Euro 16 - Brexit 2
ENGLAND
Ouch!! To all you England fans. Naturally, most in Singapore and this part of the world follow the England team closely due to the exposure of live TV coverage of the EPL. Now the EPL is a highly competitive league but it is made for TV soccer with a tempo different from other leagues or international soccer.
In my last article, I gave you insights that if you have read, you know I was largely correct. I could have taken half of Hodgson's salary and maybe do a better job. Haha. I got to watch only two England matches in the qualifying stages versus Russia, the second half versus Wales and some highlights versus Slovakia and read a few pages. England is out of Europe twice in a week. Wow!
Ouch!! To all you England fans. Naturally, most in Singapore and this part of the world follow the England team closely due to the exposure of live TV coverage of the EPL. Now the EPL is a highly competitive league but it is made for TV soccer with a tempo different from other leagues or international soccer.
In my last article, I gave you insights that if you have read, you know I was largely correct. I could have taken half of Hodgson's salary and maybe do a better job. Haha. I got to watch only two England matches in the qualifying stages versus Russia, the second half versus Wales and some highlights versus Slovakia and read a few pages. England is out of Europe twice in a week. Wow!
I told you that Joe Hart is error prone. Not sure if he had been playing his FIFA 15 or 16 on his Play Station too much and late into the night like David James once did. When I saw him in action as a young lad on loan to Birmingham, I knew this guy was very good. Hart epitomises everything wrong with the English players who have become too rich, too famous with too much ego. I squirmed when I saw how easily a Russian old man jumped highest and got an equaliser. Gareth Bales' free-kick may be good but it was stoppable. I have even suggested that Hart did not need a wall, just deploy two men at the near and far post and he could position himself in the middle. He got worse when he let slip the simplest and softest shot from Iceland. It may be time for England to find a pair of safer hands. Fraser Foster and Jack Butland were both better last season and command the penalty box with ease. A jittery goalkeeper is never good for the defence. Always pick the best person for the job not based on past reputation.
I said England have a poor defence. Of course Kyle Walker was actually outstanding in the first two matches but was caught ball watching against Iceland. Danny Rose in a similar vein is like Walker, good going forward. Perhaps England have to wait for Ben Chilwell (Leicester City) to be selected and for Luke Shaw (Manchester United) to be fully recovered and back to his best. I saw Shaw played for United and Southampton, this boy is good and hope he does not end up like the rest. Both Cahill and Smalling have been poor. English defence conceded goals far too easily.
In midfield, I have questioned why Jack Wilshere was selected having been injured for the entire season save for playing three matches in a whole season and Hodgson brought him there. I can understand a dilemma if he were say Lionel Messi but Jack is no Messi, he pays his taxes. Surprisingly Rooney seemed to have played his best internationals since he was a 19 year old in 2004 in a new role. I have suggested not to select Rooney in the squad because he did not have a good season at club level but revelled in his new role in the F A Cup final against who? Crystal Palace. It is not about him playing well or not. It is about having Rooney roaming everywhere giving wrong signals like mobile data. England's midfield would have been much better without Wilshere and Rooney. You will then have more familiarity with the others in their usual and proper position and not using players in wrong position. Playing Dele Alli at the diamond's tip would have ripped better results. Raheem Stirling, if you take the pace out of him, perhaps he should not even be in soccer. So he is just a one trick pony with blessed pace and Rooney is a forward not a midfielder. You either keep him there as a forward if he delivers or you kick him out. Period.
Talking about positions and I have said before, why the hell is Harry Kane taking corners and free kicks as the main striker? Where were the same Kane and Vardy that played Germany in that friendly. I said the once tournament begins, France, Germany, Italy and Belgium will shine. There are so many things wrong with England as usual. A few friends suggested they go read up the full book "Soccernomics" but there are many reasons why England fail. Again and again.
When England play against smaller defensive teams they do not know what to do. Generally they lack guile. They need to go back to street soccer. Where are the players like Paul Gascoigne? How come Northern Ireland, Wales and Ireland could get results? How did minnows Iceland beat England. You can say England were poor but please do not say Iceland are bad. Iceland defeated the Netherlands twice - home and away, had Czech and Turkey beaten during pre-qualification. So they are a very good team and now France must be worried. They did a Leicester to England. Roy Hodgson meanwhile have been playing almost everyone out of position like our school exams here such as asking a monkey, a fish, an elephant or a hippopotamus to climb a tree. In any sport or different facets of life, you always need to play to your strength as an individual or when leading a team and you need to play or work to a system where everybody knows what is his role, what to do with or without the ball, how to defend and attack as a team. Did you see how Italy played against and defeated defending champions Spain? Italy today do not have the best strikers and yet won 2-0 not by playing defensively. Every player knew and understood their roles perfectly. They absorbed, they even attacked Spain in abundance. You have to give it to Conte for drilling the players. So Chelsea may be doing well next season.
