Transition time for European heavyweights

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

Three of the biggest names in European football must go back to the drawing board following a massively disappointing showing at the World Cup from the trio of Spain, Italy and England, but what procedures can they install in an attempt to avoid a repeat of this summer’s failures at the next major international tournament taking place in 2016?

Spain’s stumbles in Brazil created the strongest reverberations around the world when the defending champions crashed spectacularly at the hands of Holland in their opening group game. That 5-1 loss effectively signalled the end of an era for a side that had dominated international football since 2008 and conjured serious doubts around the Mediterranean nation’s ability to regain their place at the top of the pile again in the foreseeable future.

Departing greats such as David Villa, Xavi and Iker Casillas all appeared to be way past their best, while long-term inspirational leader Carles Puyol didn’t even make the squad due to injury and will retire from all football this summer. The error-strewn displays of Real Madrid goalkeeping legend Casillas were particularly shocking and contributed heavily to the downfall of Vicente Del Bosque’s men.

Italy, meanwhile, started brightly with an impressive 2-1 victory over England in their first fixture, but faded badly afterwards when losing to both Costa Rica and Uruguay without recording a goal. Their third-place finish in Group D caused the emotional resignation of head coach Cesare Prandelli and indeed the mourning of a nation at the death of their World Cup dreams.

Again, older stars within the Azzurri ranks looked jaded and could not inspire their younger colleagues to glory. Gianluigi Buffon, so long a talisman for the Italians between the sticks, missed the win over England in the opening game due to injury, but returned in place of Salvatore Sirigu to preside over two defeats to teams they were initially expected to beat in order to progress.

The usually outstanding Andrea Pirlo was peerless in Manaus against the English, yet largely struggled to replicate that form thereafter. He may have signed another contract at Juventus, but the ‘Player of the Tournament’ at Euro 2012 didn’t cope well with the conditions over in South America and it seems unlikely that it’ll be possible to rely on the talented playmaker two years from now.

Another whose status at the highest level must be cast into doubt is rehabilitated ‘enfant terrible’ Antonio Cassano, who looked out of his depth when utilised by Prandelli at the World Cup. Italy were toothless going forward when in opposition to the rough-house tactics of Uruguay and the well organised counter-attacking style of surprise package Costa Rica, so will need to find a reliable goalscorer to take the burden off the mercurial Mario Balotelli. Furthermore, highly-rated holding midfielder Daniele De Rossi also failed to convince and must up his game considerably if he wishes to stake a claim for a spot at Euro 2016.

Roy Hodgson gave way to public pressure when choosing a youthful and vibrant squad seemingly full of promise, but which ultimately failed to deliver. A large proportion of England’s problems differ to both Spain and Italy in that they’ve already embarked upon the process of renewing an ageing team, which is a task that still looms large for the other two nations.

Wise old head coach Hodgson must hope several of his newest charges blossom into top-level operators, with at least one or two developing world-class pedigrees. The only footballers within the 23-man World Cup outfit selected by Hodgson who were performing at that exalted level previously were Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard; the first one careered backwards hugely since his international zenith at Euro 2004 and the other two now at an age when their best days are truly behind them. That so-called ‘golden generation’ whom travelled to the World Cup of 2002 didn’t come close to realising the lofty expectations placed upon them and have since broken up to leave behind a relatively naïve bunch of players who need to learn quickly.

The English require an identity; Italy always look to field a tight, organised defence and use their penchant for counter-attacking to take a lead which they can then defend, Spain their possession play, pressing and two-touch passing. Hodgson must forge ahead with his favoured strategy and select players who fit nicely into that framework.

England’s displays against Uruguay and especially Italy were generally well received by fans and the media alike, but individual mistakes proved costly in both ties and saw them bow out of proceedings meekly after a meagre two matches. It was a chastening experience for the squad, but one which will hopefully toughen them up for the significant challenges ahead.

