Ticking along nicely, Carrick aims to be Roy’s midfield metronome
ENGLAND suppor ters have watched with a mixture of admiration and panic as Andrea Pirlo orchestrated their team’s death by a 1,000 passes at the last two tournaments.
Pirlo defied his advancing years to run the show in Kiev as Italy knocked England out of Euro 2012, only requiring penalties to do so due to their own profligacy in front of goal.
Two years later, Pirlo completed 103 passes as Italy edged a tight World Cup group stage opener in Manaus to put England on the back foot in a manner from which they were unable to recover. Injury has robbed Pirlo of inflicting further misery on England in Turin tomorrow night but Marco Verratti may be given another chance to deputise in that deep-lying playmaker role following Saturday ’s 2-2 draw against Bulgaria.
At 22, Verratti is heir apparent to Pirlo in Antonio Conte’s preferred 3-5-2 system but Mirko Valdifiori has enjoyed a fine season with Empoli and could get an opportunity to impress.
By contrast, for all the burgeoning young talent in Roy Hodgson’s squad, England have turned to Michael Carrick in a bid to find their own midfield metronome. The dual retirements of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard from international football leave Carrick as this team’s elder statesman in the middle of the pitch.
The 33-year-old made his first England appearance since October 2013 in Friday’s 4-0 win over Lithuania.
He brought typical composure and authority to England’s play — qualities not lost on team-mate Fabian Delph, who combined with Carrick and Jordan Henderson to create a three-man midfield in Hodgson 4-3-3 formation.
“I watched him over the years and I really admire the way he plays,” said Delph. “He is a great guy, he has been great with me and it was a pleasure to
‘Michael is calm in possession and he is an experienced head. I really admire the way that he plays’
Fabian Delph play with him the other night. He is calm in possession and he is an experienced head. It is definitely going to help me playing with him and hopefully I can pick up some things that he does and try to implement it in my own game.”
The criticism of Carrick is that his unassuming style can all too often drift into anonymity. With just 32 caps, the Manchester United midfielder has rarely flicked the conductor’s baton with the same grace as Pirlo, especially in the biggest matches.
But United still value him highly. There are more complex reasons why Louis van Gaal’s side suddenly clicked into gear against Tottenham and Liverpool but it reflects well on Carrick that arguably United’s two best performances came in his first matches after nearly two months out injured.
And Delph, who won his fourth cap against Lithuania, said: “Real football people can see what he does and how he affects and controls games. I don’t think he is unappreciated, definitely not from me anyway. I have seen all his strengths and I get really excited when I look to my left in a game and he is there or when I am training with him, seeing him around the building.
“I am really excited to be able to play with him and learn from him.”
The question is whether Carrick has the ability to dictate terms for England at a major tournament, especially as he has represented his country just once on the biggest stage. He is less fashionable than Gerrard and Lampard and a spell away from the international fold amid a reluctance to go on the standby list for Euro 2012 did him no favours.
But Hodgson is a forgiving manager and now is his chance to seize what is surely the last opportunity of his career. Although Henderson has been earmarked as a natural replacement for Gerrard, he has yet to convince as a midfield anchor and the experiment with Jack Wilshere in the role proves defensive midfield is a position Hodgson is yet to nail down.
Carrick is at his best when in a team controlling possession and territory. His critics would argue he is insufficiently robust to repel a superior team boasting power in central areas, or one with the talent of Conte’s Italy.
It is as yet unclear whether Carrick will start in Turin but he is surely keen for a chance to prove capable of running a game against a team that have caused England so much heartache in recent times, especially with Pirlo not there.