England Vs Brazil: I Fear The Worst For England
Hands up, ya England fans! It’s going to be an explosive start to the month of June 2007, for there will be a soccer friendly between mighty Brazil (current FIFA ranking: 2nd) and floundering England (8th) on Saturday 02 June 2007. England have defeated Brazil only three times in 21 games dating back to 1956, and the last win was seven games ago in 1990. The last time both sides met was in the World Cup quarter-finals in Japan in 2002, when Brazil expertly won 2 – 1.
Following that, the England squad will fly out for a do-or-die Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia on 06 June 2007. Right now, the birthplace of modern soccer, England, is lying precariously in fourth in Group E, two points behind leaders Croatia, who have a game in hand. England is level on 11 points with outsiders Israel and Russia, and Estonia is pointless so far. But mark my words, for this friendly game is anything but that, as a few controversies have already plunged the English squad into disarray.
The biggest controversy to surface so far is undoubtedly the recall of ex-England captain David Beckham, better known as “Golden Balls”. And this took place a mere 11 months after being dropped by England boss Steve McClaren following a disappointing World Cup campaign last summer in Germany. This U-turn decision is surely McClaren’s biggest since taking over from predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson, who stepped down from his post acrimoniously. In all honesty, Beckham has been in sparkling form for club side Real Madrid, helping them to a glorious chance of winning the La Liga title, with two games remaining as of this writing. Real is currently level on points with defending champions Barcelona but lead the table with a better head-to-head record.
Brushing aside criticism that he had been swayed by public opinion to recall Becks, McClaren rhetorically said, “I have looked at David since the New Year and watched him very closely. He looks very fit, the fittest I have seen him for a long, long time. The only thing that will help me to get the support of the fans is to win football matches. That’s why I brought David Beckham back.” The recall came in spite of public, open opposition coming from England’s Number 2 Terry Venables. But the inclusion of Becks, who has astutely turned down all interview requests regarding this matter, could not have come at a better time for him as he will be on 96 England caps if he plays against both Brazil and Estonia, putting him four short of the coveted 100-cap mark. Strangely, with Becks likely to play at right-midfield, McClaren will have little choice but to lump both Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and Frank Lampard (Chelsea) together as central midfielders. In the 10 soccer matches where they have played side-by-side together, England was never convincing despite winning seven of the 10 games. It is little wonder the recall has been the source of much derision from pundits.
With striker-in-chief Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) suspended this Saturday, McClaren has called up a total of four strikers but it appears that England cannot stay away from controversies even in attack. This is how the four have fared:
1) Peter Crouch (Liverpool): England record: 17 caps, 11 goals (5 under McClaren). Club record for Season 2006 – 2007: 49 appearances, 18 goals.
2) Michael Owen (Newcastle): England record: 80 caps, 36 goals (0 under McClaren). Club record for Season 2006 – 2007: 3 appearances, 0 goals.
3) Alan Smith (Manchester United): England record: 16 caps, 1 goal (0 under McClaren). Club record for Season 2006 – 2007: 18 appearances, 1 goal.
4) Jermaine Defore (Tottenham Hotspurs): England record: 24 caps, 3 goals (2 under McClaren). Club record for Season 2006 – 2007: 51 appearances, 18 goals.
Astonishingly, all signs from training sessions indicated that McClaren will drop “prolific” striker Crouch to the bench in favor of an off-color Owen in a one-man attack. This is in no uncertain terms a remarkable strategy given that Owen has had a mere three club appearances under his belt this season following a lengthy lay-off owing to injures.
Looking at the rearguard, the English defense provided no relief for McClaren either as he has to cope with the absence of his regular defensive stalwarts: Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand (both Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspurs), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea) and Micah Richards (Manchester City). John Terry (Chelsea), named captain of the England though Becks has returned, remains the only fit first-choice defender remaining. In view of this, McClaren will be forced to play mix-and-match at the rear, with Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) and Wes Brown (Manchester United) vying to partner Terry in central defense. Meanwhile, with a vacancy available at left-back, Reading’s Nicky Shorey looks ahead to complete a remarkable six-year journey across London from minor club Leyton Orient to Wembley Stadium,. Providing Shorey gets the nod, he will become Reading’s first England international in more than 100 years.
Will Becks flop in this recall to the England set-up? Will McClaren kiss goodbye to his England job and thereby plunging the English FA into yet another embarrassing situation? Against the hot, spicy samba boys of Brazil, are we staring at a massacre for England? Folks, it would next to unthinkable to witness an English defeat at Wembley Stadium, which reopened to competitive soccer games merely weeks ago. In fact, this game against Brazil will mark the first international soccer match at Wembley since its reopening. With such an explosive, controversial build-up to this “friendly” match, you can bet your last penny – not that I advocate that you get involve in soccer betting – that journalists will have a field day should anything go awry for McClaren and his lads. So, hands up, if you are a firm supporter of England, but don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed at the same time.
Kumcheong Tang is a rabid England fan. His dysfunctional blog can be found at http://soccerpedia.blogspot.com
Tags: Brazil, David Beckham, England, Euro 2008, McClaren, soccer friendly, Wembley