Opposing talismans shine whilst our's swears at cameras. Is Capello as inadequate as Domenech and Le Guen or will we see redemption?

A wretched, feeble, pathetic performance against Algeria means England’s hopes of qualifying to the knock-out stages of the world cup is unexpectedly in a great degree of doubt. The spineless showing attracted abuse from inside the stadium as well as living rooms and pubs across the nation and English football is at an extremely low point.
With Fabio Capello hailed as a tactical genius and paid six million pounds as year, as the highest-earning international manager in the world, you’d think the least he could do is set the team up correctly after years of preparation, especially as he appears to hold no motivational or man-managing value. The most casual of football fans in the country could identify the fact that chances were not being created and our formation simply wasn’t working, so why did Capello introduce Shaun Wright-Phillips as a like-for-like change for Aaron Lennon? This was clearly going to change very little tactically and replaced our frighteningly, quick winger with an arguably lesser version.
Surely Joe Cole should have been introduced. Any fan in the local pub realises that Cole has the ability to provide a moment of magic and contains the star quality and vitally, confidence which was required in that lacklustre situation. One man I do sympathise with is Emile Heskey. Continually branded as a scapegoat for England’s eternal failing, he is picked by the manager and has never let his country down. His patriotism and professionalism is something the squad certainly lacks and although, obviously not a top-class finisher, he continues to battle in attack in support of the essential Wayne Rooney. However, I’m unsure Heskey should actually play. As Rooney had been consistently outstanding for Manchester United last term as a lone striker and Steven Gerrard can naturally support a front man, surely playing Gerrard in a more advanced role in aid of Rooney is the rational option.
Capello’s hostile approach towards the squad is an increasing worry. With the Italian’s tactical knowledge thrown into question, it’s highly doubtful he’ll even have the ability and attitude to galvanize his troops, maybe even, the comical, yet inspirational speeches of James Corden would be a better option than Capello’s dour team meeting ahead of Wednesday’s game against Slovenia when England will either regain the faith of their excited nation or inconsiderately perish into possibly the most despised team in living memory.
Games the following day seemed to quickly pass as the intense interest of the competition was certainly hindered by disappointment and the repercussions of extensive drinking from the previous night across the nation. Holland managed to maintain their 100% record with a Wesley Sneijder goal and a sound defensive display. With Sneijder being the main talisman of the Netherlands, you certainly wonder why Rooney fails to emulate his ability to be a match winner for his team when his passion and ability has never before been in doubt. Perhaps it’s his fitness after a physically challenging season, or maybe financial concern is worrying him after he was forced to pay legal fees to his former agent, but most likely, it’s the fact Rooney has finally slipped out of touch with reality and is no longer the ‘working-man’s man’ he was formerly proud to represent. Mentally wrapped in theoretical cotton-wool by the ‘protectors’ who surround him and carrying the hopes and pressure of the nation’s chances on his, surprisingly young shoulders, Rooney’s mini rant as his exited the pitch in South Africa summed up his inability to empathise with ‘normal people’ and maybe, worryingly, he is evolving into the self-indulged narcissist many feared he would become. Let’s hope Sir. Alex Ferguson gives him a call before the next game to improve his attitude, as Capello appears incapable of doing, and he can turn this tournament around, becoming the legend we all wished for.
With African teams being tipped as surprise contenders in this tournament with a delightful array of talent in their own continent, two potentially successful representatives of the region failed to improve their trophy chances. As an Australian team, missing the influential Tim Cahill via suspension, took an early lead against Ghana, another disappointment for African supporters was on the card. Before the twenty minute mark, Harry Kewell was rightly, but rather pitifully, eagerly dismissed for saving an equaliser with the use of his hands. Clearly Mr. Kewell has a better grasp of the infamous ‘Jabulani’ ball than the goalkeepers themselves. Asamoah Gyan netted his second of the tournament, and Ghana’s equaliser from the spot, but; despite the numerical advantage, the sorry Ghanaians failed to convert a decisive goal.
It was the hopeless, overrated Paul Le Guen who engaged in battle later in the evening as his Cameroon team had to steal some kind of result against a decent Denmark team. Despite taking a lead, the egotistic Samuel Eto’o didn’t use any of his attributes to finish the game and the inadequate Le Guen helplessly looked on to see the Danish comeback to a 2-1 victory, making them the first side to be mathematically eliminated from the tournament.
Nicholas Anelka also retired from international football after “insulting” Raymond Domenech. Admittedly, if I was in Anelka’s position, it would be quite a struggle to retain myself from insulting Mr. Domenech due to his obvious incompetence. But judging by Anelka’s track record and his scandalous reputation as ‘Le Sulk’, perhaps we’ll regretfully, offer Domenech some sympathy.
It’s inconceivable that England won’t win on Wednesday. Surely it just can not happen with that squad of players. But upsets are consistently occurring as a number of major countries in the tournament are undergoing internal turmoil. It’s incredible that these organisations cannot use their years of preparation sufficiently as things always tend to disastrously unravel in the fateful two weeks for someone. Hopefully it’s not England who continue to deteriorate and they redeem themselves appropriately and unconvincingly squeeze through to the last sixteen.

