Billericay Town Unofficial Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Gianluca Vialli said, recently, that England fans are depressed about England’s chances for four years and then a month before the tournament people’s expectations increase and go well beyond realistic, and sensible levels. Well, he didn’t say that exactly but I read between the lines. The media and a lot of England fans are deluding themselves. It goes further than hope and belief in to the realms of idiocy. If you’d made outrageous claims like this in the 1700 or 1800’s you’d have been committed. The Italy game gave fans and media an unrealistic view of England and it’s ability to compete at the highest level. Italy is technically and tactically far superior to England. They let England have the ball knowing they could be kept at bay for long periods and they were well aware that they could not beat England in a sprint, but they are tactically astute enough to know that they wouldn’t need to. Italy used the ball brilliantly and, coupled with England’s naïve and inept marking & defending, to stretch England and probe for weaknesses, which they capitalised on. England’s passing and possession was not as creative or as composed as Italy’s. They always look panicked when they have the ball but are being closed down. Even Spain still looked calm under pressure, though it didn’t help them in the long run. Though Uruguay and England squared up and looked quite equal it was the difference in technique and, most of all, quality that counted. Luis Suarez goal was well taken but what made the difference was Edson Cavani’s cross, which was of top quality. England has not underachieved at this World Cup. They went out there without a single World Class player and have been beaten by Italy with Andrea Pirlo and Uruguay with Luis Suarez. England hasn’t taken a World Class player to a World Cup since 1970 when they could call on Gordon Banks and Bobby Moore. With the rise of the Premier League, the money that it has produced and the attraction of foreign players has reduced the quantity of English players that play top-flight football (Out of all the teams that qualified for the 1966 World Cup only 8 of the players played outside they’re home nation!) It has also given people the view that the Englishmen that do play regular are as good as the foreign players around them. Well, they’re not, and this is obvious whenever England play any team that is half decent. During the 2010 World Cup England were matched by the United States in what was a fair result. They then played out a goalless draw with Algeria. This game alone should have started ringing alarm bells as Algeria’s players controlled the ball far better than England’s did. They then scraped a win against Slovenia before being outclassed by Germany, though the officials gave England’s fans and media a reason to blame anyone other than the players for their poor performances. As Englishmen (and women) we need to realise that England’s players and team are not World-beaters. They are not a realistic challenger for World Cup or European Championship honours. We also need to accept that just qualifying for tournaments should be the main aim and anything after that is a bonus. From 1974 to 1998 Scotland qualified for more World Cups than England. Of the 22 players they took to the 1974 World Cup 12 were based in England, 15 in 1978, 12 in 1982, 8 in 1990 and 8 in 1998. Since the influx of technically proficient foreigners in to these Isle’s superior league the number of Scotsman has dropped and the Scottish national team have had to go down the leagues for players as well as relying on players from their own league. Scotland hasn’t been to a World Cup since 1998. In 10-15 years time England could be going through same problems. It may not be took long when beating the likes of Germany or France won’t be to qualify for the next round but just a glorious moment that softens the blow of missing out on qualification. The media’s insistence on portraying the England team as potential champions every 2 years builds up fans hopes creating these totally unrealistic expectations and piling pressure on the players and management. In short, ignore the media hype and just be happy that England qualifies. The players won’t play well under pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 And just on a brighter note, the England Ladies have qualified for their world cup without losing a qualifying match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billericay Town Unofficial Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 And just on a brighter note, the England Ladies have qualified for their world cup without losing a qualifying match. At least we can say they've come on in leaps and bounds over the last 10 years. Well done ladies, lets hope the media don't build your hopes up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 As someone who has been heavily involved with Ladies football for the past few years, I think it fair to say that the media seem to treat the Ladies far better than they do with our mens national team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Browne Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 At least we can say they've come on in leaps and bounds over the last 10 years. Well done ladies, lets hope the media don't build your hopes up. Unlike our men - looking back to the 2009 European U21 Championship Final when we were beaten by the Germans, six of the German side that day are in the German squad for the World Cup and all started against Portugal whilst our team that day features just one player in our current squad. (Theo Walcott would have been another had he been fit) Germany: Manuel Neuer, Andreas Beck, Benedikt Howedes, Jerome Boateng, Sebastian Boenisch, Mats Hummels, Fabian Johnson, Gonzalo Castro, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Sandro Wagner. (Used subs) Daniel Schwaab, Dennis Aogo, Marcel Schmelzer. England: Scott Loach, Martin Craine, Micah Richards, Nedum Onouha, Kieran Gibbs, Fabrice Muamba, Lee Cattermole, Mark Noble, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Theo Walcott. (Used subs) Michael Mancienne, Jack Rodwell, Craig Gardner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savagebee Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 At the best i thought England might get to the QF of this World Cup. England are a OK team but they are miles behind Germany in my opinion. Because England have one of the best domestic leagues in the world (The Premier League) it does not mean England have a very good team. There are now way to many foreign players in the Premier League Simples. The way things are going in ten or so years time England may struggle to qualify for the major tournaments. Ive got to say that the current England defence is the weakest England defence I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 At the best i thought England might get to the QF of this World Cup. England are a OK team but they are miles behind Germany in my opinion. Because England have one of the best domestic leagues in the world (The Premier League) it does not mean England have a very good team. There are now way to many foreign players in the Premier League Simples. The way things are going in ten or so years time England may struggle to qualify for the major tournaments. Ive got to say that the current England defence is the weakest England defence I have ever seen. I totally agree. The word 'inept' springs to mind ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Difference is,no one actually talked up our chances this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billericay Town Unofficial Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 It's nice to see plenty of sensible comments on here. Difference is, no one actually talked up our chances this time. The media were talking about England doing well, plenty of fans I'd spoken to thought this was going to be a great tournament for the team. The biggest differences are how comfortable other teams look with the ball, their control of the ball and how well they close the ball down. Efforts are being made to bring England up to standard but they are easily a decade behind and every time they take a step to catch up other nations are already another step ahead. Costa Rica worked hard, closed the ball down, were physical and posed a threat when they got forward. Four things you cannot say about England. As much as the money and TV exposure has turned the Premier League in to one of the best leagues in the world it is to the detriment to the England side, and this will not change. I think, as a nation we need to forget football and take up Ice Hockey as our most popular sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 OH WELL ! The flag of St. George has been taken off the front of our house along with all the bunting in the window boxes. Only another four years to wait ! Having said that.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.