People make a lot of the importance of confidence in football, and it is rare these days that when the English national side is talked about, if the words ‘confidence’ and ‘morale’ don’t pop up. However, at Wembley this weekend, it should be slightly different. Yes these two words will still pop up, but after the (let’s be honest) astonishing 4-1 victory against Croatia in Zagreb, these words should be being used in a different context – ‘morale is superb’, ‘confidence is sky-high’ – are the phrases we should be banding about.
England played some terrific football against Croatia, and looked every inch the side we expect them to be, with Capello making a few brave decisions, and finding a system that seemed to fit. The starting line-up will be slightly different today however, with John Terry leaving a large hole at the back which is seemingly (and worryingly) going to be filled by Matthew Upson. Steven Gerrard is back in contention for a starting place after missing the opening 2 qualifiers through injury, which could force Capello to move him back into the midfield despite the promising partnership struck up by Lampard and Barry in Zagreb. However, the other problem for England this afternoon is who plays on the left. Walcott, in fine form, should start on the right, but Joe Cole is out injured, leaving a problem position out wide for Capello. Personally Footie Frog would have called up Ashley Young from Villa to the squad and used him in this game, but as it is we are faced with the prospect of either: the thus-far-unconvincing Downing, the totally-right-footed Wright-Phillips, or the ineffective-if-not-in-the-centre Gerrard.
England played some terrific football against Croatia, and looked every inch the side we expect them to be, with Capello making a few brave decisions, and finding a system that seemed to fit. The starting line-up will be slightly different today however, with John Terry leaving a large hole at the back which is seemingly (and worryingly) going to be filled by Matthew Upson. Steven Gerrard is back in contention for a starting place after missing the opening 2 qualifiers through injury, which could force Capello to move him back into the midfield despite the promising partnership struck up by Lampard and Barry in Zagreb. However, the other problem for England this afternoon is who plays on the left. Walcott, in fine form, should start on the right, but Joe Cole is out injured, leaving a problem position out wide for Capello. Personally Footie Frog would have called up Ashley Young from Villa to the squad and used him in this game, but as it is we are faced with the prospect of either: the thus-far-unconvincing Downing, the totally-right-footed Wright-Phillips, or the ineffective-if-not-in-the-centre Gerrard.
I think he will go with the latter, and attempt to convince Gerrard to cut in and shoot at will, and with the Kazakhstan defence, this tactic may work. Up top, it looks like the same partnership of Heskey and Rooney, if the former’s back holds out long enough.
It will be interesting to see if there is a change in the team’s attitude, as the fans should be behind the team 100% after the match in Zagreb, but there is still pressure on their shoulders, as they know that they are expected to win convincingly. Anything less than that and they will undo all their hard work against Croatia – their hard work not only to get an away win, but also to get the fans believing in England once again. Footie Frog predicts a 3-0 win for England.
It will be interesting to see if there is a change in the team’s attitude, as the fans should be behind the team 100% after the match in Zagreb, but there is still pressure on their shoulders, as they know that they are expected to win convincingly. Anything less than that and they will undo all their hard work against Croatia – their hard work not only to get an away win, but also to get the fans believing in England once again. Footie Frog predicts a 3-0 win for England.
0 comments:
Post a Comment