Spain probably have the greatest chance of bouncing back swiftly on the face of it, given they have all the necessary processes in place which helped them to already achieve so much from that breakthrough triumph at Euro 2008 onwards. Their academies regularly produce footballers of the highest quality and undoubtedly will continue to do so.

It is the start of a turbulent transitional phase for the Spanish and the time is right for a change of leadership, so elder statesman Del Bosque must step aside to allow another man to take the team forward. However, the basic principles of his reign must be carried through in terms of style and tactics and then built upon for the overall set-up to flourish over the next few years. Pep Guardiola would be the ideal solution, but he remains committed to Bayern Munich and therefore La Roja’s search for a fresh custodian will go on for sometime yet.

Cesare Prandelli’s decision to leave his post and seek pastures new in Turkey with Galatasaray causes a void that will be difficult to fill with an adequate replacement. The man who left Istanbul to create the vacancy at Gala, Roberto Mancini, is the bookies’ favourite and certainly possesses the silverware in his locker to suggest he’s ready for the call having won both the English Premier League and Serie A titles during his time in club management. However, he is a divisive figure who doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with his players, including a certain Signor Balotelli during their time together at Manchester City.

Alternative candidates Francesco Guidolin and Massimiliano Allegri don’t exactly inspire great excitement, as the former is mainly used to guiding unfashionable clubs to higher heights than expected - but still not winning anything of note - and the latter was unceremoniously sacked by Milan last winter with the San Siro giants struggling in lower mid-table.

A bold choice of manager by the Italian FA would be advisable, whilst the over-reliance on master craftsman Pirlo must cease in order for the team to improve sufficiently. The likes of Balotelli, Verratti, Immobile and Insigne have the opportunity to take on the mantle from more established stars and thus drag the Azzurri back to the pinnacle of world football once again. That crop of talent hold the tools to become successful and now they have to use them effectively; whether there are more like them waiting in the wings to beef up Italy’s options remains to be seen.

Back with England, the consensus appears to be to allow Hodgson a chance to continue the work he began in rejuvenating the side, while looking towards Euro 2016 in France as the potential tournament when that spadework will begin reaping rewards.

There is a fair degree of uncertainty surrounding the Three Lions’ future simply because nobody can accurately predict how well this group of emerging players will develop, both individually and collectively. However, Hodgson has put his faith in those youngsters to bring smiles to English faces and he must stick wholeheartedly by that philosophy; two vital ingredients that would assist markedly would be the unearthing of a commanding central defender and also a striker who doesn’t require five clear-cut chances to score a goal.

 

Should they seek out and locate players of that ilk, while further enhancing the skills of those already harnessed within the squad, then England could confidently believe that a happier period lies just ahead of them.

 



Twitter: @davewh1980

Classic clash: Italy v England October 1997

By David Lee Wheatley

England travelled to Rome for the final match of the 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign requiring a solitary point at the Stadio Olimpico to guarantee their spot at the tournament proper. Italy famously triumphed over the English in the reverse fixture when the diminutive Gianfranco Zola beat goalkeeper Ian Walker at his near post to secure only their second-ever victory at Wembley.

 

Manager Glenn Hoddle knew it would be a tough assignment for his squad, but fully believed in their ability to confound the critics and make it through to France '98 ahead of their fierce rivals. At least a draw in the Eternal City and the Three Lions would be roaring all the way to the finals, while consigning the mighty Italians to the dreaded play-offs.

 

The former Tottenham maestro was known for his love of cultured football, but felt it necessary to instruct his charges to sit back and hit the Azzurri on the counter-attack whenever possible. He was aware that the hosts would strive to put England under constant pressure and deemed it too risky to attempt a reciprocation of those tactics. Therefore, the team were well-drilled in advance over the rigid nature of their defensive duties in order to stifle the opposition threat.

 

Hoddle selected an experienced line-up including captain for the evening Paul Ince, Tony Adams, Paul Gascoigne, David Seaman and Ian Wright. Meanwhile, the Italian starting eleven was brimming with global superstars such as Maldini, Albertini, Vieri, Zola and Pippo Inzaghi to name but a few, thus providing a rather daunting prospect when the visitors faced up to the unenviable task in front of them.

