At least David Beckham will always have Paris. Quite what the rest of us get
to take from this is a mystery, but if we stay with the Casablanca theme for
one second, at least playing it again is not an option.
The hope with the appointment of Fabio Capello was that England would grow
into one of those dour, unspectacular Italian-influenced teams who are not
exciting to watch but damn near impossible to beat. Halfway there, then. In
the Stade de France, Capello’s England contrived to be as dull as ditchwater
but failed to master the second part of the equation, which involves not
losing. In this, the new manager failed the challenge to produce the
unexpected. On present form, France would be fancied to win against England
in Paris, and so it proved.
The manner of the defeat was something else, however, because England were
unexceptional here, for all the stimulus of the new regime. After his first
match against Switzerland, Capello had asked his players for patience and
less reliance on long-ball football, but if this was their response,
something has been lost in translation.
The best European and South American teams go slow to go quick. They build in
a patient manner and then, when all the pieces are in place, explode and
attack the opposition in a fury of wit and movement. England often seemed to
start slow to go even slower and it is not enough to blame tiredness in the
depth of the Barclays Premier League season when four of the France starting
line-up play in the same competition.
What was missing was pace on the flanks. Joe Cole has many strengths and is
potentially the most inventive forward Capello has at his disposal, but his
lick has never been a feature and using him with Beckham on the right made
England particularly pedestrian in the first half. Starting Beckham was the
right thing to do — for how else was he to be judged? — but the bigger
question for Capello now is whether to finish him. England may have thrashed
around in his absence under Steve McClaren, Capello’s predecessor, but this
was no better and in Franck Ribéry, France showed English football what a
talismanic midfield player should do.
Ribéry was, by some distance, the best in show, quick and ferocious on the
counterattack and chalk to Beckham’s cheese. England’s centurion can still
play those searching long passes as accurately as he did a decade ago, but
the other part of his game, the energy that covered more of the pitch that
any man in the stadium bar the groundsman, has long gone.
The saving grace, from Beckham’s perspective, was that he was no worse than
many. He was not the weak link in England’s chain because nowhere did it
have a really strong one. Grégory Coupet, the France goalkeeper, did not
have a save of note to make and when Beckham returned to applaud his
supporters at the England end after the final whistle, it was noticeable
that the majority had left.
In one sense, Capello is fortunate because he arrives with such a towering
reputation that any disappointments will be blamed on his players, yet he
cannot be absolved from the vapid and one-paced nature of England’s display.
There is an episode of Blackadder in which Edmund plans on sailing around the
world. He employs a captain, who is quite mad and prepared to undertake the
journey single-handed and when questioned on the wisdom of this, claims that
opinion is divided on whether a ship needs a crew. “Everyone else says you
do,” he cries. “I say you don’t.”
Looking at England last night, Capello’s take on pace at international level
appears to have followed similar lines. While every other manager in world
football is searching for the forward who can terrify defenders with his
speed, Capello begs to differ. Perhaps he feels that England need to learn
to pass the ball before graduating to doing it with gusto and he may have a
point, but it is going to make the next few years slow going. When it fails,
Capello’s way can be painful to watch and his Juventus team looked similarly
lifeless against Arsenal in the Champions League two years ago.
No doubt this performance was a thousand miles away from where Capello hopes
to be in two years’ time, but, worryingly, there are few hints that the
qualification process for the 2010 World Cup will be any less stressful
under him than the doomed assault on Euro 2008 was under McClaren. Capello
has an enormous amount of work to do to reshape England with self-belief and
energy and while only a Ribéry penalty separated these teams, the fact is
that France looked a different entity, even without key players.
It did not help that the crowd in the Stade de France was largely mute and the
match was played in silence for long periods, giving it an eerie, unreal
air. The timing of France’s goal was a blow, too, coming as England were
enjoying a brief period of domination after starting poorly.
Beckham had failed by inches to get on the end of a cross by Ashley Cole and
Steven Gerrard had come close with two headers when France did what good
international teams do — broke with pace — and showed their opponents the
way forward. François Clerc played in Nicolas Anelka and the Chelsea striker
ran off John Terry, his clubmate, as if he was not there; which, in the
circumstances, he probably was not.
Terry has been hurt by Capello’s insistence on a captaincy audition and to see
the armband given to Rio Ferdinand must have been painful. Has it rocked his
confidence with England? Who knows, but he seemed unlike his usual self when
Anelka slipped his attention and made for goal.
