Roy Hodgson - The perfect man for the job or a cheap way out?

Is there a single country Roy Hodgson hasn’t managed in? Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, England, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the United Arab Emirates. It’s fair to say that he’s clocked up his share of air miles throughout his 34-year managerial career, but what the Liverpool faithful really want to see is a mounting number of trophies in the cabinets at the Anfield museum. Is Roy Hodgson the man to deliver?

Lets be realistic about this. He has been appointed as Liverpool manager because of his achievements with Fulham FC, particularly in the last couple of years. A 7th-place finish in the 2008/09 season was rewarded with a place in the newly-named Europa League, although with their first qualifier coming as early as July 30th last year, it seemed to be more of a burden than a reward. However, despite playing an extraordinary amount of games, and finishing the season in mid-May, Hodgson managed to guide the Cottagers to the final of the Europa League, where they narrowly lost out to a strong Atletico Madrid side. At the same time, he had the motivation and tactical prowess to ensure that Fulham did not sacrifice their Premier League campaign for a long run in Europe. A 12th-place finish represented an outstanding all-round season for the boys from West London.

However, having arguably never been the boss of a club with the same expectations and history as Liverpool FC, it is unclear as to whether he will be up to the task. At Inter Milan, Hodgson was brought in to oversee a rebuilding process, and led the Italian giants to the UEFA Cup final and 3rd place in his 2nd and last season with the club. This particular achievement, coupled with his time at Fulham, leads me to believe that the Liverpool job could not have gone to a more apt individual.

Many people will disagree with my point of view, which is fine, but I’d insist one thing. Don’t be sceptical. Before Hodgson’s arrival, Fulham were a very mediocre outfit. Arguably, they still are, with very few big-name or big-reputation players. They are a side made up of grafters and battlers, and perhaps not the best technicians on the planet, with the odd exception of course. Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera would have something to say about that. Nevertheless, with the financial backing of Mohamed Al-Fayed, Fulham would say that they were the Premier League’s big underachievers. Hodgson arrived with Fulham in the mire and more than half an eye on the drop. His job was very similar to what was expected of him at Inter Milan, and he delivered the goods once again. After a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Roy Keane’s Sunderland, Hodgson was left to contemplate what was a likely relegation, and was almost reduced to tears in his post-match press conference. However, after winning their first away fixture in 34 attempts against Reading, Fulham went on to win 3 of their remaining 4 games to retain their Premier League survival. The rest, they say, is history.

Whilst Liverpool are far from being relegation candidates, and whilst expectations are far higher than those of Fulham’s back in 2007, they are a club slipping down the Premier League ladder, both in terms of finance and in terms of their on-the-pitch performances. Due to this, the expectations have dropped slightly, and the main focus now is to make sure that the slide is halted and the big money-spenders of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur don’t shove the Reds completely off the radar indefinitely.

Despite all the obvious optimism I have shown since his appointment was confirmed, I am still fully aware that the quality of players Liverpool have at their disposal is not good enough to mount a title challenge or even a bid to break back in to the ‘big four’. There are too many players at the club who lack the quality to compete with the two Manchester clubs and the clubs in the capital. A lot of money, which Liverpool don’t have, needs to be spent, and needs to be spent fast in order to build a squad which does look capable of getting back in amongst the big boys.

Hodgson’s record in the transfer market is pretty impressive. Upon joining Fulham, he strengthened their squad with a number of players, including Brede Hangeland, who proved to be influential in their eventual survival, and I’m hoping he can do the same for Liverpool on a different level. The chances are he’ll be given a relatively poultry transfer budget, and I just hope that he can spot the odd bargain or two and get rid of the dead wood in the ranks. Money gained from player sales could be very important in relation to who he brings in this summer. Lets just hope he doesn’t take Bobby Zamora with him. That’s the last thing we need.

I backed Rafa at the start of his tenure on Merseyside, and he delivered for a time. So now I’m going to back Roy, and until he proves me wrong, I will continue to do just that. The important thing that Liverpool fans need to understand is that it will take a bit of time for Hodgson to get Liverpool back on track in the Premier League and in Europe, and I’ll be praying that if Tom Hicks and George Gillett fail to sell the club soon, they give him sufficient time to work his magic with a very weak team.

