Shuggie13
2nd July 2006, 08:07 AM
Isn't English football supposed to be a never say die attitude?
Lets have a look at the semi-finalists......
1) Germany, have played better and better as each game has progressed. Have a leader in Ballack that could barely walk against Argentina for what seemed like an hour. Led his team by example, scored a penalty. Germany have a coach in Klinsman, that had no public support but has been bold, made great substitutions, led and inspired his squad.
2) Italy, frustrating, cheating, scandals and Pessoto looking like he has tried to commit suicide. However they pulled themselves out of it and gave a great peformance against,admittedly a weak, Ukraine (had we faced Ukraine I think we would of made a real struggle of it). Although at times I can not stand Italian football/ers, when they are good I love watching their football. Totti, back from injury, back from past terrible errors of judgement in previous Tourney's, lead and inspired. Gattuso was phenomenal, putting in a very 'English' peformance. Lippi, been there, done it, won the titles stuck to his guns and had the belief.
3) France, Zidane a Genius past his prime. Like watching a former heavy-weight champ embarrisingly have a final fight ten years after his last belt. We watched him and thought 'I remember those great days it is such a shame watching him now'. Vierra not the player he used to be, Henry can't score for love nor money, Riberry over-rated. A French team that was as unspectacular and laughable as 2002.
In two games, transformed. Zidane never, ever gave up, lead a team with maybe not the legs but still with the guile that his is loved for. Vierra picked himself up and put in the sort of peformances that frustatingly he used to for the Scum week in and week out. Ribery showed why the French public insisted he was in the side. France ended up outplaying and outclassing a very, very good Spanish side. France ended up bossing a Brazilian side telling them 'We have no fear, we will outplay you and this time you won't have Ronaldo and Nike conspiracies to use as an excuse'.
You may think I'm being a little bit over the top, a little bit emotive. However I can guarentee this is how EVERY German, Italian and French fan will be feeling at the moment.
We English fans should of been feeling the same.
What we had though was......
1) A Captain in Beckham who in his last World Cup should have been leading his team by example, fighting for every ball, screaming at every misplaced pass and poor tracking back. This was his last chance to shine he should have looked at his ex Team-mate Zidane.
2) Arguably the best back four in the tournemant that should of been the platform (like Italy) to great victories, not over-exposed and restrained by a terrible system. Rio brought the ball forward once yesterday and I don't recall Terry being able to do it once during all 5 games.
3) Lampard, a shrinking violet that leads a Chelsea side from midfield but looks completely out of place in the England set-up because he is not the 'main man'.
4) Gerrard who I think was completely stiffled, and I would never knock. But yet again for some reason he too felt he couldn't transfer his leadership from Liverpool into the England set-up. He too for some reason barely found his voice and inspiration.
5) Rooney who was frustrated beyond belief. Put in a role that suffocated his game and talent. I will never blame him (excessively) for the sending off. He's a 20 year old that through sheer determination brought himself back from injury. A 20 year old that everyone is calling the biggest saviour since Christ and he was let down by a farcical system that gave him no support. I'm pleased he was frustrated although obviously not pleased in the way he vented it. Had some of the rest of the team had his passion and determination, the frustration that they were not performing, we probably would not of been having these discussions today.
6) Sven, a pat on the back for the man who pulled of the biggest con job in the history of the game.
5 million a year. 5 million to not take Defoe or Ashton or Bent, even Christain Gross could have worked that one out. 5 million to take arguably a team that was better than 1990, better than 1966 and completely stifle them. 5 million to not have the balls to drop Beckham and play Lennon who radically changed the attitude and play of the team.
5 million to have no leadership qualities, no inspiration and no idea.
Lets have a look at the semi-finalists......
1) Germany, have played better and better as each game has progressed. Have a leader in Ballack that could barely walk against Argentina for what seemed like an hour. Led his team by example, scored a penalty. Germany have a coach in Klinsman, that had no public support but has been bold, made great substitutions, led and inspired his squad.
2) Italy, frustrating, cheating, scandals and Pessoto looking like he has tried to commit suicide. However they pulled themselves out of it and gave a great peformance against,admittedly a weak, Ukraine (had we faced Ukraine I think we would of made a real struggle of it). Although at times I can not stand Italian football/ers, when they are good I love watching their football. Totti, back from injury, back from past terrible errors of judgement in previous Tourney's, lead and inspired. Gattuso was phenomenal, putting in a very 'English' peformance. Lippi, been there, done it, won the titles stuck to his guns and had the belief.
3) France, Zidane a Genius past his prime. Like watching a former heavy-weight champ embarrisingly have a final fight ten years after his last belt. We watched him and thought 'I remember those great days it is such a shame watching him now'. Vierra not the player he used to be, Henry can't score for love nor money, Riberry over-rated. A French team that was as unspectacular and laughable as 2002.
In two games, transformed. Zidane never, ever gave up, lead a team with maybe not the legs but still with the guile that his is loved for. Vierra picked himself up and put in the sort of peformances that frustatingly he used to for the Scum week in and week out. Ribery showed why the French public insisted he was in the side. France ended up outplaying and outclassing a very, very good Spanish side. France ended up bossing a Brazilian side telling them 'We have no fear, we will outplay you and this time you won't have Ronaldo and Nike conspiracies to use as an excuse'.
You may think I'm being a little bit over the top, a little bit emotive. However I can guarentee this is how EVERY German, Italian and French fan will be feeling at the moment.
We English fans should of been feeling the same.
What we had though was......
1) A Captain in Beckham who in his last World Cup should have been leading his team by example, fighting for every ball, screaming at every misplaced pass and poor tracking back. This was his last chance to shine he should have looked at his ex Team-mate Zidane.
2) Arguably the best back four in the tournemant that should of been the platform (like Italy) to great victories, not over-exposed and restrained by a terrible system. Rio brought the ball forward once yesterday and I don't recall Terry being able to do it once during all 5 games.
3) Lampard, a shrinking violet that leads a Chelsea side from midfield but looks completely out of place in the England set-up because he is not the 'main man'.
4) Gerrard who I think was completely stiffled, and I would never knock. But yet again for some reason he too felt he couldn't transfer his leadership from Liverpool into the England set-up. He too for some reason barely found his voice and inspiration.
5) Rooney who was frustrated beyond belief. Put in a role that suffocated his game and talent. I will never blame him (excessively) for the sending off. He's a 20 year old that through sheer determination brought himself back from injury. A 20 year old that everyone is calling the biggest saviour since Christ and he was let down by a farcical system that gave him no support. I'm pleased he was frustrated although obviously not pleased in the way he vented it. Had some of the rest of the team had his passion and determination, the frustration that they were not performing, we probably would not of been having these discussions today.
6) Sven, a pat on the back for the man who pulled of the biggest con job in the history of the game.
5 million a year. 5 million to not take Defoe or Ashton or Bent, even Christain Gross could have worked that one out. 5 million to take arguably a team that was better than 1990, better than 1966 and completely stifle them. 5 million to not have the balls to drop Beckham and play Lennon who radically changed the attitude and play of the team.
5 million to have no leadership qualities, no inspiration and no idea.