 

An incredible 81,000 fans packed into the Olimpico to witness the contest and set about the creation of a wonderfully partisan atmosphere reminiscent of the infamous Colosseum itself. The tension was palpable due to the sheer magnitude of the occasion and yet the English appeared completely focused as the sides lined up prior to kick-off.

 

As predicted, Italy reserved the lion's share of territory, as England allowed them to play with relative freedom until approaching the final third of the field. Then they would press, pursue and chase down every ball with boundless energy, heroically blocking everything which came into their path. Ince and Gascoigne were particularly impressive in central midfield, working doggedly to win back possession and proceeding to retain it with great poise. The pair spent almost the entire game relentlessly stalking every blade of grass on the pitch in true lung-busting fashion, while bidding to stop the Italian artisans from making a crucial breakthrough.

 

Home hopes blew up spectacularly late on, as the away team successfully frustrated their illustrious foes until Italy's discipline eventually deserted them altogether when in utter desperation to claim three points. Locally-born wide midfielder Angelo Di Livio lost his head completely after 76 minutes, resulting in a sending-off that made England's job that much easier thanks to the departure of the tigerish Juventus man.

 

Battered and bruised, courageous captain Ince epitomised the battling spirit within the camp throughout England's rearguard action against the well-fancied Azzurri. Just like Terry Butcher years before him, the inspirational leader stood up to the rigours of the heated clash while sporting a makeshift bandage around his head following a stray Demetrio Albertini elbow, along with a white jersey heavily stained with bright red blood. He should have received several stitches in the wound, but having been informed of the 30 minutes needed to administer the patch-up work, Ince refused the offer and continued to play on which allowed the visitors to remain at full strength throughout. It showed superb comradeship by the former Inter dynamo and proved just how much the result meant to him and his compatriots.

 

In a manic last few moments, Ian Wright hit the post when most believed he was certain to score, while colossal striker Christian Vieri missed a header in the dying seconds at the other end to effectively seal that precious 0-0 scoreline the underdogs so desired. Once the full-time whistle sounded, England's exhausted heroes fell to the ground in sheer tiredness and relief.They'd produced one of the finest English performances on foreign soil in living memory, defying the odds to conquer Rome and advance to the World Cup finals after an agonising eight-year wait since Italia '90.

 

Let's hope this latest generation of footballers who are currently entrusted with the country's fortunes at the 2014 World Cup can replicate the same level of pride in the shirt so readily displayed by those on that glorious night in the Italian capital - we might just stand half a chance!

Twitter: @davewh1980

Brazil are the team to beat

By David Lee Wheatley

As hosts of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil hold a distinct advantage in the fact that almost a third of the 19 tournaments which have taken place from the inaugural edition in 1930 onwards have been won by those welcoming the world.

Six national sides have triumphed on home soil in the past, with firstly Uruguay and then Italy claiming the opening two titles. England were next to lift the trophy in front of 96,000 fervent supporters at Wembley Stadium in 1966, the Three Lions’ one and only World Cup final victory. West Germany in ’74 were followed hot on their heels by Argentina in ’78, prior to a 20-year wait before the last occurrence at France ’98.

Additionally, thirteen World Cup-winning teams have prevailed on their own continental patch, with a further two won by South American sides in the familiar surroundings of the Central American sub-continent. Meanwhile, A Seleção beat all-comers during USA ’94, which isn’t completely alien territory for those born and bred in Latin America.

In stark contrast, a solitary squad has managed to buck the trend of failing away from their European continentin the shape of the extraordinary Spaniards in 2010. That recent anomaly offers scant hope to those travelling to Brazil, as it simply confirms the journey to a World Cup final many miles from your own backyard is a mighty difficult road to negotiate.

It’s eminently true that Brazil’s class of 2014 aren’t quite up to the same standard as previous versions and huge expectation has been placed upon former Santos starlet Neymar Jr. to produce the magic required to assist Scolari’s side in their quest for an unprecedented sixth World Cup. However, they possess several talented individuals to supplement the much-heralded Barcelona forward’s significant contribution to the team, so much so that seasoned campaigners Kaka and Robinho weren’t even included on the standby list.