Liverpool get their man: Hodgson to be announced as new boss this week

Liverpool sure know how to draw out a deal. As if the impending transfer of Serbian international Milan Jovanovic hasn’t gone on long enough, we’ve now had to endure the deal to bring Roy Hodgson to Anfield for the best part of 2 months. It’s been on, it’s been off, it’s been confirmed, it’s been denied. But now, with great pride and satisfaction, I can confirm that Roy Hodgson will be named as Rafael Benitez’s successor this week, or even by the end of today according to Liverpool FC.

Hodgson completed a wonderful three years at Craven Cottage by guiding Fulham into the Europa League final last season, ahead of European giants Juventus, reigning champions Shakhtar Donetsk and German champions Wolfsburg. He also established Fulham as a mighty tough Premier League side, finishing a record 7th place in the 2008/09 season before securing a mid-table slot last campaign, a superb effort considering the amount of games they had to play both domestically and in the continent.

The 62-year old topped a shortlist that also involved ex-Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini, Galatasaray’s Frank Rijkaard and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, whose job it was, along with Managing Director Christian Purslow, to hunt down and appoint the right man for the job. Dalglish is now involved in the youth development side of the club, but was a strong favourite to be put in charge, prior to Hodgson’s arrival.

Mike Kelly, goalkeeping coach and Hodgson’s no.2 at Fulham, is expected to join up with the man who has managed the likes of Inter Milan, Bristol City and United Arab Emirates in his very successful career.

So, what do we think Liverpool fans? Is this the right move for the club? Is Roy Hodgson the man to take Liverpool back into the Champions League and get them challenging for honours again? Let me know what you think.

World Cup kitchen: Quarter-final no.1

We’re through to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and whilst the football itself is getting exceedingly tasty, I’ve come up with an idea that will alert your taste buds even more.

Some people choose to fly their nation’s flag outside their bedroom windows. Others smear on face paint and slip into their favourite replica kits. However, the most committed World Cup fans out there will choose a more original and enjoyable idea to spice up their enjoyment of the World Cup finals.

For each of the 8 teams left in this year’s competition, I’ll be giving you an idea of what you could prepare in the kitchen in order to show your real support to the likes of Argentina, Germany and Ghana.

The first quarter-final will be contested between Holland and Brazil on Friday afternoon.

The Netherlands – Bruine bonen soup (brown bean soup)

A Dutch dietary staple, brown bean soup is nutritious, filling and easy to make. A great, simple meal that the whole family can enjoy infront of the television set whilst watching your favourite Dutch players do their stuff. It is accompanied well by buttered brown bread and a side order of Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, and Dirk Kuyt. Not only that, but it matches the colours of the Dutch team as well! As if you couldn’t get enough orange already.

Recipe:
- In a large soup pot fry bacon in butter. Add shallots, carrot, leek and some ground paprika. Mix well before adding beans, tomato puree, stock and bay leaves.
- Bring the soup to the boil and then turn down the heat to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Worcester sauce and then blitz the soup half-smooth.
- Add some celery leaves right before serving.
- Voila!

V

Brazil – Caruru de Camarao (shrimp and okra gumbo)

It may look a little suspect but don’t be put off by this delicious shrimp and okra gumbo, made with… Well… Shrimp and okra (fresh or frozen). Be sure to throw in some rice as well to complete a perfect lunchtime or dinnertime meal to match the mouth-watering prospect of Robinho and Kaka. The sauce is made out of manioc, a traditional Brazilian plant and can be found in very few supermarkets in this country. As a result, use a manioc substitute which could be anything from Hollandaise sauce to mayonnaise as far as I’m concerned.

Recipe:
- Boil the okra for 3 minutes, then drain immediately.
- Stir the manioc substitute into 2 cups of fish stock. Bring to the boil and cook whilst stirring, for 3 minutes.
- In a separate pan, saute some onion and garlic into olive oil until soft. Add the shrimp and saute until pink. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir the stock and manioc substitute into the pan with the onions and shrimp. Add the okra and stir until heated through.
- Serve, eat, enjoy.

So, who will you be supporting on Friday afternoon, and which delicious delicacy takes your fancy? Go on, give it a try!

(I shall not be held responsible for any food-related illness sustained after the consumption of either of these two dishes).

