobi’s red card in the second
half. But he was also blunt in his acceptance of the position he finds himself
in, saying, “We need to sustain ourselves in the Premier League. We want to stay
there but we are in danger…”
Danger is correct. Having conceded 15 goals in their
last four games, gone is their reliance on the defence that gave them the solid
foundations to finish 5th in the league last year. Injures are also taking
their toll, with Ben Arfa in and out of the side, and with Yohan Cabaye, Steven
Taylor and ‘Mr Hard Working’, Jonas Gutierrez joining the Frenchman on the
side-lines, Newcastle have been without some of their best players for many parts
of the season.
But their position has now reached crisis point. How
will Newcastle get out of the thick mire they find themselves in? Well, to
quote the old phrase, Rome was not built in a day; and a re-imagining of
Newcastle FC will not happen overnight. Pardew is attempting to infuse guile
and technical ability with the hard graft and work ethic that typifies the
Northern club. A big project, and even though Newcastle were undoubtedly the
surprise package last year, the pressures of extra European games this season
has put strain on what is still a relatively new-look side.
Pardew will look for solidarity within the spine of
his team. The likes of Tim Krul, Coloccini, Gutierrez and Cabaye will have a
big say in how their overall season pans out. Pardew is staring into the gaping
maw of a relegation scrap now, and we have seen some big casualties over the
years, lost into the financial abyss of the Football League. It may mean an
enormous pay-out of compensation from Ashley if he feels change is needed, but
Pardew may have to find a way to build his dynasty just a little bit faster if
he wants to remain the unchallenged king of the roost.
Links: BBC Sport, TeamTalk.com, http://images.icnetwork.co.uk
Pressure increases on Rafa as West Ham brush Chelsea aside
Chelsea’s season hit a new low today as they slipped
to a damaging 3-1 defeat against a spirited West Ham side in the early London
derby at Upton Park.
The Hammers fully deserved their victory against the
struggling blues, with second half goals from Carlton Cole, Mohamed Diame and Maiga
consigning Rafa Benitez to his first defeat as interim boss, and leaving
Chelsea without a win in seven Premier League games.
It was Chelsea who started the game brighter,
zipping the ball round with growing confidence in the first half. Benitez had
spoken of the need to quicken the attacking tempo, and it was evident that his
words were having an effect. Juan Mata ran the first half with his guile and
intelligent passing, and capped it off with a fine finish from Torres’ cutback.
Changes were needed by Sam Alladyce at half time, with
West Ham in dire need of more drive in the midfield. Sending on Matty Taylor
and Mohamed Diame, West Ham came out fighting; battling harder for every ball,
and showing much more adventure in the final third.
They fully deserved an equaliser, and it duly
arrived courtesy of Carlton Cole, who rose higher than Ivanovic to knock the
ball past a static Peter Cech following a Jarvis cross.
The Hammers went from strength to strength, consistently
putting the beleaguered Blues to sword. It was no real surprise then when Man-of-the-match
Diame fired in West Ham’s second from the edge of the box, leaving Chelsea with
a mountain to climb with just ten minutes to go.
The fight-back never materialised, and with Blues
fans starting up their ‘Rafa out’ chants, West Ham put the game to bed with
Maiga slotting in a rebound after Taylor had his initial effort palmed away by
Cech.
With two draws and a loss today, Benitez’s position
as a figure of hate for Chelsea fans has only been further consolidated. He
said that he would win over the fans by winning games and trophies, but with
every passing game, his job of changing fans opinions over his acrimonious
appointment becomes seemingly more and more hopeless.
Speaking from a personal standpoint - the chance to
earn a promotion in the workplace, and with it a large salary increase and
additional professional respect is something all us working people strive for,
and often crave on a daily basis. So why is it that when a footballer, when
given the chance to ply his trade at a world-renowned club, can be roundly
criticised from all corners as if it were a decision that warranted collective
pity? We wouldn’t condemn a sales assistant’s choice to take a manager’s
position? We wouldn’t look on with scorn if an actor earned his big break by
scoring a part in a Hollywood blockbuster; but football is an entirely
different arena.
