England’s young guns ready All Whites book their ticket to Russia
There was a time when Frank Lampard feared for England’s prospects of making it to Euro 2016. So too, he sensed, did Roy Hodgson. After the 2014 World Cup, when Lampard and Steven Gerrard were ready to call time on their international careers, the manager asked them to guide a young squad through what could have been a tough qualifying campaign.
‘‘I had a conversation with Roy – and I know Stevie did as well – where he wanted us to carry on,’’ Lampard says. ‘‘There was a game coming up in Switzerland, at the start of the qualifiers, and Roy wasn’t sure quite how the transition would go with the younger players, so ideally he wanted some experience in there. I thought about it, I really did, but I was going to be joining New York City, I had just signed a short-term deal with Manchester City and international breaks were going to be my only real opportunity to see my family.
‘‘It was difficult for me at the time because I had always taken great pride in playing for my country. I had to decline, the same as Stevie, because it felt like I had had my time playing for England and it was time to let others come through, but I did worry about where those young players were going to come from, particularly in midfield.’’
Dele Alli? He was an 18-year-old at Milton Keynes Dons, a year from his Premier League debut. Eric Dier? He had just joined Tottenham Hotspur from Sporting Lisbon as a 20-year-old defender. None of Kyle Walker, Danny Rose or Harry Kane was sure of a first-team place at Spurs. Likewise Chris Smalling at Manchester United. As for Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford, at 27 and 16 respectively, a call-up was the farthest thing from their minds.
‘‘I didn’t see that coming, I really didn’t,’’ Lampard says ahead of England’s Euro 2016 opener this morning against Russia. ‘‘I don’t think anyone did. In the last few years of my international career, I couldn’t see the new generation emerging. I couldn’t see a new team emerging that was potentially going to light up a tournament.
‘‘Stevie and I were the last ones standing from that previous era and it wasn’t really clear which way it was going to go, but they got a great result in Switzerland with a young team and they built from there. Looking back, I think I can say that it needed that change.’’
It was not simply a case of Lampard and Gerrard standing aside, though. ‘‘A lot of these lads weren’t playing in the Premier League at the time,’’ Lampard says. ‘‘It needed managers to give them a chance at club level and then for Roy to give them their chance with England. Ryan Bertrand took a chance by leaving Chelsea, but he has done great at Southampton. That has been the exciting thing about the past year or two. What Vardy has done speaks for itself as Walking off the pitch in tears after scoring a stunning late winner for France against Romania in the Euro 2016 opener yesterday, it was hard to believe man-of-the-match Dimitri Payet almost did not make the squad.
The mercurial midfielder, who created the first goal before firing the clincher in the 89th minute in the hosts’ 2-1 Group A victory over a stubborn Romania, was until recently a peripheral player in the mind of France coach Didier Deschamps.
‘‘To be here tonight and score is the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices,’’ Payet, 29, said of his long road back from the international wilderness.
‘‘To be honest, compared to some players, I honestly didn’t think I part of one of the most incredible sporting successes of all time at Leicester. Marcus Rashford’s progress has been fantastic.
‘‘It’s a different level of player that we’re seeing emerge now – more technically gifted, I would say, and more intelligent on the ball. Dele Alli excites me a lot. He’s a goalscoring midfielder, but he’s a different type of player to me. I’ve been so impressed by the season he has had for Tottenham. For me, he’s the one who really stands out. He’s straight in there in the starting XI.
‘‘I’m a big Harry Kane fan. If you have only one up front, then for me it’s Harry Kane. He’s a fantastic all-round centre forward, probably the first we’ve had of that particular type since Alan Shearer. He has been brilliant.
‘‘I really like Rashford. He’s the kind of striker England have been looking for for a while. I like his movement, his ability. In everything he does – on and off the ball – he’s always looking to get beyond the opposition defence. Like a lot of them, he plays without fear.’’
Ah, fear. The F-word. It has been would be here today at the start of the season,’’ added the West Ham United player. ‘‘There was some pressure arriving at the stadium, but I came to enjoy myself.’’
