England can win!
by Herr PaulWhisper it, but there is a belief in and outside of the country that England can win the World Cup. With the team firmly ensconced in their Baden-Baden headquarters, pundits from around the world are tipping England to lift the trophy. While discussion in this country centres on holding midfielders and formations, they rave about our midfield quartet. They think Rooney a terrifying beast, Owen a lethal marksman, while ex-Argentine World Cup winner Jorge Valdano describes John Terry as a “wardrobe, with a deadly defender inside”.
Many will ask whether foreign pundits watch the same team as we do. We see an unbalanced midfield; made up of great individuals, but repeatedly unable to knit to together as a marauding whole. We see an ordinary Michael Owen, struggling to retain sharpness (admittedly a few games under his belt and Owen should be able to make a return to form). We see a defence who, in the last few tournaments, threw away leads against Sweden and France. These are the discussion points in England, but maybe – just maybe – we’re selling ourselves short. There’s no question that England, on paper, possess the potential to go all the way. Recent friendly matches saw Gerrard and Lampard score goals, the emergence of Peter Crouch and a return to form of David Beckham.
The defence look solid – Paul Robinson is in good form, Gary Neville is a wise head and an underrated defender, Ashley Cole is one of the world’s best left backs, while John Terry is a colossus. If Rio Ferdinand can eliminate lapses of concentration and play like he did in Japan, the defence looks sound.
In the midfield, Beckham delivered some telling set pieces against Jamaica, while Cole, Gerrard and Lampard looked dangerous. Admittedly this was against Jamaica, but this midfield quartet, if they blend well, could be the vital component that sets us apart from the half a dozen teams with realistic ambitions of winning the tournament. The only worry is that most of the goals against Jamaica came from dead ball situations.
Up front, it has to be believed that Owen will rediscover his sharpness; Crouch is enjoying himself and is a threat, while Eriksson can call upon Lennon and Walcott to cause problems against tiring defences. The fact that Rooney, at the time of writing, is confident of making his mark is also fantastic news. So maybe we should go along with our continental friends. It’s time to start believing!
June 8th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Ashley Cole is fairly solid and passes the ball adequately but his positioning is often questionable, he isn’t a great crosser and can be a petulant player at times.
I wouldn’t say he is anywhere near the best left-backs around at the moment.
June 8th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Ashley Cole has gotten closer to the best left back in the world, geographically at least, assuming the best left backs around will be playing in Germany this year.
June 8th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
Maybe, maybe not.
June 8th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Player by player I think this is the best team we’ve had for a long time. If we can just get the midfield to gel then we stand a good chance of doing very well.
I’m willing to put my anti-Arsenal bias behind me to hope that Ashley Cole proves himself to be one of the best player (A) s in the world.
June 9th, 2006 at 6:44 am
Your assessment of the media view of the current England team is correct. A quick summary, so far as I can see it: Paul Robinson is, I think the best England goalkeeper since Gordon Banks. Run this by me again: how did Peter Shilton win over 100 England caps? At the back, Ashley Cole was apparently deemed good enough for the richest club side on the world to be tabling an offer for him. Gary Neville is (and this requires one to put one’s prejudices to one side) an experienced and intelligent full-back. John Terry is possibly the best central defender in Europe. Rio Ferdinand is, whilst not the great defender that we hoped he might be, in great form (so lnog as he doesn’t let his mind wander). The midfield: Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard & Cole. The best midfield in the world, bar none. Cole & Gerrard have been in sensational form this season. Lampard is a goalscoring midfielder that any coach in Europe would want. Up front, Michael Owen is (regardless of what the naysayers keeping going on about) at great striker and predator. He has also linking up very effectively with the in-form Peter Crouch.
You can’t put a price on the psychological edge that they’ll gain just from the news that Rooney is fait and back in training. There’s even strength in depth: or all the criticism you can throw at him, there aren’t many other reserves goalkeepers with the experience of David James. Sol Campbell and Aaron Lennon are both in great form. There are plenty of squad players that I’ll be happy to see come on of need be. There are, for once, reasons to be cheerful.
This is, so far as I can see it, the best England squad since 1970. The only criticism that you can level at them is that… well… it’s England. And they have a long and glorious history of letting us down. But let’s enjoy it while it lasts, eh? Because all of this optimism might have evaporated in a couple of days or so.
June 9th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Quite right 200. I don’t know the ins and outs of every ‘keeper at the world cup, but I reckon Paul Robinson will be the ‘keeper of the tournament.
Our defenders have international experience at club and country level in spades, Lampard and Gerrard came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the European Footballer of the Year awards, Rooney, when fit, is the most feared striker in Europe, if not the world.
The weakest link in the England set up, as far as I can see, is Sven.
June 9th, 2006 at 9:52 am
Ronaldo, Simao, Deco, Figo - not a bad midfield either.
June 9th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
I dunno Wes. Figo certainly isn’t as dangerous as he was 4 years ago and whilst the others are all top class attacking players, not one of them has the tenacity of Steven Gerrard or the beef of Frank Lampard.
Also, England have a great chance this year as they have a goalkeeper under the age of 30 for the first time in a major tournament since 1966! No more creaking backs stretching for lobbed balls, no more aging reactions clumsily bringing down defenders in the box, just spry, fleet-footed, quick-minded, pure goalkeeping essence.
June 10th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
You’ve made some good points there.