The Country Will Be Watching
I’ve been watching and reading a few things from America the past few months and it seems that the States is really excited for this up coming world cup. I remember watching the Colbert Report where Colbert was talking to one of the soccer pundits about America’s chances (the name escapes me unfortunately) and everyone seemed really confident that the USA could do it this summer. Then I read a few articles and a lot of American’s truly believe that they can upset England this summer and it just got me thinking about the whole thing and how I can’t see it happening. I hope you will read beyond the title alone to understand what it is like from my own perspective; an Englishman who spends every 3 seconds thinking about football.
I’m not the biggest England fan by any means, my first experience of my national side was in 1996, and to lose to Germany in the semi-final really broke my heart. Ever since then I’ve always thought that there is a little bit of arrogance that has built with English football, a belief that we are the greatest team in the world and always have been, it’s certainly true that a number of our players are over rated (playing FIFA 10 the other day, on their ultimate team add-on, Robert Green is rated 84/100! That’s ridiculous). The media in England are probably the thing I hate most about what they do to our country and the football team. They hound the side and are especially good at getting everyone’s hopes exceptionally high when in hindsight we ultimately realise our squad, although good, cannot match up to some of the others in the world. They pretty much forced Sir Bobby Robson to resign in the early 90′s and I don’t care how focused you can get your team, things like that must play on their mind.
But I do look at this side, and although there is a chance of winning it, I’m still a bit pessimistic. The two stand out players are really Wayne Rooney, who is one of the top three players in the world, and Ashley Cole who is arguably the best left back in the world (Evra is competition though). I know you might be thinking I’m forgetting about the likes of Gerrard and Lampard, but there are a number of players out there such as De Rossi, Xavi, Iniesta and Kaka etc who I think are just that tiny bit better. You put on top of that the fact we’ve been attempting to make Gerrard and Lampard work together in the same team for years to no avail and it’s frustrating for an England fan. John Terry is also having a lot of howlers this season and it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the team connect with him after he forced Wayne Bridge into international retirement. We have a really good side and when the tournament comes around I’ll turn into just as big an England fan as any, but I think much of the country is in agreement that our hopes rest on Wayne Rooney’s shoulders.
But when I take every thing into account, we realise that England have the perfect manager in charge of the team and someone who has kept us undefeated in qualifying. We will go into the tournament with confidence and England can often breeze through group stages. The one position we would be envious of is goalkeeper. It’s frustrating when we see the likes of Spain, Italy, USA and Germany pumping out so many great goalkeepers and we barely have one. I think most England fans will be happy if David James starts the first game, but his fitness is some concern and if he gets injured we’re in trouble. I think it might be a bit late for Joe Hart to be in the England side for this world cup, much to the fury of England fans in the previous world cup, we found that Theo Walcott was not ready (albeit, Walcott hadn’t played a game for Arsenal at this point. What were you thinking Sven?). The less said about Robert Green – the better.
But pretty much every position, with a fit squad, England are better than the USA. I don’t think any of the American defenders will be able to contain Rooney, and linking up with an Emile Heskey who will provide as ever for the team (if you don’t think Heskey should partner up front then you obvious don’t realise how much he does for the team) it just seems like there’s too much going for England. By no means file this under ‘it’ll be a walkover’, I think USA really will give England a great game and when I say we’ll win I think we will edge it but it won’t be easy for us. USA have a lot of good players coming through and I personally am enjoying a country like America progressively getting better.
Its just England players have a bit more flair and can play at a higher tempo. When I see the USA team, they’re good, but they seem a bit rigid at times but this is something that comes through time. Jozy Altidore is an example of this, he’s the perfect target man and I think he’s as good as Heskey at his job in that respect, but he has a lot of work to do with his feet and sometimes it looks like he has a rush of blood to the head when the ball is actually at his feet. Clint Dempsey and especially Landon Donovan have proved they can play at the high tempos and do have this bit of spice about them that you realise with a lot of the highly established nations where football is the national sport (Brazil, Italy, Spain, England and Germany etc), but each England player will be surrounded by 10 others players where football is their culture. I think the culture aspect of it all is what America lacks, but from what I hear it is certainly getting bigger over there and it will hopefully just click into place.