David James, the England goalkeeper, has never been at his best in these
situations against France and those with memories of the European
Championship finals in 2004 will guess what happened next. It all seemed to
unfold in slow motion as Anelka was upended and the referee pointed to the
spot. Then again, much the same can be said for the rest of the action.
Last night what shocked me most was a lot of the England players' inability to control the ball with one touch. By the time they had taken two or even three(!) touches they were closed down. Rooney is being slated but there was simply no quality service in the final third. Most of the crosses were woeful and there was no pace on the flanks from either Beckham or Jole Cole. Despite it being his 100th cap I was really disappointed to see Beckham start. I wanted to see Bentley start. Surely we have to give other players a consist run in that position so that we have options when it comes to crossing, taking corners and free kicks? What happens for instance if we start the qualifiers and Beckham is injured?
I am flabbergasted to see Terry has largely escaped any blame for his part in the incident leading up to the penalty - all the blame is being laid squarely on James' shoulders. If that had been Ferdinand he would have been slaughtered - the media would have had a field day.
Gen, London,
Italy had his football scandal 2 months before his national team won the world cup. So, the scandal is not the source of the italian success. Maybe it was useful on a psycological side, because players were pushed by the will to improve the image of italian football in the world.
I.M.H.O., the real problem about english football is the shortage of real talents in key rules. You can only dream a gooalkeeper like Buffon, a playmaker (play-maker) like Pirlo or a wing like Camoranesi, or Cristiano Ronaldo. Capello needs excellent players to win. If he doesn't have them, he becomes a normal coach.
Alessandro Cappuccini, Ancona, Italy
I think we are going over the top about this game. France only won by penalty and there were long periods England controlled the ball. The problem is England do not have a tall Drogba like forward and with none on the horizon means England will forever be second rate. Why can't the English produce tall players with power, pace and technique like the French? Lazy English coaches that waste the natural talents of players like Heskey and Harewood? I bet if they were born in France they would far better players than they are now.
Why are press making excuses for Terry? Terry was always the least complete defender compared to Ferdinand, King and Woodgate. People hyped him too much just because he was a goal scoring defender. But now he hardly ever scores, the press have finally realised he may not have pace to cope with top international strikers. King and Ferdinand would be the strongest partnership.
Del, London,
Avram Grant? That's a good one! Maybe you should stick to Aussie rules football; the finer points of real football seem out of your reach.
Andrew , Godalming, UK
we need Arsene or Sir Alex for manager lol
Ben, Châlons,
Far too much has been made of this game, altogether. Beckham should be applauded for his service to his country and clubs over the years and he has not been featured in regular football for some time. Despite that, he did no worse than the rest of the team, which is saying something. The rest of the squad, for the most part, are vying for the English title and the Champions league. They have more to answer for. Even a great performing England team would not be favoured to beat the French in France.
These are good players and I believe in time Capello will deliver the goods, and I believe that Beckam will still have a role, once fit and playing regular football. It is not fault of Rooney's that he had to track back to get the ball. Proper service would have shown his skills up front so I would not discount him as a lone striker. Imagine if he didn't track back? England would probably have been more vulnerable to an onslaught by the likes of Anelka, Ribery and Malouda.
Robert Feeney, Toronto, Canada
no one can save england!.....the lack of player there are in the EPL is impressive. Take Italy for example... since they had that scandal all the foreign player left the serie A. Now if anyone watches the italian seria A. they are full of younger italians who are finding space in their current teams, and its full of brilliant players. the Fa need to do something about it cause i am sure there are brilliant english players in the reserve teams of their clubs.
Giampiero, Swieqi, malta
What exactly were people expecting of Bentley. You give 20 minutes in a game were everyone has given up, and you expect him to perform miracles? I was at the England v Switzerland game, and behind Rooney, he was the best player.
Most of you had made up your minds about him before he even stepped on the pitch. I'm glad that you don't appreciate him, because you stupid fans don't deserve to have such a technically gifted player represent you.
It doesn't surprise me that so many of you can have such deluded opinions - you only have to look at Newcastle to see Englands domestic equivalent. David Beckham is to England, what Kevin Keegan is to Newcastle.
Joseph , Leeds, West Yorkshire
The mere fact that Capello played Rooney as a lone striker is enough for me to know he will do no better and probably worse than McLaren.
Bob Walker, London, London
"we dont need players from blackburn or everton playing for england... they are inexpereinced, and the natioanl team should be full of players playing in the champions leage... not ueafa cup. "
Gave me a laugh that. You could count the english players at those so called big four clubs on two hands. Perhaps we should switch to five a side...