Their projected starting line-up is undoubtedly strong enough to win the tournament, assuming they avoid injuries and suspensions. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is an experienced performer, while a defence made up of Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Marcelo excites in an attacking sense, but remains slightly vulnerable when under the cosh.

Ramires and Fernandinho could take up the two defensive midfield positions, screening and covering when David Luiz or the marauding wing-backs surge forwards. Ahead of them should be Willian on the right, Paulinho in the centre and Neymar wide-left, who will be encouraged to link-up with the main striker leading the line in the form of Zenit hit-man Hulk.

Group A won’t hold any fears for the green-and-yellows, with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon all operating at an inferior level compared to the highly-fancied hosts andsurely fighting it out for second place.

Brazil have the pedigree, talent, historical statistics and a vast nation firmly behind them and it’s hard to argue against their tag of favourites as the start of thecompetition rapidly approaches.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Diego Costa: Chelsea find the perfect striking solution

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa passed a medical yesterday in preparation for an imminent transfer to Chelsea in a mega-money deal which is expected to reach the £32million buy-out clause stipulated in the Brazilian-born forward’s contract.

The west London club were alerted to the talents of 25-year-old Costa following an outstanding return of 36 goals from 52 games during the course of Atletico’s hugely successful campaign and promptly pounced ahead of a long line of other potential suitors in order to nab the bustling striker’s prized signature before the start of the World Cup due to take place in his homeland. While Costa readies himself to represent adopted nation Spain in the country of his birth at this summer’s tournament, those in control within the corridors of Stamford Bridge can rest easy in the knowledge that they’ve secured the signing of a natural goalscorer who is absolutely ready-made for them and the Premier League in general.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho publicly bemoaned the dearth of firepower at his disposal last term, with the misfiring Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o struggling to find the net on a regular basis. That inconsistency from his forwards led to calls for the club to bring in a proven striker who could handle the rough-and-tumble world of English football and in the shape of Diego Costa they have snared a top performer who is feisty, tough and extremely strong, thus causing abundant nightmares for opposition defenders. Whatever his marker tries to mete out during the heat of battle, they will get it back two-fold due to the highly physical approach that Costa prefers. Defenders will not get a moment’s peace from the significant attacking threat posed by the Spanish international and will find it incredibly difficult to keep the 6ft 2in powerhouse quiet.

Costa began his professional career with Portuguese side Braga after leaving Brazil at the age of 18, as he set out on a European adventure encompassing seven different teams across Spain and Portugal, thanks to numerous loan spells away from his parent clubs. He took in stints with Penafiel, Atletico Madrid (once before his latest stay at the Vicente Calderon), back to Braga, Celta Vigo, Albacete, Real Valladolid, Atletico again and then another short-term loan across to Rayo Vallecano. At no point from the start of his journey had the forward managed to showcase his true promise until that loan switch in January 2012 to Rayo, the relatively poor relations of football-mad Madrid. A serious knee injury in pre-season had limited Costa’s ability to cement a place in the starting line-up during his second coming at Atleti, so he was farmed to their lesser neighbours in the hope of finding form with a club that could offer him a platform to regain full fitness by featuring week-in, week-out at La Liga level. Indeed, that opportunity to play allowed the rangy centre-forward to hit the goal trail immediately when plundering an impressive ten goals in just 16 appearances during the five months spent in Vallecas.

He returned to Atletico brimming with renewed confidence and saw his name on the team-sheet more often than not under inspirational manager Diego Simeone. Costa grabbed 20 in all competitions amid a startling run which culminated in the claiming of the Copa del Rey crown – he’d finally arrived on the big stage. The 2013 summer transfer window saw furious speculation surrounding the then-Brazilian national squad member’s future, with Liverpool mooted to be ready with an attractive offer in the region of £21million. However, Los Rojiblancos held firm and refused to buckle under the immense pressure placed upon them to sell a player who had swiftly become a key cog in Simeone’s well-oiled machine.

