2010 FIFA World Cup: Who Messes It Up For England?

After witnessing what was possibly the most boring game in the 2010 World Cup so far, the usual bullishness exuded by the English fans and media is finally dying down. There is a definite fear of being knocked out in the opening round of what was supposed to finally be "their world cup".

So what is going wrong for a team which managed to win all but one of their qualifying games? For a league that is consistently ranked as one of the two best in the world, why is the national team's performance usually so deplorable? Why in spite of having a very successful manager is the English team failing to beat a low ranked team like Algeria?

If the English media can wake up and take a second look, they would realize that the first reason people are let down so badly is because the team is often made out to appear larger than life. Apart from the 1966 World Cup, the team has not achieved anything.

One final appearance in 20 world cups and the record is even worse in the Euros as their best performance is being knocked out in the semi-finals in 1996. And both these events took place on home soil.

The tactics employed by Fabio Capello are of course open to debate. In both games, like most games where Lampard and Gerrard share the midfield, one of the two was usually invisible. 

In the game against the USA, the captain Gerrard was quite magnificent while Lampard seemed like he forgot to turn up. Against Algeria, Capello made it worse by playing Gerrard on the left. He was one of the best players and he is quite suited to playing in the center but his abilities were wasted.

What England need the most is of course a good goalkeeper. Green made one mistake in the game before. Big deal. That happens to everyone. But instead of keeping the faith in Green, Fabio opted to use Calamity James. This would no doubt affect Green in the future as James has probably played his last big tournament while Green still has many years ahead of him.

The question of the right wing is also unanswered. Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott are somewhat in the same mould of wonderful pace and nothing else. Lennon had a better season so he was the right choice. But Shaun Wright-Phillips has no business in South Africa. He has been the most ineffective player in the team.

And why pray is Joe Cole not on the pitch? Wouldn't one rather play him in the left and Gerrard in the center? Wouldn't it be easier for England to get goals if Gerrard played behind Rooney instead of Heskey? That is if one insists on having Lampard on the pitch.

But two strikers are better than one and the Rooney-Heskey combination seems to work much better than Rooney with anyone else. Fabio just ought to try leaving Lampard on the bench for a change.

At the back at least Fabio seems to have the two best English full backs and the absence of Rio is just bad luck. Ferdinand and Terry are probably the two best English defenders around but the back up center backs are again not as good as them.

It would be interesting to see who Capello will pick to play alongside Terry with Carragher suspended for the final game. Matthew Upson seems to be the best of the lot but I'm guessing Dawson will be picked. 

And no matter what Sol Campbell says, it is good that he was left back in England. I don't see him playing 3 games in such quick succession at his age.

On the pitch I think the only team that are less cohesive than England are France who are being "managed" by a man who leaves out players from the squad for being Scorpios. The players seem to have trouble getting over the club rivalries for the sake of the team. Its not too tough if Spain can do it right?

The FA seems to care very little about the quality of the game in the English leagues. English players are traditional physical in their approach to the game and where English referees would be tolerant of the slightly reckless clip on the ankles, international referees have little time for that nonsense.

The FA should work harder towards encouraging a more technical approach to the game and make a long term plan regarding coaching like Spain did a few years ago. This would no doubt help the team in creating a bunch of players who show better respect towards the game and their opponents.

The appointment of international managers is usually a knee-jerk reaction and it is even more so in England. England would do well with a manager who keeps in mind the long term success of the team. To be fair to Capello, his vast experience in club coaching would suit him very well for this role.

As far as the next game is concerned, England have to win it emphatically. It is important now for them to send a clear message to their rivals with a solid performance and not with rubbish statements like the one made by Rooney when he said that Algeria could be defeated by a English team which was not at full strength.

Now that his words have proved to be full of hot air, it would be better off if he emulates his splendid season with Manchester United and get a couple of good goals. 

There is still hope for England but it is essential for the players leave their petty problems aside and seize this one final chance at redemption.