Is the modern Brazilian method the perfect way of playing football?

Brazil are the winners of a record five World Cups. They are the undoubted kings of football, and they produce what we like to call ‘special’ players. In an age in which the formation is a vital part of the game, I investigate whether the Brazilian way is the perfect strategy to be the best.

The Brazilian public are very proud people. They love football more than life itself and they value their national team as a jeweller would value their pearls. As a result, they wish and long to see the brand of football that made the Brazil of the 20th century so enterprising to watch. They seek a repeat of the era that brought the world Pele, Tostao, Rivelino, Jairzinho and so on. Unfortunately, the realism is that football works in generations. One generation may bring an extraordinarily good team, whilst the next may not be so fulfilling or rewarding for that same team. In the same way, one generation’s way of playing may prove more successful than the next, and therefore football has to change with the times. Whilst the Brazil of 1958 or 1970 brought such fluidity and grace to the football world, today’s Brazil is a seemingly different entity.

Those people who remember Brazil’s victorious 1994 squad will know only too well that Dunga was the inspiration behind the whole show that saw Canarinho lift their 4th global trophy. His dogged attitude, tireless work ethic and outstanding leadership qualities may not be at all characteristic of a Brazilian footballer, but having witnessed the class of 2010 dominate in this year’s World Cup, it may be clear to some that those characteristics have rubbed off a little on his current crop of stars.

I don’t need to tell you that Fabio Capello has come under much fire from the media and the England fans regarding his choice of formation and his overall approach to the match against Germany, in particular. a 4-4-2 strategy was dubbed naive by some, out-of-date by others, and completely flawed by all. Dunga, on the other hand, has not only shown Capello and co. that football has moved on from the days of the standard 4-4-2 formation, but has all but perfected the more modern approach of 4-2-3-1.

The 1994 Brazil were the first team in my lifetime to employ such a strategy, and whilst some may question whether it is too negative or if it is entirely necessary to play with two anchor men in the midfield, you can’t argue with a strategy that came to be so successful. Back then, Captain Dunga was partnered by Mauro Silva in front of a centre-back partnership of Marcio Santos and Aldair. This gave solid protection against the threat of the ‘trequartista’, a position now commonly known as the ‘playmaker’ role. This protection meant that the fullbacks were allowed far more freedom to bomb forward down the wings and support attacking moves. In 1994, Brazil had Cafu and Jorginho to do exactly that, and after Jorginho retired, in stepped Roberto Carlos to do the same job. Cafu and Roberto Carlos were regarded as two of the best fullbacks to have ever graced the Brazilian game, and they were fundamental to the success Brazil enjoyed leading up to and during the 2002 World Cup finals in East Asia. However, would this have been possible without the use of the anchor men, and would a different strategy have restricted Cafu and Roberto Carlos’ freedom going forward?

If we fast forward to today, Dunga has adopted the very same style that saw him lift the World Cup 16 years ago, and as of now, it has been extremely effective. Lucio and Juan, the two centre-halfs, are contrasting in style but equal in effect, a difference that means they compliment each other very well. Juan is very much an old-fashioned central defender, a player who is not afraid to hit the big challenges and put his body on the line. Lucio is what is known as a ‘footballing centre-half’, someone who looks to start the forward movement from the back with either simple 10-yard passes into the midfield, or long, flat bullets up towards the front man and out to the wings. He is comfortable in possession, and is quick enough to recover when Brazil have lost the ball. England have seeked a player like that for a very long time, and we thought we’d found the answer in Rio Ferdinand. Unfortunately for us though, Lucio is everything Rio Ferdinand tries and fails to be.

Maicon and Michel Bastos are today’s Cafu and Jorginho, and whilst Cafu is widely thought of as the best, Maicon is rapidly becoming a very similar entity. His pigeon-toed technique is very reminiscent of Roberto Carlos, who of course patrolled the opposite flank, and his sporadic darts forward are as effective as Roberto Carlos as well. Michel Bastos still has some way to go to match the quality of a Cafu or a Roberto Carlos, or even a Maicon, but with time and experience, he will turn into a mighty fine player.

