England coach, Fabio Capello rings in the changes after a disappointing world cup finals. The Italian took a squad with the average age of 28.7 to South Africa, England’s oldest ever squad at the world cup finals. With aging players like Steven Gerrard(30), Frank Lampard(32) playing as much as 96 games between them over the 10 month season, the Three Lions looked old and fatigued at the finals. The average age of world cup winners Spain was 25.9. Fellow underachievers Brazil, Italy had an average age of 28.6 and 28.2.
The World cup
The young German squad with an average age of 25.0 educated the English on the art of the counter attack with a 4-1 win when they marched England out in the round of 16. The Germans were expected to go as far as the quarterfinals[1], The loss of captain and marquee midfielder Michael Ballack(33) put the Germans odds in further doubt. A relatively healthy England woefully failed to justify the prediction of a semi-final berth[2]. The likes of Mesut Ozil(21) , Sami Khedira(23), and Thomas Muller(20) stepped up for Die Mannschaft, transforming the once perceived robotic Germany into a free flowing attacking team that led the tournament with 16 goals as they got sharper and stronger as the tournament went on. It was Painful watching the likes of John Terry (29), Matthew Upson(31) and Gareth Barry (29) are slowly deteriorate as they are seen trotting after Ozil and Muller as David James(40) hopelessly attempted to save the teams blushes. They exposed the veteran team so ruthlessly that even has Capello questioning the classic Italian philosophy of experience over youthful talent. He is quoted saying about youngster Adam Johnson “He had come a long way in a season, from Middlesbrough to Manchester City to England, but he was too young for the World Cup.” [3]
A not so fresh start
Capello has made a statement with only recalling 10 of the 23 man world cup squad called back for the friendly against Hungary. He is showing a change in direction by introducing Gary Cahill (24), and Arsenal youngsters Jack Wilshere (18) and Kieran Gibbs (20). The big question is why he insists on keeping the likes of Barry, Lampard, and Terry around when Barry and Terry will clock 31 and Lampard 34 by the next major international tournament. One or two experienced heads are definitely needed to lead the team, one of these roles has Steven Gerrard’s name written all over it because he has been a consistent performer and has been a class act for youngsters to follow.
Although Capello takes steps forward with injecting new blood into the three lions’ squad he fails to totally reform the team. Why recall Wes Brown (30) and drop Ryan Shawcross (22) who you felt was good enough for the world cup squad but did not merit any playing time? Where is Gabriel Agbonlahor (23)? Why drop Jermaine Defoe (27) who scored when called upon?
Wilshere, Gibbs, Johnson could have a similar effect Muller, Ozil, and Khedira by injecting new blood into an aging squad. Capello should Groom them in preparation for England’s European championship campaign and not bow to the pressure of picking the big names of the past decade.
How about starting the 2014 preparation now with a balanced team with youngsters and some veterans to steer them in the right direction? Expose them, gel them and keep them sufficiently hungry to be unleashed in 2014?
Full squad: Foster (Birmingham), Hart (Manchester City), Robinson (Blackburn); Brown (Manchester United), Cahill (Bolton), A Cole (Chelsea), Dawson (Tottenham), Gibbs (Arsenal), Jagielka (Everton), G Johnson (Liverpool), Terry (Chelsea); Barry (Manchester City), Gerrard (Liverpool), A Johnson (Manchester City), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Walcott (Arsenal), Wilshere (Arsenal); Bent (Sunderland), C Cole (West Ham), Rooney (Manchester United), Zamora (Fulham)
By: Babatumi Sodade
Date: 08/08/2010..1:34AM
[1] http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/internationals/a/Germany2010.htm
[2] http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/internationals/a/England2010.htm
[3] http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=812438&sec=euro2012&cc=5901
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