World Cup Analysis

Sven Goran Eriksson’s reign has been a catastrophe from which a road of ruin remains and his belated buoyancy and arrogance does not shy emphasis away from a drowsy administration that provided minimal progress in terms of improving England’s resolve and mentality.

Not even in the European Championships could England excel and Eriksson’s outdated and frustrating lack of movement on the touchline never registered positively with the nation. If inside the Swede there was a burning passion, it melted when he reached the touchline. He believed that serenity was the best policy,

Svennis will not have any trouble in finding a new club – and if he does the FA will continue to dish out his huge salary until 2008 – but perhaps he should be sacked for improper conduct. And although qualification has altered from being hard work into simple maths, Eriksson has failed to deliver inside tournaments. The biggest footballing nations have not been sufficiently tested by England, with Brazil able to pass their way to a semi-final and Portugal twice capable of mentally outwitting their inferior opponents.

Eriksson has achieved seven tournament wins, but mainly against mediocre nations that are there to make up the numbers. His one major triumph came against Argentina in 2002, but the post-mortem agreed that they faced a poor and disunited South American side and won via an extremely dubious penalty. Following a crushing of Denmark, Brazil proved far too good – even with ten men – and although David Seaman saw the end of his international career, it was Eriksson’s inaction ensuing Ronaldinho’s dismissal that was to blame as a tired team failed to create any chances of note.

Michael Owen didn’t make any sort of impact and Wayne Rooney became so frustrated that he earned a red card after a far from magical tournament

In 2004 England’s luck was not in. Another very average French side still managed to overcome them following an incredible capitulation and although wins were registered over Croatia and Switzerland, defeat to Les Blues meant that the quarter-final tie would be against Portugal rather than Greece. And the story of the penalty defeat does not need to be repeated.

The finals in Germany were a chance for Eriksson to shine as a coach, but he then decides to take an unnecessary risk when including schoolboy Theo Walcott - who is still yet to play for Arsenal. Only four strikers are taken and two of those are recovering from serious injuries. Ultimately, Michael Owen didn’t make any sort of impact and Wayne Rooney became so frustrated that he earned a red card after a far from magical tournament.

Sadly, in a build-up that included rare Swede bullishness and extraordinary backing from the players that ‘this is our year’, the stay in Germany was England’s most troubled and least convincing of the three under Eriksson. There is a glaze of arrogance about England, from the players to the traditionally sceptical media. Consider the fact that the English Football Association is called ‘The FA’ as opposed to the similar associations across the world who feel bound to include the name of the country they are representing. So even though the three group games fashioned some truly awful football and exposed huge deficiencies in the defence, the media (after a few grumbles) and fundamentally the players were sure that they would grow and mature into the tournament, improving as the finals advanced.

By the start of the tournament Eriksson was acting like a coach without a care in the world, for he was to leave after England’s exit and was no longer accountable to The FA or the much-hated, from his eyes, British press. He took huge risks that never looked like paying dividends. Nevertheless it was a change from what had gone before, and Eriksson was given an opportunity to leave a legacy.

Instead tactics changed stunningly in the second round tie which produced an even more unimpressive performance and a tight 1-0 win over an extremely poor and overawed Ecuador team. And the players did not seem to understand what their exact roles were; in Rooney’s case he became so isolated in the constraints of a 4-5-1 formation that irritation overtook sensible behaviour in 30 degree heat.

The Swede’s adoration of David Beckham fooled many into believing that the Real Madrid midfielder was in fact a maltreated legend. In no way was Golden Balls going to be dropped in the face of unsatisfactory performances over a long period. The five matches England played vindicate the critics of the special relationship. The fact he has been so heavily lambasted despite providing two assists and a goal is an indicator of his uselessness. Again and again he failed to deliver from corners and free-kicks, and the gloss of his winning goal was short-lived.

There was no improvement in the quarter-final whatsoever, and the rearguard display following Rooney’s dismissal was valiant and heroic rather than skilful and match-winning

There was no improvement in the quarter-final whatsoever, and the rearguard display following Rooney’s dismissal was valiant and heroic rather than skilful and match-winning. Portugal were negative and cynical, but always in control – no more so than in the shoot-out in which Ricardo was a hero for the second time in as many years.

Beckham has forever lived the nightmare after his sending-off against Argentina eight years ago, where the Mirror’s headline summed up the feeling of the nation concisely: “10 heroic lions, one stupid boy”. The same cannot be applied to Rooney. He was aggravated by Eriksson’s latest tactical invention, and in the build-up to his sending-off was in his own half attempting to win the ball back - in order to create an attack. The ‘stupid boy’ tag may this time fit Eriksson better.

A foreign manager hasn’t been able to change the English mentality of second best, reflected in the abysmal penalty taking. When compared to Germany’s cold efficiency from the spot, the likes of Frank Lampard and Gerrard shooting from 12 yards looked pale in comparison. The law of averages declared it was England’s turn in a shoot-out, but in reality that was never going to be the case.

There are very few players that can be said to have had a good tournament. Steve McClaren will have a tough job in rejuvenating a squad that may in fact, avoiding the propaganda, have gone as far it can. Perhaps their mentality is ingrained to such an extent that it cannot be altered. Along with Beckham, Lampard was a great failure – 22 non-threatening shots in the tournament and a feeble penalty. Rooney didn’t recover psychologically from his injury and with the exit of Owen, England were left wanting up front.

Eriksson’s insistence on the extra week break was an excellent idea in theory, and fitness levels were at record highs for these finals. But that bonus wasn’t effectively utilised; nor was the strength of all the key men. England may have a more talented squad than Portugal, but Scolari had a concrete and successful Plan A - something which was so obviously lacking from Eriksson’s management and exhibited in the player’s performances. Could some one like Scolari have got more out of Lampard or had the individuality to drop Beckham? Yes is the unquestionable answer.

Tears were shed and anger vented by fans across England. Anger at Cristiano Ronaldo, at Rooney, at Sven, at yet another major failure. At England’s bleak prospects. Steve McClaren has an immense task in front of him to improve in and on the 2008 European Championships, and as the second choice all along to succeed the cold Swede he faces an uphill struggle to impress.

Tags: England, Sven-Goran Eriksson

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