With such a rigid heart, made up by the aggressive Felipe Melo and the unflappable Gilberto Silva, the more dynamic and creative players are allowed total freedom to do what they do best. Playmakers such as Kaka and Robinho have the knowledge that they are well protected behind the ball, and they have the ability to make sure that they use the ball in the best possible way. They are supported by Luis Fabiano, a tall, strong striker who is equally adept at holding the ball up as he is at beating players and scoring superb goals. Once again, the silky skills of Robinho, Kaka, Nilmar, Daniel Alves and the rest are perfectly balanced out by the physical prowess of Luis Fabiano, or going back to 2002, Ronaldo. In comparison to the 4-4-2 and England’s use of that particular formation, there is more creativity, more originality, more flexibility and more protection in the defensive 3rd. In a 4-4-2 it is very easy for either one of the central midfielders to forget their defensive duties, exemplified by the Lampard-Gerrard combination of recent times. Even with one anchor man, Gareth Barry, England and the 4-4-2 were vulnerable to the counter-attack and outnumbered by a 5-man midfield. The reason England conceded 4 times against Germany, and Brazil have conceded just twice in the whole tournament, is simply the numbers that the respective sides have in defence. If we take an attacking corner as an example, England would very often have just 2 back, with both centre-halfs and one fullback pushed forward, leaving just the other fullback and Gareth Barry to guard against the break. Indeed, Brazil would send both Lucio and Juan forward for the corner, but would leave both fullbacks and at least one anchor man back to defend any potential counter-attack. You don’t have to be a genius to realise that one system is far more effective than the other, and that is the reason England are on the plane home, and Brazil are in the quarter-finals.

It was a naive and clearly unsuccessful use of an outdated system by England, whilst Brazil have adopted a far more effective and modern way of playing the game. Of course, there will be the odd flaw, and when Brazil come up against a team such as Argentina, then their so-far unbreakable defensive 6 will be tested to the max. The Brazilian public may not be too impressed by such a strategy, but sure enough if Brazil go on to lift their 6th World Cup trophy, they will soon be converts to what I believe is the closest thing to the perfect way of playing football.

Time to enjoy some proper football

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the World Cup, because England are out!

Sure, it was exciting during all the build up and hype, and yes, I guess I was overly optimistic about England's chances, but that's what the World Cup is all about. We build our lads up, say they can win the whole thing, and expect exactly that. When it goes wrong we slaughter them and they become the country's most wanted. But now that it's over, I think we should be breathing a sigh of relief, and not getting caught up in the inevitable post-tournament anger.

Lets face it, England are crap. So why dwell on it? Lets just enjoy watching the Brazilians (not just the birds), Argentinians, Spaniards, Chileans, and even the bloody Slovaks, teach us how football should really be played. Lets forget how bad England are at the game we invented, the game we brought to the world, and lets remember that we can always move abroad if we get fed up with Steven Gerrard's extremely annoying voice and Ashley and Cheryl's on-off relationship.

In all honesty, watching England is as painful as spending 90 minutes sat on a barbed wire fence. There's really no need for it. Watching Argentina is far more beautiful and calming than cheering on our own nation will ever be, so what the heck, go crazy and buy a vuvuzela, slip a sombrero on your head, and hire a couple of dancing girls. Get into the real spirit of the World Cup, and forget all about how ugly we make the beautiful game look.

Woeful England thrashed in heaviest ever World Cup defeat

Frank Lampard's effort clearly crossed the line but the referee and his officials failed to see it

Put your hands up now if you were one of the millions of deluded people who believed England could win the World Cup.

We thought a dismal display and 0-0 stalemate with Algeria was the lowest of all lows, and it is clear that a good performance and result against the smallest nation in the World Cup, Slovenia, acted as a smokescreen to the reality that England were indeed a very poor side. Optimism and positivity were rife at the start of what the whole of England hoped would be a day to remember. Anger and disappointment are the overriding feelings now.

The story is simple. England were atrocious and Germany took complete advantage of the lack of pace and naivety that was so evident in the England defence. John Terry, apparently one of the best defenders in world football, was made to look distinctly village, not to insult the millions of Sunday League footballers that play with heart and belief week-in-week-out for their club sides. Matthew Upson faired no better, and with one of the World Cup's greatest ever goalscorers leading the line for Germany, there was only going to be one outcome. What Michael Dawson has done wrong to warrant a place on the substitutes' bench behind Upson is beyond me.

