As Glenn Hoddle threw his name recently into the seemingly poisoned chalice of working under Daniel Levy and a Spurs side perpetually in transition, the mind of this writer was cast to Rome 1997, a much celebrated goalless draw between England and Italy, and the subsequent chasm in success – and perceived importance – of International football in the mindset of both nations.
England’s eventual qualification for World Cup 2014 this past November, after some uninspiring displays in a group that could, under FIFA’s perplexing seeding system, have been little better hand-picked, was met without the fanfare and predictions of glory which followed Hoddle’s England’s achievement of the draw with Cesare Maldini’s side which ensured their passage to France ’98. Off the back of the much lauded (perhaps overly so) success of Euro ‘96 England felt they had a real chance across the Channel in the following summer’s festival of the world’s great and good. Heightening the focus on the achievement was the lack of recent success by English club sides in European competitions; without a final appearance in the continent’s flagship tournament since the tragic events which occurred at the outset of Liverpool’s European Cup final defeat of 1985 in Hysel Stadium.
Fast forward 16 years – and they truly have been fast forward years – and the state of English football sees their best, perhaps richest, three or four teams as perennial challengers for major European silverware, dwarfing their Italian counterparts in all aspects of on-field dominance, financial power and (of such importance in the contemporary ‘business’ of football) international marketability. The Champions League, that most ferociously marketable grandchild of the latter day European Cup, combined with the most liberal of all European leagues’ attitudes towards foreign investment, sees once comparatively modest sides such as Manchester City and Chelsea granted seemingly endless reserves of cash which guarantee them first refusal on all but perhaps the very greatest talents in world football. Italian sides, in comparison – with the exception of José Mourinho’s all-conquering Inter Milan side of 2010 – have struggled in recent years to find their feet, both financial and footballing, in continental competition.
Yet when Italy and England come face to face in this summer’s latest instalment of FIFA’s once-grand, now much criticized World Cup, the majority of sensible neutrals would be hard pushed to consider England anything but second favourites. Manager Roy Hodgson’s likely squad represents in many an observer’s eye the least capable of success of any England have sent since their lifting of the trophy on home soil in 1966. They do so, tellingly, in an age where managers and fans alike decry the desire of FIFA to retain the glamour of its international game through mid-season friendly dates and the inclusion of the lowest ranked continental sides in qualification schedules. Quite how such criticisms match England’s long-held, seldom evidenced opinion of itself as a global footballing heavyweight is an interesting point. Recent exposures in friendly matches by Chile and Germany, coupled with a second-half dismantling 12 months ago by a Swedish side who fell to Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance at the play-off hurdle of qualification, make for uninspired hopes. That the friendlies and qualification matches have no necessary bearing on the competition itself is well understood. Many may point keenly to the much-fancied Belgians losing both their own recent home friendlies. But any comfort from the comparison must be immediately rendered meaningless by evidence of the Belgians’ excellent displays in qualification, emerging triumphantly – and in immensely pleasing style – from perhaps the most difficult of all the qualifying groups (where the Welsh and Scottish provided little more than training practice for the three nations finishing above).
To what extent the ‘improvement’ (certainly as heralded) of the Premier League in recent years has curtailed the performance of England’s international side is an open debate. While defenders of the contemporary version of the world’s alternate best/most exciting/most competitive league point to failings of the 1970s and 80s when foreigners were at an absolute premium, it is clear that now Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard find in the twilight of their careers more measured and less dominant roles in their respective clubs’ midfields, the outstanding performers in the nation’s top flight are all foreign imports. Yet the likes of Negredo, Silva and Jesús Navas are by no means guaranteed inclusion in Vicente Del Bosque’s Spanish team as they seek to defend their title. Other impressive imports such as City’s Fernandinho and Chelsea’s Juan Mata may well be left to watch from TV screens. While Roy Hodgson’s inclusion of a trio of Southampton players for November’s friendlies was viewed as a refreshing alternative to the oft-muted reliance on reputation – and few would begrudge Jay Rodriguez, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert their opportunities – in truth it spoke far more of the dearth of available alternatives. The well documented loss of form of Joe Hart likewise exposed the dangerously few goalkeeping options should he be absent, while positions of central defence, at least two of the presumed midfield four, and a partner for Wayne Rooney are all less than dominantly filled as the grueling domestic season enters its second half.