England are the favourites and in this country we’d be highly disappointed if we lost any of our group games. We expect America to finish 2nd in the groups and join us in the knockout stages. What just gives us confidence is Capello and how much authority he asserts in the team, with him in charge I know we can hopefully have a good tournament. I still feel that USA will give a challenge and there is most certainly the possibility more than any other of our group opponents that they can beat us, but the fully fit England starting line up has been playing too well together lately and although I think we could get seen off by a Spain, Brazil or Germany, the USA should be 3 points for England. USA will come up against a side who’s country are in full belief (which they were in 2002, but not 2006) that they will win this world cup.
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I am optimistic about the USA’s chances. This England side has been bogged down in scandals, controversies, and goalkeeping questions since their perfect qualification campaign.
Altidore’s rushes of blood to the head were mentioned here, which was to say nothing of Wayne Rooney’s “issues” during big games for club and country, and that’s before his fitness has been addressed.
Absolutely… the USA can beat Spain and they can put Brazil on their heels, but they stand no chance against the mighty Three Lions who have done nothing for decades.
This article is bollocks. Stirring people up is all its good for…
Like i said above, i didn’t say it would be a walk over but England will (and should) beat the USA because theres more quality in their side. The confederations cups and the world cup are ENTIRELY different, theres more passion in it and the players are more fired up.
It will be an entirely (and probably miserable) world cup for england if Rooney isn’t fit, but I think he will be and hope he will be. We’ve never had a Rooney like he is playing at the moment, he’s playing amazing and his discipline has really improved.
Believe me, pretty much every England side for the past several decades has had to deal with a number of ‘scandals’ or ‘controversies’, its no different from ever really.
There is a chance we can lose, like I say, but I can’t see it happening when we have our full squad playing. In England USA are 66/1 to win the world cup – thats behind a lot of teams…
Quality isnt everythign look how we beat spain and were beating brazil order and dicipline we can beat england some of our key players are in the premier leauge dempsey, altidore, spector, demerit, howard. It wount be a cake walk for either team but i know that the U.S. could win.
Chris, the victory against Spain and the near-victory against Brazil should be taken with a grain of salt. If you insist on using friendly matches (and yes, the Confed. Cup is a friendly tournament) as examples of the quality of the American team, then you mustn’t forget to include England 2-0 USA in 2008.
Since Capello took over, this is a very different and disciplined England side. Also, I think it’s good for England that David Beckham will miss out of the World Cup. I was sorry to see him injured, but I think the “out with the old, in with the new” approach will help England. I want to see a mixture of experience (Gerrard, Ferdinand, Terry) combined with fresh, promising talent (Milner, Dawson, Walcott). For me, the icing the cake would surely be Joe Hart in goal.
I’ll call it now: England 3-1 USA.
So England will beat the US? What an interesting take
Is someone is still a little sour about the America Revolution? It was 250 years ago!!! YANKS FOR LIFE!
Yeah—England on paper is the clear favorite, just like they were in 1950. Good thing we don’t play on paper.
Btw, Rob, would it make you nervous to be coached by Capello in the event you met Italy in the final? That kind of conflict of interest, at the very least its temptation, would scare the crap out of me.
i’ve just seen this comment now, I hope you get the reply!
It would be a bit strange, but I think it would be more nerves for Italy, having one of their own playing against them, Capello is heavily respected over there. If we do meet Italy it will be interesting, I think we have a more experienced side than them at the moment, they’re going from a transitional stage at the moment
again, hope you get the reply, and sorry about the wait!
