World Cup 2010 - England Post Mortem

I am writing this after being declared medically unfit for work for a week. An enforced rest that made me realise that we are just mere mortals not Superman and time for more reflection. When you are eating normally, often times you take things for granted or you get tired of the same old food. It's when you can't eat that you find any food a joy.

I went for a surgery, a dental one to remove a wisdom tooth and simultaneously a cracked one. Of all days,I have to have a congested nose prior to the appointment, something that happens once in a while due to allergic rhinitis. Was it the body's reaction to the forthcoming stress? Of fear and trepidation? Remember Brazil's buck-toothed hero Ronaldo suffered a fit just before Brazil met France in the World Cup Final and got thrashed 3-0? The last time I had one was eons ago where in those days dentists don't even have X-Rays to check you before the operation. 


The dentist even had a short half-time break explaining that I had very tough tooth that was embedded deep in and the roots were curvy. Luckily, he didn't go into extra-time or penalties. I survived and remembered that one. A visit to the dentist is always a nervy one for many and have reduced grown men to tears. Not me.

Even with X-Ray done prior to the surgery, there are sometimes nasty surprises in store like the World Cup. The moment they tilted me almost upside down on the dentist chair, the nasal congestion cleared out. Thank God for that - at least I could now breathe normally. It's better to be on a dentist chair with drinks pouring down your throat than an intrusive invasion of funny instruments going into your orifice and sounds of equipment with queer noises. This was dental experts with the latest high end equipment and service. The machines were like those from a James Bond movie and when they wrapped my body around with gears ready for the op, the double layers over my eyes and head makes me feel like a crocodile on Discovery channel's where the croc experts always cover the croc's eyes before they tie it up. 


Soon I found my mouth opened wide for two hours but it felt like 24 hours and it made me feel like Seven Eleven. Well, at least I fought better than England who had their defence and goal mouth opened wide for one and a half hours. The Doctor took some time to dislodge the cracked one and when then went on to the wisdom tooth. Finally they were all out and a huge sigh of relief. The dentist commented that I have tough bones and long legs for the teeth which made him work really hard. I apologised for giving him a hard time. He took out the tooth but I hope the wisdom is intact.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have just described England's performance in the World Cup above. England always go to the World Cup like they are going to the dentist. Frozen with fear and trepidation. I shall now offer a Post Mortem for England from Fabio Capello's selection, tactics to their performance and later provide a blueprint for World Cup success to the English FA because so far the greatest English success is in refereeing where policeman Howard Webb looks good for the semi-final and possibly the Final.

The EPL

The English Premier is the most exciting and successful soccer league in the world and I was wondering during the financial crisis why haven't the EPL felt it and finally it came. In terms of made for TV soccer and the riches it has no peers. All action and running with full blooded tackles and great goals. The EPL is also the longest and toughest league as it plays through winter without a break and even Fernando Torres admitted that he may consider moving as he found it extremely tough here. The season ends in May after the League and Cup and finally the UEFA Champions League. Are there too many teams in the League? Can it be further reduced from the current 20 to 18 teams (originally was 22 teams)? Should they implement a winter break like most places? 


Eliminate the League Cup and revise the F.A. Cup system to reduce the number of games? Are they having too many foreigners where even a team like Arsenal once fielded a team with without a single English player? Are the English players being overpriced that clubs look elsewhere? England will run out of players if they do not arrest the situation now. Do not forget British players are also Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish. There are also some Irish. They need to attract younger players and give them opportunities to come through the system. What about coaches? Where are the youths? They are your future.

Coaches

There are few successful English coaches these days and in the EPL you have two high profile ones in Harry Redknapp of Spurs and Roy Hodgson (formerly Fulham and now Liverpool). Redknapp is capable but his wheeling and dealing may not be favoured but Roy Hodgson is the closest thing to the late and legendary Sir Bobby Robson as you could get sharing a history of success overseas in Sweden, Switzerland and even as national coach of the Swiss. I have advocated that Liverpool should get him or England too. 


Except for Stuart Pearce who is the current Under-21 coach and understudy to Fabio Capello and Ray Clemence as goalkeeping coach I wonder if they have a plan for Enlgish ones throughout? Italian, Spanish and Dutch coaches are dominant not only at home but also abroad at all over the places and even in charge of other national sides. Fabio Capello is a good coach and a winner. Not only did he win everything in club soccer but was also director at Milan Academy but this was his first World Cup and first stint as national coach. Keeping him is a good option. Maybe not keeping him would cost more and not improve anything.

