When passion overrides common sense....

As I carefully watched the progress of the 2nd match yesterday, the match which was to decide who would meet England in the quarters, the battle of 2 European powerhouses (Portugal and Holland), none short of pride or footballing skill or history, I couldn't help but think of two things FIFA have been publicly promoting throughout this World Cup campaign - 'A time to make friends' & 'Fair Play'. But sadly, very sadly, none of it worked yesterday.

A bruised and battered Portugal will now take on England in the quarter finals on the 1st of July, and I can't help but think, if this is afterall England's World Cup!!! Everything just seems to be falling into their platter as and when they need it, they're barely getting the goals to take them through and destiny has supported them with their scruffy defending.

As Steve Mc'mahan said at the end of the game yesterday, "The true winners and beneficiaries of all the mess that unfolded last night is England'.

Luiz Felipe Scolari would have to bring out his magic wand if he were to put it past England again this time. No Deco, No Costinha, an injured Ronaldo and a captain Luis Figo likely to face further implications for his head butt on Mark Van Bommel(a 3 match ban as per standard FIFA regulations), are the least of worries that poses Big Phil right now. With Pauleta not scoring as many, and the teeth taken off both his wings, Scolari will be up against the odds on Saturday at Gelsenkirshen, hoping against hope that Maniche would deal the final blow yet again. Add to it the fact that if England were to score first and score early, then our good ol' man Sven would revert to his most shambolic ways - Defense. He'll simply pack the midfield and with Scolari hardly left with any attacking options to choose from, I can just about see this turning out into another school boys encounter. People are ceasing to ask whether England are reserving their best for the rest, but I just can't seem to digest that one!!!!

With every passing day in this most eventful 2006 FIFA World Cup, my belief in destiny and its support to England seem to multiply.

Sometimes, the best footballing teams play the most boring football, cuz' they're not interesting in entertaining people, they're interested in Winning. England seem to be on that course now.

I guess I'll die another day...

That’s precisely what England are saying to themselves at this point of time. Yes, they’ve lived to fight another day in Germany, but it’s going to be just another day, only one more day.
Portugal or Netherlands would determine their future in this World Cup, and as I write this, neither you nor I nor the rest of the world knows who it’s gonna be. But one thing’s for sure. England have had it dead damn easy till now, but it ain’t getting easy from here on.
Continuing to be the die hard English fan that I am, and given a choice between Portugal and the Dutch, I would pick neither, but under the circumstances we're in now, I’d wish for the Dutch. And I’d substantiate this wish by saying that the Dutch look weak at the back, and that’s England’s chance, the only chance. Scolari I’m sure is already plotting England’s downfall again, and if he were to get there, no one would dispute the fact that he’d win the battle over Sven once again, a repeat of Euro 2004. In comparison, Marco Van Basten does have a very energetic and young squad, the kinds that get over excited every now and then, and herein lies England’s chance.
I’m struggling to look at the positives they’ve had from this game, and there’s hardly anything to count from. No team is ever gonna win the world cup by scoring from dead ball situations. You need to make more of open play, and crack defenses open, the kinds England are not able to do right now. They look listless, directionless, unfocused, dispassionate, disillusioned, wary, creatively lost in a maze and physically exhausted. And yet again, it’s the Sven aroma! Initially, I was happy that he’d gone with the 4-5-1 system, somewhere deep down thinking, he did read my blog afterall! But then, you can't test something in a knock out match can you, you need to have worked on it in the past and ensured that it would work to your advantage. Did England’s performance suggest that they worked on this formula earlier– NO!
As I tire my eyes to look through the statistics of this game and what it unfolds for the future, the only thing that hits me is this. England’s most energetic (and I use the word energetic, not best) performance came against Sweden – A European nation. Whom are they gonna face next – A European nation! The other 3 teams they’ve seen off till now have been non-European, having their distinct way of playing football, the kinds England struggle to get used too. Most European countries play the same brand of football, the pacy, hard fought midfield battles, and this is what England is decently good at, though they’re yet to show that as well. As I look at the the Dutch or the Portuguese, I’ve come to realize, that they’ll stretch England, and in turn England can stretch them too. Whether they really do it, is left to them. Though, a close watch at the Sweden game would make you ponder, that Sweden did stretch them after all, and they did stand up to the test, albeit with a couple of defensive blunders. That’s precisely the only positive I can take out of this game!
If I had the rights to enter the England dressing room today, I’d go in there and stick this banner up loud and clear – ‘You’re just living to die another day!’

