Slippery Hands, Slipping Hopes

I have lived in England, and, for as much as the press there does harass the NT when they do not meet expectations, they also build them up far beyond their collective capabilities, when they so much as threaten to come close to reaching their potential. It always has been thus, and it likely will always be.

So keep in mind the general chorus heralding England as favorites (see the usually objective June FourFourTwo cover to see how far the delusion had spread) was based in fact: England did have a near faultless qualifying campaign. Yet, even this triumph must be put in proper perspective, for it was not but two years ago that the Three Lions did not even qualify for the European Championships and a mere four years (with many of the same players) that they embarrassed English football in Germany.

Yes, the manager has changed. Yes, the formation is now better suited to the English personnel. Nevertheless, the English still suffer from three main faults: 1) poor goalkeeping; 2) star players* whose sum is somehow always less than their individual parts; and 3) a mental deficiency that causes the Three Lions to panic and abandon their game plan when something does not go their way in the course of a game (see: Robert Green's bungle and England's impotency thereafter).

As the game against the Americans aptly shows, none of these issues have been remedied. And no one, least of all England, is going to go on to international success without a top class goalkeeper and a shoddy, patched up defense unable to protect said subpar goalie. In England's case, this is especially true, as they also lack the ability to outscore the opposition, despite the individual brilliance of their offensive weapons.

For the English to have ever thought differently (i.e. that they had a realistic chance), suggests a level of self-dellusionment that is still surprising, even if it has become routine.

Though England still have a good chance to advance past the group stage, the papers will continue to (hysterically) decry Saturday's events. However, the truth is that England always was a second/third round team, so when they exit at that stage no one should be surprised.

*Above star players refer to Gerrard, Terry, Lampard, most anyone that is, except for Rooney, who Capello should've definitely subbed (instead of the hard-working Heskey) in the second half. The English's unabiding admiration for Rooney has always amazed and confused me, given that he has never shown up for country on a big international stage. To my further dismay, they exalt Rooney's play, when, in fact, his brutish style can serve only as a general affront to the sensibilities of those who love the beautiful game.

Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but Rooney's is a brilliance that has always been surpassed by that of Messi and Ronaldo. Simply put, the attempts to elevate him to that class level are consistently shown to be absolute rubbish every time he steps out on the pitch. He plays with heart to be sure, but Rooney simply lacks the skill to be the best player in the world. Period. To my mind, it is fair to say that he is the one star whose individual level of NT play is consistently on par with England's collective level of incompetence.