Youth

The future of a country and its leadership is in its youth. Youth may not have sufficient experience but when mixed carefully with a few old hands can be a bundle of joy. Youth has exuberance, energy, fitness and a more daring attitude. Germany has a very strong youth culture and that is why their Under-21 won the European crown at the level by thrashing England 4-0 in the Final. England must re look and rethink their youth policy on how to get young players to play the sport, scouting to identify them and then keeping a good team together in progression from Under-16, 18 and 21 together. If this is not sufficient, they should have a feeder B team if not already in place so that B team players can get promoted and A team player can get demoted and this shall keep alive with a kind of mentorship and succession in place. Before all else, they have to get their young players to be ball players. In fact, England Under-21 sides always achieved better and more than the national sides.

Attitude, Lifestyle and Pride

English players need to get the right attitude from young because I think of all teams they knew little discipline on how to take care of themselves. Lifestyle and attitude plays an important part in sustaining a sportsman's life and maintaining a peak physical condition throughout their career and to prolong their career. David Beckham and Ryan Giggs lasted so long and though slower now are still in good shape because they trained hard and took care. Today's English players earned so much at a very young age and with nothing to do could only go gambling, drinking, womanising, partying and speeding in sports cars. Learn from the Germans about pride. When the Germans put on the national jersey, they were totally transformed. Klose and Podolski can have an average season in the Bundesliga but come the World Cup, they became terminators and over-achievers. English players' feet turn to lead when they put on an England shirt and become under-achievers. Spain was like that in the past too.

Overrated, Over-hyped or Under-performing?

Are English players overrated, over-hyped or just under-performing? If you look at Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Ashley Cole they turned on the style and good stuffs in the EPL week in and week out where they also faced some of the best players in the world but then maybe teams adopt a more English style of play? However, many foreign coaches have been in EPL changing the face of the game some how. These same players excelled in Europe in UEFA Champions League. So individually, they are not overrated but sometimes a team is fashioned around some players like Gerrard at Liverpool or Terry, Lampard and Cole at Chelsea or Rooney at Manchester United and the club team trains week in and week out so the understanding and adaptation is vastly different. Alex Ferguson said it was imponderable seeing how England played and Rooney was burdened by the weight of expectations. He also mentioned that the German had a month's break in January. 


My take is that English players are not highly adaptable. In today's world, you have to be highly adaptable not only on the soccer pitch but in the office as well mate! That is why you do not find too many English playing in Italy or Spain. The rest of the world play in the EPL and know your game inside out but you have no knowledge how the others play as intimately. Soccer is a team game, there is no more Chelsea or Liverpool. 


England have good players but it will get tougher in future and become worse if they don't do something quick. Basically they have under-performed. Why? They look jaded and exhausted and not match fit and English players can't hold the ball and don't play to a tempo. There is no rhythm to their game. They are predictable like a one trick pony and mostly static. What about a play-maker to boss midfield and regulate your game? When England played to a 2-2 with Holland in Amsterdam in a friendly there were not much difference between the sides and even against the Germans. So England can mixed it with the best.

Team Selection, Fitness and Formation

Capello may have his headache as he could not find enough good English players. Otherwise, he should introduce and ease them into the team through gradual progression. Why didn't he do that during qualifications? To recall old birds like Carragher whose best days were with Liverpool a few years ago, Ledley King whose crocked knee may not even see him finish 18 holes on a golf course and Paul Scholes whose last appearance was many years ago sent a wrong signal. Is he really finding it impossible for England to perform that he desperately made these late call ups? 

It's like your boss handling the biggest project to your ex colleagues after you have done everything to get there. Poor decision for a 6 million pound job. Was it worth their risks? King didn't last one game and Carragher got 2 yellows and went out because he was too slow he had to be late with his tackles. Unfortunately, Rio Ferdinand the only one who could really hold the ball and distribute was out before he started. This put pressure on Terry who further put pressure on himself with his sexual romps which made him lose the respects of his team as captain and team mate even before te WC. 

SWP can twist and turn and Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott has got speed and acceleration but what they can't do is to provide decent crosses and that is the strength of James Milner who may be slower and for my money Walcott can occasionally rise to the occasion as an impact player. If a player is not playing regularly for his club which means he was not selected by his team coach as first choice, he will probably not get on my team. I am talking about Emile Heskey and SWP. Adam Johnson from the U-21 team will get my nod because he may not be as fast but he could cross and he is first choice at Manchester City ahead of SWP. Heskey is not even a regular at Villa and he scores a goal for England every couple of years? A striker must score and not be cannon fodder.