Whilst the likes of Spain and Argentina have their problems in defence, they don't look anywhere near as vulnerable as the English back-line looked against Klose, Podolski, Muller and co. The reason being; The aforementioned nations have picked players who are in form, and doing the business for their club teams. Carlos Puyol won La Liga with Barcelona last season, as did Gerard Pique. Sergio Ramos had a super season at the Bernabeu for Real Madrid. Argentina have Martin Demichelis, a Champions League finalist and Bundesliga winner, at the heart of their defence. To make a comparison with England's defensive options, they're about as far apart in terms of quality and form as Burnley and Chelsea were last season. Ever since the rumours regarding John Terry's personal life conspired, the Chelsea captain has not been the same player. He seems to have lost a great deal of pace, his reactions are slower, and his ability as a natural winner is completely absent. Indeed, Michael Dawson possesses all those qualities in abundance. He's had a fantastic season at White Hart Lane, almost single-handidly getting them into the Champions League with his late-season performances, and he's a far quicker player than John Terry is.

Matthew Upson has had an awful season at Upton Park, not just because of the under-par league position that the Hammers managed to achieve. His performances have been scratchy to say the least, and he's another player who has absolutely no acceleration or pace whatsoever. Therefore, playing Terry and Upson together against a team like Germany, the kings of the counter-attack, is a flawed idea. To play one of them would be a risk, but both in the same game is a disaster waiting to happen.

Due to the central defensive frailties that caused England so many problems throughout their short stay in South Africa, Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole have had their work cut out to cover the back line. Whereas Cole has performed admirably, Johnson has looked a shadow of the player that enticed Liverpool to pay £17m for him at the beginning of last season. It's much precedented that going forward Johnson is a useful entity, but when it comes to the defensive side of the game, questions need to be asked. Unfortunately for England in this tournament, he's been very ineffective in both thirds of the field. He's been clumsy in the tackle, poor on the ball, lacklustre in his attempts to thwart the opposition's attacking moves, and generally very poor in every circumstance. However, what Johnson didn't do in any of the 4 matches, Ashley Cole did do to a degree.

As much as I dislike the man, it pains me to say that he is one of 3 or 4 players who can genuinely hold their heads high and say that they did their part to help the team. In particular against Slovenia, Cole's forward runs and ambition proved to be one area where England benefited. He supported Gerrard well down the left side and looked threatening whenever he ventured into the opposition's final third. Defensively he was solid and he played with a desire that very few other England players did. Obviously though, one man can't make for a good team performance, and England needed 11 Ashley Cole's on the pitch, at least in attitude, to even stand a chance.

In the past I've said my piece on Frank Lampard, so I won't spend too long analysing his contributions, or lack of, on this occasion. Reputations mean nothing when it comes to the big showdown, and they say that world-class players are only world-class if they perform in the biggest competitions of all. You don't get any bigger than the World Cup, and to this day, Frank Lampard has gone missing for England. Throughout the tournament he has been the regular catalyst for attacks breaking down and for possession being handed back to the opposition. He's failed to score a goal, and whilst he was very unfortunate against Germany to be denied a clear-cut goal by the referee's assistant, that is no excuse for his lack of contribution to the England side. Critics have said that Lampard and Steven Gerrard cannot function together, but I have always believed that the problem lies squarely at Lampard's

It is open to debate whether Fabio Capelloneglection of Joe Cole throughout the tournament was correct or not. No game-time against USA or Algeria, followed by a pointless 15 minutes against Slovenia when all England were looking to do was keep the ball in the corner, and rounded off with half an hour against Germany when the game had arguably already passed us by. Cole is a proven match-winner and performer, for club and country, and his exclusion from the starting XI had everybody questioning Capello's credentials to lead England through the knockout stages. If Cole's absence was bizarre, then Rooney's lack of form was simply incomprehensible. There was no flair, no creativity, no excitement, and most importantly, no goals. His first touch was abysmal all the way through the competition, and in front of goal he lacked every quality that made him the potent force for Manchester United last season. It has been suggested that injury and lack of fitness have affected him, and that may well be the case, which leaves me to question why Capello persisted with him when it was clear he was going to have no affect on the game.