Everyone has pressure not only England. If I could state the truth, England have less pressure than anyone else because they have not won anything since 66. Does it mean the Germany, Italy, France or Brazil or Argentina have less pressure and expectations? The English players have become celebrity flops that got outplayed by hungrier teams. Celebrity and success and the adulation gives people the wrong impression that they are better than they really are. You become narcissistic, falling in love with yourself. Don't believe me? If people come and worship you everyday as if you are God, you may begin to think you are one. Rooney's international career was over a few years ago. Even I could see it. The boss must decide first by appointing the right man for the job. That right man for the job then picks the right players. If you are the director, then direct. The manager managed and the players play. It could not be more simple. If a player no matter who he is do not train, work hard enough and fall short then you are out! No qualms about it gentleman and ladies. In a sentence - England must start all over again from scratch with a fresh and clean sheet.
What the heck, who am I. I cannot even save my own nations' football. One last friendly advice - "it takes balls to play!" Some five years back, when England was failing in a crucial match against Croatia and it was pouring, Steve McClaren chose to hold up an umbrella and was labelled the 'Wally with the Brolly". How was that for inspiration? Remember, Uncle Choo during the Malaysia Cup days? When it was raining one day during centralised training, the players thought training was cancelled. When they came out and saw Uncle Choo standing in the rain, what stirred in their hearts. I read the Roy Hodgson went on a boat tour for sight seeing rather than conducting more training with the players just before the Iceland game or go watch the Iceland match to prepare. That to me that was complacency and showing disrespect to your opponent. Why did he during qualifying rounds made six changes to his team when he has to beat Slovakia to top the group thinking the his team would qualify tops anyhow and better to prepare foe the later stage of the tournament. To me, the philosophy is to always play your best team. I can understand if you have already qualified but England haven't. You will only end up disrupting your tempo and rhythm of the team and without tempo and rhythm the players will quickly lose confidence. Just because you are successful in the domestic league does not mean you are world beaters. You are still a big fish in a small pond.
Did you see how Iceland and Wales played? How was Wales able to wallop Belgium? I believe some teams come to a tournament with a certain sense of entitlement. We are one of the best or the best but do you just turn up to win or work your socks off? Look at Wales confidence, teamwork and fight. They were even a goal down and yet make the comeback against a supposedly better and more talented team. Ironically the team (Wales) that were beaten by England and now in the semis. Like I always said, it is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog! I can only wish Iceland and Wales well! Good job small nations! Keep going!
The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Iceland. With a small population they have overachieved so much. Keep going. Wales too did a fantastic job and this team will be legends forever! England could learn from these two. I thought Croatia was good too. The Polish do have some polished players (no pun intended). Italy v Germany could have been the final. The least deserving to be in the final is Portugal. They were surprising defensive, were not impressive, went through without winning and then through penalty kicks and beating Wales. However, you have to give credit where it is due. Still the Portuguese worked and made it through and Ronaldo rose like a salmon to nod home a powerful header to finally show his mettle. Not many could jump so high and hang in the air for a second or two and the Les Ferdinand used to do that. Ronaldo is quickly going from 30 to 31 and all his great power will be reduced and this would be his best chance ever to win.
The French could finally believe in themselves. The Italians could have won even on penalty kicks when the Germans missed but handed the advantage back to the Germans and lost. Gary Lineker's maxim that football is made of 22 men chasing a ball and at the end the Germans win is now water under the bridge. France showed the way in the form of a 1.75m man called Antoine Griezmann who must now be the hottest property in Europe. He has proven himself at club and international level of his true pedigree. Will he upstage Ronaldo on Sunday?
Portugal from nearly men to now potential champions is down to the decision of one man - Fernando Santos. His team was no Golden Generation but he managed to mould them into a difficult team to beat so if they could shut down France and Ronaldo or Nani could put in a goal they could win. Home ground aside, France are a talented team but their only weakness is in defence. If they can stop the crosses for Ronaldo they will win. French manager Didier Deschamps has been bold with his line up and attacking play. The best way is for his team to get an early goal. This shall open up Portugal to attack back. Do expect Antoine Griezmann to score and win it for France.
