Everyone is itching to see their favourite team kick-off at the FIFA World Cup. The international friendlies are on a roll and the teams are about to be picked. iSport’s Pulasta Dhar supports England, and tries to point out the problems of the ever underachieving team…
England have given the world so many games, but they seldom turn out to be champions in the same. With only one World Cup victory in 1966, the national team has a poor record when it comes to performing at the international level. The most common complaint is that they can never channel their club performances at the international level. This taking into consideration the world class players the squad consists, is downright shameful.
The problems which have dogged England forever are that of a goalkeeper and a formidable strike force. Apart from that, the perennial problem of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard not being able to play together in the center is one which needs to be addressed by Capello. After all, they are two of the best midfielders in Europe. If Capello has got one tactic wrong up till now, it is that of playing Stevie G from the left side of midfield. Gerrard is impeccable through the middle and a man of his tactical capacity should understand that. Lampsy can also play with him, but then one of them has to be able to sit in the hole and play and there is no doubt Gerrard will be ready to do so.
The right wing is another question mark. I personally feel that with so much pace around him with the likes of Gerrard, Rooney and probably Milner on the left, David Beckham should be considered a contender. I am not saying this because he is one of my favourite players and the reason I started watching football, but it is because the rest of the wingers may be speedy and full of tricks, but none has the crossing prowess of Goldenballs. And mind you, a cross is the most important part of a wide man’s role.
The left side is another problem. Milner should have been tried on the left wing and Walcott, though grossly underperforming is also an option. Problem is, Capello does not believe in employing a wrong footer on the wrong wing which most of today’s top clubs are doing. Examples would be Nani, Robinho, Robben, Arshavin, Simao, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney himself last season.
Let us come to the striking options available for England. Wayne Rooney is a sure-shot starter at almost every game. Jermaine Defoe on form is brilliant and Peter Crouch is always a threat. One thing I simply do not understand though is the selection of Emile Heskey. He is one giant of a man who fails to do anything significant but always makes his way into the team! Agbonlahor for one should be tried and tested, but he does not even make the team and Carlton Cole is another good option. But the best bet looks to be Rooney and Crouch. If the lethal pairing of Crouch and Beckham works, then he can head those crosses into the net all day long.
His defense looks solid but still fails miserably at times. This is the reason why Gareth Barry has to play anchor man and hence one of Steven Gerrard and Lampard has to be sacrificed. But since this cannot happen, the Liverpool captain has to play on the left. Even though John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are rocks for their clubs (not recently), they fail to perform at this level. Ashley Cole’s loss is a big blow and Glen Johnson is the best bet on the right. Phil Jagielka is another option and Mr. Bridge has ruled himself out of reckoning.
Last but not the least, goalkeepers! David James is too eccentric, green errant and Joe Hart untried. Egypt should have been the game Hart should have played and Capello has hurt a lot of sentiments by not playing him. He, by far, looks the most consistent of the lot.
A team with the best middle cannot operate without a good spine and head and this is exactly the problem England face. Unless something is worked out, a semifinal stage is the best they can get to, even though I hope better.
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