There is plenty more I could say and would like to say here, but I fear it would go on and on for pages. Therefore, I'll leave it to you, the fans, to debate what went wrong and what should have been done during England's dismal World Cup 2010 campaign. Let the post-mortem begin.

England's dominance has Ponting crying

Australian ODI and Test match captain Ricky Ponting has shed a customary tear after Andrew Strauss suggested England now held the bragging rights over their great enemy following 3 consecutive one-day victories over Ponting's men. Ponting has hit back at those claims by saying;

"If that’s what you think take a look at the head to heads and see who has got bragging rights. ODI, Tests and Twenty20. Tell me who has got the bragging rights?"

Pricky may be statistically right, but in recent times I'm afraid England win hands down. Ashes, ICC World Twenty20, and now just one more win away from claiming the Natwest series. Do the math Rick.

Perhaps 2 Ashes defeats in 2 away series' has got our Ricky a bit uptight, which is of course, great to see. His arrogance, freakishly hairy arms, and generally unlikeable personality means that England fans jump at the opportunity to lay into him whenever they can. With just a few months before the Ashes begins down under, the cracks are starting to widen in a once invincible Australian frame.

'mon the pomms!

Italy Kop sucker punch

For 73 minutes it was a game that summed up the overall theme of World Cup 2010. Slow-paced, sloppy, lacking ambition from either side despite the fact that Italy simply had to win to avoid failure in the group stage for the first time in 36 years. For the final 17+ minutes it was everything you could possibly hope for in a World Cup encounter. For Fabio Cannavaro, playing in his final match for Italy, it was a nightmare. For late Slovakian substitute Kamil Kopunek, it was the stuff dreams are made of.

You would have thought that Robert Vittek’s 25th minute opener would spark Italy into life. Quite the contrary. There was no imagination, no creativity, no flair, and perhaps most crucially, no belief. Bizarre so it is for the defending world champions, but even inspirational captain Fabio Cannavaro didn’t have the determination and spirit that comes so naturally to the Italian people, let alone their football team. To give credit to Slovakia, they passed the ball efficiently, worked cohesively throughout the first half and were worthy leaders at the interval. Lippi had to change it.

Change it he did. Fabio Quagliarella and Christian Maggio made their World Cup bow, replacing Gennaro Gattuso and Domenico Criscito respectively. It was Quagliarella who made the impact immediately and Italy looked closer to the team that turned up in Germany four years ago. However, there was still no end product and with Slovakia showing far more adventure than in their opening two games of the tournament, there was always the threat that they would score again. On 72 minutes, Vittek confirmed those fears by striking his second of the match, and third of the tournament to take him to the top of the leaderboard alongside Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain. Giorgio Chiellini switched off, Vittek sneaked in front of him, and Federico Marchetti was helpless to the finish. At 2-0, Italy seemed down and out.

Even with the introduction of Andrea Pirlo, Italy’s progress in the final third was hampered and blocked by a resolute and determined Slovakian defence, led by Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel. Eventually though, the wall was broken down, and Italy flocked through to nick one back with 9 minutes to play. Ironically, it was the best move of the match, and probably the tournament for Azzurri, finished off by Antonio Di Natale. Hope.

Howard Webb’s hands were briskly filled by a scrap in the goal-net following Di Natale’s strike, and yellow cards were handed to Slovak ‘keeper Mucha, and Italy’s Quagliarella. Webb was superb all game, but it will be his English counterpart and fellow Premier League official Darren Cann who will make headlines for 3 outstanding decisions, that if given the other way, would have changed the outcome of the match, the group, and the World Cup. First, with the score at 2-1, a clearance off the line from Skrtel, met with shouts and cries from the Italian bench, and anger and frustration from the players on the pitch. Replays clearly suggested that Cann had no chance of seeing whether the ball had crossed the line, and the appeals and claims from every Italian in the stadium went in vain.

Second and third, two of the tightest offside decisions you could possibly wish to see in a football match. Both Di Natale and Quagliarella were denied goals by the linesman’s flag, and upon review, the width of a hair came between Italy and progression to the last 16. If the Premier League and Champions League proved to be biggest of stages for the likes of Webb and Cann, deciding the fate of the world champions in the World Cup beats those hands down.

