I’ve been trying to imagine the Dutch coach’s final words of motivation for his team just before they stepped out to face Spain in the World Cup Final. I imagine it went something like this.
“Lads, Spain have the better technical players so we can’t hope to beat them playing pass and move football like they do. Let’s get stuck in and disrupt their metronomic rhythm from the start. If we can get to an hour without conceding, it will give us belief and will start to make them worry as they don’t know any other way to play. So don’t hold back, put your foot in and make sure we’re still in the game.”
Now I can’t fault him for applying these tactics. We’ve seen many ‘inferior’ teams on paper come and park the bus at The Emirates, Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge. It’s not pretty but ultimately winning would matter most. He’s proven to be a pragmatic coach who does not yield to calls to play the ‘shecshy football’ demanded by Dutch fans, ex players and commentators alike. He can’t have expected, however, that his players would exercise these tactics above and beyond fair play. It was brutal at times and Howard Webb had an almost impossible task once the tone was set. It was also deeply sad that despite the prize at stake, one team resorted to effectively ruining the game as a spectacle. This brand of anti-football almost worked but it’s a victory for football and for patience and endurance that the Spanish ultimately prevailed.
So Spain are holders of both the European and World Crowns, simultaneously. Few can doubt they deserve it though it’s unlikely any team will do so again scoring only 8 goals in the entire competition. They have the best squad and the best team and look set to dominate world football for years to come. Any nation for whom the almost peerless Cesc Fabregas can’t even break into the first team is clearly spoilt for choice. My word, how good must Xavi and Iniesta be? Truth is very, very good indeed.
In the end it was a good tournament. Though it started poorly with far too much caution, there were some excellent games, tremendous individual and team performances, a dash of controversy, a psychic octopus and a new winner.
Here are my personal highlights and lowlights of the tournament.
Best player:
Mesut Oezil. He emerged out of obscurity to become a true world class star. Hugely influential, a joy to watch and mature beyond his years.
Best game:
The big games on paper failed to deliver with Brazil vs Portugal the worst of the lot. However for sheer drama and no shortage of entertainment, I won’t forget Uruguay vs. Ghana
Best team:
Slightly controversial maybe but one team really showed that it was greater than the sum of its parts and that was New Zealand. With Spain defeating Holland, they ended up being the only unbeaten team at the 2010 World Cup which is a massive achievement. One to remember for future quiz nights.
Best goal:
It has to be Tevez’ scorcher vs. South Korea. Sublime.
Best moment:
The French mutiny. If in doubt, strike – brilliant! Shouldn’t have been at the tournament in the first place.
Worst moment:
England’s pathetic attempt to overcome the injustice of the disallowed Lampard goal. Completely lacking in game intelligence and summed up by Terry marauding forward in typically cavalier and arrogant fashion. Dreadful.
Best prediction:
Well almost. This is what I said in my last article
Well without the help of Paul the Octopus, I’m going for a Spanish win in extra time with Torres to score the winning goal after coming on as a sub.
Close!
Over and out – hope you’ve enjoyed my ‘alternative’ take on the World Cup.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
On paper Holland vs. Spain gets the juices flowing, so I hope it delivers
So we are down to the final 2. For the second World Cup in a row we have an all European final and two teams who have never previously won it – in fact this is Spain’s first ever time in the last 4 yet they now stand the chance of holding both the European and World champion honour simultaneously. It would make them legends.
What’s more, these two European heavyweights have never previously met in a World Cup showdown, nor in fact have the ever met at the European championships. New territory for both, then, but will the final deliver. Zidane’s head butt aside, the last final promised much but was ultimately devoid of excitement.
For all Spain’s attractiveness they have now come through the whole knockout stage winning 1-0 and not all of it in style. In fact, their midfield – the key to their success – is so narrow that a disciplined team can snuff them out – it’s a bit like Arsenal. Pass, pass, pass but not much end product. That seems a harsh thing to say with the likes of Villa and Torres up front but when Villa has an off game, you can’t where the goal will come from. Torres is clearly unfit and so far hasn’t performed at all. Cue the world cup winning goal, of course. I might put a fiver on it.