Sticking with the Spanish giants proved to be a superb decision when considering his considerable contribution to a wildly successful 2013-14 campaign at the Calderon, as Atleti took La Liga by storm in winning their first title since 1996. Not only that, but they shocked the entire continent by advancing all the way to a Champions’ League final date with local rivals Real Madrid in Lisbon, a unique occurrence in that two sides from the same city had come face-to-face in a European final on the only occasion in history to date. Alas, the fairytale stopped there, with Diego Costa limping off injured after only nine minutes at the Estadio da Luz and Atletico eventually surrendering a 1-0 lead with seconds left at the end of proceedings to force an extra 30 minutes of action. Real followed up their cruel equaliser right at the death by firing a further three goals home in extra-time to rubber-stamp their feted tenth Champions’ Cup success. Despite the utter deflation of defeat, Atletico could look back proudly on an astonishing season full of great highs and fantastic memories, with Costa an integral protagonist of their first championship-winning season for 18 years.

Now, having controversially switched allegiance following two friendly-match caps for Brazil, Costa hopes to play an important part in the upcoming World Cup for holders Spain in spite of the thigh problem which has been troubling him for some time. The imposing front-man is back in training and raring to go for his opening attempt at excelling in an international competition of this magnitude and he can go into the group games without external worries now that his situation at club level is settled, having done all he could for the Atletico Madrid cause prior to moving on to pastures new.

Chelsea can be assured they are set to welcome the ideal footballer to robustly lead the line at Stamford Bridge next season. They spent the whole year desperately seeking a solution to their distinct lack of attacking prowess without any luck; the ruthless and ultra-aggressive Atletico marksman represents precisely what Mourinho’s men were crying out for all season-long.          

Twitter: @davewh1980



World Cup watch: Carroll v Lambert

By David Lee Wheatley

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert this week stated his direct rival for an England squad place is West Ham United's Andy Carroll, as the race for a World Cup spot heats up to boiling point. There are many similarities between the pair with both fabulous in the air and physically imposing, thus Roy Hodgson has a difficult decision to make when choosing which target man to take with him.

Where the clearest difference lies is Lambert's ability on the deck, which supersedes Carroll's skill on the ball. The Southampton man also possesses a dangerous direct free-kick, but he would have to overcome the seniority of one or two others for the ball when in an England shirt. However, Carroll is without doubt the finest header of a football in the Premier League, which is his greatest strength and sets him apart from most English strikers of his generation.

It used to be the norm to see tall, strapping centre-forwards strutting their stuff in almost all English club sides, but the modern trend has favoured smaller, pacy strikers over recent years meaning that an old-fashioned number nine has become something of a rarity. Hence why only one of either Lambert or Carroll can realistically expect to make the plane to Rio alongside vastly different types of strikers such as Rooney, Welbeck, Defoe and Sturridge; none of whom fit the same profile as Lambert or Carroll.

The stats so far this season suggest Lambert is the better bet, but Andy Carroll only returned to action after long-term injury in January and therefore managed just 13 appearances including this weekend's clash with Crystal Palace. Just two goals have come from Carroll in that period, but the lack of a prolific strike-rate could be attributed to those injury worries which plagued the former Newcastle United man throughout the first half of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Lambert has again been a talisman for a highly talented Southampton squad this season and he's assisted in the south coast side's encampment within the Premier League top ten for the majority of this term. The Kirkby-born battler has worked his way through every single division of league football and his 11 goals, plus 10 assists, from 34 league appearances keeps up his excellent 1-in-3 scoring ratio, while illustrating his importance to the team's passing style and build-up play.

Neither star managed to hit the mark today, as both spurned some decent chances in their respective fixtures. The Saints could only take a point away to Villa in a 0-0 draw, while the Hammers lost 0-1 in front of their own fans against Palace. Still, Carroll's injury issues in tandem with Southampton's sterling season may have handed Hodgson more opportunities to see Lambert in action and could put the amiable Scouser above his Geordie compatriot in the eyes of the national team manager.

