I hate to be the voice of reason but I don’t think anyone should be getting carried away with England’s chances in the 2010 World Cup just yet. Granted, Fabio Capello has got the England team playing better than I’ve seen them play in some time and he is unquestionably a great tactician but this is a team who consistently fail to reach their potential and do the business in the tournaments.
Sure Capello has a great record and he has only lost two games in his time as England boss. However, these two games were against France and Spain – the type of opponent England will need to defeat to win the World Cup, and I am yet to see a truly inspiring performance from the national side under Capello.
In qualifying England have been impressive and have comfortably dealt with whatever has been thrown at them, but in all fairness there isn’t a team in the group who should beat them. Croatia are perhaps the exception to that but on paper their squad doesn’t match England’s.
England would maybe be in a top six of teams you would expect to win the tournament but for me they’re a long way off some of the other nations. Spain for example have quality throughout the side whereas England have some obvious flaws. In goal David James may be a class keeper but he is prone to the odd gaff and this kind of thing can happen at any time with the Pompey keeper. England are still yet to find a right-back to replace Gary Neville, though it's my football prediction that Glen Johnson is a potential candidate.
In John Terry and Rio Ferdinand England have, perhaps, the best central defensive partnership in the world. However, both are prone to injury and England will need both these players fit to win the tournament. The midfield is pretty decent, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and Owen Hargreaves are among the best in the world but again there are issues. Can Lampard and Gerrard play together? Capello says they can but I’m still yet to see the evidence. Will Hargreaves be fit? Hopefully, for me he is so underrated and he could be the best holding midfielder in the world if he gets a consistent run in the Manchester United side. In Joe Cole, Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott England have some quality flair players but they’re all guilty of drifting in and out of games at times.
As I said in the beginning, I hate to be the voice of reason but I’ve had my heart broken by England so many times I’m probably a bit jaded now! I’m going to stay realistic, pray England win and just try and enjoy the football. After missing out on Euro 2008 I’m just glad it looks as if England will be there to compete!
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