That pressure was the result of a prolonged period in the international doldrums when Payet was ignored by Deschamps and often told he had slipped too far down the pecking order to be worthy of a spot in the squad.
Despite playing reasonably well and scoring his first goal for France in a 4-3 loss to Belgium in June 2015, he was dropped from subsequent squads. Undoubtedly talented, questions remained over his ability to fit into the France team and how to get the best out of him.
Payet stepped out of the shadow prominent in discussion of England’s failures – another F-word – in recent times. Fabio Capello used to talk of how the England shirt weighed heavily on the players’ shoulders and, as the discussion of this phenomenon grew, so too, it seemed, did the burden of pressure. For Lampard and his teammates, it all felt like a long time since the blissful innocence that characterised their first serious outings on the international stage, in his case at Euro 2004.
‘‘I remember us turning up for that France game in Lisbon, and seeing all our fans in the stands, and we just felt we could take anyone on. I still feel that was the tournament when it was really there for us, but it didn’t quite happen and we lost on penalties [to Portugal in the quarterfinal].
‘‘I thought the fear thing was spoken about too much after Fabio Capello mentioned it, but I think it probably did become a bit of an issue for England for a time, whereas I look at this squad now and there’s a real fearlessness in it. Dele Alli – I don’t see any fear there.’’ of Paul Pogba and stole the show, creating a slew of chances for his side before eventually serving up the sublime cross that allowed Olivier Giroud to break the deadlock.
A Bogdan Stancu penalty put Romania level and they looked like leaving with a share of the spoils before Payet struck his stunning late winner, beautifully curling a left-foot shot into the top corner of the net to delight the home fans.
Meanwhile, 30 years to the day since they played their last match at a leading tournament, Northern Ireland will participate in another.
The significance of the occasion has been lent additional poignancy by the anniversary. If June 12, 1986, marked the start of three decades in the international wilderness, the Eng v Rus: 7am today Tur v Cro: 1am tomorrow Pol v N Ire: 4am tomorrow Ger v Ukr: 7am tomorrow Esp v Cz Rep: 1am Tuesday Rep of Ire v Swi: 4am Tuesday Bel v Ita: 7am Tuesday Aut v Hun: 4am Wednesday Por v Ice: 7am Wednesday Rus v Svn: 1am Thursday Rom v Swi: 4am Thursday Fra v Alb: 7am Thursday Eng v Wal: 1am Friday Ukr v N Ire: 4am Friday Ger v Pol: 7am Friday Ita v Swe: 1am Saturday Cz Rep v Cro: 4am Saturday Esp v Tur: 7am Saturday * all games live on Sky Pop-up 57
Rio Ferdinand is among those who have suggested Hodgson should think long-term at Euro 2016 and focus more on building for tournaments beyond. ‘‘I think there can almost be a bit too much foresight at times,’’ Lampard says. ‘‘Who knows what will happen in two or four years’ time? I don’t see Wayne Rooney – or Jamie Vardy – same date in 2016 will herald not only a return to the big stage but the reignition of a flame that had been all but extinguished.
Of the 23-man squad that Michael O’Neill, the Northern Ireland manager, will choose from when he selects a team to face Poland at Stade de Nice at 4am tomorrow, only eight were born the last time their country took part in a leading tournament.
This is a new generation, one that has broken free from the shackles of past failures and now has the confidence to look ahead with realistic hope of emulating the Northern Ireland teams that captured the imagination of their supporters at the 1958, 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
Northern Ireland must now show holding anything back. Dele Alli, with the way he’s playing, will fancy his chances against anyone.’’
Are they in danger of being too fearless, with caution thrown to the wind, with a young defence and midfield at risk of being outmanoeuvred by cleverer opponents? ‘‘There is a little bit of a concern,’’ Lampard says. ‘‘The back four as a whole is lacking experience, but I really like Gary Cahill. I think he has to be one of the starters at centre half. The other worry is that we have a lot of attacking players, so how do we stop the back four coming under pressure?’’
