It goes withut saying that the England under-21’s showing at the current European Championships mirrors that of their senior team’s – hurried, uncomposed, and desperate.
While mis-management and poor team selection are commonly cited for England’s recent shortcomings, this writer feels that the root of their problems lies deeper.
It could be that there is a curiously serious case of stage fright when facing the big stage. Or, just that they’re technically inferior to the teams they face. Or, just plainly, a case of bad luck.
While one would be inclined to believe the first and last reasons as due explanations for their failings – which, by all accounts, is not far of the mark – the deeper problem lies in England’s technical proficiencies – or lack thereof.
Such proficiencies include flair, and, more importantly, keeping possession for long spells at a time, which, as we all know, is not England’s strong suit.
The national teams’ unfashionable kick-and-rush type football has long been found out, and a solution has to be found – and fast.
The FA has looked to adhere to this issue by increasing the number of hours assigned to junior players being coached to match the likes of Italy, France, and Spain – 2006, 1998, and 2010 World Champions, with emphasis placed on ball possession instead of the more physical traits which England – and the English Premier League – is most known for.
My last post highlighted the fact that English youth players’ valuation in the transfer market does not justify the value they give on the pitch. This is a result of the ‘homegrown rule’ of course, meaning that teams will work harder at releasing their young players at a higher-than-normal return – especially for smaller clubs selling to supposedly bigger clubs.
This may, in turn, weigh negatively on the English national teams’ performances and psyche in big tournaments as the pressure that inevitably associates themselves with their high transfer fees mounts to astronomical proportions as the press will favourably compare them to other national teams with lesser known, and perhaps even inferior players.
Such is the weight of expectation, that the team fails – and abominably.
For England to venture forward in big tournaments, academies countrywide should look to groom more Jack Wilshere’s, Paul Scholes’s and Josh McEachran’s – the type of player who loves to hold the ball more and has the instinct and eye for that killer pass. This is the model of football that is being propagated, especially by the likes of Spain, Argentina, and the like.
Of course, not all is doom and gloom. The u17 national side, who many are labelling as the real ‘Golden Generation’, were crowned 2010 Euro u17 winners in a display of great attacking, passing football, overcoming France and Spain to win the final. This was lauded by Sir Trevor Brooking as the finest display of the abovementioned style of play he’s seen an English side master.
Likewise, the u21’s lost to a Germany side in the 2009 semi-final of the u21 Euro’s which featured Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller in their side. The signs of improvement are there, if only in glimpses.
The England national team have been known as perennial underachievers in big tournaments – their only noteworthy achievement besides winning the 1966 World Cup have been semi-final placings in the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996 – and the way to change this is to change their mentality in terms of style of play.
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