87 minutes gone and enter Kamil Kopunek. Kopunek’s arrival on the world scene came later than expected, having been stripped and readied to replace Zdenko Strba just half an hour into the game, after Gennaro Gattuso had left his mark, quite literally, on Strba’s knee. The no.6 bravely continued though, and Kopunek would have to wait a great deal longer to get his chance. But boy, it was worth the wait. Having been on the field no longer than 3 minutes, Kopunek made a fresh-legged, exuberant run from the heart of the Slovak midfield to get himself on the end of a Juraj Kucka throw. The end result was something Kopunek will doubtless bore his grandchildren with for years to come. The throw-in met his run to perfection and all that was left to do was poke the ball past the outrushing Marchetti. 3-1, surely that was it for Italy. Kopunek’s celebration combined disbelief, relief, and joy all in one, and with the Paraguay – New Zealand match petering out to a 0-0 draw, it looked certain that Vladimir Weiss’ side had made it through to the last 16.

Indeed, that was to be the case, but not without one last flurry from the Italians, and an exquisit chip from Quagliarella that flew over Mucha in the Slovakian goal. It was a goal that will be replayed over and over in the World Cup’s greatest goals archive, at least for 2010, but it was no more than a consolation for Marcello Lippi and his team, and Azzurri will be making their way home with not even a win to their name. Shame, embarrassment, anger. If we thought the reception that France would get was tasty, just wait until touchdown in Rome later this week.

Why the 2010 FIFA World Cup shall never be forgotten

 Nelson Mandela, the inspiration behind the 2010 World Cup

Ever since the proud nation of South Africa was pencilled down to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, those sceptics amongst us laid down the gauntlet of doom for a country most famous for the era of apartheid between 1948 and 1994, which saw millions of non-white inhabitants of South Africa curtailed and minority rule by white people maintained. We questioned how a country of such social and economic struggle could possibly host football’s greatest tournament, let alone lay on a spectacle that everybody would want to be a part of. Of course, we underestimated the power of will, and we were ignorant to the passions and desires of the people who make up the beautiful country of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela’s presence as Africa’s most influential individual has provided people with hope, ambition, and pride, not only in terms of sport. ‘Freedom’ was not a word that appeared in the vocabulary of any South African inhabitant during the second half of the 20th century, yet thanks to the work of this incredible figure, the people of South Africa, and the people of Africa as a continent have rediscovered a renewed hope, and a fresh sense of freedom that has provided the backbone to the first ever African World Cup.

Upon visiting South Africa, one thing that you will instantly notice is the contrast between the rich and the poor. If you’re rich in South Africa, you can expect to have a very fulfilling and rewarding life. If you’re rich, you’re very rich. If you’re poor in South Africa, you’re poverty-stricken and any sense of quality of life is completely absent. Shanty Towns can be seen just over the back of many of the World Cup venues, including Cape Town Stadium and Soccer City in Johannesburg. Homeless people roam the streets with regularity and are typically ignored by the better-off locals with chilling normality. It is for this reason that so many of us doubted South Africa’s motives to launch themselves onto the world scene and put their own poverty-ridden country into the shop window for so many of us to see. Couldn’t the money go to a better cause? Why are so many people in desperate need being ignored by the authorities at the expense of building state-of-the-art sports facilities? To what cause will any profit made from the World Cup go towards? These are just some of the questions that have been asked, and if we’re brutally honest, will probably never be answered.

The World Cup took 80 years to reach Africa, and it those questions that also answer why. Africa hasn’t got the financial backup that a continent such as Europe has, although in modern times Europe’s economic progression is being halted at a dangerous velocity. Africa doesn’t have the stadia of an England, or a France, and the development of such facilities just adds more pressure and more money onto the host country’s production team. However, whilst we can spend all day and all night analysing and criticising Africa for what it does not possess, it is the qualities that it’s most southern country does contain that makes it stand out from the crowd.

A lot has been talked of the lack of spirit, desire, and commitment that the England team showed in their latest Group C encounter with Algeria. “The players didn’t want to be there”, “there was no passion, no flair”, and “they are not fit to wear the shirt” will sound extremely familiar to every England fan out in South Africa, and back at home. It has been suggested that it is not part of our culture’s dictum that we should be flamboyant and expressive in the way we go about playing our football, but at an African world cup you can’t help but think that spirit and character are the two things you need most of. There is no doubt that the likes of Ghana and South Africa have those qualities in abundance, and whilst they may not be the most gifted footballers on the globe, they’re attitude towards playing, and their love for their loyal supporters make them more special than any European, South American, or Asian team will ever be.

