A Question of National Passion

In browsing skysports.com just a little bit ago, I saw that Pompey's own Jermain Defoe—just cut from the final 23 for the England match against France in a week's time—had weighed in on the issue of "passion" for the England shirt.

"I saw the devastation in those changing rooms after we lost to Croatia. If only people knew what is was like...Perhaps some of the supports should go in the changing rooms afterwards. Some of the lads were in tears after that game, so don't talk to me about not caring," Jermain had to say.

This caused me to look with a much higher level of scrutiny at England's performances over the course of an awful Euro 2008 campaign which, as we all know, ultimately leads to heartbreak at Wembley in November. But I kept returning to Jermain's comments on the issue, before I ultimately recognized what the feeling was that I had been looking to identify—disappointment, tinged with more than simply a little bit of anger.

I—as many people on these boards and on the internet—am one of those die-hard supporters. I'm the kind that saves up his money for months and decides to fly, on a free weekend in March—to see Portsmouth play Manchester City in between classes despite that we hadn't won a single game since the start of the year. I'm the kind that doesn't ever miss a game whether on the radio or on the TV. I'm the kind that prays for a miracle when—with ten games left in the season—we're in nineteenth place with little hope of staying among England's elite.

Why do I write all of this, you ask? Because it's those sorts of things that are what we mean when we write of "passion for the shirt." The supporters that never miss a game—home or away—and spend thousands of quid a year on tickets, transportation, and everything else that goes into supporting a football team. I'm writing about the semi-professional players of Havant and Waterlooville who travel to Anfield and nearly give Benitez and his boys a shock. I'm writing about Barnsley's heroics in knocking both Liverpool AND Chelsea out of the FA Cup despite being consistent underdogs.

I'm not saying that Premier League players (particularly those English ones) have no passion—quite the contrary, actually. I believe that there are plenty of English players who would do anything to be able to play on what they consider to be the biggest stages imaginable. And as a Portsmouth supporter, I'm not questioning Defoe's passion nor ability—in truth, I’m disappointed he’s been cut from the final squad.

I am, however, questioning the approach and expectations that those in the England set up under McLaren had. It's one thing to be in tears after you've blown the match that hundreds of thousands of England supporters held their breath during. It's another thing to go into every game knowing that you have to be at your very best to have the right to wear the shirt.

Expectation can not simply be present when the big teams are around and the right to play in Euro 2008 is quite literally hanging by a goal. It needs to be in every game against the Andorras, Estonias, and Macedonias. Not just the Croatias, the Germanys, the Brazils.

"Not Caring," Jermain? I'm certain that EVERY England player in that squad cared that day. The problem is that they didn't care enough before it came down to the wire.

The first step to changing this? I believe Cappello is already working to do what he can with that—picking players who are in form and playing with passion, rather than the "big names"—the highest paid and the most written of.

There can't be any room for sentimentalism if you want you want to see an England side actually living up to its name. And with that said, there can't be an England side actually living up to its name if the supporters themselves refuse to back any players other than the "big names."

Here’s to hoping Cappello sticks to what’s he’s been saying—that those players to play for England will be picked on their form rather than their “big name” status. And here’s to success against France.