Holland have shown glimpses of the total football for which their previous generations are renowned. In fact they are no more than a well disciplined team with just a couple of star performers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more un-Dutch player than Dirk Kuyt. A real workhorse put utterly lacking in international class. Yet he is an ever present. Their defenders are not household names but are well drilled, like the Germans.
Those star performers are pretty special though. Wesley Schneider, callously discarded by Real Madrid a year ago but spearheading Inter Milan’s charge to the holy trinity of Italian league, cup and European Cup has had an outstanding tournament and now stands on the cusp of total greatness. Arjen Robben, hugely talented but tainted when playing in England for incessant diving, appears to have channelled his ability to be a matchwinner with Bayern Munich and is probably the key to Holland’s chances of beating Spain. He too was discarded by Real Madrid so there will be a couple of scores to settle which should add to the drama.
I’m pleased Germany are out but they should be proud of their contribution. Another final appearance would have been almost too much to bear and in truth they didn’t deserve it tonight. They have been a credit to the tournament and enriched it with some sublime performances albeit against profligate defences which should have been better prepared. What a shame that Mueller was suspended as he has been central to the counter-attacking approach they have adopted and would probably have opened up the game. They were unable to dictate any rhythm and for once ran out of ideas with their younger team members finally showing their inexperience.
I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t go out on penalties. They are the masters of the penalty shoot out and it would have helped to dismantle this invincible aura had they lost one tonight. OK, so you don’t get everything you wish for!
So what’s my prediction? Actually it’s a tough one to call. I expect Spain to dominate possession but will they have the patience to breakdown a resolute Dutch defence? Probably just.
So what does Goopstradamus think? Well without the help of Paul the Octopus, I’m going for a Spanish win in extra time with Torres to score the winning goal after coming on as a sub. I don’t think I’ll put any money on this one though.
What’s more, these two European heavyweights have never previously met in a World Cup showdown, nor in fact have the ever met at the European championships. New territory for both, then, but will the final deliver. Zidane’s head butt aside, the last final promised much but was ultimately devoid of excitement.
For all Spain’s attractiveness they have now come through the whole knockout stage winning 1-0 and not all of it in style. In fact, their midfield – the key to their success – is so narrow that a disciplined team can snuff them out – it’s a bit like Arsenal. Pass, pass, pass but not much end product. That seems a harsh thing to say with the likes of Villa and Torres up front but when Villa has an off game, you can’t where the goal will come from. Torres is clearly unfit and so far hasn’t performed at all. Cue the world cup winning goal, of course. I might put a fiver on it.
Holland have shown glimpses of the total football for which their previous generations are renowned. In fact they are no more than a well disciplined team with just a couple of star performers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more un-Dutch player than Dirk Kuyt. A real workhorse put utterly lacking in international class. Yet he is an ever present. Their defenders are not household names but are well drilled, like the Germans.
Those star performers are pretty special though. Wesley Schneider, callously discarded by Real Madrid a year ago but spearheading Inter Milan’s charge to the holy trinity of Italian league, cup and European Cup has had an outstanding tournament and now stands on the cusp of total greatness. Arjen Robben, hugely talented but tainted when playing in England for incessant diving, appears to have channelled his ability to be a matchwinner with Bayern Munich and is probably the key to Holland’s chances of beating Spain. He too was discarded by Real Madrid so there will be a couple of scores to settle which should add to the drama.
I’m pleased Germany are out but they should be proud of their contribution. Another final appearance would have been almost too much to bear and in truth they didn’t deserve it tonight. They have been a credit to the tournament and enriched it with some sublime performances albeit against profligate defences which should have been better prepared. What a shame that Mueller was suspended as he has been central to the counter-attacking approach they have adopted and would probably have opened up the game. They were unable to dictate any rhythm and for once ran out of ideas with their younger team members finally showing their inexperience.
I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t go out on penalties. They are the masters of the penalty shoot out and it would have helped to dismantle this invincible aura had they lost one tonight. OK, so you don’t get everything you wish for!
So what’s my prediction? Actually it’s a tough one to call. I expect Spain to dominate possession but will they have the patience to breakdown a resolute Dutch defence? Probably just.
