1. Hodgson deserves
some praise, even if the players so far don’t.
Having been critical of Hodgson’s squad selection and the mystifying decision to play a 4-4-2 with Ashley Young as a striker, it’s only fair that the gaffer receives some praise for guiding the country’s hopeless band of misfits to top place in the group. England have not set the world alight so far, but Hodgson’s tactics have been spot on when it’s mattered. He has organised the team into something approaching a unit and whilst he can’t cure our chronic lack of ability with the ball (who can) he has improved us tenfold without it. This has been a real team effort from England so far and it is Hodgson that deserves the praise. Only Scott Parker can claim to have played well in all three games, whilst Theo’s cameo against Sweden was an anomaly of excellence rather than the norm. But whilst no England player is still performing anywhere near their club levels, Hodgson has somehow managed to get an extra 20% out of every player in effort, determination and passion. This is the first England team since Euro 2004 who look like they actually know their jobs. The good news this time around is that they’re not being spurred on by one player, but are actually functioning as a unit. The bad news? England have been unusually lucky so far and the fear is that will run out soon. Their group has arguably been the easiest to navigate and the real work starts against a similarly disciplined Italian team on Sunday night. England won’t beat the Germans, so in reality whether this tournament is deemed a success will largely rest on the result of the quarter final. England will need to play better and defend better to prevail. It would also be nice, despite his goal, if just once Wayne Rooney dictated the play for his country with anything like the sort of skill he shows each week for his club. Despite looking happier and more relaxed than ever before, England’s one world class attacking option remains as much as an enigma as the much maligned “Zlatan.” His hair is almost as bad as well. If not as lustrous…
Having been critical of Hodgson’s squad selection and the mystifying decision to play a 4-4-2 with Ashley Young as a striker, it’s only fair that the gaffer receives some praise for guiding the country’s hopeless band of misfits to top place in the group. England have not set the world alight so far, but Hodgson’s tactics have been spot on when it’s mattered. He has organised the team into something approaching a unit and whilst he can’t cure our chronic lack of ability with the ball (who can) he has improved us tenfold without it. This has been a real team effort from England so far and it is Hodgson that deserves the praise. Only Scott Parker can claim to have played well in all three games, whilst Theo’s cameo against Sweden was an anomaly of excellence rather than the norm. But whilst no England player is still performing anywhere near their club levels, Hodgson has somehow managed to get an extra 20% out of every player in effort, determination and passion. This is the first England team since Euro 2004 who look like they actually know their jobs. The good news this time around is that they’re not being spurred on by one player, but are actually functioning as a unit. The bad news? England have been unusually lucky so far and the fear is that will run out soon. Their group has arguably been the easiest to navigate and the real work starts against a similarly disciplined Italian team on Sunday night. England won’t beat the Germans, so in reality whether this tournament is deemed a success will largely rest on the result of the quarter final. England will need to play better and defend better to prevail. It would also be nice, despite his goal, if just once Wayne Rooney dictated the play for his country with anything like the sort of skill he shows each week for his club. Despite looking happier and more relaxed than ever before, England’s one world class attacking option remains as much as an enigma as the much maligned “Zlatan.” His hair is almost as bad as well. If not as lustrous…
Oh and as for the farcical articles that were written after
England stumbled over the line against the worst Swedish team in living memory,
I think this says it all…
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/hodgson-convinced-weve-won-euro-2012-2012062031176
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/hodgson-convinced-weve-won-euro-2012-2012062031176
2. The hosts with the
most will be sorely missed from the party.
Despite the skirmishes, arrests and occasional bursts of pathetic racism, this tournament has delivered on the pitch in every way possible so far. Group A, considered by many to be the damp squib, delivered 6 rip roaring games of passion and drama which somehow saw Russia dumped out of the tournament along with the entertaining co-hosts. Whilst the Ukrainian crowds have been sparser, the atmosphere in all the games being held in Poland has been electric. The country has welcomed Europe into its bosom and delivered easily the best round of group fixtures since Euro 2000. I for one am disappointed that both Poland and Ukraine have to bow out already, but five points between them from 6 games was never going to be enough. Poland can at least consider themselves unlucky, victims of pressure rather than a gap in class. This has been a marvellous spectacle so far, but it is a shame we have been denied a Germany v Poland match that would come with more subtext than a Nabokov collection. If Euro 2012 has told us anything so far, it’s that a 16 team tournament is better in every conceivable way to a 24 or 32 one. This could well be the last great championships of our time, so let’s carry on enjoying it while we can.
