As the 2010 South Africa World Cup continues, even though I enjoy watching the best teams and the best players in the world, there’s a part of me that has lost interest since Germany thrashed England on Sunday.
This morning in stark contrast to the 1990 World Cup squad, the England team arrived at Heathrow and were taken away in blacked out taxis. There was no fanfare, no flag waving, no vuvuzelas, and absolutely no cheering fans to welcome back our so-called ‘golden generation’.
England’s impeccable results in qualifying for the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals was impressive and heightened any expectations of how well England would fare. And it wasn’t only madmen and their dogs that were blowing vuvuzela-style trumpets suggesting England could actually win the 2010 World Cup. Respectable members of the media were serious in their support that England had a very good chance to show the world how to play football.
Not only did England fail to win the World Cup again, they were absolutely appalling in the process. Four games, two goals and one player out of 23 that can honestly say he didn’t play shit!
Put it this way, if I had been asked as a Premier League football team scout to report on the England players I would have said only Ashley Cole was worth signing. The others have absolutely no chance of making a dent in Blackpool’s squad.
So, what went wrong? Whether it comes out that Fabio Capello’s strict regime that worked so well in the qualifying games and appeared to bring the superstars back down to earth, was not appropriate for a group of players on tour with egos as big and as soft as ostrich eggs; or the players are just not good enough will I’m sure be aired over the next few weeks.
What is clear is that when the pressure is on in a tournament situation, especially when England play teams with equal or better football ability they result to panicking, squabbling, selfish play and dysfunctional hoofing of the ball.
When Fabio Capello became England manager he inherited a squad of players that were picked on their names and reputations rather than their current form and ability. Capello said no players were guaranteed a place in his England squad; and only fit players that were playing regularly and in form would be chosen to play for England. Fabio Capello also put an end to sloppy dressing and bad manners. Flip flops were banned, as were games consoles and leaving the dinner table before everyone had finished.
This, we all agreed was exactly what these overpaid prima donnas needed; and moreover it appeared to be working. So why, just weeks before the 2010 South Africa World Cup did Fabio Capello coax Jamie Carragher out of international retirement after a poor season with Liverpool, and allegedly guarantee a place in the final 23 man squad to a virtual cripple, only for him to get injured after 30 minutes!?
Furthermore, why did he include three players in the initial 30 man squad that had an excellent Premier League season – Adam Johnson, Scott Parker and Michael Dawson – only to leave them out of the final squad, without even playing two of them?
I’m fully aware that England strikers praise Emille Heskey but hew-haw hee-haw hee always plays like a donkey; and Capello picked him even though Martin O’Neill doesn’t feel he’s good enough to be a first-team regular for Aston Villa.
The FA have said they will take two weeks to consider whether Fabio Capello should remain England manager or they should cut their losses and admit this was another expensive disaster.
So, if the FA sacked Fabio Capello who is there that is able to take England further than Capello and Sven Goran Erikkson before him? (Let’s just completely forget about the wally with a brolly!)
The usual suspects are going to line-up when the media backs the cry for an Englishman. Harry Redknapp will allow the team to pick itself again and does anyone honestly want Sam Allardyce’s toe-punting hit and run style of football? I don’t think so. So if not Capello, who is there?
Personally I would like Fabio Capello to continue at the helm unless the FA can lure the only man I think that could win the World Cup as England manager – Guus Hiddink. If Hiddink doesn’t want the job then tell Capello to go for youth rather than celebrity status millionaires; and have a clause added to his contract – no invalids, no old has-beens, no playing players out of position, and no flare players without flare – all for one and one for all!
2 comments so far
1 Football Sanctuary // Jul 3, 2010 at 10:48 am
Capello must take most of the blame for the poor performance. He job was to pick the right squad, the right team and most importantly installed the confidence required to go far in the competition. He failed on all counts.
2 Peter Kenny // Jul 4, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Why did the F.A. renegotiate Capello’s contract weeks before the World Cup? Better to wait until after so his managerial performance could be assessed?
Not to worry , they gave golden handshakes to Sven and the nomark before Capello , so why not? Do we taxpayers contribute to the F.A. in any way ? I’m sure taxpayer’s money went towards Wembley costs , and it is owned by a subsidiary of the F.A.
The team’s performance was a disgrace , and even after the 4-1-loss to Germany , Capello said to Gabby Logan on live TV ” We played well”. Should have gone to Specsavers , or was I watching another game?
These representatives of English football are paid in excess of £100,000 per week , yet shame us at each and every European?World cup . Many of them seem more interested in Celebrity than what they are well paid to do – play football , not FOOTSY.
Is the F.A. and even worse FIFA responsible to anyone ? I’d be interested to know.
Peter Kenny