England Prepare For World Cup 2006

Folks, I would like to introduce a new contributor to Springfield Soccer – Professor Richard Garrad, Missouri State University. Otherwise known by the moniker of “Megan & Hannah’s Dad”, recent District 11 Champion and Middle School Champion respectively. Richard carries an English passport and you may have noticed his comments regarding his beloved Tottenham Hotspur on this site in the past. I asked him if he would be interested in getting the less rabid of us up-to-date on the English squad, a favorite for the World Cup. He was kind enough to agree. Here’s the first in several articles in anticipation of today’s friendly between England and Belarus, to be shown on Fox Soccer Channel twice today.

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The World Cup begins on June 9th and the feeling among England fans is one of cautious optimism. England certainly has some quality players, some who could probably play in any national team…Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Wayne Rooney all are consistently excellent performers. The other members of the squad are a mixture of good solid club players (Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, David Beckham, Michael Carrick, Paul Robinson, Owen Hargreaves, Peter Crouch) a few youngsters with potential (Stewart Downing, Aaron Lennon and the much talked about but rarely seen, Theo Walcott) and several quality experienced players who have battled or are battling injury (Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Michael Owen, Jermaine Jenas, Wayne Bridge and I of course include Wayne Rooney in this group).

It is interesting that a player once as highly regarded as Beckham is now in the ranks of solid yet not stellar. Beckham’s reputation in my opinion was always slightly inflated. He is a wonderful striker of the deadball and during his younger years (he is now 30) had a prodigious work rate, but the latter talent has declined with the years, however, it will still be important for Beckham to be a major contributor if England are to succeed.

England’s defense looks to be strong, they certainly have good depth in the center back position, Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell and Carragher all very good but the flanks are another issue. Ashley Cole is a very good player but his long struggle with injury is a cause for concern at left back, his likely cover Wayne Bridge has also had a struggle with injury this year. In my opinion the right back position is not strong either, with Gary Neville the likely starter, coverage given by Owen Hargreaves or Jamie Carragher. Neville is solid at the club level but he is likely to be severely tested in the World Cup. Paul Robinson in goal has played well in every situation he has found himself and I think now one of the better goalkeepers in the tournament.

Midfield is England’s strength. If Lampard, Gerrard and Beckham play to their abilities the only problem will be the so-called “holding” player. Michael Carrick has performed this task very well for Tottenham this season but can he do it at the International level? Joe Cole is also another midfielder likely to see significant playing time, perhaps even as a striker, and has the talent to add a little spark to the team when he is on the field. There is also some talk to suggest that Gerrard will be employed as the third striker or withdrawn striker, Stevie is certainly a versatile player and he too is very important for England’s success, perhaps either of these positions will give him the freedom that makes him such an awesome player for his club, Liverpool. Jermaine Jenas and Stewart Downing are back-ups to Beckham and Cole respectively in my opinion.

The forward line is where one finds most of England’s questions. The injury to Rooney, and subsequent selection, together with the debatable choices of the young talent at so important a tournament, has led to some asking whether the England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has “lost the plot”. Rooney is the best English striker and the team begins to look decidedly thin at this position without him. So herein lies the rub for England. Michael Owen is a great goal scorer but doesn’t make goals for himself, rather relying on his unique ability to clear up the loose balls that often go begging in the opponent’s penalty box. Owen’s absence from the game for almost five months might work one of two ways. If Michael Owen is fit enough and fresh he may have a great tournament, but will his lack of match competition have left him a little off the pace? The selection of Theo Walcott is a major gamble. Here is a 17 year old without a single game in England’s premiership, yet said to have incredible talent. Most of the pundits feel his selection was a mistake, but perhaps it will be a remarkable coaching coup if he plays and does well. My opinion is that Eriksson will likely play Walcott in the early rounds in games that are “already won” to give him some experience and confidence playing at this level. He will likely be introduced only in the later games if the situation is desperate and England is in need of something “different”, time will tell. Our other forward is Peter Crouch, a 6ft 7inch beanpole of a player with moderately good touch. Crouch in my mind is a journeyman player and is not going to win games for the team, he adds a certain uncertainty to a situation because of his size but lacks pace and threat otherwise. The last player to talk about is Aaron Lennon and I include him as a forward because of his ability to take on and beat people, which is of prime importance in the final third of the field. The question is can Lennon supply Owen with the sort of chances he relishes?

So where does this leave England? This group of players, if fit and healthy, could do well in Germany; the fact that the tournament is in Northern Europe is also to the team’s advantage. England’s group opponents are Paraguay (6/10), Trinidad and Tobago (6/15) and Sweden (6/20). It is not unreasonable to suggest that if England does not progress from this group then that will be a major shock. The potential second round games against Group A opponents, Germany, Poland, Costa Rica or Ecuador shouldn’t be a major concern for this team. However, the game is becoming more and more equal throughout the world and any team in this tournament is pretty good, but if England makes it to the quarter finals with no further injury concerns then anything is possible.

England begins its World Cup preparations on Thursday 5/24 when they play the first of their three friendlies against Belarus (5/30-Hungary, 6/3-Jamaica). Eriksson has chosen a “B” team with players being given a chance to show their abilities, Michael Carrick will have the holding midfielder role, a position still to be decided I think. Michael Owen will partner Peter Crouch up front and Owen Hargreaves will play right back. Interestingly, Walcott is a sub for this game. Obviously Sven Goran Eriksson is using the friendly games to experiment with some situations that are likely to arise in the World Cup proper, let’s hope the manager has all the right answers to the questions I posed come tournament time!

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For those who stayed with us for this insightful introduction to the England squad, here’s a little treat I’ve been holding onto since I discovered it a year ago. England scores in this Flash comic. We’ll have to wait and see how many times I get to pull it out once the games begin!

And before I go, here’s some background information on our author, Professor Richard Garrad,
I was born and raised in England where I lived until 26. Spent 4 years working in Saudi Arabia and then returned to UK with my American wife. Spent a year in UK whilst we both applied to US grad schools, both grads of Miami U (OH), MS and then Ph.D., Melissa has MS also. Lived in US since 1987.

Have played and watched football since the age of 5 (45 years…haven’t played since tearing my calf, not completely, playing indoor…about 18 months ago). Played in school and then Saturday and Sunday club games (was a goalkeeper…until I went to Saudi Arabia, then re-invented myself as a midfielder J). Got a little interest as a schoolboy from some lower level pro teams but was too involved with track and academics to think I could be a pro soccer player.

Have been a rabid fan since about 11…one year I think I went to every Spurs home game…boys could get in for 2 pounds back then and it was all standing…really exciting stuff!! 1967 was the year that Spurs beat Chelsea in the FA cup final 2-1 and really cemented me as a Spurs fan.