World Cup Analysis
England prepared for Scolari the Third
Matthew Day looks at Sven Goran Eriksson’s third bite of the Scolari cherry, and whether England are good enough to progress past Portugal after a far from convincing second round victory. The capitulation against France two years ago in the European Championships was a terrifying experience for all England fans but it set off two impressive [...]
Matthew Day looks at Sven Goran Eriksson’s third bite of the Scolari cherry, and whether England are good enough to progress past Portugal after a far from convincing second round victory.
The capitulation against France two years ago in the European Championships was a terrifying experience for all England fans but it set off two impressive performances in which seven goals were scored. The overall tally was ten, with two more arriving in the unfortunate defeat to Scolari’s Portugal but despite the premature exit, England played with far greater intensity and desire than on show in Germany.
The narrow win over Ecuador was lethargic, and the minnows from South America perhaps deserved to take the game into extra time and penalties such was the ineptitude of the England performance. Optimists will point to the ‘champions system’ whereby Sven Goran Eriksson’s men may not be anywhere near their peak but are still pulling the results out of the Swedish hat. English champions of two years Chelsea of course ensure their own mini-blips during a season but the key to finishing top is that although they do falter, they drop very few points.
Eriksson has a sluggish squad on his hands, but there is no ‘champions’ element about it – so far the best opposition has been Sweden in which the defensive deficiencies were exposed pathetically and an edgy 2-2 draw could have been, quite easily, a defeat along with the ensuing repercussions.
Frank Lampard perhaps sums up the attitude that is being transmitting onto the pitch. The misleading and overused stat that he has had 21 shots on goal – more than any other player – does not reflect the reality that the majority of those have flown towards the stadium roof. The 4-5-1 formation was not the tabloid-anticipated disaster and could again be in use for the quarter-final. But we cannot compare Ecuador with Portugal, and whether Scolari’s men will deal better against the newest system. The performance although not any worse, was hardly an improvement.
The return of the optimist would declare England can raise their game to match the opposition, and have not seriously been tested yet to show-off their best – but can the team seamlessly move from first into fifth gear against a Portuguese side with a psychological edge in England’s first ‘competitive’ match of the finals. The tournament, for the second seeds, only starts in the last eight. Then again, it usually ends there. Punters should be aware of quarter-finals with England and Luiz Felipe Scolari before anticipating a semi-final that would engross and unite a beleaguered nation.
Question: why were England so entertaining at Euro 2004? Answer: Wayne Rooney. He was unleashed and attacked the lesser opposition like a rottweiler, finishing with four goals and the ‘silver shoe’. His match-changing ability has not be on show so far and one can only hope that he will finally be back to match fitness for the last eight clash. Remember it was his first-half injury in 2004 that changed the complexion of the tie. England was suddenly on the defensive and duly conceded late on. His performance improved, but was not the optimum, against the South Americans.
Scolari is a tactical master, and will fancy his chances of outwitting Eriksson once again. But the influential Deco and fellow midfielder Costinha are banned, and the Brazilian coach does not have home advantage (2004) or as good a squad as in Japan and South Korea that is naturally associated with Brazil.
Nevertheless, and even if England are slight favourites, the performances should not worry Scolari: they have been dour and lacking in tempo and pace which may mean that the third part of the trilogy will be heading towards the villain who rejected the nation so sharply a couple of months ago. It would vindicate his decision to stay in the sun, and be a sorry goodbye for Eriksson – thwarted on all three attempts by a coach of stark contrast in attitude and endeavour to become immortalised.
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