England – In strategic turmoil...

Yes, I’m writing this. Just to clarify, I’m also writing this in my complete senses. I’m probably one of the biggest fans of the English game and the EPL, which by default, makes me support England too. But then, the last 2 games of the world cup, which have featured England, have made me realize the true meaning of ‘STRATEGY’. Yeah, the word is all over the place. You talk of business strategy, market strategy, product strategy, it’s everywhere, and in simple terms what does it mean – A PLAN.
Does England have it when they get on the football field? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO……..
Eleven individually talented players, eleven exceptionally skillful men with the ball at their feet, all eleven of them world class in their own right, and one _______ (you fill it up!!!) as a manager. Yes, I’m talking about Sven. This article’s not about England’s shambolic performance at the world cup so far, but is about England’s shambolic management in the world cup so far!!
Firstly, don’t blame any of the players. All of them are doing what they’ve been told to do. And who tells them what to do – Sven Goran Ericcson! A guy whose already hung up his boots and is hardly bothered about England’s progress / doom in this world cup. A guy whose been with this team for the last 5 years and has hardly done anything to suggest, that he was the right man for this job. A guy who seems to have to the least amount of passion for the job, or the country, or its players, or its fans – at least he shows very less. Let me give you examples, infact lets analyze individual players:

The Captain – David Beckham. For me, he’s the Sourav Ganguly of India. Ok, I might be too harsh on him by saying that, but he’s very close. Amazing looks, no disputing that. If I were a woman, I’d have tripped for him as well. But let’s talk football. For me, he shouldn’t start, or even if he does, he should come off at half time or so, especially if the game goes the way it did against T&T. He is the prime reason, behind England’s lack of pace. He negates all of it, simply because he can’t make any kind of darting runs at defenders. For England to progress far in this tournament, they have to inject pace into themselves, and Beckham’s presence will kill it on the right flank.
Let’s talk at what Beckham does best – To deliver classy balls in the box. Alright, you have Crouch now. But then, Rooney’s fit and he is most likely to start against Sweden and for all the remaining games of the World Cup. Owen partnering him would be an obvious choice. Both short guys, which in effect means, that Beckham’s crosses into the box are negated, and England will have to revert to the short passing game.
Now in a situation like this, whose gotta take a call – The coach. Will he? I doubt it, seriously! Beckham will play 90 minutes of all England games, rest assured, as long as Sven is at the helm of things, and adding salt to injury, would be the fact that Crouch will start too, to support what Beckham’s primarily there to do.
The kingpin – Steven Gerrard. For me, he’s the best player in the World, and what’s he best at doing – Controlling the play. Has he been allowed to do that with England? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…..
In more ways than one, England have sinned themselves by bringing out 2 exceptionally talented midfielders, Lampard & Gerrard at the same time. Both play the same kind of football, in the same position, excepting the fact that Gerrard gets back more often to help his defenders out, forcing him to play 2nd fiddle to Lampard when they pair up for England. People, who’ve seen Gerrard play for Liverpool, especially over the last season, couldn’t have ignored the metal he’s made off.
So what does Sven do again? Nothing, I mean nothing. He continues to play both of them in the same position, and you can see, Gerrard is not happy & is neither comfortable, but country comes first, doesn’t it! Truly experienced coaches have the power to identify loopholes like these and fix it immediately. Sven I’m sure has the brains to figure it out as well, or the press might have told him by now, but the difference being – He’s too afraid to do something about it.
For me, I’ve always maintained it. England should at least try playing 5 in midfield, with Carragher or Owen Hargreaves playing the holding role in midfield. This gives both Gerrard & Lampard to oppurtunity to push up, create a link up with the forwards and thus crack open defences. Remember, this also gives Gerrard the opportunity to show the power of his right foot from 25-30 yards out, the stuff he’s been dishing out for Liverpool regularly over the last season. I still do remember, Sven had the audacity to try this out during one of the qualifiers, and it worked wonders, with Ledley King doing the holding role. But why did he try it then? Only because one of his regular forwards (I don’t remember who!) was injured, so he just left 1 upfront and played 5 across the middle of the park. How can he do it now, with both Owen & now Rooney fit as well? is the million dollar question.

