International Week March 2016

[The King]

 

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For all the fun and guessing games over England’s starting XI at the forthcoming European Championship finals, history shows that teams and tactics can evolve during tournaments. Tonight’s engagement with Holland at Wembley brings a timely reminder of that.

Any duel with the Dutch prompts memories of Mark Wright’s prowess as a sweeper in helping ensnare Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten in Cagliari at Italia ’90. The pair brutalised England two years earlier, at the Euros in Dusseldorf, and Bobby Robson and his players were determined to avoid a repeat.

Having laboured against Ireland as Italia ’90 got under supine way, Robson went for three at the back, Wright joining Terry Butcher and Des Walker, with Paul Gascoigne given more space in midfield. England looked good, more fluid, more defensively robust, and deserved more than the 0-0. Wright was here to stay.

Football fans hardly need dragging down memory lane, but it is worth highlighting the reality that line-ups change, game plans alter. Roy Hodgson may decide that he needs more pace in one of the group B fixtures in France and omits Wayne Rooney, inserting Jamie Vardy. Injuries and suspension can also revise a manager’s thinking.

The XI that Hodgson chooses to unleash on Russia in Marseilles on June 11 may not be the same for the second match against Wales five days later or the third against Slovakia on June 20. Hodgson will need to draw on his resources, responding to opposing threats and flaws.

Lessons from history show that the rush in many quarters to exclude Rooney for the Euros is short-sighted, irresponsible and naive (let alone pointless as Hodgson is sure to include someone he likes as a person, respects as a captain and values as a footballer).

Rooney is being assailed with many questions.

So consider these. Is Rooney among the five leading English strikers in the land? Yes. Does he deserve a place alongside Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge in the squad? Clearly, yes. He has 51 goals from 109 appearances to the others’ combined 24 from 64.

Did he do enough in qualifying to justify featuring in the next competitive game? Yes. He scored seven times and has just been voted England player of the year by supporters. Is he highly regarded by players, staff and management? Yes. Is he too old? He’s 30, a year older than Vardy. Has he a point to prove still? Yes, definitely. Rooney knows his tournament record is poor. Would he volunteer for a penalty if (probably when) England’s fate gets decided by a shoot-out? Yes, he would.

All of these answers simply address doubts as to whether he should be in the squad. The team may then develop, and Hodgson may see enough in training to partner Kane and Vardy against the Russians but the England manager would be insane to leave Rooney behind. He offers a different option if Hodgson wants to take a more cerebral, possession-based approach, as well as providing authority in a squad hardly brimming with leaders.

Rooney has an important role to play off the field, guiding the younger players. Back at Manchester United, Rooney has been particularly solicitous towards Marcus Rashford as the teenager deals with the limelight. 

There can be no guarantee for Rooney, no starting sinecure, and nor would an individual proud to play for his country, and a distinctly competitive creature, expect one. “He’s not making any claims that he should always be on the team-sheet,’’ Hodgson said yesterday. 

Competition is good. The most significant element to the debate is actually that Hodgson seems determined to take five forwards, not the four, leaving England at risk of injury, as happened to Sven-Göran Eriksson when Michael Owen, Rooney’s fellow-striker at the 2006 World Cup, damaged his right knee against Sweden in Cologne. 

Peter Crouch came on but for the next game, Ecuador in the first knockout round, Eriksson switched his tactics to 4-1-4-1 with Rooney up top on his own. Teams can change shape and cast members.

On the 50th anniversary of the greatest moment in English sport, the nation hardly needs nudging to recall that England’s goalscorers in the 1966 World Cup final, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, did not start the opening game against Uruguay.

Like Wright, David Platt did not start Italia ’90 but became an important part of the team. Such was the global interest during France ’98 in the Owen versus Teddy Sheringham conundrum that England’s manager at the time, Glenn Hoddle, was constantly grilled about the pair. Before the game against Colombia, a reporter asked Hoddle that “if Owen symbolises the Beatles and Sheringham the Rolling Stones, whose music do you listen to in the shower?” Owen started instead of Sheringham and England really clicked in Lens.

Sides rarely stay the same. Looking at Kane, Vardy, Sturridge, Welbeck and Rooney, we should simply celebrate the fact that England enjoy some fantastic attacking options.

