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Why England Will Win Euro 2008


Mame Biram Diouf

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Thursday, 9 January, 2003, 12:14 GMT

Why England will win Euro 2008

 

By Dan Warren

BBC Sport Online

January is a bleak, depressing month, brightened only by the occasional snowball fight and the fact there are no wasps.

 

But if you are an English football fan, there is at least some reason to continue living.

 

The recent steady flow of talented young stars has turned into an veritable torrent, with a new teenage hero seemingly unearthed every week.

 

A brace by 19-year-old Michael Tonge against Liverpool on Wednesday, while 20-year-old Neil Mellor was scoring at the other end, added two more names to this term's astounding production line of promise.

 

And future England manager Alan Shearer must be rubbing his sensible hands together in glee at the pot of gold maturing before his very eyes.

 

Goalkeepers

Chris Kirkland, 21 now, will be the world's finest goalkeeper by 2008, especially after another five years of shot-stopping practice at the back of Liverpool's attack-shy team.

Leeds' Paul Robinson, 23, is unlikely to be far behind his Liverpool rival and the two of them are likely to vie, Shilton-Clemence style, for the number one jersey for many years.

 

Defence

History has shown that every successful England international team has contained brothers, and Rio and Anton Ferdinand will form the bedrock of Shearer's defence.

Rio will be the team's veteran at 29, but Anton will possess the same assured approach and, let us hope, the same "funky" goalscoring celebrations.

Blackburn's Martin Taylor will be there to mop up when the siblings' rivalry causes them to lose concentration.

Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be devastating wing-backs, whose surging runs will leave Italians crying into their capuccinos and Germans blubbing in their bratwursts.

 

Midfield

This is where England excel, with the maverick talents of Joe Cole and David Dunn backed by the steel and vision of Steven Gerrard.

With Dunn (28 in 2008) and Cole (26 in 2008) possessing maturity and talent, all England need is for Gerrard (27) to end his current run of form which is, unfortunately, rubbish.

All three will be at their peak, and the onlooking David Beckham, who will probably retire from football at 30 to pursue a rock career, will smile in the stands as his successors shine.

 

Forwards

England will have so much talent up front it will be embarrassing, and other teams may concede games before kick-off to avoid the humiliation on the pitch.

The original odd couple will spearhead the attack - Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.

Off the field, the pair will fight like dogs, but on the field they will combine to create flowing football poetry which will reduce even the most toughened defenders to mere shells of men.

And to keep them alert, the likes of Liverpool's Neil Mellor, Aston Villa's Darius Vassell, Leeds' James Milner and West Ham's Jermaine Defoe will all be in the prime of their careers.

 

 

 

And a prospect list from 2003

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/2641739.stm

 

Tony Hibbert will undoubtedly be in the England line up in the next two years. This season he has been Mr. Reliable at right back and for a 21-year-old he has shown remarkable maturity and will be a credit to the England set up.

Robbie G, Everton, UK

 

 

As a Portsmouth season ticket holder I have had the pleasure of seeing Matthew Taylor in action. Great left foot, awesome pace and the tireless enthusiasm of a marathon runner! Destined for greatness and a sure bet to be in the World Cup 2006 squad.

Simon Burchell, England

 

 

 

If England wishes to win big trophies then they will need to start selecting young guns like Rooney, Jeffers, Kirkland, Defoe, Beatie, etc.

 

England have masses of promising players, like:

Goalkeepers - Paul Robinson, Chris Kirkland, Robert Green, Richard Wright.

Defenders - Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Martin Taylor, Tony Hibbert, James McEvely, Matthew Taylor, Darren Kenton.

Midfielders - Michael Tonge, James Milner, Gareth Barry, David Dunn, Jermaine Pennant, Joe Cole, Matthew Etherington.

Strikers - Neil Mellor, Carlton Cole, Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe, Francis Jeffers.

 

 

:rofl:  :rofl:  

 

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England have masses of promising players, like:

Goalkeepers - Paul Robinson, Chris Kirkland, Robert Green, Richard Wright.

Defenders - Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Martin Taylor, Tony Hibbert, James McEvely, Matthew Taylor, Darren Kenton.

Midfielders - Michael Tonge, James Milner, Gareth Barry, David Dunn, Jermaine Pennant, Joe Cole, Matthew Etherington.

Strikers - Neil Mellor, Carlton Cole, Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe, Francis Jeffers.

 

WOW

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hindsight is lovely

This is the thing. All those players were highl rated prospects when they broke through as teenagers. There was no reason why they couldn't go on to develop themselves further and onto higher levels.

The real issues here are why don't excellent youth prospects kick on and improve?

Chances playing for the bigger teams.

Low level coaching.

A lack of English players going to play abroad. Furthering their footballing education.

Getting far too much too soon. I.e you give the average 18 year old a big money contract and he sees that even if his wage doesn't increase he'll be set for life. You'll see a massive decrease in hunger and desire to improve themselves.

Nobody can deny that the likes of Jeffers and Carlton Cole could have if being with the right manager/coach been something special.

Joe Cole, a player who I remember coming to Old Trafford and taking the piss as a child, underachieved despite a decent trophy cabinet.

The goalkeepers were all good, David Dunn had something about him, Pennant could've been a very very good player too.

The article is exaggerated but the country won't start moving forward on a international level unless the reasons for the underachievements are identified and addressed.

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