FINALLY, IT’S AN ENGLAND TEAM THAT EXCITES ME!
HOW do you feel about England’s prospects at the World Cup after the games against Holland and Italy? Personally, I’m a little bit worried.
But the reason I’m worried is because of the hope I saw in those performances. Say it quietly, but the way we played in Amsterdam and at Wembley against top-level opposition really does bode well and I’m genuinely looking forward to the tournament now. That shouldn’t be the case with England, should it?
The win against Holland was good but I thought everything about the Italy game was better. We were a level above them with our energy and pace, and Jamie Vardy really suited that formation. We had youthful players who can excite and are enthusiastic.
I honestly haven’t felt so positive after watching England for a long time and the pace they showed is something that could scare teams in Russia. This is not to say I am tipping England as potential winners in Russia. This could be a tournament too soon but the long-term signs are encouraging. I loved how Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard played, and James Tarkowski, Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland all emerged with credit.
It was interesting, though, to hear Sterling’s comments about ‘Show us some love’ in relation to the difference England fans could make by getting behind the team. I have one little message for him: it’s not going to happen. There is a different pressure when you represent England. When you win for your club, your fans don’t really care how you get three points but when you go to Wembley, you are playing in front of a crowd that wants to be entertained as well.
You also have to factor in the mood of the nation: we have not reached a major semi-final since 1996 and not provided any excitement along the way. Maybe, though, that is about to change. I feel optimistic about this squad. Going forward, it all looks good.
ALL focus in the Champions League this week will be on Anfield but I’m just as interested in the clash between Juventus and Real Madrid. I’ve always made this point about the Premier League: we are a bit snobby about other European teams and I thought the assumption made before Christmas about us having four teams in the quarter-finals was premature. Juventus did a real job on Tottenham in the last round and I don’t think they received enough credit from this country for the way they played at Wembley. They are a brilliant side and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they shut down Madrid as they did Barcelona a year ago.