So what does Goopstradamus think? Well without the help of Paul the Octopus, I’m going for a Spanish win in extra time with Torres to score the winning goal after coming on as a sub. I don’t think I’ll put any money on this one though.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Credit where credit’s due
Trust me, I’m no fan of the Germans, but I simply cannot ignore that they are the team of the tournament. They have this annoyingly uncanny way of knowing how to perform at big tournaments, regardless of the personnel at their disposal. The 5-1 thrashing at the hands of England in world cup qualifying in 2001 is still widely lauded, and rightly so, as the coming of age of England’s last golden generation, but 9 months later which team do you think had battled its way to the final. You guessed it. The highly unfancied Germans. In fact their tournament record is nothing short of astonishing. They simply always turn up.
When Ballack, their talismanic captain, was ruled out this year, the youthful team shorn of his services were given little chance of winning the world cup, starting at odds of 14-1 (England were 7-1). They arrived with few stars and those who we knew were coming off the back of wretched seasons. Even though England would rather have avoided them, no one here was particularly worried about the prospect of facing them. One thing’s for sure, they really weren’t worried about playing us.
In an earlier blog I remarked with surprise that they were the most entertaining team of the first round of games when they beat the Australians with ease. Yes, the Aussies were wretched and had a player sent off but the ease with which the Germans settled into the tournament, oozing class and offering entertainment was a sign of things to come. They have set up a semi-final date with Spain, which is a mouth watering prospect, and yet remain second favourites to reach the final. Ozil, Mueller and the irrepressible Schweinsteiger have had incredible tournaments and I won’t be underestimating the Germans any more.
On the other side of the draw the colourful Dutch take on the last remaining South American team, Uruguay, whose place in the semis has been discussed at length after their jaw-droppingly unfair victory over Ghana on penalties. Central to the debate has been the conduct of their top scorer Suarez whose red card ironically rules him out of the semi against the country in which he has made his name (with Ajax). I have read various viewpoints around the subject of cheating. My first instinct was to point the finger but how many others would have done the same thing. His punishment was a red card and the concession of a penalty which should have seen Ghana through. What I take issue with is his complete lack of remorse for what was a blatant piece of cheating. Instead, of lying low and showing humility, he has sought the limelight likening the incident to Maradona’s hand of god and celebrating as if he is a hero. For this he should be vilified. Whether or not others would have done the same to protect their slim chance of remaining in the tournament is actually not the point. He cheated and he should have accepted that, apologised and then moved on. FIFA, typically, have also failed in their duty to protect the integrity of the game by confirming he will only serve a 1 match ban. I hope the Dutch win fair and square and we avoid the prospect of seeing him in the final.
And so to the final. Holland vs Spain would be tasty. Neither have won the tournament before, and only Holland have been as far as the final. They are two teams with great players who play the game the right way and the prospect of a new victor is appealing for the neutral.
Holland vs Germany is appealing for completely different reasons. They simply hate each other and thus it would make a potential match up intriguing. Despite my rational admiration for the way they’ve played, my emotional self can’t cope with a German world cup victory.
When Ballack, their talismanic captain, was ruled out this year, the youthful team shorn of his services were given little chance of winning the world cup, starting at odds of 14-1 (England were 7-1). They arrived with few stars and those who we knew were coming off the back of wretched seasons. Even though England would rather have avoided them, no one here was particularly worried about the prospect of facing them. One thing’s for sure, they really weren’t worried about playing us.
In an earlier blog I remarked with surprise that they were the most entertaining team of the first round of games when they beat the Australians with ease. Yes, the Aussies were wretched and had a player sent off but the ease with which the Germans settled into the tournament, oozing class and offering entertainment was a sign of things to come. They have set up a semi-final date with Spain, which is a mouth watering prospect, and yet remain second favourites to reach the final. Ozil, Mueller and the irrepressible Schweinsteiger have had incredible tournaments and I won’t be underestimating the Germans any more.
