Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Post will profile all eight national teams that will play in Ukraine during the Euro 2012 football games. Coverage begins with the perennial underachiever of world soccer – England.
Few teams have to bear the same weight of expectation as England. In the almost half-century since football’s founding nation lifted its only major trophy – the World Cup in 1966 – it has time and again been touted as a potential champion of Europe or the world, only to fall flat.
But as Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland approaches, years of disappointments have left Three Lions fans well aware that their team is not yet in the same league as world champion Spain and powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands.
“The usual press ritual of hyping up the team’s chances of winning the tournament has been replaced by realism after years of disappointment,” said Sam Matterface, chief football correspondent at leading U.K. radio station talkSPORT.
While England will be expected to get out of its group, where it will face France, Ukraine and Sweden, talk of winning the tournament is far from the lips of all but the most starry-eyed of England supporters.
This time four years ago, England’s fans and players were not even thinking about Euro 2008, after failing to qualify. Its World Cup campaign in 2010 ended disastrously in a 4-1 defeat to Germany in the round of 16.
These failures, as well as the aging and retirement of the so-called Golden Generation of players – David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and others – has seen England turn to a new batch of players is adding new energy to the team.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart is providing stability in between the posts that has long been missing. Jack Wilshere has emerged as a player who could be at the heart of the midfield if he recovers from injury. Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck are attackers that can cause any team problems with their pace.
England is going through a change of generations, which is turning out to be a rather painful process.
The main problem is down the spine of the team. In central defense, Rio Ferdinand is constantly injured and captain John Terry, while influential, is slowing with age. He could be partnered with his new club mate Gary Cahill, but the partnership will need to gel quickly.
In central midfield, the question is no longer how to fit Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard into one team. Liverpool captain Gerrard seems to miss more games than he plays, and Lampard is no longer a first choice. Many expect Jack Wilshere the Arsenal youngster, to take over in the center of the field, but he is currently out with injury.
England’s star player is undoubtedly Wayne Rooney. The powerful forward has made limited impact in previous tournaments for his national team, but is the heart of Manchester United, one of Europe’s top teams. His main weakness is his occasional inability to control his temper. In the last game of qualifying for Euro 2012, he kicked out at an opponent and was sent off, meaning he will miss the first two games of the tournament.
He will miss the games against France and Sweden, but could return for the match with Ukraine – the last in the group – which could be decisive.
“Rooney is a world-class player; he defines the England team,” Andriy Bal, Ukraine’s assistant coach told the Kyiv Post.
British broadcaster Matterface said England wouldn’t take Ukraine lightly, having been run close at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 by two less fancied teams.
“The England side has been taught enough lessons. They fouled up in South Africa taking Algeria and Slovenia lightly. They know they have to be switched properly and learn the lessons of their failures,” he said.
Another problem England appeared to suffer from at that tournament is fatigue. England’s Premier League is widely recognized as one of the best – and toughest – championships in world football. This could be less of a problem for Euro 2012 as two top clubs, Manchester United and Manchester City, have already been eliminated from the Champions League, the main European club competition. Other players have missed a large portion of the season through injury, so should be fresh.
One major question surrounding England is the decision-making of the management team, including head coach Fabio Capello.
England decided to be based in Krakow in Poland and fly to every game. Critics of this move fear that this could tire players exacerbate any injuries they are carrying.
Capello has plenty of detractors for his coaching of the team. He has brought an Italian style to the team in his four years at the helm, but only in the worst sense. Put simply, England play in a very boring way, based on defense.
Despite all these problems, England remains one of the favorites for Euro 2012, and a real contender to reach the latter stages of the tournament. There are plenty of weak spots in the team, but it also has a strong character and plenty of skill, meaning few teams will want to face the fathers of football come June.
