The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Consecutive defeats reveal England’s low quality and lowered expectations Posted: 20 Nov 2013 03:48 AM PST The fact that manager Roy Hodgson has not been lampooned as a vegetable, tabloid treatment once dished out to the likes of Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor, highlights how far expectations have fallen. After Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by Germany, four days after a 2-0 loss to Chile, Hodgson was quick to talk up England's year, even though it has ended with two defeats against high-calibre opposition. "We achieved our goal of qualification," he said of securing a slot in the World Cup, but he did admit that he was disappointed by his team's lack of quality. The Daily Mail's back page said England were "Second Rate" while talking of the "gulf in quality" between Hodgson's side and the experimental one fielded by German coach Joachim Loew. The Times said Hodgson had been given "Cold Comfort" while The Independent described captain Steven Gerrard as a "relic of a bygone England era". Unfortunately, the present era looks bleak, with England paying the price for failing to begin a brave new world with fresh blood following the 2010 World Cup exit at the hands of Germany. That is not Hodgson's fault as he has inherited an ageing squad, too many mediocre players and little time to fast-track younger players into the fold. Reaching next year's World Cup finals in Brazil, having picked their way through a none-too-imposing qualifying group, appears to be reason for Hodgson to be satisfied. There was nothing in the displays against Chile or Germany, however, to suggest that England will make an impact in Brazil. With France and Portugal coming through their playoffs on Tuesday, at least five other European nations will head to south America next year with more probable chance of success. On the evidence of the friendlies against Chile and Germany, England have shortcomings all over the pitch. Without John Terry and Rio Ferdinand to call on these days, they look timid and disorganised at the back with centre backs Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, whichever combination Hodgson chooses, prone to errors and vulnerable to the kind of fast, incisive passing the top nations excel at. The midfield area has plenty of experience with the likes of skipper Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and James Milner, but lacks pace and flair with a huge amount of expectation lumped on the shoulders of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere. Andros Townsend showed fleeting glimpses of his talent and struck a post with England's only noteworthy effort on goal, as they failed once to test Germany's 33-year-old debutant goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. Wayne Rooney is England's one world class offensive player, but the Manchester United man often looks frustrated in a traditional striking role. The sight of him reduced to chasing down Chilean defenders last week and dropping deeper in a desperate search for possession against Germany was a dispiriting one. Daniel Sturridge, in such rich form for Liverpool, has yet to impose himself on the international stage. but Hodgson has few top-class options, having chosen to discard Peter Crouch, England's most consistently scoring striker in recent years. At Euro 2012 Hodgson adopted a safety-first policy, packing his side with the tried and trusted with predictably unspectacular results, but he will be under pressure to freshen things up in Brazil with the likes of Townsend, Southampton's Adam Lallana and Everton youngster Ross Barkley in the frame. However, all three are new to the international scene and with only one friendly against Denmark in March for a final look at his troops, Hodgson has more questions than answers as he ponders his best side for Brazil. - Reuters, November 20, 2013. |
| Mandzukic spared villain’s role as Croatia freeze out Iceland Posted: 20 Nov 2013 01:46 AM PST Having given Croatia a 27th-minute lead in the second leg of their playoff after the sides had played out a goalless draw in Rejkyavik, Mandzukic was dismissed 10 minutes later for a studs-up lunge into Johann Gudmundsson's groin. Croatia shrugged off the striker's dismissal, however, and took the contest to Iceland in the second half with captain Darijo Srna sealing victory just two minutes after the break. Mandzukic regretted the rash challenge, but admitted the joy of scoring outweighed the disappointment of any ban he will need to absorb in the group stages of next year's finals in Brazil. "The important thing is that we are through and I am not thinking whether I will miss any of the games or how many," the Bayern Munich forward told reporters. "I scored one of the most important goals of my life, but I trembled after being sent off as I was unnerved about the prospect of turning into a villain if Iceland equalised," he said. The Croatians ended a five-game winless streak with a solid performance after a tepid stalemate in Iceland which came on the back of a poor end to their qualifying campaign in Europe's Group A. Following a 2-0 loss to Scotland in their final group match, Niko Kovac took over as coach from the sacked Igor Stimac and was able to steer the country to an eighth major tournament out of 10 attempts as an independent nation. "Our team morale came to the fore after Mandzukic was sent off and I think everyone played within his limit, excelling both defensively and coming forward," Kovac said. "It's been the 10 most difficult days of my life because I am a young and inexperienced coach. "I want Croatia to be mobile in defence and creative in attack, this is my concept of football and now that we have qualified for the World Cup, we must start nurturing this style at grass-root level," the 42-year-old added. Kovac, who scored 14 goals in 83 appearances in Croatia's midfield, thanked his predecessor for taking the side to within reach of the finals. "Stimac clinched a runner-up spot in a tough group and he deserves plaudits for putting us in the position to qualify," he said. "Now it's up to us to prepare for the World Cup and be in the best possible shape in Brazil." - Reuters, November 20, 2013. |
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