Soporific England on track for Brazil
ENGLAND remain on course to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals, but the tedious nature of their 0-0 draw in Kiev on Tuesday did little to suggest that they will bring much fun to the party.
New FA chairman Greg Dyke caused a stir last week when he pretty much dismissed England’s chances of success in South America next year, and the boring draw against Ukraine offered little to contradict him.
Captain Steven Gerrard endorsed manager Roy Hodgson’s view that England “got the job done” by avoiding defeat and so remaining in control of their Group H destiny.
However, England’s fans were unlikely to have spent yesterday chatting excitedly about solid defending, gutsy draws or honest endeavour. England, as expected, set out their stall not to lose and, in that respect, it was mission accomplished. However, the fear remains that these days, against even half-decent sides such as Ukraine, that is the sum of the team’s ambition.
Thus far in the qualifying process England’s only victories have come against San Marino and Moldova, with their other four matches being drawn. Already there appears to be an assumption that England will beat Montenegro and Poland at home next month to seal their place among the 32 nations heading to Brazil.
However, it could be a dangerous one, given the obvious limitations of the squad.
In mitigation, Hodgson was without Wayne Rooney against Ukraine, while strikers Daniel Sturridge (injured) and Danny Welbeck (suspended) were unavailable.
However, Sturridge and Welbeck are hardly established internationals, and the fact that their absence is so keenly felt underlines the paucity of attacking flair available to Hodgson when he sits down to select his squads.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, of whom one television commentator said last week against Moldova, “When he goes down injured a nation holds its breath,” was virtually invisible against Ukraine, where the stage was set for him to take a game by the scruff of the neck in the way Paul Gascoigne once did.
James Milner offered honest graft while 35-year-old Frank Lampard, who earned his 100th cap and missed a late chance, was single-paced and often peripheral alongside Gerrard.