The much discussed World Cup Football tournament in Russia is not only here, it is vibrant, impressive and much discussed by everyone. It is a huge 4-year staging post that defines our own individual life-stories and more significantly has the potential to lift the mood of a nation. As I have regularly pointed out recently to every cynical individual who claims to hate football and this tournament, success or failure for England here directly impacts us all. So, with the Group stages completed, how do I assess our chances.
England have qualified comfortably from the Group phase; that in itself has been a success because we won the first match 2-1 against a dogged Tunisia, despite isolated patches of nervous anxiety, by scoring critical goals when it mattered most on a Monday night and then recorded a ruthless 6-1 execution of a haplessly erratic Panama team on a baking Sunday afternoon. Fabulous! Let's be brutally honest, we were expected to win both of those games but the critical issue is we love an occasion; last Sunday was the ultimate excuse for the greatest of gatherings. After the final whistle, as I drove to discuss to meet a friend to discuss the logistics of another Wedding for the Maestro, the pungent smell of Barbeques firing up was everywhere. Nothing in this world compares to the consumption of an ice-cold beer as we dare to debate how we might/could/should/ win the thing...etc. It's the realisation of the high life; the kids are playing happily together, you agree to everything the wife says and England are through to the next round. Then, at work on Monday we forget that the real test is Belgium on Thursday! Do we play or rest Harry Kane? Should we rest our best players? Which route is the easiest? The honest facts are these, we had a reality check against Belgium; we lost 1-0, they dominated possession, our back-up midfield players are too light-weight. Jordan Pickford is a calamity waiting to happen but I'm not telling you anything you didn't know already am I?
Here is the reality, we have by default been awarded an easier route to the Semi-Final as was the case in 1990 when we drew with Eire, the Dutch, and beat Egypt then defeated Belgium in Extra-Time and came from behind to beat Cameroon before being edged out by the Germans in the Semi-Final who defeated a woeful Argentina in an ill-tempered final to lift the trophy. There is a similar pattern emerging here; England have two winnable matches against Colombia and then Sweden or Switzerland. It would be disrespectful to suggest that any of those teams are weak but the reality is that none of them possess unplayable box-office players. All three have match winners but none of them possess players of that ilk. Big players create huge intensity and the courage to produce opportunities in critical moments that affect outcomes. So, yes! I think we can and should progress to the Semi-Final.
If we get there, do we possess enough to become contenders? Yes because of the following players; Marcus Rashford, we have a player with terrifying speed, agility, desire and belief. Harry Kane, we genuinely have one of the very best centre-forwards in the whole tournament. Jesse Lingard is a fabulously creative and hard-working player who has regularly scored significant goals for Manchester United and is without doubt the player opposition coaches will highlight for special attention. I am very concerned about the creativity of our midfield; Jordan Henderson is a good leader, willing workhorse but does not possess the X-Factor, he is not a street-wise warrior like say Sergei Ramos. Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling are two players that need to impose themselves on the landscape if we are to progress further, particularly Sterling. If he can score a big goal in the Semi-Final on Wednesday 11th July; the negative headlines will evapourate and the tattoo nonsense will be history; for me it's that simple. Sadly, I am not convinced that Dele Alli will recover from that knock to make a mark on this tournament but time will tell
What will stop us going beyond the Semi-Finals? If we are to defeat France, Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay our attack needs to be ruthless and our defence needs to be decisive at set-pieces. Sadly despite the huge number of goals in our team, the back door may slip open once too many times.
IF England are not contesting the trophy, and my head shouts profusely that they are not! My personal favourites for the title are Brazil, France and Uruguay, with Belgium as my dark horses; but despite the absence of Germany there are still some seriously strong candidates all over the last 16 draw. It's easier for me to say that Japan, Denmark, and Sweden definitely won't win it on this occasion although those nations, could like England have a wonderful chance to reach the last four; but deep down I sense that it will be us. Harry Kane is the key man for England; goals win matches and goals win trophies in tournaments; and he is chomping at the bit to write his name in the history books.
Whatever happens, it will be a festival of fabulous football, goals and excitement. The summer of 2018 is rocking; bring it on and don't forget to stock the fridge with loads of beer; enjoy the journey. Come on England!!!