Take Scott Sinclair for example. The 23-year-old
winger started life at league two outfit, Bristol Rovers, before moving to the
glitz of the Kings Road, Chelsea. After a series of mixed experiences on loan
from the London club, he ended up being taken on by Swansea City. At this
stage, Sinclair had gone from promising young firework, to a ‘nearly’ player
settling for a league that suited his ability. No doubt he was capable of real
dramatics, but these he showed all too rarely.
To his credit, Sinclair took up the challenge of
reinvigorating his dwindling career, and starred in the Welsh club’s rise to
the Premier League. Back on the big stage, he continued his fine efforts,
playing all 38 games that season, and scored eight times. Scott Sinclair had
arrived back on the scene it seemed, and he was out to prove his doubters
wrong. But, regardless of his heroics for the Swans, it was still clear in many
fans and pundits minds, that Sinclair had indeed found his level: over-performing
for an over-achieving side that were enjoying Premier League status and surprising
everyone with their continuing survival.
But then, in came Manchester City. Fresh from their
first league title for forty-four years, the champions were looking to
strengthen their already formidable squad. There were many who looked on in
surprise at City’s decision to go in for the winger last summer, considering
his non-existent international pedigree, and the brilliance of City’s existing
team. It wasn’t just Swansea fans that thought that Scott’s ‘promotion’ was a
dangerous, potentially career- threatening decision. And here we are, not four
months later, with Sinclair already not considered for top flight games for
City. How achingly predictable.
There have been many other examples over the years.
Chelsea are in fact chief culprits of signing players everyone could see would
not make the grade. Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim, and Shaun
Wright-Philips came and went, not before showing the world on the biggest stage
possible, that they were indeed not good enough to bounce with the big boys.
These players opt for a joyride on the billionaires’ crooked rainbow, all the
way down to the comforting pot of gold at the bottom. Is it me, or are these
types of signings so obviously wide of the mark, that they can be condemned
even before the player has taken his seat for the first of many stints on the bench?
But can we
blame the players for giving it a shot? Maybe the agents for pushing their
charges into firing line with contrived promises of grandeur? Or is it the internal politics at
‘super-clubs’, which can see them enter bizarre summer dealings, and sign obscure ‘talent’ when points need to be made, examples set, and precedents changed?
Money talks, as we all know, but nothing is perfect.
Photo credits: Daily Mail, The Mirror, financialexpress.com, glitterazi.com
Following the news that John Terry will no longer pull on the famous white jersey of England, there
will be many that see this as a day of triumph for the decent over the disgraceful.
But, I am sure that doubt lingers in the back of most fans minds. While Terry
has been on a mission of self-destruction for as long as the mind remembers,
there is the argument that we have pushed and harried England’s best defender
and leader into early retirement, and our reasons are completely non-football
related.
Mark Lawrenson said on
Match of the Day 2, “It seems Terry is pre-empting
the FA by retiring. He’s almost citing a witch-hunt with his statement. But
away from that, he’s always been outstanding for England as a leader and a
player on the pitch. They will miss him”
Now, I’m not going to
sit here and defend a man who has compiled a shameful repertoire, which rivals
even the infamous Joey Barton, if a little less sociopathic. He is guilty of a
multitude of misdemeanours, all of which could have been easily avoided with even
the slightest hint of brain power. Problems were clear right from the start of
his career; from kicking off repeatedly at night clubs to revealing his sensitive
understanding of world affairs by mocking American tourists at Heathrow airport
days after 9/11 – it was plain to see from an early age that Terry was, in many
respects, a bad egg.
What followed was the
Wayne Bridge affair in 2010, a tumultuous period that cost him the England
captaincy as punishment. Who would have believed that Terry, having been
reinstated, would lose it again less than a year later? The irrepressible cloud
that has hung over Terry since the incident of apparent racism against Anton
Ferdinand in 2011 has not since dissipated, and Terry has cited the FA’s stance
on the matter as the key factor in his decision to retire.
Having been cleared of racially abusing Ferdinand in July, Terry found himself the subject if an FA
investigation into the matter. Objectively, I can understand Terry’s evident frustration
at this. He was found not guilty, and if the FA are still pressing charges
against him, it is clear that they do not accept the verdict, and wish to
inflict any punishment they can on their former captain. It is evident that
they no longer wanted him to play for England again, and his decision to retire
will be met with relief from English football’s governing body. But will there be a cost for their obsession?
