Iwan’s world cup 2
Iwan’s world cup 2
So here we are at group B.
Group B
England | Paraguay | Trinidad and Tobago | Sweden
I shall review England.
Let’s look at the squad.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich City)
Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester Utd), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfielders: David Beckham (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Carrick (Tottenham), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich/GER), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
A lot have been said about England. A friend of mine plus the English press and the fans seems to say every world cup and euro championship year that they have the personnel to win it.
True, I have no argument in that. Any of the countries with a top league is capable of winning it. This is because they have the personnel, profession, the experience and the niche to win a big tournament like the world cup.
So question is, why don’t they?
Answer is simple, the others are better. Like Spain, England is a perennial underachiever. However unlike Spain they do not play a brand of football that is capable of conquering and beating teams like Brazil.
Granted they have some wonderful footballers, but frankly speaking they are never above or at par with the rest. The only footballer capable of taking on the best is probably Michael Owen. (Maybe Beckham) it has been proven in the international stage and set up.
The thing is individually they have the skill, technical ability and desire but are not tactically sound. This is the opposite for a team like Spain, who have everything but the passion, which is strange, because the Spaniards are known for being naturally passionate.
In any case back to England, because of this lack of tactical acumen, their chances have been halved.
But a lot has happened between 2002 to 2006. the thing is, if most teams play under par, England might have a chance.
So here we are at group B.
Group B
England | Paraguay | Trinidad and Tobago | Sweden
I shall review England.
Let’s look at the squad.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich City)
Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester Utd), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfielders: David Beckham (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Carrick (Tottenham), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich/GER), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
A lot have been said about England. A friend of mine plus the English press and the fans seems to say every world cup and euro championship year that they have the personnel to win it.
True, I have no argument in that. Any of the countries with a top league is capable of winning it. This is because they have the personnel, profession, the experience and the niche to win a big tournament like the world cup.
So question is, why don’t they?
Answer is simple, the others are better. Like Spain, England is a perennial underachiever. However unlike Spain they do not play a brand of football that is capable of conquering and beating teams like Brazil.
Granted they have some wonderful footballers, but frankly speaking they are never above or at par with the rest. The only footballer capable of taking on the best is probably Michael Owen. (Maybe Beckham) it has been proven in the international stage and set up.
The thing is individually they have the skill, technical ability and desire but are not tactically sound. This is the opposite for a team like Spain, who have everything but the passion, which is strange, because the Spaniards are known for being naturally passionate.
In any case back to England, because of this lack of tactical acumen, their chances have been halved.
But a lot has happened between 2002 to 2006. the thing is, if most teams play under par, England might have a chance.
Finger Acrobatics Performed
On Monday, May 29, 2006 at 3:18 pm.
Skip It and Leave Some!