On the other side of the draw the colourful Dutch take on the last remaining South American team, Uruguay, whose place in the semis has been discussed at length after their jaw-droppingly unfair victory over Ghana on penalties. Central to the debate has been the conduct of their top scorer Suarez whose red card ironically rules him out of the semi against the country in which he has made his name (with Ajax). I have read various viewpoints around the subject of cheating. My first instinct was to point the finger but how many others would have done the same thing. His punishment was a red card and the concession of a penalty which should have seen Ghana through. What I take issue with is his complete lack of remorse for what was a blatant piece of cheating. Instead, of lying low and showing humility, he has sought the limelight likening the incident to Maradona’s hand of god and celebrating as if he is a hero. For this he should be vilified. Whether or not others would have done the same to protect their slim chance of remaining in the tournament is actually not the point. He cheated and he should have accepted that, apologised and then moved on. FIFA, typically, have also failed in their duty to protect the integrity of the game by confirming he will only serve a 1 match ban. I hope the Dutch win fair and square and we avoid the prospect of seeing him in the final.
And so to the final. Holland vs Spain would be tasty. Neither have won the tournament before, and only Holland have been as far as the final. They are two teams with great players who play the game the right way and the prospect of a new victor is appealing for the neutral.
Holland vs Germany is appealing for completely different reasons. They simply hate each other and thus it would make a potential match up intriguing. Despite my rational admiration for the way they’ve played, my emotional self can’t cope with a German world cup victory.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sorry Sven, perhaps I was wrong about you
As the dust settles on a devastatingly poor world cup campaign, I can’t help but feel that the tournament is better off without us. It’s never fun watching England but this time round it was torture.
In previous tournaments my abiding feeling when we got knocked out has always been one of regret, this time it was relief. We were quick to condemn Sven for being unable to take us past the quarter finals of a major tournament with the quality of players at his disposal but perhaps being in the top 8 nations is as good as we’ve ever deserved. A sprinkling of luck (or mental strength as others would term it) and we might even have squeezed into a semi final. Perhaps Sven did as well as he could, it's just that our expectations were unrealistic.
There was never any danger of that happening this year but led by false optimism after a surprisingly easy qualifying campaign and a relatively easy group stage on paper, off we went hugely expectant. I read many articles prior to the world cup with pundits expecting us to reach the last 4 but then fall at the final hurdle. If only.
Picking apart where it all went wrong is futile now. There are few positives to take at all. Big players simply didn’t perform and never once looked like producing a performance that justified their tag of ‘world class’. This is nothing new. Lampard, so assured and influential in Chelsea’s midfield, has never produced in a major tournament and has surely been given enough chances. I’m at a loss to explain why the big players couldn’t reproduce their form. They play regularly in the Champions League against other genuine world class players, often coming out with much credit, but are they big game players? Certainly for all Rooney’s domestic hype, he hasn’t produced in the bigger games, nor has Lampard who was anonymous when Chelsea were beaten by Inter Milan earlier this season.
The players must take responsibility for their failings but as Greece proved at Euro 2004, success is a team effort and England could do worse than learning how to play as a team. The way in which they conceded goals against Germany was beyond alarming. A legitimate goal was disallowed, an injustice done but England still had 45 minutes to get back into the match and had proved albeit briefly that they could give the German defence problems. What possessed the players to abandon their stations and maraud down the pitch to even things up leaving gaping holes at the back will perhaps never be explained. I just hope we learn from the experience. Portugal’s tactics were not pretty last night but they showed how to defend as a team. Algeria, too, showed courage and determination as a team to keep England out in the group stages. England players clearly believe in their own hype.
There were clearly problems behind the scenes (with some unsubstantiated rumours about Gerrard getting his wife’s sister pregnant causing divisions in the camp) but ultimately Capello failed miserably in his attempt to communicate clear instructions to the team. He may have lost the dressing room and his tactics and substitutions were so bizarre, we may have seen the last of him.
It is time to rebuild and give younger players a chance, as the Germans have done. Root and branch changes are promised after every disappointing campaign but this time there’s really no place to hide. The golden generation is over, if it ever in fact existed.
In previous tournaments my abiding feeling when we got knocked out has always been one of regret, this time it was relief. We were quick to condemn Sven for being unable to take us past the quarter finals of a major tournament with the quality of players at his disposal but perhaps being in the top 8 nations is as good as we’ve ever deserved. A sprinkling of luck (or mental strength as others would term it) and we might even have squeezed into a semi final. Perhaps Sven did as well as he could, it's just that our expectations were unrealistic.