Kit is anything but a fitting tribute 

On seeing England’s fussy new red away outfit in Berlin, Gary Lineker tweeted: “Can’t think of a worse England strip.” 

Wait until tonight, Gary. England’s white home shirt, worn by the under-20s in Doncaster on Sunday, makes its senior debut against Holland and it is fair to say it is no couture classic. It looks designed for a barbecue with its “ice-blue” sleeves. England’s players were consulted. 

“The most important thing is the fit,’’ James Milner, England’s captain tonight, said. “We are comfortable in it. It fits nicely. If we keep getting performances like Saturday, then I’m sure everyone will be happy.” 

Roy Hodgson looked bemused at the fashion debate. “As far as kits are concerned, the only thing that ever interests me is the person wearing the shirt,’’ the England manager said.

The most noteworthy feature is that it still contains only one star, denoting a World Cup win, and a reminder of the work required. But it is still disappointing that in this of all years, the 50th anniversary of England’s World Cup triumph, that a simple, almost retro classic could not have been created in celebration.

Tipping Winks for the top at Spurs

It looks like another talent could be coming off the Tottenham Hotspur production line. Harry Winks has played three times already for Mauricio Pochettino’s first team, all in the Europa League, and shone when captaining England Under-20 during their 2-1 defeat by a more committed Canadian side at Doncaster Rovers’s Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday. 

The Hemel Hempstead-born 20-year-old midfield player was constantly involved, mixing a hunger for winning the ball back with a passing range that threatened to trouble Canada at times. 

“He’s a good player and Mauricio Pochettino obviously likes him in and around the team,” Keith Downing, the under-20s head coach, said. “He hasn’t sent him out on loan. It shows the fact that he wants him around him.”

Haven't got a clue how to edit font size on mobile

[Drift]

Brazil was peak.

3hunna and Stevie Me being forced into the same starting XI.

Didn't stand a chance.

[Yeshua]

3 hours ago, Drift said:

Brazil was peak.

3hunna and Stevie Me being forced into the same starting XI.

Didn't stand a chance.

Gerrard deserved to be there on form though...mug.

[Zizouz]

Rooney is the English Blanco

He'll be getting caps in Qatar even if he's passed it

[Agony]

Just seen who the guest pundit is for tonight's game...

3HUNNA's Olivia Pope>>>>>>

[Drift]

3 hours ago, Yeshua said:

Gerrard deserved to be there on form though...mug.

Leading up to the World Cup he has a shocker against Chelsea before being overrun in midfield by Crystal Palace.

Anyway he had no business starting in a 2 man midfield pivot, his "form" came at the base of a diamond with Allen and Henderson doing his running.

[The Infamous]

he brings pressing

[Mephisto]

6 minutes ago, Young Bape said:

SMH Durham just said he can't see what Lallana does 

 

Because he doesn't impact the game. He's budget Hleb.

Keeps the ball ticking, decent link up etc

[Mephisto]

4-4-2 diamond

[Greens]

Tbf last 4-5 games Lallana has stepped it up. Might not always be the one with the assist or goal but if you want to play a high press on the front foot then he's a better option than Walcott or Lennon. 

[Zizouz]

this has to be the worst dutch team in history

bunch of third rate regens

[Posted March 29, 2016]

this system is so dusty

[Anderson]

Rose is so shit

Why has cresswell not had a chance? Better than rose and bertrand

[Mephisto]

6 minutes ago, FA23 said:

this system is so dusty

Dead game

WBA v Norwich type ting

[Posted March 29, 2016]

3 minutes ago, Mephisto said:

Dead game

WBA v Norwich type ting

Midfield is offering nothing. Some dusty quartet.

[The Infamous]

5 minutes ago, Anderson said:

Rose is so shit

Why has cresswell not had a chance? Better than rose and bertrand

c/s cresswell being better than those two 

[Posted March 29, 2016]

Rose still been englands most attacking threat

[Rsonist]

James Milner is absolutely diabolical.

[Taurus]

Some dusty Dutch team

[Zizouz]

Ross 'fake it till you make it' Barkley

he has no business playing international football