Too much respect is handed to the former first teamers, with both player power and a fear of not selecting certain players being present far longer than Fabio Capello has been in the job – Sven and Beckham anyone? The question of if the England job is a poisoned chalice has been said more than once, and Capello has so far only done slightly better than the wally with a brolly, and come the start of the Euro’s will only have four weeks left in the job. As Neville rightly says, his priority will be the present, and why should he be interested in the future of a country he, in reality has little affection for?
Whilst the current crop of what we world call the England first team are reaching the twilight of certainly their national careers, and in some cases are facing a dwindling influence at their clubs, there is a case that the ‘golden generation’ tag has come slightly too soon. To look at players like Joe Hart, Richards, Wilshire, Welbeck and Sturridge, they are not just brilliant players as individuals, but can also function as a team.
This is something that the current England team, especially their midfield – has never really been able to do. Club divisions and clicks not to mention selfishness has blighted the national team for too long – yet this is not seen in the under 21’s. Stuart Pearce has managed to form a squad of players who are more concerned about the overall result and others than themselves as individuals.
Whilst blessed with a wealth of talent, the Spanish team were not able to reach the heights they are at now without becoming about the collective, not the individual. The same problem has blighted Holland for so long, with a multitude of ex-players saying dressing room divisions had a major impact on the field. One of the best players to wear a football shirt, Paul Scholes, stated that fellow England players were just too selfish and were more bothered about looking good themselves than seeing England perform well as a team.
This is not a problem the younger players coming through seem to have, and there is more than a small case for said players to be included in the squad for this summer. Yes they may lack the experience of International football, yet most play for clubs in the Champions League, and the standard in such competitions is as high, if not higher than that of International football and are not adverse to pressure and ‘big game occasions.’
So whilst there are players the wrong side of thirty that can make an impact at the Euro’s, it may well be the young stars who really shake up the competition if they are given the chance. Should Capello persist and play what has become the familiar but unsuccessful English team, it will be a fitting swansong for a manager who has never really fallen in love with the country, players or job and the long suffering fans will have to hope that the next generation really are the long awaited ‘golden generation.’
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