What just happened Frank?
Bloemfontein, South Africa is supposed to be the ‘city of roses’. Well it was no bed of roses for Team England on Sunday during the World Cup. England had to face their old rivals Germany. By the 32nd minute of the first half, it became obvious the apparently positive part of England: its defense and goal keeping was seriously came apart. Germany pulled away from and caught a flat-footed David James on two occasions to score. But then it appeared the lion was awaken, and in frenzied action Upson caught a beautiful header and we got one up, and then just a minute later….the ghosts of 1966 cast a spell across the pitch when 44 years later, Lampard converted a cross from Defoe and shot the ball against the top bar of the goal and it bounced down behind the german goal line. For 1 billion pairs of watching eyes: it- was-in!…BUT the linesman did not see it and the referee waved the game on! Were the gods righting Geoff Hurst carbon copy goal in the 1966 final, when he scored in the 101st minute and England won the World Cup? We will never know and, like Lampard disbelieving face we will never know what could happened if England went to the dressing room at half time level at 2 -2.
Hey! It went over by a foot you twat!
But, it should be said: the German were the better side.Younger (many moved up together from the under 21 squad), they were that much faster on the play. In the 67th and 70th minute, they twice caught the England defence and counter attacked with such speed that the German Muller found himself with so much space and the time just outside the penalty box, he drove the final two nails into the England Coffin thereby ending England’s expected World Cup legacy. I have to agree with the outspoken manager Roy Keane who stated today that to blame Capello is ‘crazy’ and a little to simple to explain England’s elimination. As he stated: ‘The goals they conceded against Germany, particularly the first couple, had nothing to do with Capello’s choice of system or tactics. It wasn’t a case of getting overrun in midfield. It was just very bad defending.’ (England’s World Cup players ‘get away with murder’, says Roy Keane – http://www.guardian.co.uk/football). While the FIFA President apologized for the referee mistake for disallowing the Lampard goal, its time for them to wake up and get the technology in so that this mistake doesn’t happen again – especially at the highest level of the game (World Cup 2010: Sepp Blatter says sorry to England for disallowed goal – http://www.guardian.co.uk/football). That was embarrassing to the international standard of this game.
The bottom line: Germany were far superior, presenting a young and dynamic side not over awed by the expectations of such a grand arena. Ignorance is bliss when you are so young. England were flat-footed and showed a side that considering its supposed parts of talent – especially the supposed goal killer Rooney – were noticeably lacking as a whole team. They never really showed they should be the champion pedigree they were expected to be, when they got on that plane together leaving Heathrow Airport. High Expectations, low results.
Say it isn't so.....
As an ex-pat looking from outside, my English colleagues will probably criticize me for truly not knowing what’s what. But, it does seem sad that in a world were an English accent still does bring some degree of respect in the arena of international football, for giving authenticity to England’s major sporting contribution to the rest of the world – the sad reality is the English game has been so noticeably overtaken by the international game. There is well voiced argument that the Premier league in England is the best league in the world. Next to the NFL in the USA, it is the most profitable and well run in the world. Yet, it has done so at the expense of the very nation that proved the game in the first place. By all accounts, home-grown English football talent is forever squeezed out by the imported talent that fill out the likes of the Man. United, Liverpool and Chelsea of this world. And watching the World Cup only shows that loud and clear to this armchair amateur. I wish it wasn’t so, as long-suffering English fans deserve better for the loyalty they show on a continuing consistent basis year in, year out to Team England and English football. And what about that popular image of the English hooligans abroad? Never happened mate. Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt, leading the UK police delegation in South Africa, said there had been no arrests or trouble after the game.”I’m massively impressed,” he said. “We’ve not had any trouble whatsoever”. Kudos to you suffering fans – you commended respect for doing the right!
What would have happened if.....
Watch the England break down in Lego: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2010/jun/29/world-cup-2010-germany-england-brick-by-brick
For now…peeeeaaaacccceeeee out sisters!
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