There was never any danger of that happening this year but led by false optimism after a surprisingly easy qualifying campaign and a relatively easy group stage on paper, off we went hugely expectant. I read many articles prior to the world cup with pundits expecting us to reach the last 4 but then fall at the final hurdle. If only.
Picking apart where it all went wrong is futile now. There are few positives to take at all. Big players simply didn’t perform and never once looked like producing a performance that justified their tag of ‘world class’. This is nothing new. Lampard, so assured and influential in Chelsea’s midfield, has never produced in a major tournament and has surely been given enough chances. I’m at a loss to explain why the big players couldn’t reproduce their form. They play regularly in the Champions League against other genuine world class players, often coming out with much credit, but are they big game players? Certainly for all Rooney’s domestic hype, he hasn’t produced in the bigger games, nor has Lampard who was anonymous when Chelsea were beaten by Inter Milan earlier this season.
The players must take responsibility for their failings but as Greece proved at Euro 2004, success is a team effort and England could do worse than learning how to play as a team. The way in which they conceded goals against Germany was beyond alarming. A legitimate goal was disallowed, an injustice done but England still had 45 minutes to get back into the match and had proved albeit briefly that they could give the German defence problems. What possessed the players to abandon their stations and maraud down the pitch to even things up leaving gaping holes at the back will perhaps never be explained. I just hope we learn from the experience. Portugal’s tactics were not pretty last night but they showed how to defend as a team. Algeria, too, showed courage and determination as a team to keep England out in the group stages. England players clearly believe in their own hype.
There were clearly problems behind the scenes (with some unsubstantiated rumours about Gerrard getting his wife’s sister pregnant causing divisions in the camp) but ultimately Capello failed miserably in his attempt to communicate clear instructions to the team. He may have lost the dressing room and his tactics and substitutions were so bizarre, we may have seen the last of him.
It is time to rebuild and give younger players a chance, as the Germans have done. Root and branch changes are promised after every disappointing campaign but this time there’s really no place to hide. The golden generation is over, if it ever in fact existed.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Bring on the Germans
It was inevitable, of course. As soon as the draw was made, England were always destined to face Germany at the World Cup. At the outset, I thought it was more likely that Germany would struggle in their group and qualify 2nd but whilst it was not plain sailing for them, we know now that England struggled more.
The result on Wednesday was more important than anything. England needed a win simply to qualify. The collective relief that greeted the final whistle in Port Elizabeth masked the importance of Landon Donovan's late winner against Algeria. the whole dynamic of the world cup shifted in a matter of seconds and if England are to progress to the latter stages of this competition they are going to have to do it the hard way. Lying in wait, even if we depose the Germans, are Argentina, Spain and Brazil.
To put it in context, in the other half of the draw one of Uruguay, South Korea, USA and Ghana are guaranteed to reach the semi finals. The team who wins the tournament is bound to face some tough challenges but if England navigate their way to the final on July 11th, it will be heralded as the most impressive performance in world cup history.
I'm an optimist but i really can't see it. Not on the evidence of the the first round. We must hope that the positive momentum the team and squad will take from squeezing through the group will inspire them to produce a performance which is good enough to quell the youthful German team who are far from being the best German side of our lifetime. Yet they do have promise. Promise that made them the most watchable team of the first round of games and that's not something you can often say about the Germans, known much more for their brutal efficiency.
On paper, England have better players, at better stages of their career. They must, though, all come to the party. The so-called golden generation is running on empty but they must have one big perfornamce left in them and there is no better time than now to show the watching world what they are capable of.
I suspect the game will be won in midfield. Both teams are suspect at the back and but in midfield, England need to assume control. Schweinsteiger is admirable and redoubtable in the anchor role, spraying the ball around with consummate ease and Ozil is undoutbedly talented but neither are Gerrard or Lampard.
Defoe justified his selection on Wednesday but I still believe bringing Gerrard into the hole to dictate play behind Rooney as the central striker is the best way to counter the Germans. This formation provides more insurance in central midfield where Barry and Lampard (unimpressive so far)can keep the ball and allow Gerrard to maximise his role in the team. he should be commended for diligent performances from the problem left so far but it is clearly not his best, nor his favourite position. Joe Cole has the guile to come in on that side and whilst he did little as a sub on Wednesday, he was asked to play in the hole behind Defoe leaving Gerrard marooned on the left. I think Capello keeps missing a trick. Perhaps the players can break free of the shackles and try it out themselves if Plan A isn't working on Sunday.
