In the aftermath of the 'disasterous' South Africa campaign, the inquest and nfinger pointing was qucik to begin. Of course, it was all manager Fabio Capello's fault. It had little to do with the players that neither Steve McClaren nor Sven-Goran Eriksson could inspire to the glory we have come to expect of them. Too much time spent along in hotel rooms. Deprived of their families - despite the complaints of their presence in Baden Baden in 2006. The FA shouldered some of the blame for rushing into ensuring Capello remained in his post after June by remlving the break clause that could have seen him flying dirctly back to Milan. Now it would cost in excess of £6 million to boot out the cold foreigner the proud Brits didn't want in charge - money the FA could ill afford given that they are penning as many dates in the Wembley calendar as possibe to repay the construction debts and seemingly relaying the farm field of a pitch every week.And so, with the calls mounting for Capello to 'show some dignity' and quit - after two competitive defeats - he had the perfect opportunity to silence his critics in the best way possible - with football. The display against Hungary last month has hardly been a cause for optimism - the only positive not was that stand in captain Steven Gerrard had performed his Liverpool role of dragging a lifeless team to victory with a virtuose individual few minutes. And there were mixed feelings with so many of the old guard - captain Rio Ferdinand and Chelsea stalwarts John Terry and Frank Lampard - absent through injury. Perhaps it really was time for the new dawn of English football?
Whatever mistakes Capello made during his time in South Africa, he got almost every decision spot in for these two games. What better way to respond to criticism than with a resounding win over Bulgaria? Only 12 months ago sucha result would have been taken for granted but now, after the summer and a crushing defeat to Germany, who finished third in the tournament, we were back to the doom and gloom of expecting insipid displays that earned nothing against these teams.
Instead we were treated to another fine display and soon forgot about the absence of the old guard. There were refreshing changes, both in terms of who was playing and the new roles for the old timers. Gerrard looked anew in his preferred central role, picking out the pinpoint passes that were largely absent in a World Cup campaign that saw the strikers left isolated or falling back deep to get involved in the play. Jermain Defoe was clinical in putting his chances away to bag England's first competitive hat-trick since Theo Walcott's memorable night in Zagreb. Defoe has always been one of England's best finisher - he does fall shot in other departments, rarely making chances himself or getting involved in play to the same extent as Wayne Rooney, but given chances he will score goals.
Walcott himself was welcomed back and seemed to prove evidence that he should have flown out to Bloemfontein as one of the 25. Joe Hart also showed why he should have been in goal for that campaign, instead of the error-prone Rob Green or the past-it David James. Hart's development over the last several seasons has been phenomenal, turning from a reserve keeper loaned out to lower Premier League or Championship sides to the first choice for his country and the highest spending team in the league. Phil Jagielka is another strong candidate to be regularly making the starting XI after two near flawless displays, the Everton defender showing the form that made his side pay £6 million to sign him from Sheffield United after the Blades' relegation.
Adam Johnson was restricted to a substitute's appearance, but wasted no time in showing his class. The winger is one of these players that seems to have been born to play for England and effortlessly made the step up in class. His goal was speculative, but it was good to see a player with confidence to take that sort of shot on. His rise has been meteoric and similar to Hart's, signing from Championship contenders Middlesbrough in January for what now looks like a bargain, believed to be around £7 million. With both him and Hart aged 23, both are exciting prospects with great potential. If they can stay injury free and keep improving then, along with the likes of Walcott and others, perhaps we can have a whole new 'Golden Generation'? How ironic that of all the hundreds of millions spent at middle Eastlands, it it the two players from the lower English divisons - Hart just £700,000 from League Two - that have established themselves as two of the team's stars in amongst all the 'galacticos'.
After trouncing Bulgaria, the sheepish critics were now saying this was expected against a team ranked a lowly 43rd in the World Rankings. Switzerland would provide a sterner test - they were the only side to have beaten World Champions Spain in Durban, and surely could give England the run around. The 17th placed team were seen as England's main competitors in a group we were again expected to top.
