(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
Spain’s fourth goal is a classic example that England should’ve been attempting to execute. I say attempting because quite frankly, England cannot do it. So at a game that means far more than a friendly, a game where it is not pointless, a qualifier, England could try and play like that. Then at the end, it will have been a lesson learned.
Teams need to grow. Playing gung-ho and trying to score as many as possible don’t do this. England’s approach is just luck of the day, it’s just an outcome.
I must stress the standstill positions of the Spanish players when with the ball. Riera held the ball and was literally standing as he feints to take a cross, but instead slipped a return pass to the sneaky left-back Capdevilla who ghosted through in the box. One-on-one at goal, Capdevilla resisted the glaring opportunity to shoot and score but chooses the guarantee-route; passing three yards right to the standing Fabregas who slots into an empty net.
Can you imagine a move like this ever happening for England?
Capdevilla was the Spanish left back. We know Cole can do this as he proved during his heyday at Arsenal. Why didn’t Cole and Gerrard, the "left midfielder," train on this? In fact, Cole did once pass and run for the expectant return pass, but Gerrard neglected this, choosing to shoot just outside the box when a slip back to Cole would’ve killed the Andorran defense and sent him bearing on goal, giving Cole the luxurious scenario that Capdevilla had.
As Andorra sat back in rows, England lost its shape a little as it became a park kick-about. When Beckham was occasionally popping on the left side cannoning quarterback throws to Walcott and Johnson, I couldn’t help but notice the empty space behind him. The defenders, especially Cole, weren’t behind him. This depicts the eventual indiscipline of the team.
Yes in that game they could afford to with rolling-around oppositions not wanting to play football, but this is the point I’m highlighting.
Will England in other games, even against lowly opponents let alone sides of greater quality, expose their backside like that?
Actually, can they afford to? They cannot because they must not. The shape must be intact and the team should outwit opponents with intelligent passing and movement. And this is exactly the tactic they did not polish.
This game against Andorra, poor opponents, was the perfect stage for England to show they can play "cleverly." Heck, they didn’t even need to run. With their technical skills, they should be focusing on keeping possession with lots of short passes and wearing out Andorra before scoring goals against dehydrated opponents. Instead, they break sweat and perform as if their lives depend on it.
View it this way, England are playing Andorra at chess. England’s skills qualify as a queen. And they have the queen while Andorra is bereft of it, so clearly the side with queen are technically stronger. Yet England chose not to use the queen, squabbling with pawns instead.
Use your queen. Use your skills. Use your brains.
I repeat, England were impatient.
They went gung-ho from the word "go." They wanted to give the home fans a lot to smile about. The aim was giving the nation a team they can be proud of.
The England sponsor nationwide slogan tells you everything about the team and the country itself—Pride, Passion, and Belief.
How about Intelligent, Witty, and Cunning?
What the national team lacks, and I mean it in depth, is charisma. And that is the best asset the Spanish have.
The Spanish Armada is sailing nicely; breezing through while England continues to weather the storms.
While result-orientated boss Capello will no doubt be pleased with this performance, as he drew a rare military smile, Spanish midfield maestros Xavi, Cesc, and Iniesta would’ve probably looked on disapprovingly.
I, for one, did.
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