It will be a fascinating encounter and if England perform, they have the measure of the Germans and the exicting Argies probably await.
The result on Wednesday was more important than anything. England needed a win simply to qualify. The collective relief that greeted the final whistle in Port Elizabeth masked the importance of Landon Donovan's late winner against Algeria. the whole dynamic of the world cup shifted in a matter of seconds and if England are to progress to the latter stages of this competition they are going to have to do it the hard way. Lying in wait, even if we depose the Germans, are Argentina, Spain and Brazil.
To put it in context, in the other half of the draw one of Uruguay, South Korea, USA and Ghana are guaranteed to reach the semi finals. The team who wins the tournament is bound to face some tough challenges but if England navigate their way to the final on July 11th, it will be heralded as the most impressive performance in world cup history.
I'm an optimist but i really can't see it. Not on the evidence of the the first round. We must hope that the positive momentum the team and squad will take from squeezing through the group will inspire them to produce a performance which is good enough to quell the youthful German team who are far from being the best German side of our lifetime. Yet they do have promise. Promise that made them the most watchable team of the first round of games and that's not something you can often say about the Germans, known much more for their brutal efficiency.
On paper, England have better players, at better stages of their career. They must, though, all come to the party. The so-called golden generation is running on empty but they must have one big perfornamce left in them and there is no better time than now to show the watching world what they are capable of.
I suspect the game will be won in midfield. Both teams are suspect at the back and but in midfield, England need to assume control. Schweinsteiger is admirable and redoubtable in the anchor role, spraying the ball around with consummate ease and Ozil is undoutbedly talented but neither are Gerrard or Lampard.
Defoe justified his selection on Wednesday but I still believe bringing Gerrard into the hole to dictate play behind Rooney as the central striker is the best way to counter the Germans. This formation provides more insurance in central midfield where Barry and Lampard (unimpressive so far)can keep the ball and allow Gerrard to maximise his role in the team. he should be commended for diligent performances from the problem left so far but it is clearly not his best, nor his favourite position. Joe Cole has the guile to come in on that side and whilst he did little as a sub on Wednesday, he was asked to play in the hole behind Defoe leaving Gerrard marooned on the left. I think Capello keeps missing a trick. Perhaps the players can break free of the shackles and try it out themselves if Plan A isn't working on Sunday.
It will be a fascinating encounter and if England perform, they have the measure of the Germans and the exicting Argies probably await.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
It’s not the result, it’s the performance that baffles
It was an abject performance and there’s no other way of putting it. No imagination, no spirit and on this evidence no chance.
There are probably no easy games at this level but England should be despatching the likes of Algeria with cool and clinical ease. In reality, on the balance of play, the north Africans may feel unlucky they didn’t come away with all three points.
Wednesday afternoon will decide whether or not England qualify for the next stage. When the draw was made, the possibility that England wouldn’t make it would have appeared farcical. This was billed as, and should have been, one of the easiest groups to navigate, even for perennial slow starters like us.
If England fail to beat Slovenia, they will of course only have themselves to blame but whichever way it goes, England know their destiny is in their own hands, unlike France.
So what really hurts the most is the performance which was almost indescribably poor. Algeria’s game plan was good and well executed, so let’s not diminish their role in subduing England. However, players of the quality we have should have been able to raise their game to force a win when it counted but the sad truth is England never looked like winning. If England had peppered the Algerian goal with chance after chance and failed to hit the target, there would have been disappointment but also a realisation that it wasn’t our day. To know that there was not even a 10-15 minute spell in the game where we dominated the play is incredible. My concerns expressed in previous posts about the lack of a plan B was astonishingly realised. What did Capello say at half time? I expected a reaction and ultimately a breakthrough, like Brazil against the North Koreans, but the lack of spirit, energy or inspiration was deeply concerning. The world cup should be the pinnacle of these players’ careers. They didn’t play like they realised this.
The coach has blamed that the players play with fear due to inflated expectations from our media and our fans. I accept we are a massively over-expectant nation but is it too much to ask for our players to get through the group stage?