"England need more experienced players, they need more beckhams, terrys, gerrards"
Er yes, obviously, but experienced players start out as talented players and gain experience by getting picked. The problem is there is little or no English talent even on the fringes of the national team - like it or not the team England had out was probably the best we have to offer at the present time and will be for some time to come in all probabability. Capello is undoubtedly a world class manager but is hamstrung by the dearth of talent at his disposal, I can only wonder what on earth made him take the job.
Mike, Telford,
Scud has got it 100% right. Why blame the manager always.The English fans always do. They did it to Sven, to Steve McC and now they will do it to Cappello.When all the time its is the the the players who are "no show".I yawn my head off when England play.The modern game is all about speed.....fast and furious......Where are the Walcotts,Lennons and SWP's to run the opposition off their feet.Until they play with Joe Cole,England will be forever Second class.
Len Calo , East Grinstead, England
It's no surprise that Anelka creamed Terry for pace; Terry would have had more chance catching Anelka had he been using a wheelchair to turn and accelerate after the striker (no offense to those who use wheelchairs but they just don't turn well on grass.)
Next time I would like to see Rio and Terry 3-legged race after Anelka. They would have the same chance of catching him (zero) but at least it would be entertaining and that is what's lacking. If we're not going to win, why not at least make it jovial and amusing? I say bring back Gazza and his plastic breasts!
Andrew , Godalming, UK
At the end of the day we can quibble about systems and managers but lets face it, not since Paul Gascoigne has there been an English player capable of unlocking a defence with the guile required at this level.
I was disappointed with the line up in France, to me it represented more of the same whereas I think the critics would not have had their teeth showing if Capello tried something new. Strangely I found David Beckham the only player really trying to be direct with his trademark crossing- so no Allan Mullery, he should not retire!
One fan outside the stadium remarked that England did not deserve to be in the Euros and I have to say I couldnt agree more.
Stephen Manick, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Yes, it was another ordinary performance by England. I was particularly unimpressed with Bentley, Brown, A. Cole and James. The main exception was the play of Owen Hargreaves.
Darren, Sydney, Australia
I think it would take a very long time for the England team to effectively operate a 4-5-1 system. Yes, the top teams do it at club level but that's largely with foreign personnel; plus, they generally have better players than the rest of the teams in the league, so will probably win matches whatever system they play.
Pace is the key to that system and we don't have it. In terms of keeping the ball, the best England formation was Hoddle's 3-5-2 - remember Rome? Whether the game has moved on too much for that system to come back I don't know, but surely it's better than seeing Rooney kicking his heels in frustration at such poor service and lack of support?
David Ezra, London,
I see that the anti-Gerrard brigade are at again!
He worked hard enough, but whereas at Liverpool he has a natural striker to provide for, and play off, in Torres, in Wayne Rooney he had a partner who is, by nature, a marauder, always plays from a deeper position and bull-dozes his way into scoring positions. He is not an out and out striker.
For me the lack of genuine wing-play was a major failing and this, combined with the lack of centre-forward in the first half, led to few threatening opportunities. And when Beckham did send in a couple of raking crosses his CF target wasn't where he should have been. Come the second half, and with real front men playing, Becks goes off and Downing and Cole fail to fashion half-decent crosses.
Finally, Anelka was far and away the best player on show and James really shouldn't carry the can for the panalty. I agree with all those who say that pace is all important in the modern game.
Steven Dimech, Attard, Malta
too quick to judge after two games but there were some signs that keeping the ball for more than 10 seconds in international football is a must.
It is easy to point fingers at the manager - but clearly the players are not as good as they are made out to be and haven't been for a long time. Granted they perform well at club level but how many of them have stepped up in class and done it consistently at international level? Not many.
Are England still considered a major scalp in international football? I don't think they are and why would they be? We are nowhere near a top international side and haven't been since 1970 - you would think after nearly 40 years people would get that.
Our Premiership is without question one of the top leagues in the world. The problem with that is that this leads many to believe that the English players playing in the premiership are also some of the best in the world - they aren't.
