By Matthew Day ⋅ June 20, 2006 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

World Cup Analysis

Can England go on like this? Another drab second half performance saw them come away with only a draw when three points looked highly probable and achievable, but the defence were out of sorts especially from set-pieces and all passing and crossing was neglected in the second period.

So what’s the diagnosis?

Well the team have five days, until 4pm on Sunday, to rest before what should be a relatively easy second phase tie against an Ecuador side that have a strong and effective tactic that managed shocked the unprepared nations of Poland and Costa Rica. More on that later.

While the England doctor gives his diagnosis, Svennis may be advised to plug in his earphones and listen to his very own classical music album. Michael Owen had the sympathy of the nation with less than a minute gone. He had remained upbeat and the view was his fitness would only improve with practice after the Trinidad & Tobago victory. Fans are in favour of him above Peter Crouch - who may instead have been used as an effective substitute - but the Newcastle man’s World Cup appears to be over. Even if he returns, his worth will be negligible.

Eriksson will face the rap - why did he not take a fifth striker? Jermain Defoe is a useful squad member and would beat Theo Walcott to a place, either from the bench or the start if necessary. Jermaine Jenas could have been left in North London or if Eriksson wants to pursue his risky strategies why take a third goalkeeper?

Rio Ferdinand limped off, but plenty of cover is on offer and Sol Campbell would deputise. Even so, can the England defence be trusted any longer? It was extremely uncharacteristic for such soft goals to be handed away; then again the agreement was for yet another draw and crucially not an England win (what a relief). David Beckham was at fault for Marcus Allback’s first leveller after he took his eye off the forward standing in for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while most of the defensive line can be blamed for Henrik Larsson’s late second leveller: Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole in particular.

Cole, the man of the match, provided a splendid cross for substitute Steven Gerrard to score against the run of play – it was one of the rare times the goalkeeper had to fret – and otherwise Larsson and co had their tents pitched 18 yards from Paul Robinson’s goal and deserved the draw

The first half once again out-shone the second, with Joe Cole’s wonderful strike setting the tone for an energetic period, where the passing and crossing was crisp and succulent and Wayne Rooney cam close to scoring a superb goal. But then Sweden hit the bar twice and had an effort cleared off the line with the defence in disarray, and by the 93rd minute two goals had been conceded against a nation struggling immensely to find the net.

Cole, the man of the match, provided a splendid cross for substitute Steven Gerrard to score against the run of play – it was one of the rare times the goalkeeper had to fret – and otherwise Larsson and co had their tents pitched 18 yards from Paul Robinson’s goal and deserved the draw. The positive news is that the defensive frailties can be corrected and the first half was a reflection of how well England can play.

Eriksson must take a shower or a couple of tunes during the half-time break, because all focus was lost by the players and their deterioration was incredible. A lack of successful passing and crossing, the allowance of Sweden to dominate, and the use of the long ball once again combined to their woes.

Ecuador is a tie no one expected. The presumptuous talk before the tournament began was what date England v Poland would be taking place on. Well England did finish top and probably would have selected the South Americans over the Poles, despite the great acquaintance with our European neighbours.

Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez has implemented a useful but beatable system from which two clean sheets were kept and five goals scored

Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez has implemented a useful but beatable system from which two clean sheets were kept and five goals scored. Castillo and Edwin Tenorio in midfield stop the flowing movement of a side – like Rooney or Gerrard in a holding role or further forward from the traditional midfield role – and then Ecuador break, utilising their speed to catch and exploit defences struggling to track back.

Clearly England can only anticipate a victory, but they must not be complacent and not take it for granted. But the players talk the talk about respect for smaller nations but then do not walk and indeed run the run and produce a convincing performance. Then the term ‘knockout’ comes properly into effect and Portugal or Holland are the most probable opponents. And both the second round phase and quarter-finals ties are being played at 1600 UK time (1700 in Germany) which is just two hours later than the dreadful Paraguay game, in which the England players almost died of dehydration.

With their current form and injury anguish, England are not capable of progressing beyond the last eight, and indeed without Owen it looks dubious whether there is even a remote chance of reaching the final and then possibly lifting the Jules Rimet trophy.

Tags: England, Steven Gerrard, Sven-Goran Eriksson

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