WHY THE CLASS OF Argentina will face strongest England so far, insists Owen
THREE strikes and you’re out is how Sven Goran Eriksson and a number of his more senior players will regard next summer’s World Cup, but Michael Owen simply imagined himself as three strikers.
Owen was asked to consider the possible outcome of a tournament between the two England teams he has so far represented against Argentina and the one he will join in meeting the South Americans here in Geneva tomorrow.
Would a vastly experienced 1998 team that lost David Beckham to an act of petulance, then lost on penalties in St Etienne have the edge? Or would the advantage belong to the more youthful 2002 team that responded to that disappointment with victory in Sapporo? Owen took a moment to compare them to the class of 2005. Wayne Rooney versus Alan Shearer or Emile Heskey, Owen’s partners in the previous two encounters. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard versus Paul Ince and Paul Scholes, or Scholes and Nicky Butt.
The David Seaman of 1998 would certainly get the nod ahead of Paul Robinson, but would Owen overlook that o n e a r e a o f r e l a t i v e weakness and put his money on an England team that will h a v e p o w e r f u l L e d l e y King protecting the back four?
‘ Yes,’ said Owen. the team I’d back.’
Because, he explained, of the quality of the individuals he saw training in Manchester this week. Training s e s s i o n s , h e s a i d , t h a t impressed him more than a morning with Zined i n e Z i d a n e , Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Raul and Roberto Carlos ever did.
The white of Real Madrid versus the red, white and blue of England? Owen would go for England every time.
‘This group has the quality to be the best team I’ve ever played in,’ said Owen. ‘We’ve got such good players, and the standard in training is just unbelievable. If everyone plays to their maximum, I wouldn’t be fearful of anyone. The ability is fantastic.
‘ The first time I played Argentina the team was full ‘ This is of real experience. For a lot it was their last big tournament. In 2002 it was totally different. That was an inexperienced team. This o n e f a l l s s o m e w h e r e between. We’ve got a bit of everything.
‘ There’s more quality in this England squad than the one I was in at Madrid. There are more quality players. You have 23 players who are all top, top players.
‘At Madrid we had galacticos, five or six world-beaters. The rest were good, hardworking players but not a patch on the the lads outside the England starting XI. We also have players in the same league as the superstars at Madrid.’
His candid appraisal invited the obvious question. If Eriksson possesses such outstanding quality, why does an outstanding performance remain so rare?
‘ It’s so difficult for everyone to play well on the same day,’ said Owen. ‘But that’s what we’re going to have to do to win the World Cup, so we’ve got to do it.
‘I think we’ve shown, as a group, we can play well enough to beat anyone. The important thing is to peak at the same time. That’ s the challenge for everyone, to be at their best in June. If we can do that, we have a great chance.’
Before then, of course, comes tomorrow’s contest; one when expectations will be high; when the performance of the manager, as much as the players, will be under intense scrutiny.
Eriksson has already given his reasons for deploying King as a holding midfielder a g a i n s t a t e a m l i k e Argentina and his recovery from a worrying knee injury was certainly welcome yesterday. King performed well in training, which came as a relief to England’s coach when the options he would have been left with were so unattractive. Michael C a r r i c k h a s n o t y e t convinced Eriksson he can succeed at the highest level.
Of more significance, however, was the decision to recall Rio Ferdinand at the expense of Sol Campbell.
Campbell, 31, was the man in possession and form, but after being the rock at the heart of England’s defence against Argentina in 1998 and 2002, he must now r e a l i s e E r i k s s o n h a s Ferdinand and John Terry in mind for the World Cup.
If Ferdinand disappoints as he did against Northern Ireland, Eriksson will again be accused of indulging certain players. For putting so much trust in him, Eriksson definitely deserves a commanding display from Ferdinand against Hernan Crespo and Co.
The anticipated return of Wayne Bridge also represents something of a risk, but one that is perhaps understandable when Ashley Cole and Jamie Carragher are injured.
Paul Konchesky probably lacks the experience for a game of this magnitude and Bridge appears to have done enough in training to convince the manager he is fit enough to start.
Bridge has played just 60 minutes of competitive football for Chelsea since recovering from a broken ankle and Eriksson only considered him to be ready for 60 minutes against Argentina. That, though, was before the squad assembled in Manchester. Owen sees no reason why England should not beat Argentina or any other South American side. ‘ In two World Cups I’ve played in, we’ve been beaten twice and won twice,’ he said. ‘We were knocked out by Argentina a n d B r a z i l b u t b e a t Argentina and Colombia.
‘ I don’t fear anybody. I think we can beat any of the top teams.’ As well, that is, as the England teams of the past.
m.lawton@dailymail.co.uk