"ENGLAND always play better against the bigger sides." That is the straw-clutching consensus among England optimists as they struggle to square hope and ambition with the unconvincing evidence of a lacklustre start.
Where has that misconception come from? It flies in the face of all the evidence. There is no golden rule that says England automatically raise their game once the World Cup stakes rise, that somehow they go through a tournament gradually moving up the gears. Brazil maybe. Goofy and Co can stumble through the early rounds then step up to spell-binding brilliance when faced with a really good side. But England?
Nope. The statement just doesn't stand up to scrutiny. I've heard it said about Boro and it is not true then either. Historically England play badly but get past the middle-ranking, the makeweights and the minnows but then signally FAIL to step up and play better when they meet the big boys. Look at the results...
Since the high point of 1966 England have got a very poor record when going head- to-head against the footballing superpowers. Even the most zealous and blinkered patriot would find it hard to argue with the stats.
In 1970 in the group they beat both Czechoslvakia and Romania 1-0 but lost by the same score to Brazil then in the quarter-final let slip a two goal to go down 3-2 in extra time to West Germany.
So, No marks beaten 2 Good teams beaten 0.
In 1974 Sir Alf's ageing team failed to qualify for the finals in resurgent Germany from a three team group including giants Wales and Poland so were left untested against the elite.
In 1978 their chances to qualify for Argentina were disappeared after England beat Luxembourg and Finland and won one apiece with Italy to be squeezed out on goal difference.
In 1982 they put a Dark Age of cruel Jock jibes behind them and qualified for Spain easily. They cruised through the group winning all of their three games against France, Czechoslovakia and Kuwait but in the second group stage faced Spain and Germany and went out after failing to score in their two draws.
No marks beaten 2 Good teams beaten 0.
In 1986 in Spain England finished second in their group after drawing with table-toppers Morocco, beating Poland and losing to basement boys Portugal. They squeezed past Paraguay 1-0 in the second round before losing 2-1 to Maradona in the quarter-finals.
No marks beaten 2 Good teams beaten 0.
In 1990, their best display since winning, England beat Egypt and drew with Holland and the Republic of Ireland in the groups to finish top then in the second round edged past Belgium courtesy of David Platt's career-shaping volley in extra-time. After that it was another tight extra-time win, over Cameroon, before middle-class media friendly football was born with Gazza's blubbing, Nessun Dorma and the drama of losing on penalties to Germany.
No marks beaten 2 Good teams beaten 0.
in 1994 the Turnip's team again failed to qualify from a tough group in which they thrashed Turkey, San Marino and Poland but lost and drew to Holland and ther was that iconic moment of 'Mrs Thatcher, your boys took one hell of a beating' commentary against suprise table-toppers Norway.
In 1998 in France they Hod's bods beat Tunisia and Hamilton Ricard's Colombia but lost to Romania to finish second in the group then despite that Michael Owen wonder goal went out in the second round against Argentian, losing 4-3 in extra time ("I'm not blaming David [Beckham] but he cost us the game," - Ian Wright).
No marks beaten 2 Good teams beaten 0.
In 2002 in Japorea England finally beat one of the elite. Having been plonked in the group of death Sven's men drew with Sweden and Nigeria and dished out a breakfast time beating to Argentian. Well, 1-0. With a penna. But who cares. They all count. In the second round England thrashed Denmark to send optimism levels soaring before Ronaldinho lobbed Seaman as Brazil won 2-1 in the quarter-final.
No marks beaten 1 Good teams beaten 1.
2006, so far: Paraguay and T&T obviously count as no marks. Are Sweden a good side? They looked it against England but not against Germany. Ecuador? Probably the worst team in the last 16. Now it is time for England to defy the stats and step up a gear to cast off the weight of an underachieving history outlined here.
No marks beaten 3 Good teams beaten ....TBC
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »