LET’S PUT THINGS in perspective — England haven’t won the World Cup yet and they probably still won’t.
But whatever happens between now and the end of the tournament, Russia 2018 has been an unequivocal success for this team.
It is the first time they have reached the semi-finals of a major tournament since Euro ’96 and the first time they have reached the last four of the World Cup since 1990.
While Sweden are far from the greatest team in the world, they did dump out Italy and also caused Germany serious problems. England have struggled against the Swedes in the past, only managing draws against them at both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, in addition to getting defeated in a Euro 2000 qualifier.
They may have had a somewhat favourable draw to get to this stage, but it is still a remarkable achievement by Gareth Southgate, who has handled the media pressure, team selection and pretty much everything else with aplomb.
They have conquered the dreaded penalty-kicks hoodoo as well as the national angst that invariably accompanies England at major tournaments. They have also been coached and prepared extremely well — the astounding number of goals they have scored from set pieces (8 — more than any team since Portugal in 1966) is no mere fluke.
What distinguishes this team from past incarnations is, with the exception of Harry Kane, the absence of world-class players.
The Three Lions have had better players to choose from in the past, but there has rarely been such a confidence and unity about the team.
Two starters, Jesse Lingard and John Stones, have not been automatic picks for their clubs this season. Harry Maguire and Jordan Pickford play for Leicester and Everton respectively, essentially mid-table Premier League clubs. Individuals such as Jordan Henderson and Ashley Young are better known for their work ethic than talent.
GOAL England #SWE 0-2 #ENG
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) 7 July 2018
58mins: England have one foot in the semi-finals as Dele Alli heads home their second.#RTEsoccer
Updates: https://t.co/NnapTOU8Wt pic.twitter.com/KJxGOUPGmE
But Southgate has moulded this group into a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
In the past, England’s star power arguably hindered the team. In contrast with the current group, they had a number of world-class individuals and with that status comes greater ego. Rio Ferdinand and others have spoken of how Man United and Chelsea players struggled to get on in the camp among other well-documented issues.
It is consequently perhaps no coincidence that the final member of the so-called golden generation, Wayne Rooney, was axed by Gareth Southgate following his appointment as manager. Joe Hart, another big-name player, was also ruthlessly cut from the team.
One of England’s biggest problems in the past was their insistence on indulging stars at the expense of the team.
Even going back to the last Euros, Jack Wilshere was selected despite the ongoing fitness issues of recent years. Wayne Rooney was accommodated in midfield irrespective of his indifferent form.
Before that, it was a case of picking the best players rather than the most suitable team. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were thrown together in midfield, despite regular evidence of their incompatibility as a pair. Paul Scholes was awkwardly shifted out to the left-hand side of midfield. David Beckham was seemingly undroppable despite his lack of pace out wide frequently being an issue.
If Sven-Goran Eriksson was manager of this side, you would probably see the undeniably gifted Marcus Rashford accommodated somehow. The likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling would likely be picked ahead of Harry Maguire. And Wayne Rooney might even still be part of the team for his ‘experience’.
Yet instead of going down this route of simply picking the best or most high-profile players, Southgate has put his trust in youth and shown great conviction by prioritising the system and style of play rather than worrying about certain players’ egos. And England have thrived as a result of this unique, single-minded and bold approach, playing the type of positive, technical and shrewd football that was conspicuously lacking in their efforts at past tournaments.
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