Who else does Lampard fancy? ‘‘I’ve spoken to Andrea Pirlo and David Villa [his New York City team-mates] about Italy and Spain and I’m not sure either of those squads is in fantastic shape,’’ he says. ‘‘Spain have a lot of great individuals, but the question is whether they can get back to the level they were at. It’s not the best squad Italy have ever had, but they always have the doggedness and the tactical quality to do well.
‘‘France will be very strong. [Paul] Pogba has the chance to that they belong.
With fewer than 40 professionals to choose from, O’Neill’s achievement in getting his country to this stage should not be underestimated, especially as Northern Ireland arrive at Euro 2016 with the longest unbeaten run – 12 matches – of any of the 24 teams.
‘‘Make no mistake, this has not been a matter of luck or fate,’’ O’Neill said.
‘‘This has been an achievement of monumental proportions for a group of exceptional players who have worked diligently and with purpose to achieve what most people would have considered impossible. I am proud that we have played a positive role in making Northern Ireland a better place.’’ make a huge impact. I would have hated playing against him. Not only is he big and powerful, but he’s technically brilliant. I love [Antoine] Griezmann, too. I think it will come down to France or Germany. I know Germany have had a funny time since the World Cup, but they’re a tournament team and they have the quality and the experience to go again.’’
However England do, Lampard believes Hodgson deserves credit for overseeing the transition. ‘‘People often seem to want to put him in box as a 4-4-2, conservative manager, but I don’t see him like that,’’ he says. ‘‘Even in Brazil he picked a pretty young team with an expansive style. England were late coming to the party in terms of looking beyond 4-4-2. There were tournaments where we were too rigid, but Roy has taken us away from that with a young team that I think will play without fear.
‘‘I keep hearing people saying quarterfinals will be OK for us, but I don’t want to say that. I think we can make the semifinals if things go for us. For a developing team, that would be great.’’ IT required every ounce of energy and fortitude they had, but the All Whites have booked their berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
After two hours of play, New Zealand held their nerve to edge Papua New Guinea 4-2 on penalties and win the Oceania Nations Cup last night.
And, as is usually the case when spot kicks are required, a goalkeeper was the hero, Kiwi gloveman Stefan Marinovic producing two superb saves to ultimately give the All Whites the title.
The triumph, which required New Zealand to go much deeper than most predicted against a Kapuls side roared on by a nearcapacity home crowd in Port Moresby, is hugely significant in regards to their ambitions to reach the 2018 World Cup.
The All Whites will join hosts Russia, 2014 World Cup winners Germany, Australia (Asia), Chile (South America) and Mexico (North/Central America, Carribean), plus representatives from Europe and Africa, at the Confederations Cup next June and July.
That not only guarantees coach Anthony Hudson’s team three valuable fixtures against highquality international opposition, it ensures a pay-day of around $2.5 million.
But faced by a determined and dogged PNG side that refused to roll over, the tournament favourites came much closer to missing out on all those rewards than they would have liked.
With the breeze at their backs, New Zealand had all the early territory and it was quickly clear they would not sway from the direct approach that had taken them to the final.
There was an early chance in the third minute when Fallon headed on a threatening Bill Tuiloma long throw towards goal and that mode of attack became familiar as the half wore on.
Growing in confidence the longer they denied the All Whites, PNG even managed to finish the half in the ascendancy.
Nigel Dabingyaba’s powerful drive forced a diving save out of Marinvovic, while several chances on the counter-attack and the Kapuls’ first corner followed before halftime.
PNG carried that confidence as they turned with the wind , Roger Gunemba giving Marinovic a decent fright in the first minute of the second when an attempted cross almost snuck under the crossbar.
Neither side, though, looked like breaking the deadlock and despite a flurry of half-chances for both in the final 20 minutes the match remained scoreless. Penalties: 4-2. End of normal time: 0-0. Halftime: 0-0