Everyone has pressure not only England. If I could state the truth, England have less pressure than anyone else because they have not won anything since 66. Does it mean the Germany, Italy, France or Brazil or Argentina have less pressure and expectations? The English players have become celebrity flops that got outplayed by hungrier teams. Celebrity and success and the adulation gives people the wrong impression that they are better than they really are. You become narcissistic, falling in love with yourself. Don't believe me? If people come and worship you everyday as if you are God, you may begin to think you are one. Rooney's international career was over a few years ago. Even I could see it. The boss must decide first by appointing the right man for the job. That right man for the job then picks the right players. If you are the director, then direct. The manager managed and the players play. It could not be more simple. If a player no matter who he is do not train, work hard enough and fall short then you are out! No qualms about it gentleman and ladies. In a sentence - England must start all over again from scratch with a fresh and clean sheet.
What the heck, who am I. I cannot even save my own nations' football. One last friendly advice - "it takes balls to play!" Some five years back, when England was failing in a crucial match against Croatia and it was pouring, Steve McClaren chose to hold up an umbrella and was labelled the 'Wally with the Brolly". How was that for inspiration? Remember, Uncle Choo during the Malaysia Cup days? When it was raining one day during centralised training, the players thought training was cancelled. When they came out and saw Uncle Choo standing in the rain, what stirred in their hearts. I read the Roy Hodgson went on a boat tour for sight seeing rather than conducting more training with the players just before the Iceland game or go watch the Iceland match to prepare. That to me that was complacency and showing disrespect to your opponent. Why did he during qualifying rounds made six changes to his team when he has to beat Slovakia to top the group thinking the his team would qualify tops anyhow and better to prepare foe the later stage of the tournament. To me, the philosophy is to always play your best team. I can understand if you have already qualified but England haven't. You will only end up disrupting your tempo and rhythm of the team and without tempo and rhythm the players will quickly lose confidence. Just because you are successful in the domestic league does not mean you are world beaters. You are still a big fish in a small pond.
Did you see how Iceland and Wales played? How was Wales able to wallop Belgium? I believe some teams come to a tournament with a certain sense of entitlement. We are one of the best or the best but do you just turn up to win or work your socks off? Look at Wales confidence, teamwork and fight. They were even a goal down and yet make the comeback against a supposedly better and more talented team. Ironically the team (Wales) that were beaten by England and now in the semis. Like I always said, it is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog! I can only wish Iceland and Wales well! Good job small nations! Keep going!
The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Iceland. With a small population they have overachieved so much. Keep going. Wales too did a fantastic job and this team will be legends forever! England could learn from these two. I thought Croatia was good too. The Polish do have some polished players (no pun intended). Italy v Germany could have been the final. The least deserving to be in the final is Portugal. They were surprising defensive, were not impressive, went through without winning and then through penalty kicks and beating Wales. However, you have to give credit where it is due. Still the Portuguese worked and made it through and Ronaldo rose like a salmon to nod home a powerful header to finally show his mettle. Not many could jump so high and hang in the air for a second or two and the Les Ferdinand used to do that. Ronaldo is quickly going from 30 to 31 and all his great power will be reduced and this would be his best chance ever to win.
The French could finally believe in themselves. The Italians could have won even on penalty kicks when the Germans missed but handed the advantage back to the Germans and lost. Gary Lineker's maxim that football is made of 22 men chasing a ball and at the end the Germans win is now water under the bridge. France showed the way in the form of a 1.75m man called Antoine Griezmann who must now be the hottest property in Europe. He has proven himself at club and international level of his true pedigree. Will he upstage Ronaldo on Sunday?
Portugal from nearly men to now potential champions is down to the decision of one man - Fernando Santos. His team was no Golden Generation but he managed to mould them into a difficult team to beat so if they could shut down France and Ronaldo or Nani could put in a goal they could win. Home ground aside, France are a talented team but their only weakness is in defence. If they can stop the crosses for Ronaldo they will win. French manager Didier Deschamps has been bold with his line up and attacking play. The best way is for his team to get an early goal. This shall open up Portugal to attack back. Do expect Antoine Griezmann to score and win it for France.
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