England is the only team that plays to a rigid and traditional 4-4-2 where others have evolved into the most common 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2. Just about placing one more defensive midfielder or one more striker. It didn't help that Rooney was injured versus Bayern Munich and missed the close of the season. Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Gareth Barry, Ferdinand, Rooney were all injured and came back, even passed as fit. There are three levels of fitness - injury-free, fit and match fit. First you are totally free from any injuries then you get back to physical fitness but physical fitness and match fitness are two vastly different things. You lose your sharpness. English players were not match fit or looked very tired.

Fear and Psychology

I have this observation that every time a player puts on an England jersey, he has fears and his mind plays tricks on him because I do not see them enjoying the game or have the same confidence when they were playing for their clubs especially when they feature in major tournaments. If England has not won a World Cup for 44 years, why must you think you can at the next one. England must now tell themselves they will not win anything in the near future, lay up sold plans for the next five to ten years to induct younger players, more gifted players into the fold like how Liverpool and Manchester United used to do. 


When a young Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen came forth they hit the charts and their club and country soared. When Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Keane, Neville came together, United became champs. Youngsters mate. By declaring that they are not going to win they can go forth and select a young team if needed and keep them together for some time with an aim to win the European crown and World Cup in later years.

Culture

The strength of English soccer is widely admired even by Pele, Cruyff, Beckanbauer and many others. They love the excitement generated and the passion and the original way it was played. Their strength are there for all to see - bulldog spirit, crunching tackles, power, strength, set-pieces, charging at full steam, etc. among many others. The game has been evolving and English players have to be taught to play differently. They have to adapt. England plays a very predictable game and players are mostly quite static. They need to play with more freedom and play with a lot more imagination. Most of the top players of the world have played in England but few Englishmen played outside of their country. Today, turning global means there are no more boundaries. There is no more one style. Martial Arts have become Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) thanks to Bruce Lee.

Dunga obviously believed Brazil will not win playing beautiful so he resorted to playing a continental game with 4-2-3-1 (2 defensive midfielders) having honed his skill as a destroyer and plied his trade in Italy as seeing the beloved Brazil of 1982 crumbled. If he had won, we may never see the samba again. Argentina lost but they dared to Tango. Spain are the pass masters and they will pass you to death. Even the Dutch are no more flying resorting to 4-2-3-1. Germany were meticulous in preparation and have supremely fit youths playing a soak and strike strategy of counter attacking soccer not unlike Manchester United. Uruguay and Paraguay like all their Latin counterparts have guile and flair. All these have cultural connotations. It's not like going to a plastic surgeon and ask for an implant. Latin countries have kids playing in the streets and all over the places and their skills are instinctive where as Europeans were more methodical and scientific. There is nothing wrong in playing to your strength but what exactly are your strengths and are they enough? How about superior organisation and teamwork? Flashes of genius?

We didn't witness any real genius this World Cup. No special from someone like Cruyff, Maradona, Zidane or Ronaldo. In 2002, the best player was a goalie Oliver Kahn of Germany and in 2006, it was Fabio Cannavaro, an Italian defender. The game is turning defensive. This time we may have Muller, Klose, Villa - no disrespect to them for they are very good players but not the genius or phenomena we would like to see. It has become a very strategic game of defensive play with supreme fitness and speed as key to success.

Not sure if England has embraced their immigrant population like what the French and Germans did. Even Japan has a Brazilian. Singapore and many others have gotten Chinese for table-tennis. Why not bring on some Italians, Dutch, Spanish and Brazilians? I didn't mention French and German on purpose. Get a Brazilian or Portuguese player named José Eduardo Santos Tavares Melo Silva or like the fourth Duke of Lafoes called "Caetano Segismundo de Brangaca e Ligne de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva" and just simply call him Toto. Maybe England is becoming like Singapore where most things are done by foreigners perhaps including playing soccer. 

The locals just watched the game in the stadiums or on TV with potato chips in hand. Remember that Japan made everything better than America at one time even though they were not the originals. The gaps are closing and this World Cup in fact since the last has shown that the smaller nations and weaker teams are closing the gap. Get your school boys and start them young. Make them like the ball. Pass like Spain, have the flair of Brazil and Argentina, defend like Jose Mourinho and be tough as nails mentally and physically like Germany. Sometimes, it is a simple team that works - Greece conquered Europe. No stars bigger than the team. Just that.