To make matter more difficult before kick off in Basel news broke of Rooney's happy times spent with different ladies of the night. Would he be able to play effectively? Had this ruined his World Cup? The two thoughts seemed contradictory given his hand in all four goals against Bulgaria at Wembley. Gerrard gave an assured press conference about how Rooney would be ready to play and how others were not in a position to judge him. After all, if England chose players based on the accuracy of their moral compass, would we even be able to field a starting XI? Defoe has been caught up to no good in a car, Gerrard was cleared of his pub punch up, Ferdinand was too busy buying jumpers to attend a drugs test, Ashley Cole relaxes by sending naked pictures of himself to other women and John Terry committed the henious crime of having an affair with the ex-girlfriend fo a team mate, who obviously still thought he should have a say in what his ex-partner got up to. Even St Beckham had the whole Rebecca Loos incident.
This time it was Rooney who promptly answered his critics, firing home the opening goal in just ten minutes. The incident was somewhat ruined by Walcott's tumble, though it is welcome news to hear that he is only likely to be out for two weeks. Another concern is why so many of Arsenal's players seem to be made of glass? Each season they seem to have at least ten of their starting XI missing half of the campaign, and each season at least one player has a leg snapped like a toothpick by one of the rough'n'tumble teams. While the latter is not the club's fault for others taking an agressive approach, why they have a disproportionate number of players absent through niggles and minor injuries is surely concerning to fans.
After struggling to make the Swiss crumble (pun intended) with the second half wearing on, Adam Johnson again showed his class and cool composure to round and slot past Diego Benaglio to double England's lead. It was another sublime pass from Gerrard that created the opportunity as England were gelling well. Hart made a few blunders that could have cost England but was helpless to stop Xherdan Shaqiri's spectacular goal reducing the deficit. Glen Johnson looked strong going forward and was unlucky not to score, though like many others I have reservations about his defensive capabilities - would he not be better as a right winger? Gareth Bale has turned from mediocre to world class by moving a few yards further up the field.
Joleon Lescott looked able but still short of the £24 million City paid for his signiture. Milner is another who looks able of holding his own at City, who have made a mockery of the suggestion theya re ruining English football by frequently fielding seven England internationals in their starting XI. Ashely Cole is another class performer who has been consistantly brilliant for England. Even Gareth Barry looked like he may have ability he forgot to bring to South Africa, and if he can remain the anchorman with Gerrard pushing forward we could have a dangerous midfield (minus Lampard, of course).
England were somewhat fortnate with the referee, not giving red cards to the Three Lions players or giving penalties while assisting them by dismissing Stephan Lichtsteiner. I was glad to see Darren Bent again show good composure and finishing to wrap up the win for England. He has been a top player for Sunderland but always failed when given the rare opportunity to shine on the international stage. This time he seized it, taking an important goal well, and can hopefully grow from that to become a compeitive striker for England.
However, after these two wins lets not get carried away with a wave of euphoria and optimism. Yes, England should have won these games and did. Did the World Cup humbles us that much? Unlucky against the USA, admittedly dire aganst Algeria, should have scored more against Slovenia and then hammered by a vibrant and strong German side that finished third, and even in that the team were unlucky with a few decisions. England are ranked seventh in the world - so to often reach quarter finals is a fair reflection.
England are like Andy Murray, usually doing the job and sweeping aside lower rank sides but falling short against the better sides. Murray, with the odd exception, will beat the players below him to steadily progress to the semi finals, but will invariable fall short agianst the Rafael Nadals and the Roger Federers of tennis. Especially on the big stage of the Grand Slam - even if he beats one, he falls short against another. Just as England beat the lower ranked sides in qualifying, they fall short on the big stage against the Germanys and the Portugals of world football.
It is difficult to assess Capello's success at international level - he is not the failure the tabloids deem, and I feel was both unlucky and unfortunate at a world cup where expectations were unrealistically high. One supporter said his record compared to club football would see England with a win ratio to win the league, but that's unfair as clubs regularly face teams of similar ability while international teams only play other top sides at the latter stages of biannual tournaments due to the seeding system, so arguably we will not be able to assess England again until Poland and Ukraine 2012. Hopefully we can see the side progress and be strong for that competition - the critics will at least have some relief knowing that Capello will step aside regardless of how we perform in the tournament. Hopefully now the country can be united in support and measured in cautious optimism, if not expectation.
(Picture: Reuters)
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