Only yesterday morning we English were laughing at the French for their miserable 2-0 defeat against Mexico. Today, we are fuming at our own side for its equally feeble 0-0 draw against an Algeria team viewed by many as the weakest in the tournament.
The result wasn’t the concern – a win against Slovenia will still send the Three Lions through – but the performance of an England team that looked tired and completely devoid of creativity, drive and pace. After the game, star man Wayne Rooney complained about the booing from some of the English supporters. But after one of the limpest performances of recent years, it’s little surprise that fans who have shelled out thousands to make the trip to South Africa want to see a little more from their team.
Advertisement
What’s the reason behind the poor showing of a team that suffered only one defeat in qualifying? The long, tough Premier League season has certainly taken its toll. Top players such as Rooney and Frank Lampard were challenging in three cup competitions as well as the most competitive leagues in Europe right up to the end of the season.
The team clearly struggles under pressure. When flares flew onto the pitch and England went one down against Ukraine in hostile Dnipropetrovsk in qualifying, they never looked like getting back into it. In South Africa the psychological pressure is different. It’s the pressure of expectation, from fans and themselves, and the knowledge that this is perhaps the last chance for the “golden generation” to make a mark on the world stage.
England is too reliant on Rooney, who seems to be suffering from a long, tough season labouring as Manchester United’s only serious attacking threat. And when Rooney doesn’t fire, no one else seems able to step up.
Coach Fabio Capello is relying on the team snapping out of its slumber and springing back to life with one good performance. It will be interesting to see whether he makes changes to the side to try to inject some creativity and flair. Emile Heskey remains ineffective up front, but Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe hardly covered themselves in glory when they came on. Capello has so far resisted calling on Joe Cole in midfield, whose craft and technique could bring another dimension to England’s play.
The team certainly still has the potential to go a long way. But in the meantime I shall remain, as at the start of the tournament, more in hope than expectation.