In summary, if Hodgson wants a player who will come on the field of play to put himself about and apply pressure upon the opposition defence in the air allied to a more direct approach to the game, then Andy Carroll would be the most suitable option. Should the England boss prefer a powerful player who can set up and score goals, slot into a more progressive style of play and contribute inside and outside of the box, it has to be 32-year-old Lambert.

Either way the squad announcement eventually goes, both men in question would likely begin the World Cup looking on from the bench with Rooney and Sturridge apparantly ahead of them in the pecking order as we approach the tournament. Their potential impact from a substitute role will be extremely important in the final reckoning and should deem which player gets the nod for the biggest test of their careers.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Hiddink signs deal to lead Dutch national side once again

 

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

Master tactician Guus Hiddink is to become head coach of the Netherlands national team following the completion of this summer’s World Cup finals, it was confirmed today. The former Chelsea boss has signed a two-year pre-contract agreement with the KNVB to take over the reins from current incumbent Louis van Gaal, once he relinquishes control in order to make a return to club management.

Hiddink managed the side between 1995 and 1998 having also led the senior international teams of South Korea, Australia, Russia and Turkey in a hugely successful globe-trotting coaching career thus far. Now 67, it appears the final challenge of an ongoing 32-year journey since first taking his place in the dug-out as De Graafschap assistant coach.

Having made clear his intention to aim for a top Premier League job, the Dutch FA were well aware of van Gaal’s decision to move on ahead of time and they’ve been busy putting plans in place to adequately replace him with an equally revered elder statesman. Hiddink will lead the Dutch to Euro 2016 in the hope of claiming silverware before handing his duties over to Ajax legend Danny Blind, who will assist him for the next two years alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Several big clubs have been linked to former Ajax, Bayern and Barcelona boss van Gaal, while he's been openly angling for a lucrative switch to the English Premier League. Heavyweights such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are said to be monitoring the situation closely and it seems Spurs would be his most likely destination at this stage.  

Meanwhile, Hiddink will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the in-fighting and public spats which characterised his last spell at the Oranje helm after he inherited a set of fractious individuals severely lacking in team spirit. Edgar Davids was sensationally sent home from Euro ’96 when Hiddink decided to get tough in taking the Dutch to the quarter-finals. His initially troublesome period as manager gave way to a more relaxed atmosphere at the World Cup two years later and Holland made the semi-finals prior to an unlucky penalty shoot-out loss to Brazil.

If he can foster a similar environment within the national side from 2014 onwards to that which he left behind in 1998, then it would be eminently conceivable for the Netherlands to be crowned Champions of Europe for the first time since Euro ’88.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980



Young Guns: Alen Halilovic

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

17-year-old attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic is the youngest-ever player to represent his nation in a full international and also the Croatian first division's youngest goalscorer in history. With a plethora of European heavyweights scouting him from all across the continent for months, it is FC Barcelona who have finally won the day for his signature in a 2.2million euros transfer.

 

 

Born in Dubrovnik, Halilovic quickly ascended through the youth ranks at Dinamo Zagreb to make his first-team debut in September 2012 as a late substitute within the hostile atmosphere of a clash with rivals Hadjuk Split. A UEFA Champions' League bow followed against Paris Saint-Germain, thus gaining further invaluable experience at the highest level.

 

 

Even better was to come, though, for the diminutive left-footer when breaking into the senior national squad, having represented his homeland at all youth stages up to under-17. Portugal were the opposition on June 10, 2013, as Halilovic broke yet another record due to his tender years.

 

 

Many observers have been swift in comparing the wonder-kid to Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric, but his club have been careful to keep their prize asset from getting too carried away with such high praise. Dinamo bled the youngster slowly but surely into action, with the starlet appearing on 19 occasions and scoring 3 goals this season. However, only eight of those were starts in order to allow the developing midfielder the rest he requires to avoid burn-out issues.