Argentina emerge as genuine contenders but the arrogant French wither away into disgrace

It was time for Diego Maradona’s Argentina side to engage in their second battle of the tournament. Although the South Americans were firm favourites, the game against South Korea was not likely to be an elementary task for Lionel Messi and his team-mates after the likes of Park Ji-Sung impressed in the earlier stages of the tournament.
Argentina invariably threatened to score from the moment the referee puffed on his whistle to signal the start of a potential buffet of world-class goals. With Lionel Messi attempting to firmly put his stamp on this tournament in the manner of Pele in 1970 or his own coach, Diego Maradona in 1986, it was he who forced the opening goal with a spinning free-kick which pitifully parried off of a Korean defender into the back of the net. Typical, admirable persistence from the bullish Carlos Tevez obtained a free-kick for the Argentineans in a dangerous position, link-up play between Messi and Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez resulted in a cross meeting the unmarked head of Gonzalo Higuain as he responsively knocked the ball in the goal to double the lead.
As an annihilation was in the reckoning, the game was swung in the opposite direction as the Koreans managed to undeservedly score a goal of their own. However, Argentina went on to seal the game as Higuain completed a hat trick of simple finishes, one being a Messi rebound from the post as ‘the best player in the world’ is struggling to gain firm recognition of his own. Higuain still managed to look unconvincing at times and with Argentina certainly progressing into the latter stages, it’s likely a better side will be able to deal with his threat more easily, perhaps signalling the introduction of Diego Milito, a much better striker in my opinion.
It was now the turn of the other two contenders in what was rapidly becoming ‘Argentina’s group’. With Greece looking extremely lacklustre in their opening fixture and Nigeria some how managing to hinder the threat of the Argentineans, I certainly favoured the Africans to take the three points in this game. Kaulo Uche’s early free-kick from great distance seemed to dance between bodies of defenders and attackers before settling in the goal itself, a very poor and frustrating goal to concede for the Greeks. However, the European side were handed a lifeline when a petulant attack from a Nigerian midfielder on a Greek was spotted by the referee and resulted in a red card. Greece then netted the equaliser on the stroke of half time, notoriously, ‘a great time to score’. Incredibly, being the first ever goal for the previous European champions, Greece finally appeared enthusiastic enough to gain a win, and they did just that when they scored with twenty minutes remaining and managed to hold on to their lead.
In what first appeared a predictable group, group A was quickly becoming an exciting prospect. With a rather dour performance by the French against Uruguay, Raymond Domenech’s men needed to put in a much better performance against a team of focused Mexicans. Mexico always looked the more likely to win as they played with passion, commitment, and most importantly, conviction whilst France arrogantly strolled to defeat. Perhaps Domenech will be regretting the omission of the likes of Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema as his preference for older players, lacking hunger and focus looks to be a huge mistake. Hernandez, who will ply his trade at Manchester United next term opened the scoring and an inconsiderate, careless challenge from Eric Abidal, summing up the attitude of the French, resulted in a penalty expertly converted by veteran, Blanco.
As the whistle blew, Patrice Evra aggressively ripped his captain’s band from his upper arm and smashed it down on the earth whilst Domenech remained casually leaning against the side of his dugout with his arms coolly folded. Clearly the French squad is in disarray with immature rifts within the camp and selfish, ambitionless performances from the likes of William Gallas and Thierry Henry, due to the fact they’ve already won sufficient trophies in their career, is ruining the likes of Patrice Evra’s and Florent Malouda’s chances of ever lifting an international trophy. Whether the international veterans will turn on the style for one more time is unsure, perhaps they will in aid of the fond memories of their own career but it’s unlikely they’ll do it for patriotic reasons as they seem focused solely on themselves and Domenech hardly looks like he has the ability to motivate this side of prime a donnas. Whether Evra can play his part in building up a non-existent team spirit remains to be seen but the sincere arrogance of the withering ‘class of 1998’ is clear as they continue to swim in self-indulgence and patronisingly look on at the younger generation and sneer at their attempts of success. I certainly hope this is the last time the over thirties in that squad play for France and have lost a lot of respect for a number of formerly,great players.
France must be rid of the unpopular Domenech and appoint a young, hungry manager, perhaps Laurent Blanc, or they will continually fail to fulfil their potential and the likes of a potentially new golden generation including Frank Ribery, Karim Benzema and Yohann Gourcuff will go to waste. It’s unlikely Uruguay and Mexico will play out a ‘convenient draw’ which would see both qualify as this would diminish the integrity of the competition but with South Africa certain to be fired up for potentially their last appearance in their own world cup, it’s certainly possible that they will out battle and admirably defeat the disgrace of this year’s French team.