Down to the wire
Jun 23rd 2010adminUncategorized
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So much for the group being easy for England, eh? It was supposed to be a breeze; and yet, the squad found a way to struggle, playing like strangers against Algeria, and letting in a tame goal against the USA.
There is not much longer to wait before the England game. I say “the” England game, because now there is just one; just one game – win or go home. And I can feel the excitement building, feel the tension rippling in the air.
What gets me is that the players don’t even seem to be having fun out there, and this is the World Cup – the pinnacle of their careers.
Just as there is much we can learn from Brazil and Argentina – moving forwards with the ball, not backwards; passing to ourselves, not the opponents – there is much we can learn from South Africa, enjoying themselves on the pitch. Having fun.
There has been a trend brewing in the competition recently, though, and thankfully it favours England and it favours Wayne Rooney, our talisman.
Everyone started off badly. The good teams, the good players – they all struggled, at least in their first game. But now Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Lionel Messi – three of the “big four” – are getting involved, having fun, taking crisp, brilliant shots.
Wayne Rooney is the fourth member of that club. Surely, surely, it’s time for him to step up, too?
This is the World Cup, after all. The great players – the truly great players – rise to the big occasions, rather than wilting in the spotlight.
There are more brown bears than professional footballers in Slovenia – this is not just a game we must win; it is a game we surely should win. I can see Rooney stepping up and having a big influence on the match. And I can see England winning fairly comfortably.
And then, I suppose, all this terrible performance nonsense will be forgotten, and all will be right with the world again!