Crucially, Terry is a
colossal leader and an outstanding defender. He is, and has been for the best
part of a decade, a footballing role model for young defenders the world over.
Of this, there is no question. His two worlds are separate; his ugly, off the
field side, and his heroic performances on it.
Unlike other bad boys of English
football, he is capable of shutting out the destructive, and concentrates on
leading his team to victory. We all expect a trail of injured players and multi-coloured
cards to follow when the likes of Lee Catermole, Marlon King and Ryan Shawcross
take the field. But Terry is different, as much as we hate to admit it.
Terry has led Chelsea
to three Premier League titles, four FA cups, two League cups and a Champions
league since 2004, making him Chelsea’s most successful captain. He was named
Uefa Club Defender of the Year in 2005, 2008 and 2009. He was PFA Player’s
Player of the year in 2005, and was also in the FIFPro World XI from 2005 to
2008. As England captain, he always displayed absolute professionalism on the
pitch throughout his tenure.
The endorsements from
England bosses are endless. Fabio Capello resigned on the eve of Euro 2012
after Terry was stripped of the captaincy for the second time; Roy Hodgson consistently
backed Terry, and always picked him to start for England right up until his
retirement.
Asked whether the
Chelsea skipper is a natural leader in 2001 during the first captaincy debate,
Steve McLaren told the BBC: “Yes, of
course he is. I think everyone accepts that, everyone can see it, everybody who
knows John Terry behind the scenes knows that.” McLaren was almost right.
Yes, everyone can see it, no doubt those who work with him know it (with a few
notable exceptions), but the nation cannot, and probably will never accept John
Terry.
England are once again confined to
an average, quarter final finish after an enthralling, often gripping game
against Italy – with only the cruel gamble of penalties once more smashing
England’s dreams for another year.
Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney
scored their penalties for a visibly nervous England, but it was the two
Ashley’s, Cole and Young, who joined the ranks of England ‘villains’ throughout
history who failed to find the back of the net from twelve yards. And, as
Alessandro Diamanti stepped up with Italy’s final penalty, there was to be no
waiting with baited breath – rather a crushing sense of pure inevitability for
English fans at home, and away.
The words ‘penalty-shootout’ have
become synonymous with doom and disaster for luckless England, having only ever
won once in tournament history from the spot. Yet, England can really have no
complaints, as they were played off the park for long periods by a vibrant
Italy, and the miraculous 0-0 score-line after 120 minutes of football was
barely deserved.
The signs were ominous as early as
the 3rd minute, as Daniele De Rossi’s sliced volley struck the
inside of England’s post, with Joe Hart well beaten. This early shock did however
temporarily wake a dozy England, and soon after, Glen Johnson was afforded
acres of space inside the Italian box, but tamely chipped into a grateful
Buffon’s arms.
Indeed, England tried to push on
from this early chance, but this soon fizzled out; and after Rooney wasted a
superb headed opportunity from Glen Johnson’s cross, Italy took the reins.
Chances came thick and fast, predominantly orchestrated by the peerless Andrea
Pirlo, and the Italians should really have been out of sight by the break, were
it not for some dreadful finishing, with the distinctly machiavellian Mario
Balotelli a chief culprit.
Constantly stripped of possession
as easily as relieving a dandelion of its seeds,the second period was a
positively painful affair for English fans.Italy relentlessly assaulted the
English wall, led by the much maligned, yet stand out English performer, John
Terry. But the English defensive bravery was more than matched by Italy’s
attacking vigour. Hart saved again from Balotelli,Montolivo fired over, and De
Rossi somehow skewed wide with the goal at his mercy. But, there was time still
for England’s best chance of the match, as Danny Welbeck exchanged passes with
Rooney, before side footing just wide of Buffon’s goal.
With England’s moment gone, the Italians
resumed their barrage. Diamante hit a post once again, and substitute Nocerino
thought he had nicked it right at the death, but was rightly adjudgedto be
offside. It was a cat and mouse affair; with most agreeing that Tom had caught
Jerry long before the end of extra time.
Italy racked up a staggering 31
shots, with 18 on target – compared to a dismal 8, with 6 on target for
England.We might have been looking at the proverbial cricket score had the
Italians brought their proverbial shooting boots. It mattered little however,
as England still found themselves up a certain creek without a certain
proverbial; largely due to their overly cautious nature, and inability to rise
to the big occasion.
The old master, Pirlo, passed,
picked, and placated for the Italians all the game long. It was chiefly his
near perfect distribution that consistantly unlocked the English stubbornness.
His natural elegance typified the clash of ideals that was on show. England
huffed and puffed, always perceiving this game, and indeed the entire
tournament, as an almighty struggle; a battle. But Italy, like other European
giants successful on the big stage, adopt style, poise and an unwavering
footballing ideology to their play. They may resort to idealistic tactics of
pride and last ditch courage when necessary, but they do not use it as an
all-encompassing blueprint. This, I feel, is where the root of the problem lies
for a one dimensional England.
It has become very hard these days
for pundits, players and fans alike not to use ‘like Chelsea’ as a throwaway
adverb. Yet, all the ingredients seemed to be there. An imposing opponent,
seemingly capable of swatting the English away like an irritation; a threadbare
squad full of failures, futures and final hurrahs; an English goal seemingly
erected with the addition of a large pane of glass; a manager unproven and
unappreciated at this level; and we even had John Terry and Ashley Cole. Many
could be forgiven for predicting an eventual, undeserved victory for the dogged
English, and exuding careless optimism when penalies loomed. But they were
reading from the wrong script; and I doubt even Chelsea hero Didier Drogba
could have saved England from their own, all too repetitive, shortcomings.
Pictures: The Mirror, IBN Live, glogster.com, BBC Sport, eurosoccerweb.com
It's looking more and more like either
Germany or Spain will emerge triumphant in Euro 2012, bar some serious upsets.
The Germans continue to march imperiously on and through every obstacle thrown
against them; and the Spanish intricately pick their way to victory. So, can the
great German tank roll over the subtle Spanish bacterium when/if they meet in
the Olympic stadium in Kiev?
Personally, I'm hoping for a German victory. Many
are saying that their football is hard and basic, much like taking a
sledgehammer to a door, rather than using the handle; but even more are saying
that the Spanish are starting to irritate. Their no striker ploy is pretentious
at the least. What Vicente Del Bosque is thinking when he brings on the like of
Jesus Navas and Cesc Fabregas, when the lethal Fernando Llorente is sat sitting,
warming his heels, I don’t know. The stats speak for themselves; Spain have only
scored more than one goal in a match when playing with a striker. They drew one a piece with Italy, and beat the Croats with the same one
goal. Torres isn’t really
helping my argument, what with being as profligate as a dead chicken and all,
but the little, ‘tika-taka’ Velcro gnomes have made chance after chance for him,
and a striker on form would have buried a dozen. Even he's scored
twice!
Spain, and indeed Spanish players, have been
revered in the last 5 years, and are seen as the pinnacle of the beautiful game.
But from where I’m standing, I only see real penetration from Spain in only
about 20 minutes of the 90. They don’t really make for an entertaining watch,
and are perfectly happy making pretty patterns with the ball for most of the
match, pausing momentarily to score, as if it were an annoying by-product of
their art.
The Germans on the other hand, are efficient,
industrious, and clinical. I disagree with the idea that they’re dull. How can a
team containing the likes of Ozil, Gomez, Muller, and Schweinsteiger be dull?!
Not only do they have a brilliant first eleven, with no conceivable weakness,
they also have real explosive talent pushing through from the bench. Marco Reus,
Andre Schurrle, Mario Gotze and Toni Kroos are all exceptional attacking
talents, and will undoubtedly become greats of the future game.
