England manager Fabio Capello screams at his players. Platinum Stars v England. Photo © Cleva Media/Insidefoto
The dress rehearsal is over, no more friendlies, come Friday the big event kicks off. England has been far from impressive as they warm up for their opening match against the USA in Rustenburg. Ferdinand and Beckham are out and judging from the images from the friendly match against the Platinum Stars, their presence could be more of a distraction than a positive influence. Both looked seriously under whelmed as they witnessed another episode of Wayne Rooney’s diplomacy skills.
All does not appear well in the England camp, as Fabio Capello launched a scathing attack on the tabloid photographers who tried to cross the usually placid Italian and take pictures in a restricted area at the Royal Bafokeng hotel.
Capello barked “”Hey! Why? Why? Why do you come to take pictures here?”
Now, I know as a professional sports photographer that these tabloid stalkers can be highly irritating, but by playing into their hands and giving these parasites a good story to tell their mates down the pub or in the press room, Capello has left the door open for the press to hound him throughout the World Cup.
However, I think this masks a far greater problem for Capello. A proven winner and great club manager, he has inherited a team of perennial underachievers, who do not have the capability to perform on the biggest stage. The realisation that his overpaid and pampered stars do not have the discipline, skill or confidence to claim the ultimate prize in football has been etched across the Italian’s face since they qualified. Despite an easy qualifying campaign it has been the source of constant frustration that England cannot concentrate for 90 minutes or follow the game plan set out by Capello. The old analogy you can lead a horse to water springs to mind!
Some fans are of the belief that under the guidance of Italian maestro Fabio Capello that England has finally bridged the gap between nearly rans to world-beaters. Yet, it wasn’t so long ago that the England manager was making enquiries into Paul Scholes coming out of international retirement and managed to persuade Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher to make a U-turn and return to the England fold. This hardly constitutes a vote of confidence for the current crop of young England players.
Every four years a state of delusion and euphoria sweeps the nation as England anticipates a repeat of the last great victory by the cup winning team in 1966. But based on their recent performances on and off the field, there is more chance of Michael Jackson making a come back !
I’m a firm believer that whatever the group, England has a knack of turning it into their own group of death, as they struggle to make an impact in the early stages of the tournament. There are no easy games in this tournament unless you are Brazil, Spain, Argentina and perhaps Holland. You need to have the ability to score goals, defend well and kill off the opposition, something England have always struggled to do.
Wayne Rooney spits out water during warm up. Photo © Cleva Media/MIS
The World Cup draw was kind to England, but don’t expect them to trounce USA in the opening match and do expect them to leave it to the last match before they qualify. What they will bring to the tournament is an army of beer swilling sun burnt fans, man boobs, WAGS, bad defending and no doubt a book of excuses as to why they never made it to the final. Be it penalties, a dubious refereeing decision, Wayne Rooney injuring himself, leaving Theo Walcott at home, David James dropping a clanger, it will be frustrating, fun, nerve wracking, a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but at the end of the tournament there will be no escaping another spectacular failure.
By Eoin Mundow
World Cup 2010 