Seriously The whole USA beat spain and gave Brazil a good game is the biggest load of crap in the world. You only hear that logic from americans remember england dealt with the us comfortably last time they played…Upsets happen in football all the time it doesn’t mean one team in on par with that team overall. Look at the USA’s last 4 games…What is it 3 loss’s and 1 win against el salvador? lmao yes you had injuries but good sides still scrape by, just as england did against mexico, few top players missing but got the job done. Hanging on to games you played well in, during a micky mouse tournament means nothing. The USA has one player in a real top side, AC milan… Most can’t even get close to making Englands top 4-5 sides in the prem…Howard great keeper but look how united kicked him to the curb, The US will come second in the group. They are an ok side and will be a good side in the future, look at who their players play for ffs yet the Americans claim it is close…its the american optimism but its delusional at best. Like landon donovan said…America can play their very best and it still not be enough. I live in america and i don’t see anywhere near the excitement as you get in the UK, america is only happy when its sports no1 else plays.American football! pmsl England if all goes to plan will make light work of america imo, 2-0. Of course i would not be suprised if US nicked a 1-0 it happens! its the world cup! but for the Americans to honestly believe hand on heart they have a good chance then im sorry but your mental. If the US win…good job you came and did what you had to do but to actually believe through deluded glasses that you have a realistic shot, well its time to get real.
Everyone here in England would be very disapointed if we lost to the USA in the first game, as it’s a game we’d expect to win.
But no disrespect to the USA, they’re a team on the up, they’re getting better year by year, but they’re not one of the worlds best teams by a long shot.
USA did beat Spain and came very close to beating Brazil, I know it was only the Confed Cup but it shows that the USA do have the ability to upset big teams. But the World Cup is different, the big teams will be going for it and when drawn against sides like the USA they’d expect a win.
USA have some good players, but GOOD is as far as i’d go really on a whole, I mean Donovan is a brilliant player and i’m sure many top clubs would like him, but there are many many better players in the world than him and he probably is your best player.
Your other best players (Altidore, Dempsey) are good aswell, but play for Hull City, who are not even in the Premiership anymore, and Fulham who are an average team.
Whereas England have players from all the best teams in the league (Man Utd, Chelsea, Tottenham, Man City, Villa, Liverpool)
So I think people should save the abuse for the guy who wrote this as he’s only really stating the obvious by saying England should win, he even admits that USA are capable of upsetting England. But causing an upset is all the USA can hope for really, as it’ll be a long long time until they’d be considered favourites in this fixture.
im iranian-american and i watch football and love it more than most americans i know who no nothing about football at all and i will admit england should and in my mind win this game but USA have a good chance of getting a draw out of this game becuase i just feel england might resort to there old tactics and lose dont be surprised if they do something out of this the US i watch the prem more than any sports league in the world and it is the best my favorite team is Chelsea who play in england and they have amazing players they have one of the best mids in the world (lampard) best defender in the world (terry) best forwards (rooney) and they should go far but i think the US will play like hell and get a result not a win maybe not a draw but a result that will show the US is hear to stay and teams need to no they are no longer a walkover and like Spain did you will lose if you think like that england this year is different with Capello i think they get to the final lose 2-1 to spainbut if they resort to old tactics they will lose to the US and possibly fail like 98 02 06
Even if England does beat the USA, it won’t win the World Cup! So I hope that win over the USA really makes you guys happy, cos quarter finals is about as far as you lads will go!! LOL
lol at the comment above eh? i would’nt under estimate the england team this year they seam to be playing well in comparison to other times
well i love the article and really hope england do manage to win the game on saturday (ill deffinatly be supporting them with my england shirt and ice-cream haha) and i hope they go quite far..
I watch football matches all the time, for my whole life. I study the players, I know all about them. I know about the confederations cup. But you yanks could at best draw england, I think your high expectations are misfounded an arrogant, if you saw the quality of Gerrard, Rooney, Terry, Ashley Cole and the like week in week out you would appreciate what outstanding class we have at our disposal…and thats what wins world cups!
I’m a yank, and i agree a draw with england would be huge for USA soccer. And yea all around there’s no doubt you’ve got much more talent, but we’ve got some decent talent this time with dempsey and donovan. . . so . . . we’ve got a shot! That’s not arrogant, just hopeful.
btw Gerrard is great! it’s hard to root against a guy who plays the way he does, with his tenacity and leadership.
somebody preobably regrets writing a certain post…
and yes, a lot of the english footballers sound pathetically arrogant now that the game is over =)
(Robert Green munches on c**k)
US COMES IN FIRST IN THE GROUP
DESPITE BEING DENIED 2 PERFECT GOALS