Despite the skirmishes, arrests and occasional bursts of pathetic racism, this tournament has delivered on the pitch in every way possible so far. Group A, considered by many to be the damp squib, delivered 6 rip roaring games of passion and drama which somehow saw Russia dumped out of the tournament along with the entertaining co-hosts. Whilst the Ukrainian crowds have been sparser, the atmosphere in all the games being held in Poland has been electric. The country has welcomed Europe into its bosom and delivered easily the best round of group fixtures since Euro 2000. I for one am disappointed that both Poland and Ukraine have to bow out already, but five points between them from 6 games was never going to be enough. Poland can at least consider themselves unlucky, victims of pressure rather than a gap in class. This has been a marvellous spectacle so far, but it is a shame we have been denied a Germany v Poland match that would come with more subtext than a Nabokov collection. If Euro 2012 has told us anything so far, it’s that a 16 team tournament is better in every conceivable way to a 24 or 32 one. This could well be the last great championships of our time, so let’s carry on enjoying it while we can.
3. UEFA & FIFA
are worse than a Tory Government.
There’s little denying now that both the main football governing bodies are about as corrupt as an Italian betting ring, but when it comes to handing out adequate punishments for racist abuse, it’s not so much the gross offensiveness that surprises me, but what they possibly hope to achieve from such derisory amounts. You would think they’d jump at the chance to make a quick buck and stream the money through the organisation to top up someone’s bonus. Given fines are no deterrent anyway, what possible argument can be raised to not fine teams and countries a million euro’s every time an offence is committed? At least that would make some sort of twisted sense. Instead, with the chance to make a statement about racism following Bendtner’s absurd fine for showing his pants, UEFA inexplicably fined Croatia less. What possible criteria are the governing body working from? Are the amounts they come up with just randomly fucking generated? Banning fans, docking points, stopping transfers… these are actual deterrents. Christ I’m boring myself going on about it now. Still, just when UEFA needed an escape route, they got it though the 2,437th incorrect goal line decision. Blatter and co can save some money straight away by stopping the wages of the two goal line “officials” that stand motionless for 90 minutes in every match. I mean seriously what the fuck are they there for? I’ve never seen one blink let alone make a decision. They must be androids? No wait FIFA don't believe in technology...
There’s little denying now that both the main football governing bodies are about as corrupt as an Italian betting ring, but when it comes to handing out adequate punishments for racist abuse, it’s not so much the gross offensiveness that surprises me, but what they possibly hope to achieve from such derisory amounts. You would think they’d jump at the chance to make a quick buck and stream the money through the organisation to top up someone’s bonus. Given fines are no deterrent anyway, what possible argument can be raised to not fine teams and countries a million euro’s every time an offence is committed? At least that would make some sort of twisted sense. Instead, with the chance to make a statement about racism following Bendtner’s absurd fine for showing his pants, UEFA inexplicably fined Croatia less. What possible criteria are the governing body working from? Are the amounts they come up with just randomly fucking generated? Banning fans, docking points, stopping transfers… these are actual deterrents. Christ I’m boring myself going on about it now. Still, just when UEFA needed an escape route, they got it though the 2,437th incorrect goal line decision. Blatter and co can save some money straight away by stopping the wages of the two goal line “officials” that stand motionless for 90 minutes in every match. I mean seriously what the fuck are they there for? I’ve never seen one blink let alone make a decision. They must be androids? No wait FIFA don't believe in technology...
4. The Dutch were
clueless.
Perhaps the Dutch really had been stung by the criticism they received during the World Cup Final 2 years ago. Perhaps their players were just tired. Or perhaps, they were finally exposed for possessing a defence that on paper was as poor as any in their history. There were hints of all of the above in Bert van Marwijk’s clueless tinkering as his team managed to lose ever game in the fabled and now obligatory group of death. What was more damning is that in the last two Holland could have easily been beaten 4 or 5 nil. Shorn of any real leadership, the Dutch were overwhelmed by opposition who seemed to regard playing for their country as more than a trifle inconvenience. Robben was petulant and selfish, likewise Huntelaar when he came on. Van Persie look tired and confused and it was left for Nigel de Jong to often create attacks such was the woeful contributions of the men infront of him. This is the tournament Afellay will come alive said managers. This is the tournament the Dutch can go all the way said the pundits. This lot are well worth a punt at 8/1 said the bookies. They all got it wrong, but none more so than the Dutch coach who by the end wore the worst possible face for a manager. Not of anger, fear or pain… but of genuine confusion.