Questions must also be raised of Rooney himself. Along with Hart, Gerrard and perhaps Wilshire he is universally considered one of few automatic picks. But while his performances this season have been hailed in a struggling United side, in truth his enhanced influence on the building and execution of their attacks highlights glaringly how bereft they are of alternative inspiration. That Rooney is a great servant – well on his way to legendary and record breaking status for club and country (respectively) – is beyond question. Equally uncontroversial though is his lack of performances at the very top level; often for Manchester United, emphatically for England. In the ten years since he burst onto the scene with three goals in two matches against Switzerland and Croatia in the Euro 2004 group stage, his record has been anything but spectacular – 38 goals may seem a handsome reward from 88 caps, yet under closer scrutiny the record betrays extremely few meaningful goals scored in competition with anything but the medium and lower echelons of world football. Viewed alongside the records of predecessors Gary Lineker and Michael Owen, his own barely stands comparison. Once friendlies are removed from the record, four goals from four matches against Croatia and a solitary Euro 2012 strike against Ukraine represent his most substantial achievements. Yet the weight of the three lions’ expectation will once again – perhaps unfairly – rest on his shoulders.
Further evidence of England’s lack of credentials to compete with the world’s best this year comes from the startling lack of homegrown players in the teams currently dominating the domestic league. While Joe Hart has found his position in question at Manchester City, in that respect he is far from alone. Lampard, to some extent, and Ashley Cole much more so, seem relegated to supporting cast slots in José Mourinho’s new Chelsea (as did Spain’s Juan Mata).
Jermaine Defoe remains untrusted at Spurs, while Gareth Barry wasn’t deemed of sufficient standard to merit inclusion in Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City squad, instead finding himself loaned to an Everton side also including world cup hopefuls Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Ross Barkley. The fanfare surrounding the latter’s promising performances in the first half of the Premier League season perhaps best exhibits the desperation to celebrate any prospect of finding those ever-more-elusive homegrown talents of ‘world class’ calibre. In the same manner as Arsenal’s Jack Wilshire, Barkley has been heralded in messianic terms when greater prudence would have him serve his apprenticeship quietly in what is arguably the perfect setting of Roberto Martinez’ entertaining Everton midfield.
Watching Spain’s triumphant under-21 European Championships squad last summer displayed alarming evidence of the paltry level of England’s home grown talents against top European nations. While Barkley has unquestionable ability he would by no means be guaranteed a place in the Spain squad. That Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, similarly heralded a year ago, has only recently threatened to rediscover his initially promising form displays vividly the instantaneous rise and fall in a league – and media – dominated by the here and now. Rooney will expect to call on Manchester United teammates Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and perhaps Tom Cleverly. Comparisons to previous United inclusions of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and David Beckham need not be made. A fit Theo Walcott and James Milner will presumably walk into the squad but plainly, in search of regular first team club participants, Hodgson must look much further down the league table than many of his predecessors would have found necessary. Almost unique among his contemporaries, he is tellingly unable to look abroad.
Contrasting this immediately with the Italians recent squads brings alarming concerns. At least half a dozen of Italy’s all conquering Juventus side can expect not only to be on the plane to Brazil but to fill the most vital spots in the starting 11. That the old lady failed to progress from a Champions League group spot is certainly conspicuous, but anyone who witnessed the Italians thorough, if ultimately impotent, schooling of England in the last 8 stage of the most recent European Championships will be wary of reading anything into such failings. Had the match in question been a boxing affair it would have been long since stopped by its conclusion under the barrage of Andrea Pirlo’s endless flicks and through balls which accumulated into a masterclass leaving all but the most subjective viewer hypnotized. Long before, that is, his deft and cheeky finish from 12 yards breathed life into his team-mates’ penalties and seemed to drain the confidence of the English.
Of the remainder of the likely Italian squad, Napoli, Roma, Milan and the resurgent Fiorentina will contribute the mainstay. While none of these sides appear likely to set the heather of continental club competitions alight this season, perhaps this in itself highlights the greatest chasm between these two ancient footballing nations on the international stage. For Italy, in contrast to many voices in an around the English domestic scene, the Azzuri represent still the greatest of all their collective hopes. This tie may be only the first of 3 group stage matches for each side before the diverse challenges of Uruguay and Costa Rica await. Yet the feeling of many is that the dynamics of the group – and the formidable task of handling the Uruguayans on home continental soil – significantly heighten the importance of this opener.
Common sense makes it hard to escape the prediction that the English may once again have to settle for the scant consolation of claim to hosting the most marketable league in world football.
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