Lee, Bristol,
Lets be honest here - England lacked inventiveness and some players just did the usual rote things. I really had hope that the new manager would change the ancien regime . Steven Gerrard has been uninspired for probably two seasons.
ian johnston, belfast,
The players did not look as though they understood the system they were playing under in the first half. Brown kept getting stranded ahead of Beckham and neither the former nor Ashley Cole could deliver a decent cross. James' handling was suspect and he should have been sent off for the penalty, friendly or no friendly - rules are surely rules? Like Liverpool and unlike Arsenal and Man.United, England have no wingers with blistering pace. Rio is not a captain and John Terry should be re-instated. England risk losing players of the calibre of Carragher and Scholes to "retirement", if the new manager gambles with too many changes. Owen and Crouch are not of international quality right now. We need a new Shearer or Lineker to play ahead of Rooney, who kept dropping too deep as the lone striker last night. A few positives - Beckham's workrate and commitment was laudable, as was Gareth Barry's. The latter is a fine prospect. We missed Wright-Phillips and Richards badly.
G.Evans-Jones, Cologne, Germany
Typical!! The guy gets two games to prove his worth and if they aren't 4-0 and 5-0 he is given the bullet by the supporters first and then the media. Oh to be back at home!!!!
Tim, Sydney,
I do so love all of the 'morning after' posts that begin, "The problem was......".
Here is my brief contribution: Based on the results of the past thirty years, England are just not very good.
John Blackley, Winter Garden, Florida
Referring back to the recent mostly overrated player article, Ashley Cole only served to reinforce yet again last night what a truly dreadful player he is, he had one half decent slightly deflected cross but apart from that his crossing and long diagonal passing was as woeful as ever. Okay so Bridge was hopeless against Croatia but he deserves another chance, he cannot be as consistently bad as Cole and I'm sure Chelsea fans prefer him to Cole at club level. And what about the Reading left back, does he not deserve another run as he has done nothing wrong in his outings so far, albeit friendlies, his crossing is so much better, maybe he is overlooked now because he is not playing for one of the big guns. Beckham and Owen's days must surely be numbered now but otherwise Capello is I suspect selecting a squad most of us would, he just needs to get the 11 on the field playing as a team rather than individuals and only time will tell if he can do this, but last night they were poor.
Andy, Cambridge,
Sorry Mr. Samuel, but I don't necessarily agree with you (again). It would be unfair to jump on the 'get at England' and 'drop Beckham' bandwagon again, because the team managed to play not too badly against a French team which had more flair; and Beckham's game was certainly more influential than his budding replacement, Bentley. Beckham played the long ball that was asked of him, and Wes Brown offered little reliable support for him to work off.
The problem with many England sides over the past few years is that they can hold the ball and pass well, but lack incisiveness on the break, and look terrified when under pressure.
There was no real link between Rooney and the midfield which meant England lacked options, resorting to long ball tactics. A variety of attacking options, using Rooney with ball to feet and also the long ball option from the flanks would have kept France thinking and would certainly have led to better periods of sustained pressure from England.
Matt Brown, London, UK
Mr Samuel I am afraid that you labour under the misapprehension that anyone outside of London cares about England 'Internationals'. Why not instead refocus your considerable journalistic talents back onto something worthwhile like the Premier League or Champions League. Ignore this sideshow rubbish, all it does is serve as a way to get our expensive club players injured simply for the entertainment of a collection of neo-nazi thugs from London who otherwise verbally and racially abuse them at club level.
J Roberts, Manchester, UK
Owen needs to be dropped...
Vish, Bedford ,
Already it starts. The knieves are out for the manager.
England played well. There was much more logic in the way they kept the ball and tried to construct openings.
Penalty aside the french were kept at arms length.
The problem with England on wednesday is that to many key players did not turn up.
John Terry was poor, his lack of pace will always be shown up at this level. No makalele to shield him.
Ashely Cole wasted so many opportunities to get decent crosses in. He had another poor night.
Stevie super G was annonymouse. He was given the freedom to roam and his lack of appearance foreced Rooney to come deeper and deeper.
Joe Cole, was he on the pitch? like Gerrard he went AWOL.
But the media will always protect thier favourites and opt for attacking the forgien manager instead. Could it be that the paperwriters need to keep the players on side for thier 'inside' stories ?
The system was fine, the trouble was not enough of the players showed up !
Scud, Maidstone, Kent
The problem was England always looked shaky when it came down to one touch football. It's all very well keeping hold of it when you're passing it around among your own back four and the pressure's not on (although fair play to France, they seemed to be intent on closing us down in our own half) but as soon as we advanced any further we lost an edge. There didn't seem to be the confidence or ability that the French had to bolt three or four quick passes together to get out of a tight spot and start a fluid attack.
In the end, England's limited possession always seemed to amount to an unimaginative passage of play followed by a Hollywood ball from Beckham (who I didn't think did that badly) or a poor attempt at a defence carving ball from Barry or Gerrard. Couple this with Joe Cole's disappearance on the wing and the result was always the same - France had the ball and our players looked lost.
