EPL News 24/7On display tonight, were all the qualities we’ve wanted to see from our England side: heart, desire, and determination. If those three are evident in a performance, then you can forgive anything else that happens.
At two-one down, the knives were out, the obituaries were being eagerly written by the press, and England were failing again on the international stage.
Forget all the caveats, ignore the cynicism about how England managed to come away from tonight’s game with three points, and just enjoy that they did. Sweden may not be Spain, but then again England aren’t exactly Germany – so there’s really no need for the negative context that will doubtless be applied tomorrow morning.
There were negatives, of course there were, but what should be the focus – and what we should all enjoy – is that we have an England team who are showing a lot of pride in representing their country. Steven Gerrard was outstanding, Scott Parker dragged his wilting body through another defiant ninety minutes, and Andy Carroll provided exactly the kind of performance he was selected to give. One chance, one goal – and there won’t be a better header in this competition.
Glen Johnson. The Liverpool full-back gets a tough time on this site, and there have been many times when we’ve belittled his contributions for club and country. Not tonight though. As against France, Johnson was outstanding, and he gave a clinic in how to play his position in the modern game. Two goal-saving tackles, one almost goal-saving clearance, and a truly pertinent attacking contribution. Johnson’s last two games are cumulatively the best display by an England right-back since Gary Neville was the incumbent.
And another player who’s frequently derided on these pages, Theo Walcott. The criticism of Walcott is so fierce, because we all know what he’s capable of contributing – namely, what we saw tonight. He’s a game-changer, and when he can marry his physical attributes with good decision-making, he’s very difficult to negate. Skeptics will point to the fortune of his goal, but honestly, who cares? Maybe his natural role in the England squad is to be what he was tonight; an impact player. Don’t let him worry about structure, or defensive obligations, just get him on the pitch and tell him to run at defenders. Over-complicating things with Walcott is the surest way to render him ineffective, but let him play with instinct and he’ll terrify opponents.
It was nervy as Hell tonight, and it didn’t go completely to plan – but when has it ever with England? The beauty, however, of an imperfect team, is that the public find it easier to unify behind them – and that’s what happened tonight, there was no sense of that familiar apathy that’s grown around the national team. This evening they made you feel proud.
And so on we go to Ukraine on Tuesday. Don’t let anybody tell you that England are suddenly world-beaters, but add Wayne Rooney into this team, and we’re a threat to some of the bigger teams.