The players are ultimately to blame for a miserable performance. Once the coach sends them out to play, it is up to them to deliver and they patently did not. That said, Capello needs to open up and let them express themselves before this horror show becomes a complete nightmare.
For me, the solution is actually rather simple. Make Rooney the central striker and Gerrard the central focus of the team sitting in the hole. For goodness sake, let Joe Cole fill the problem left position and tell Barry to hold which will allow Lampard to dictate play in the middle of the park. It’s a simple tactical change that thus far Capello has been unwilling to contemplate. He never once tried it in the warm ups even though Gerrard and Rooney in particular have excelled in this formation for their clubs.
I don’t think you need any coaching badges to know that this subtle change in formation is worth a go. If the players then fail to win, at least we know we tried something different. England are perennial slow starters and a convincing win on Wednesday may just kick start a formidable run at this world cup. We can all live in hope.
There are probably no easy games at this level but England should be despatching the likes of Algeria with cool and clinical ease. In reality, on the balance of play, the north Africans may feel unlucky they didn’t come away with all three points.
Wednesday afternoon will decide whether or not England qualify for the next stage. When the draw was made, the possibility that England wouldn’t make it would have appeared farcical. This was billed as, and should have been, one of the easiest groups to navigate, even for perennial slow starters like us.
If England fail to beat Slovenia, they will of course only have themselves to blame but whichever way it goes, England know their destiny is in their own hands, unlike France.
So what really hurts the most is the performance which was almost indescribably poor. Algeria’s game plan was good and well executed, so let’s not diminish their role in subduing England. However, players of the quality we have should have been able to raise their game to force a win when it counted but the sad truth is England never looked like winning. If England had peppered the Algerian goal with chance after chance and failed to hit the target, there would have been disappointment but also a realisation that it wasn’t our day. To know that there was not even a 10-15 minute spell in the game where we dominated the play is incredible. My concerns expressed in previous posts about the lack of a plan B was astonishingly realised. What did Capello say at half time? I expected a reaction and ultimately a breakthrough, like Brazil against the North Koreans, but the lack of spirit, energy or inspiration was deeply concerning. The world cup should be the pinnacle of these players’ careers. They didn’t play like they realised this.
The coach has blamed that the players play with fear due to inflated expectations from our media and our fans. I accept we are a massively over-expectant nation but is it too much to ask for our players to get through the group stage?
The players are ultimately to blame for a miserable performance. Once the coach sends them out to play, it is up to them to deliver and they patently did not. That said, Capello needs to open up and let them express themselves before this horror show becomes a complete nightmare.
For me, the solution is actually rather simple. Make Rooney the central striker and Gerrard the central focus of the team sitting in the hole. For goodness sake, let Joe Cole fill the problem left position and tell Barry to hold which will allow Lampard to dictate play in the middle of the park. It’s a simple tactical change that thus far Capello has been unwilling to contemplate. He never once tried it in the warm ups even though Gerrard and Rooney in particular have excelled in this formation for their clubs.
I don’t think you need any coaching badges to know that this subtle change in formation is worth a go. If the players then fail to win, at least we know we tried something different. England are perennial slow starters and a convincing win on Wednesday may just kick start a formidable run at this world cup. We can all live in hope.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Someone wake me up when it starts!
Hi again
As gameweek 1 comes to a close with the surprise result of the tournament, it doesn’t mask the fact that this has been a really slow start.
Those of us who are playing world cup games and were gung ho in our score predictions have been massively disappointed up to now. I don’t think I can recall a cagier start to any tournament. Sure, I understand teams don’t want to lose at the first hurdle and of course it can take time to hit your stride but the lack of ambition from all the teams, favourites or not, has been a surprise. This is the world cup after all, the greatest show on earth.
And pardon me for expecting too much but with England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, I’ve been waiting four long years for South Africa 2010. All I’m asking for is a goal or 6 and players who look as if they mean it.
So thank god for the North Korean No 9. Even though I was frustrated to see even Brazil fail to score in the first half I couldn’t help but admire the passion and ability of the chap. I think he might get snapped up after the world cup.