 

 

His current side hold an 11-point lead this campaign domestically, while Halilovic has been further subjected to European competition in both the Champions' League qualifiers and Europa League group stage. He will stay with the 15-time Croatian first division champions until the season's end, at which point the Catalan giants will begin to phase him in gently - after what he hopes will be an adventure at the World Cup in Brazil - with a stint playing for their 'B' team initially.

 

 

Hopes are high that Halilovic will mature and prosper under the expert guidance of one of the greatest training academies in the world, while helping him to fulfil his undoubted potential later on during a projected minimum stay of five years. There is no specific timeframe for his promotion to the big leagues and Barca will surely caress his career with great understanding.

 

 

If he performs as well as hoped, his succession of Blaugrana great Xavi won't be too far into the future and the meagre fee of 2.2million euros will increase substantially with myriad add-ons attached to the deal.

 

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Match preview: England v Montenegro

By David Lee Wheatley

England take on Montenegro this evening knowing only a win will do in their quest to reach the World Cup finals next year.

A decisive double-header awaits Roy Hodgson’s men against tricky opposition in the shape of the Montenegrins and Tuesday’s foes Poland, with maximum points required in order to make it mathematically impossible to be caught by closest rivals Ukraine in Group H.

Hodgson will be thankful that he can count on a clean bill of health going into tonight’s clash, having lost Ashley Cole to a rib injury before squad training began. Everton’s in-form left-back Leighton Baines is likely to take his place in the starting line-up, with Kieran Gibbs acting as back-up.

Aside from that, the predatory Daniel Sturridge regains his squad place after missing out on the last round of qualification matches with a thigh strain. The Liverpool star’s return hands the manager a dilemma as to how much attacking intent he wishes his side to portray at Wembley; does he plump for three out-and-out strikers, a tandem up-top or play his cards more conservatively?

The good news – if it’s to be believed – surrounds stylish forward Mirko Vucinic’s inability to feature through a knock picked up on Champions League duty for Juventus, which would be a huge boost for the home side but a bitter blow for the visitors. Others expected to be unavailable to Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic include goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic, defender Marko Basa and midfield player Miodrag Pekovic.

Lying one point clear of Ukraine and Montenegro, the English can seal their spot in Brazil with successive victories over the coming days. However, Montenegro held up well against England in past meetings and Poland are no pushovers. It’d be a massive disappointment should the Three Lions end up in a play-off or worse, making it imperative the men tasked with gaining the results Hodgson desperately seeks perform when it really matters.

Let’s hope England avoid any more astonishing embarrassments such as their demoralising failures in the run up to the USA World Cup of 1994 and Euro 2008. Crunch time is upon the nation and the finest footballers in the land must deliver the goods, despite the weight of expectation on their shoulders.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Golden generation or Belgian waffle?



By David Lee Wheatley

Belgium approach their final two World Cup qualifying fixtures requiring only a point to make sure of a place in Brazil next year.

The nation from the Low Countries have developed a squad that would appear the mightiest they’ve mustered for many years; not since the heady days of current head coach Marc Wilmots’ playing era alongside legends such as Enzo Scifo, Jan Ceulemans, Franky Van der Elst, Michel Preud’Homme and Eric Gerets have so many excellent footballers’ careers converged.

Now, a new crop have emerged as the Red Devils attempt to deliver trophy success to a nation starved of it throughout their history.

44-year-old Wilmots spent three years as assistant coach before taking on the mantle as leader of the pack in 2012, while inheriting a set of stars handily reaching their peak all at the same time. Looking at the line-up on paper, each and every department looks supremely strong and the potential of the team seems limitless.

Between the sticks, top talents Simon Mignolet and Thibaut Courtois fight it out for the number one spot and are closely matched. Mignolet joined Liverpool in the summer having established himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the English Premier League with Sunderland, while Courtois has forged a fine reputation on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea during the past two seasons and continues to perform well in La Liga at the Stamford Bridge club’s behest.