Ben, Leeds,
It was a disappointment, but not as dramatic as is being made out. 2 games, 2 games, we were hailing McLaren after a couple of early victories its madness!
I admit there seems little progress, but where is he to go in the run up to the end of the season with the big teams defining the requirements and rightly so.
My only fear the return of Terry, a player I don't like, slow and boisterous, a leader for sure but without what little pace he had, after injury a lame duck, and busy doing the Anelka sulk as the man himself bypassed him.
At club level Man and Chelsea play similar systems with lone guy upfront but in different ways, can you imagine Beckham in the Ronaldo,Nani,J Cole or Wright-Phillips roles at club level?
I think we have the players for a good, potentially world beating team, if the tactics and personnel are right,but give it a chance and keep Terry out until he has proved himself, Chelseas defence isn't the rock it once was
Dave, Coventry, UK
Capello needs to get away fromthe past.
Beckham,Crouch and Owen should be dropped fromhis squad. He must give the new boys a chance. It is no use playing ageing celebrities, those who are so easily injured and players who cannot make the first team of their club sides. In form players must be chosen.
The captaincy should be given to Terry. Gerard is an inspirational player but does not have the foresight to be captain. He should have been more pro-active in the recent Man Utd-Liverpool game in seeing the dangers posed by the outbursts of one of his players. Ferdinand,a fine player,has been involved in some dubious incidents and does not have the moral authority for the job.
Rayman Perera, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Claiming Capello is spurning forwards of blistering pace is absurd. Who is there? As far as I see England have - a recovering Micheal Owen who may never get back to where he was and anyway has a dreadful injury record, Defoe who couldn't get a game at Tottenham, and that lad at Villa who shows a bit of promise. Come back Emile Heskey, all is forgiven...
France have Henry, Benzema, Anelka, Trezeguet, Saha (if he's every fit), all of whom have done it in the Champions League and top teams in several nationall leagues. Any one of those would walk into the England team right now.
I am sure Capello would love a reliable goalscorer of blistering pace. He just doesn't have one.
Nick, France,
I thought Beckham did reasonably well in a game that had nothing much from iether team. Yes he is slow - but when wasn't he? Lennon, Whright-Phillips and even Bentley are, of course, much quicker, but will they deliver a chance-creating ball at the end of it nearly as often? (not Lennon that's for sure).
I suspect that David Beckham will remain in the plans of Capello, assuming he stays fit, not because of any sentimentality (I don't think Capello has any in him), but because Beckham can still do a job - not every game, but sometimes when the pass is needed. this was surely what Beckham had in mind when handing in the armband. Don't forget that Capello is Italian and that Italian teams always have a higher average age than England and always have a selection of players in their mid (even late) thirties. Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi et al can testify that good players needn't fear the birthday cake.
Mark Bannerman, Aberdeen, Scotland
A good piece Martin, but a little heavy on the word count if you don't mind me saying.
Rubbish......would have covered it.
Bill, Sheffield,
"Only Avram Grant can save England from boring mediocrity" was a comment left by Luigi from Australia. Please give us a break.
Why wont these people understand that England have a top manager in Capello, he is nothing but class.... however, you cannot blame him for the players underacheiving.
I think it is a complete joke that the media blames the manager..... its the players that are playing!!. .Look at Euro 96, england had EXPERIENCED players like Mcmanaman, Gazza, Sherear etc.... now england is full of players who biggest test has only been facing a top four team...
England need more experienced players, they need more beckhams, terrys, gerrards....Liverpool, Manu,Arsenal and Chelsea should do more to encourage english players.. we dont need players from blackburn or everton playing for england... they are inexpereinced, and the natioanl team should be full of players playing in the champions leage... not ueafa cup.
Vish, Bedford ,
Theo of course was on the bench, but he has produced not much more than bits and pieces so far this season. Lennon and Wright Phillips have both gone backwards. So who are these players of international quality with blistering pace that Capello is supposed to be picking?
James Brownley, london,
David James was static, hands down waiting for the ball to come to him, Anelka pushed the ball to the side and then ran straight at James, toppling over him. James is not required to get out of Anelka's way. Proper verdict: foul upon the goalkeeper. No Penalty.
Terry Hamblin, Bournemouth,
Capello is no good - worse than McLaren and Eriksson . Only Avram Grant can save England from boring mediocrity .
Luigi Madonna, Melbourne, Australia