With a heavy heart I have to admit that Germany are the team of the tournament so far. Functional and efficient they may have once been but there’s talent in their multi-cultural squad sprinkled with some great experience and three strikers who know where the goal is, despite indifferent domestic campaigns – especially Podolski and the evergreen Klose.
In all honesty, Germany were up against a very poor Australian team but they despatched them with cool precision. There are tougher tests to come but I still hope England can avoid them for a while.
Surprise package so far, for me, are South Korea. On their own patch they did well. Exceeded themselves of course but they had home advantage. I gave them little hope this time round but they swept past Greece and have some really good players and maybe one to watch.
Their nearest neighbours won’t last long but they have shown spirit and you have to applaud them for holding Brazil for so long and persisting long enough to score a well deserved consolation.
Major disappointments so far are both 2006 finalists France and Italy. France probably nudge it for now as the worst for being so bad on opening night that it took all my powers of persuasion to convince Mrs G that the world cup was worth a go. They really didn’t help my cause. Italy were so bad in the first half that I personally offered to change the channel.
Player of the tournament so far? Messi has lived up to his billing – one of the few high profile players to do so. Robinho was good too. He looked a completely different player to the disinterested and spoilt one that left Man City in January. Most impressive, though is tiny Ozil, the German/Turkish playmaker who looks absolute class. The rest of the so-called big name players have been dreadful.
So here’s my team of Gameweek 1:
Enyeama (Nigeria)
Maicon (Bra) Heinze (Arg) Lichsteiner (Swi) Lahm (Ger)
Park (S Kor) De Rossi (It) Ozil (Ger)
Messi (Arg) Tae-Se Jong (N Kor) Robinho (Bra)
Only 2 days to England vs Algeria. Come on boys...
As gameweek 1 comes to a close with the surprise result of the tournament, it doesn’t mask the fact that this has been a really slow start.
Those of us who are playing world cup games and were gung ho in our score predictions have been massively disappointed up to now. I don’t think I can recall a cagier start to any tournament. Sure, I understand teams don’t want to lose at the first hurdle and of course it can take time to hit your stride but the lack of ambition from all the teams, favourites or not, has been a surprise. This is the world cup after all, the greatest show on earth.
And pardon me for expecting too much but with England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, I’ve been waiting four long years for South Africa 2010. All I’m asking for is a goal or 6 and players who look as if they mean it.
So thank god for the North Korean No 9. Even though I was frustrated to see even Brazil fail to score in the first half I couldn’t help but admire the passion and ability of the chap. I think he might get snapped up after the world cup.
With a heavy heart I have to admit that Germany are the team of the tournament so far. Functional and efficient they may have once been but there’s talent in their multi-cultural squad sprinkled with some great experience and three strikers who know where the goal is, despite indifferent domestic campaigns – especially Podolski and the evergreen Klose.
In all honesty, Germany were up against a very poor Australian team but they despatched them with cool precision. There are tougher tests to come but I still hope England can avoid them for a while.
Surprise package so far, for me, are South Korea. On their own patch they did well. Exceeded themselves of course but they had home advantage. I gave them little hope this time round but they swept past Greece and have some really good players and maybe one to watch.
Their nearest neighbours won’t last long but they have shown spirit and you have to applaud them for holding Brazil for so long and persisting long enough to score a well deserved consolation.
Major disappointments so far are both 2006 finalists France and Italy. France probably nudge it for now as the worst for being so bad on opening night that it took all my powers of persuasion to convince Mrs G that the world cup was worth a go. They really didn’t help my cause. Italy were so bad in the first half that I personally offered to change the channel.
Player of the tournament so far? Messi has lived up to his billing – one of the few high profile players to do so. Robinho was good too. He looked a completely different player to the disinterested and spoilt one that left Man City in January. Most impressive, though is tiny Ozil, the German/Turkish playmaker who looks absolute class. The rest of the so-called big name players have been dreadful.
So here’s my team of Gameweek 1:
Enyeama (Nigeria)
Maicon (Bra) Heinze (Arg) Lichsteiner (Swi) Lahm (Ger)
Park (S Kor) De Rossi (It) Ozil (Ger)
Messi (Arg) Tae-Se Jong (N Kor) Robinho (Bra)
Only 2 days to England vs Algeria. Come on boys...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)