England travelled to Montenegro on Tuesday knowing that only a win would put them in firm control of their World Cup Qualifying group. Despite a good first half we saw what we always see from England: A side lacking in quality, cutting edge and ruthlessness.
The mere fact that Montenegro were viewed as a difficult game should set alarm bells ringing for England. This is a nation with a population of under 1 million. England are a nation who more than likely has more footballers than Montenegro have people. Yet we approach the game expecting England to struggle. What does that say about the national team?
Struggle they did, having dominated the first half and gone in one goal to the good, England came out for the second half lacking intent and drive, camped firmly on the back foot while Montenegro outclassed them. It’s a familiar story. Time and time again at last summers Euros we saw an England team take the lead and then sit back, surrendering the initiative to the opposition and ultimately losing out.
The fact remains that, take away two demolitions of San Marino and a thumping of Moldova, England have not won a game in Group H of the World Cup qualifying. Against Poland, Ukraine and Montenegro a draw was all that they could muster. This, from the nation boasting the best domestic system in the world is an embarrassment. The record of England at major tournaments is abysmal and the fortunes of Roy Hodgsons team show no signs of improvement.
England are flat track bullies. Able to gain ‘confidence boosting wins’ over the likes of San Marino and then struggle to make any impression when a half-decent team stands next to them in the tunnel. Still clinging on to the remnants of the so called ‘golden generation’ and attempting to blood some younger players, Roy Hodgson is no nearer finding the solution than any of his predecessors. While the young players such as Cleverley, Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain are showing signs of quality on the international stage, England do not blend as a team.
Simply put, England are also-rans, underachievers and big stage flops. They cannot handle the likes of Montenegro and Poland. How on earth do they expect to mount a genuine challenge in Brazil at the next World Cup? That is if they even qualify. Which is a big if, given the possibility of a second place finish and the resulting hazardous play offs. It is why at every major tournament England fail when the knockout phase comes around. When the quality opposition takes on England, they come up short, wilting under the spotlight and turning Premier League stars into International obscurities.
On paper England look supreme. Rooney, Gerrard, Wilshere, Cole, Hart would strike fear into most teams. As we know, football is not played on paper, and so we should not expect any change in England fortune any time soon. I expect they will qualify for Brazil, get there full of hope and expectation and come home at the sniff of a top class outfit against them. This is the way for the England national team. For Hoddle read Hodgson. Nothing has changed. England are the big names that never quite cut it. The stars that never quite shine. Individually superb; collectively average. That’s the reality. Can we finally accept it and not set ourselves up for a fall any more?
