Something definately wasn't right, and it's hard to put a finger on one thing specifically. My initial thoughts after the Algeria game was that the players were playing with too much fear. But now I'm not so sure. I just think that the balance of the team, the player's comfortability in the roles, the fitness of certain players (Rooney, Barry) the substitutions made by Capello, nothing was quite right. I mean Algeria, granted, we struggle to beat these kinds of teams on the best of days, but we usually always sneak a goal at some point and sometimes even open up to a flattering scoreline. But the cohesion in the team that game was just the worst I have ever witnessed in my 12 years of following England. And what shocked me most of all, was that even the 'Capello half-time talk' which had become such an asset for us since he took over after many bad first halves, had absolutely no effect on the team. And it was pretty much the same in the other three matches. I mean, it's odd how something which had been so effective for around 2 years had suddenly gone AWOL during the World Cup. This tournament will be looked back on in years to come as disasterous for us, but I will also personally look at it as baffling.
And perhaps, this disaster might just be a blessing in disguise. the English FA can no longer keep there heads in the sand, they HAVE to take good hard look at themselves, and the football programs in the country, and see if they are actually doing there job- that is, developing good solid footballers, not athletes or guys with just grit & passion cause that might help you go from league 1 to a solid premier league team, but when you come up against great international players with ability and brains, you get shown up for the chump you are. I really think this is good for england. where can they go after this? klinsmann? maradona? perreira?
the difference is that a usa team of nba all star players are clearly #1 in the world while an all star england team of premiership players is merely one of a group of good teams.
Capello came to the world cup for serious business and he thought the players were too. Turns out they thought they were movie stars who were coming for a holiday. Sure some of capello's tactical moves were dubious but the problem was the tactical indiscipline of the squad.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...and-wont-win-until-they-embrace-team-ethic.do John Barnes chimes in. He actually makes a few good points in there.
So what's the latest in England...is Capello going to be fired? I hope! And over here the North American media is all over FIFA this week for their unbelievable ongoing incompetence regarding blown calls and their unwillingness to embrace video review. Ireland...England...Mexico...if anything positive should come out of this world cup it should be these countries and all countries for that matter pushing hard demanding immediate changes with the firing of Sepp Blatter and bringing video review into the sport. For the sake of the beautiful game and in fairness to the fans the teams and the sport it must be done now!!!!!! If Blatter is the senile prick who is blocking video review, and based on his comments after the England game it is in fact Sepp Blatter, he must be fired now!!!!!
Poor England. I mean...how the hell has this ever happened to jolly ole England? For heavens sakes your not developing your own players in your own league...your not producing quality English keepers....your not producing quality English managers...c'mon England somebody has to have a cup of tea with the Queen and get this fixed!!!!
The problem with blaming Capello....is that England also did not qualify for Euro 2008 championship. So the same core group of players failed not just once, but twice. This speaks to deeper problems within the side. If you look at the resumes of the English team, they are far superior to many of the teams in the 16 and the 8 at the World Cup. The English resumes were superior to the Germans. So, it goes back to the entitlement of the players, the development of English players, chemistry......in addition to tactical mistakes by Capello What is mindboggling- and the height of arrogance and stupidity- was the extention of Capello's contract before the WC even kicked off...with NO CHANCE of rescinding the extention. The arrogance of the FA to think that the English side would waltz right through the group and the World Cup speaks of a football organization that obviously thinks too much of their role and themselves, the development of English football, and the structure problems that have been laid bare by this disaster. Collectively, English football relies too much on reputation vs. the hard work of 'getting it right' for each tournament. Just the opposite of the Germans, in my opinion- who takes risks and 'seize the day' in the important moments of major championships. Amazing that the FA might just have to keep Capello (obviously the wrong man for the job) because of financial reasons now. The English need an English coach. Full stop. American national team may have weaker resumes and a weaker league, but we usually punch above our weight (not below) because we know who we are, we fight for each other, and egos are left mostly aside. Our American coaches are usually less savvy tactically, but at least they appeal well to the cameraderie + mission of the battle. We are a real team. English national team played almost like an exhibition team put together for the tournament, with no real discernable style. That a player with the talent of Rooney can't be properly unleashed at such a tournament is a massive failure- which I see as a combination of Capello's tactical stubbornness and Rooney's sense of entitlement. The US most talented player, Dempsey, is frequently put into different positions on the US team, and he accepts his role without complaint and works just as hard- even if it is clear he is not totally comfortable in some of the roles he's asked to do. He does it for the team. Quite a few of the English players simply looked bored. It was odd. So much worse than their club form. The first German goal...you NEVER see that happening to Terry at Chelsea. The thing about US soccer- we've been pissed on for decades by foreignors (saying we suck) and US citizens (saying soccer is boring, unpopular sport) which has led to a pretty healthy 'chip on the shoulder, 'we need to prove it to the world' mentality which prepares one well for battle. Paradoxically, this English team played as if they had absolutely nothing to prove to anyone, and there was very little fight displayed. It was shocking, giving how good the players are individually.
We suffered from a lot of injuries during that campaign. Eh? The clause in Capello's contract was mutually removed. Capello wanted it gone so that if we had a poor tournament he couldn't be sacked without a pay off and we wanted it gone so he couldn't just walk out on us without compensation. At the time with Inter sniffing round it seemed like a good idea, in hindsight not so much. Therefore arrogance had nothing to do with it though you were willing to think it. Contradicting yourself much? England failed to qualify for Euro2008 under an English coach and had it's worse tournament performance in the last decade under an English coach (Euro2000)
Germany was in the exact same spot England is now a few years back. I think it was right after England beat then 5-1 in Munich. I believe Germany completly overhauled the system after that. I enjoy seeing England in the World cup but this may be the best thing to have happened, it will force the FA to make some big changes.
Nah, people talk about Germany's poor showing at Euro2000 and how they changed everything but they then reached the final of WC02, it shows that things weren't as bad as they seemed otherwise it would have taken far longer to see a real effect. And nothing will change in England. Too many snouts in the trough, too many people making the decisions with too much to lose.
i dunno. from what i've been reading from germany fans here, they thought the 2002 team was one of their weakest ever but just happened to make a nice run. i remember there being some panic after the euro 2004 flop.
They got probably the easiest World Cup draw of all time before meeting Brazil. Saudi Arabia Ireland Cameroon Paraguay USA South Korea
that is true. i guess that's why some of the german posters are saying it was one of the weakest germany teams. i do remember reading posts about 2002 being basically kahn vs. weak teams and brazil.
true. but going back to the topic, if i remember correctly, they had a miserable euro 2004. my memory isn't too good right now, but i believe some of the friendlies they had leading up to wc06 weren't that impressive either. didn't the germans take a good look at france and clairfontaine?
They then reached the final of Euro2008. The problems with Germany were much much smaller if in the time that they were supposedly in crisis they reached two major finals.
That's the thing. Germany and co expect to reach finals and generally they have teams capable of doing that consistency. England has tended to be a little behind the top tier in terms of quality for most of our history yet we don't adjust expectations to fit, so we're almost in a perceived perpetual crisis.