When the group stage matches were on, I was totally disappointed with the English team. Theirs is an all-star team. I may not know full details of the team I’m rooting for this summer i.e. Spain, but I can most definitely point out each and every English player with a running commentary of their background. Thank you EPL. That said, drawing against Algeria and USA in the group stages was unacceptable. Slovenia too gave a tough fight but the English managed to squeeze themselves into the next round. Just as the referee blew the final whistle I told my dad, “England does not deserve to go to the round of 16. After watching them play today, I’m confident they can win the Gold Cup here but definitely not the World Cup in S. Africa”.
Despite the slow start, I had this certain notion that maybe they’d perform well from the knock out stage onwards. Most teams that have gone to lift the World Cup, like Italy in 2006, have had slow starts in the group stage. And so there I was on a Sunday evening in Café Live and Loud. With my white English jersey on, I was fully pumped up for the match. Although Germany had been my old favourites in the 2002 tournament, I was there to support my EPL heroes. Ten years of supporting one man and disappoint me, he didn’t. The final score was 4-1 in Germany’s favour but I feel that had the Lampard goal been given in the dying minutes of the first half, the story could have been a little different. It wouldn’t have resulted in an English win though. Fitness was a big question mark for England. They just couldn’t stand a chance against the long-legged Germans (not that they are short themselves but I’m talking of a few players like Defoe, Wright-Philips and Cole). England needs good strikers. Heskey is too old to play international football now. Rooney proved to be a no-show this time around (he can kiss goodbye to World Player of the Year as well) and Defoe, well I never liked him much as a player anyways. Defense too was totally in shackles. The only area where they may have shone a little is in the midfield. Now that they’ve faced a shameful exit from the tournament, maybe the players can do some reflecting. It’s not a bad team really but somehow they fail to perform together as a country.
Tonight it’s time for my Spanish bulls to shine against the Portuguese. Maybe Torres will break his dry spell henceforth. Lets hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment