England's Qualifying Failure Down To One Man
Published November 24, 2007
There’s been much gnashing of teeth and clutching at straws since England’s spectacular failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 championships in Austria/Switzerland. “There’s too many foreigners!” some exalted, as if the strength of the English Premiership impacted badly on domestic players. “We need to train the kids better” others said, as if this campaign has been a result of long-term negligence. “There’s too many egos in the squad!” claimed others, including Sunderland boss Roy Keane. None of that is true; the truth is the problem was plain incompetence by manager Steve McClaren; and the decision to sack McClaren means England have already taken a massive step towards recovery.
England were drawn in a group that they should have found fairly straightforward. Russia and Croatia are both good sides, but neither have much history of achievement in International competition, and neither is currently enjoying a ‘golden generation’ as the English are often said to be. Israel are a third-tier side with only 1 or 2 players who would get near the English squad. Macedonia and the others should have been easy meat for a team like England. Yet a home draw against Macedonia, an away defeat to Croatia, an away draw to Israel, an away defeat to Russia and a crushing final day home defeat to Croatia meant far too many points dropped for England. The Croatia game on Wednesday was particularly galling: needing only a draw to progress, England pulled themselves back from 2-0 down to level it at 2-2. But incredibly they were unable to hold on for the point, in front of 80,000 home supporters, against a team that had nothing to play for. Croatia scored again, England were deflated, Russia went through at their expense. England finished in third, level on points with Israel. McClaren was sacked on Thursday morning.
Typically, there were some Englishmen who were only too willing to pin the blame on foreigners. They claimed that top Premiership clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea flooded their teams with players from Europe, Africa and South America, restricting opportunities for local players. The argument fails for the same reason that the indignant “they take our jobs!” attitude to immigrants fails: because the best man gets the job whatever his nationality, as proven by the key English players who simply cannot be replaced by foreign imports. The cream always rises to the top. If they are good enough, they will break through – and in fact, young players can only benefit from training alongside the likes of Tevez (Argentina), Makelele (France) and Gilberto (Brazil). Besides, England didn’t always have it their way before the Sky TV revolution changed the national make-up of the league: they failed to qualify for six of the 14 tournaments between World Cup success in 1966 and hosting the European Championships 30 years later.
- England's Qualifying Failure Down To One Man
- Published: November 24, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Football (English)
- Writer: Ally Brown
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McClaren was seriously lacking in managerial experience, having only managed one club, and it was simply a poor decision by the FA to give him the job.
Evidence of McClaren's lack of experience can be found everywhere, not least in his poor tactics and his failure to resolve England's midfield issues.
It will be evidence that the FA executive committee have learned nothing at all unless they come up with someone with deep experience and a sharp understanding of the English game as the new manager.
Despite Mourinho's track record, I think he is simply too young to manage England and will wisely make the decision to remain in club football.
I saw a TV report today where the British media doorstepped Mourinho outside his place in Portugal.
When asked whether he'd be prepared to coach England, he grinned and said "Why not?" before speeding off in an expensive car.
The FA obviously want him.
...I thought that 'doorstepping' had been banned under the Geneva Conventions as torture
Stan, well, he's not going to say no outright is he? Wouldn't want to upset people in case he either manages another English club or, in the fullness of time, even the national team. The FA are buffoons!
So then who's "old" enough? Capello? From what I have read from British soccer mags it doesn't sound like England is healthy on the managerial side of the equation. I think it was World Soccer mag who predicted that Mclaren was going to end in disaster.
Capello is certainly a possibility. Other countries have done well using a foreigner to manage their national team so why not England?
A "young" manager is at an automatic disadvantage as the manager of England because with the current busybody structure of the FA, it's completely different to managing a club, where the manager can do things their own way.
It takes a lot of compromise and negotiation with both the FA committees and individual club managers to manage England and I just can't see Mourinho having the patience to put up with that. To say nothing of the long periods of inactivity between international fixtures as opposed to working closely with a group of players on a day to day basis.
I definitely agree that it matters not where a manager comes from but for a soccer nation like England one would have to wonder why England can't find a homer to coach the team. Sure in a nation of 59 million and with a soccer tradition like England they should find someone?
Well, to me, Mourinho was not going to just "manage." He would, like Capello I suppose, have to revolutionize the present prevailing ethos that exists in England. Maybe he would have to change how players are developed (tactics etc.) and the FA as you just explained. He strikes me as the type to do that - like Wenger at Arsenal.
Yeah, he sure is a firecracker. He doesn't seem to tolerate complications.
I just hope England gets its act together. They need to find goalkeeping too!
Love their jersey.
The fact that England, the birthplace of soccer, needed Sven the Swede in the first place - whatever his credentials as a coach - was downright embarrassing. It's at the point now where there's no-one you would really even consider.
Just as telling is that as far as I know, there isn't one single solitary Englishman coaching in any of the top European leagues either. It's not like we can go and lure a Venables away from some trophy-laden megaclub.
I say let the Special One do it. Then we can blame him for being Portuguese (failed Brazilian) and mental when he becomes the latest in a long line of fuck-ups.
Bah humbug.
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Mourinho is reported to be the big banana now. We'll see if it's about coaching. I suspect the problem runs a little deeper.