Well, how can we summarise the
English so far? Before the tournament even started, the single greatest news
story to come out of football since Ian Holloway had his last interview,
occurred. I do not feel there can be finer words to hear as an English fan than
‘Gareth Barry is out of Euro 2012′. My god how I cheered! But then Jordan
Henderson got the call up. This was ahead of Michael Carrick or indeed Paul
Scholes, David Beckham or the mighty David Dunn. Steve McManaman could still do
a better job. With that aside, this England side came into the tournament with
something different. Maybe it’s just me, but there didn’t seem to be much hype
about this tournament, with more focus being put on running in circles round a
track and throwing a ball or something?
The first English performance was
good, the defense looked strong and it did not look like the French would break
us down. We managed to knick a goal, and then sat back and soaked.
The second game was vastly more entertaining. Watching Andy Carroll and Olof Mellberg collide was like watching
the planets re-align. Time after time they battered into each other in clashes
that would have left your average size man doing 18 rolls into a side board….or
doing ‘an Italian’ as it can also be known. The second game was exactly what
watching England should be all about. It had drama, it had a pathetic bit in
the middle where we were simply the worst side in history, a side that would
have let in at least 1423 against the Germans; and most of all, it had goals.
Inspired by the core of the team who were rather impressive, and the
substitutes, good old Roy got us a well-deserved win. I do love Roy Hodgson;
his interview he did the other day in which he said that ‘statistics do not
matter, who cares’ when asked if he thought we would be outplayed by Sweden’s
vastly superior ‘keep the ball’ tactic, was long overdue, and something you
would never have heard from the poxy foreign managers England have had to
endure over recent times.
There were down-sides to the
performance, which included the ineptitude of Ashley Young, who spent most the
time giving the ball away like he was part of the Italian match fixing scandal
(I would investigate that one FIFA!), and once again James Milner, who turned
in such an average performance that you forgot he was even on the pitch?
This game had me thinking that Walcott should start down the right.; go with
Carroll, and shove
Ashley Young into a ditch and play Welbeck down the left, with Rooney up top
partnering Carroll. Roy really needs to get Parker and Gerrard to play more in a
diamond to encourage the link between strikers and midfield as that has appeared to
be lacking through the Euros.
Defend like we did against the
Swedes and they may as well send us home.
But then, the final group game. England vs Ukraine. England vs a side that are apparently ranked four or five place
below Wales in the world rankings. You could therefore see why everyone was so
nervous against such formidable opposition. I now feel it is time for a game
review, here goes:
“The game kicked off. The half
time whistle went. The ball hit Shrek, Shrek got a goal. ASHYICKYCHICKYKIEV had
a goal disallowed as it was too far in. The final whistle went.”
The game was reportedly so dull
that several people turned over to watch Paint Dry.
But, the middle of the park looked
solid once more. Scott Parker showed his passion for the game by only using his
face to make tackles. Gerrard did some passing, Ashley Young even got involved
with around two successful crosses and James Milner, well, James Milner did
nothing.
The worry for me is the reliance
on the other team to be awful at shooting. Granted, Peggy Mitchell and Stephen
Hawking would have been more terrifying than the initial Ukrainian front line,
(particularly as Hawking is known for his bad mouthing, cussing and general
potty language), but still, it is this over reliance that will cost us. The
bewildering theory of Roy that Danny ‘do nothing’ Welbeck is a better striker
than Mr ‘all action’ Andy Carroll is one that I am not sure I can understand.
Wayne Rooney’s inevitable re-admission was something that seemed to cause more
harm than good, with an over-reliance almost being placed on him to make things
happen. There was again no real link or movement in our one-attack-every-fifteen-minutes
approach, with the occasional run by Ashley Cole down the left being the only
real source of positivity. Do that against the Germans and we will look like
David Cameron arriving home and asking how his eight year old daughter was,
before realising she was still at the pub. Embarrassed.
That seems like rather a negative
spin on things when really we should be taking the positives out of the
results. We did indeed end up top of the Group which means that we avoided
Spain, until the final. Luckily we now only have to beat Italy, Germany and Spain
to win the championships; easy as! I would bet on that not happening but who
knows. What do you all think we need to do against the Italians?
Well that is it, only a couple of
weeks until the Germany v Spain final, I’m off.
#PAPADOPOLOUS
Edit: tgatehouse
Links: BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Daily Mail
Written by Martin Gibson aka Papa, our resident Greek international