Innovation i believe, is totally lost on this guy.
The motivator – Wayne Rooney. Ask any English fan, whose gonna get the goals at the World Cup, pop comes out one name – Rooney. His injury was most unfortunate for himself and England. But ofcourse, the Gods must’ve been crazy, to get him fit so quickly. Nevertheless, he’s not gonna get goals out of nowhere, he needs support, which ain’t coming right now, because of the mind block Sven has created for himself and England in midfield. Though, no one would dispute the fact that he’s one helluva motivator. If not for him coming on against T&T, England might have well settled for a draw.
The silent performer – Joe Cole. For me, he’s England’s trump card. He’s been quietly performing week in, week out for Chelsea and has in the process solved one of England’s biggest nightmares – The search for a left sided midfielder! The only one in the England squad right now, whose got the ‘ballzzz’ to run at defenders and beat them too.
The Rock – John Terry. He’s the sole reason why I believe England are still tough to beat in this World Cup. If his goal line clearance against T&T is anything to go by, then rest assured, scoring against England is as tough as it can get. Ok, England aren’t scoring goals, or aren’t playing the kind of football they’re known or supposed to play, but they’re not conceding either, and that’s the only positive aspect for them so far, the credit of which largely goes to this man in my dock right now.
The poacher – Micheal Owen. Class is permanent, form is temporary. I believe, it’s just a matter of time. Leave this guy alone for a while, and he’ll get back to doing what he does best. Scoring goals! Yet again, don’t squarely blame him, because the midfield right now is just not doing enough to facilitate him.
The creator – Frank Lampard. I believe this guy is confused. His understanding with Gerrard has not been of the highest quality, leaving him in the wrong positions with the wrong frame of mind most of the time, not sure whether to shoot or to pass. Yet another illustration of the doom England are bringing upon themselves with Sven’s rigidity.
The rest, Paul Robinson, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand & Gary Neville, well, they aren’t doing anything substantially great or grave to alter the course of things. So let’s just let them be.
I don’t know how many of you know about Sam Allerdyce – The Bolton Wanderers coach. If I was the president of the FA, I’d have paid him bombs to get him here and manage this team. Cuz, after all it takes someone like him and his pedigree (going by what he’s done at Bolton over the years) to change the fortunes of this team, and more so, he is English!!!
Overall, I’d still support this team till their last appearance in this World Cup, but can’t help appalling the tactics of the Ol’ man. Add to it his attitude or the lack of it, and any English fan across the globe would boil with fury. Going by what Argentina did to S&M yesterday, going by what Spain did to Ukraine, or going by what the Czech did to USA, if England continue this way, the last 8 (maybe, that’s an overestimation as well, if they end up meeting the host team in the round of 16) will be the farthest they will get..
Wake up Sven, wake up. Be a MAN.

and I'm down with the sickness...

Add me to the casualty list !!!
Yes, I've been smitten and smitten hard. I'm truly going down with the sickness, the Soccer Sickness (SS). It's getting increasingly tough to concentrate on anything right now. As ESPNStar say 'Life is in an 8 inch diameter now'. Blame it on publicity, blame it on the beautiful game itself or blame it on the players and the hype surrounding them, it still has to be accepted, that football is the single largest thing that binds the world, that cuts across barries, bridging gaps, refuelling lost causes and evoking charm.
It's less than 24 hours and it's probably gonna be the most testing for me in terms of holding back my excitement. Brazil, england, spain, france, portugal, argentina, italy, netherlands, czech, sweden...woaaah..they're all in there. Personally, I'm rooting for the English...Booooooo, all you Brazilian fans might be saying, but huh, What if they are the most flamboyant afterall !! All of you would still agree, that if there's anyone whose gonna come the closest in challenging them, its gotta be England..
So let's pray and hope for 31 injury free days, filled up drama, excitement, joy, sorrow (for 31 teams), hope & immortality. Let's also hope that amidst all the noise, the referres dont snatch all the limelight, cuz in most cases, when they do so, its for the wrong reasons !!!

Cheers to a memorable world cup at Germany 06. Happy Watching....
JOGA BONITO !!!!