World-class Manchester City centre-back Vincent Kompany usually marshals a well-oiled defensive machine, but unfortunately misses out on the two upcoming clashes against Croatia and Wales due to a thigh injury. Even without him, though, the squad possesses quality in abundance in that area of the field with the experienced Daniel Van Buyten joined by Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld amongst others.

Midfield is arguably even more impressive, with Eden Hazard, Fellaini, De Bruyne and Witsel fronting up a section of the side that also boasts the considerable skills of Napoli winger Dries Mertens, Steven Defour, Nacer Chadli and long-standing international Timmy Simons.

Then, up-top, powerful strikers Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke regularly frighten the life of their opposition, while versatile attacking midfielders Mousa Dembele and Kevin Mirallas round off a remarkable side that is ready to fire Belgium to the World Cup finals over the coming days.

Revered ex-international Wilmots has been blessed with an embarrassment of riches provided he utilises them effectively by blending their individual abilities into a working unit. Judging by their five-point lead in Group A, it suggests the former Schalke forward has found a way to extract the very best out of the players at his disposal.

At least a point away to closest challengers Croatia on Friday and they’re there.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Too much, too soon for England starlets?

By David Lee Wheatley

There was once a time when a player had to achieve success and hold down a regular place at club level before being elevated to the senior England national team, but now it seems a handful of impressive performances domestically is a sure-fire route to a first cap. Is it all too much, too soon for the young crop of stars currently trying to make their way in the game?

Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend are the latest beneficiaries of the fast-track mentality prevailing within the English game following a promising start to the season from both. Predecessors in recent times include Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Jack Wilshire and Danny Welbeck - all of whom were simply required to display a short stint of good form to ensure a place in the England squad.

This suggests a dearth of established talent in between the older and younger generations; there's very little competition at national level to force the up-and-coming footballers into producing high quality performances over a longer period of time domestically to earn their selection.

Further evidence of that is the fact that a large majority of fans and media immediately crowned Jack Wilshere as the 'savour of English football' when making his international bow in August 2010, just 21 months after signing his very first pro contract with Arsenal. Since that debut, he's featured on ten occasions for England and come up against severe pressure for a position in the Arsenal starting eleven this campaign thanks to the much vaunted transfer-record signing of German superstar Mesut Ozil.

Now, that moves me on handily to the next issue with plunging inexperienced players into the England side. With so many foreign talents in the Premier League, what happens if the potential of those aforementioned players ends up laying dormant while they warm the bench at club level? Will they be dumped by England never to be seen again? Should they be considered for international duty even if they can't get a look in for their Premier League club?

All those problems will likely come to face England boss Roy Hodgson head-on in the run-up to the World Cup, should the Group H leaders negotiate their way safely through to the tournament proper in Brazil next year.

The ability of Barkley, Townsend and others mentioned isn't in doubt, but would it equip them better for the rigours of a qualification campaign and subsequent high-pressure competitions if they had to become absolutely solid picks over a number of seasons for their clubs before advancing to play for the Three Lions?

Or, is it the case that Hodgson has no choice but to throw the largely untried young men into action earlier than he'd ideally wish and therefore it's just the way it has to be?

Much of the situation behind that conundrum comes down to the plethora of non-English footballers in the top-flight blocking the progress of players as they get a little older. The best English starlets will always burst through the red tape, but holding down a spot in the starting line-up is the tricky bit. They should be expected to do that before getting a full cap and it would give them extra motivation to prove themselves and make it completely unnecessary for their club manager to introduce any new blood from abroad in their favoured position. If they're going to be handed the keys to the kingdom after a few weeks of first-team football, then where is the incentive to become the best they can be?

That goes hand-in-hand with the fact that those kids who begin to make a name for themselves often get a massive wage rise after creating an impact. Once they've got the £50,000+ per week pay packet and an England cap before the age of 21 or 22, what more do they have to do to make it big? Precisely nothing - that's what. They've already made it in their minds and there's no prize of an England career at the end of a long road. Too much, too soon indeed.

Twitter: @davewh1980