Perhaps the Dutch really had been stung by the criticism they received during the World Cup Final 2 years ago. Perhaps their players were just tired. Or perhaps, they were finally exposed for possessing a defence that on paper was as poor as any in their history. There were hints of all of the above in Bert van Marwijk’s clueless tinkering as his team managed to lose ever game in the fabled and now obligatory group of death. What was more damning is that in the last two Holland could have easily been beaten 4 or 5 nil. Shorn of any real leadership, the Dutch were overwhelmed by opposition who seemed to regard playing for their country as more than a trifle inconvenience. Robben was petulant and selfish, likewise Huntelaar when he came on. Van Persie look tired and confused and it was left for Nigel de Jong to often create attacks such was the woeful contributions of the men infront of him. This is the tournament Afellay will come alive said managers. This is the tournament the Dutch can go all the way said the pundits. This lot are well worth a punt at 8/1 said the bookies. They all got it wrong, but none more so than the Dutch coach who by the end wore the worst possible face for a manager. Not of anger, fear or pain… but of genuine confusion.
5. Spain are an anomaly.
And they now have to be stopped.
It is now becoming clear that other teams are not going to start trying to copy Spain’s style of play. There will always be the odd manager (Brendan Rodgers) who pops up and insists on playing passing football whatever the circumstances, but for the most part the German team’s model of success is much more open to imitation than Spain’s relentless tiki-taka built around their Barcelona midfield. It is likely that when Xavi, Iniesta et all move aside, so will the style of football that Spain have now mastered over the past 5 years. The problem is that Spain mastered the style 5 years ago, and once you’ve mastered something, there’s nowhere else you can go. The simple fact is that Spain pass the ball better and quicker than any other team in world football. Indeed, you could hand pick XI players who weren’t Spanish from any country in the world and they wouldn’t be better than Spain. Spain would have 70% possession against anybody and everybody because they are that fucking good at passing. It’s not just that, when they do lose the ball they get it back in about twenty seconds. To beat Spain you have to soak, soak, soak, wait for an error and then counter in a heartbeat and hope for the best. Spain could have gone out at any stage against Croatia, just one goal was all their opponents needed, but Spain just calmly kept passing and passing and passing until I wanted to walk on the pitch and stop any of them ever passing a fucking ball again. Spain won’t win a lot of games 5 or 6 nil because they simply don’t care about scoring that much. And it is that final point which is why Spain have become so boring. They have the ability and the skills to be the great entertainers of our time, but they are surrendering that for relentless five a side drudgery. It’s great to see 20 consecutive passes and the ball being walked in the net. But when you’ve seen that almost every goal it does start to get a bit boring. When was the last time Spain scored from a free flowing break? When was the last time somebody rocketed in a 30 yard piledriver? When was the last time they scored with a move that didn’t result in the opposition essentially being bored to death before just falling over and saying “oh go on then you bastards, if you must.” Spain are an exceptional team, but having played 4-6-0 for half of this tournament you fear the next move is only going to be 2-8-0, or even 1-9-0 before their entire strike force immigrate to Portugal to actually get a fucking game.
It is now becoming clear that other teams are not going to start trying to copy Spain’s style of play. There will always be the odd manager (Brendan Rodgers) who pops up and insists on playing passing football whatever the circumstances, but for the most part the German team’s model of success is much more open to imitation than Spain’s relentless tiki-taka built around their Barcelona midfield. It is likely that when Xavi, Iniesta et all move aside, so will the style of football that Spain have now mastered over the past 5 years. The problem is that Spain mastered the style 5 years ago, and once you’ve mastered something, there’s nowhere else you can go. The simple fact is that Spain pass the ball better and quicker than any other team in world football. Indeed, you could hand pick XI players who weren’t Spanish from any country in the world and they wouldn’t be better than Spain. Spain would have 70% possession against anybody and everybody because they are that fucking good at passing. It’s not just that, when they do lose the ball they get it back in about twenty seconds. To beat Spain you have to soak, soak, soak, wait for an error and then counter in a heartbeat and hope for the best. Spain could have gone out at any stage against Croatia, just one goal was all their opponents needed, but Spain just calmly kept passing and passing and passing until I wanted to walk on the pitch and stop any of them ever passing a fucking ball again. Spain won’t win a lot of games 5 or 6 nil because they simply don’t care about scoring that much. And it is that final point which is why Spain have become so boring. They have the ability and the skills to be the great entertainers of our time, but they are surrendering that for relentless five a side drudgery. It’s great to see 20 consecutive passes and the ball being walked in the net. But when you’ve seen that almost every goal it does start to get a bit boring. When was the last time Spain scored from a free flowing break? When was the last time somebody rocketed in a 30 yard piledriver? When was the last time they scored with a move that didn’t result in the opposition essentially being bored to death before just falling over and saying “oh go on then you bastards, if you must.” Spain are an exceptional team, but having played 4-6-0 for half of this tournament you fear the next move is only going to be 2-8-0, or even 1-9-0 before their entire strike force immigrate to Portugal to actually get a fucking game.
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