The word ‘vuvuzela’ has been used on so many occasions in the past few weeks that the customary ‘horn’ has gone out of business. Perhaps it has been overused, both in speech and in practice, but who could possibly complain about something that is so reminiscent, so representative, and so essential to the culture of the people of Africa, as well as inevitably being one of the memories of World Cup 2010?

It can be argued that the same love and joy that the World Cup has brought to Africa was evident in the 2002 tournament hosted by South Korea and Japan, yet I resent that notion entirely. There are distinct differences between East Asia and Africa, both in terms of culture and in social standing. Asia is rapidly becoming the world’s most powerful force, so much so that even the United States of America will potentially to be made to look like your typical sales representative, rather than the billionaire business tycoon it is made out to be today. Whilst the people of East Asia have a unique love and affection for football, it is only unique because it doesn’t come anywhere near to the feeling that the African people hold for Bafana Bafana and sport in their beautiful continent. You only have to look at what football has brought to the youth of Africa to see what a difference the World Cup has made, and will make in the long-term.

The World Cup may well be held in England in 8 years time, and it may well be a superb occasion for the whole world. However, one thing is for certain; No matter where, and no matter who, nowhere and no one will ever be able to match up to the unique and truly spectacular experience that South Africa and its people have provided for the rest of the world.

2010/2011 Premier League fixtures announced

The fixtures for the 2010/2011 Premier League season have been announced this morning much to the excitement and anticipation of football fans all across the country. The main focus of attention was who newly promoted Blackpool would draw in their first Premier League match for 39 years. As it goes, it wasn’t that spectacular, as Wigan Athletic have been drawn as the first side to visit Bloomfield Road, the smallest stadium in the League.

Manchester United open their campaign against Championship winners Newcastle United at Old Trafford, whilst Premier League champions Chelsea take on the 3rd of the promoted teams, West Brom at Stamford Bridge. Wolves and Stoke will battle out the first Midlands derby of the season, whilst Aston Villa host West Ham and Birmingham travel to Sunderland in the other matches involving Midlands clubs.

Europa League finalists Fulham welcome Bolton to Craven Cottage, but doubts still remain over whether Roy Hodgson will be the man to lead them out on August 14th, after reports claimed he is in talks with Liverpool over the hotseat at Anfield. Bolton’s Lancashire rivals Blackburn host Everton on the first day, with the Champions League’s newest team Tottenham Hotspur welcoming Manchester City to White Hart Lane.

The most sumptuous tie of the opening round comes at Anfield, where Liverpool will entertain Arsenal.

Other dates to look out for:
Arsenal v Blackpool – Sat, 21st August
Man City v Liverpool – Sat, 21st August
Man Utd v Liverpool – Sat, 18th August
Chelsea v Blackpool – Sat, 18th August
Man City v Chelsea – Sat, 25th August
Chelsea v Arsenal – Sat, 2nd October
Everton v Liverpool – Sat, 16th October
Man City v Arsenal – Sat, 23rd October
Aston Villa v Birmingham – Sat, 30th October
Liverpool v Chelsea – Sat, 6th November
Man City v Man Utd – Wed, 10th November
Arsenal v Tottenham – Sat, 20th November
Tottenham v Liverpool – Sat, 27th November
Blackpool v Man Utd – Sat, 4th December
Man Utd v Arsenal – Sat, 11th December
Chelsea v Man Utd – Sat, 18th December
Arsenal v Chelsea – Sun, 26th December
Blackpool v Liverpool – Sun, 26th December
Arsenal v Man City – Tue, 4th January
Liverpool v Everton – Sat, 15th January
Tottenham v Man Utd – Sat, 15th January
Birmingham v Aston Villa – Sat, 15th January
Chelsea v Liverpool – Sat, 5th February
Man Utd v Man City – Sat, 12th February
Tottenham v Arsenal – Sat, 26th February
Liverpool v Man Utd – Sat, 5th March
Blackpool v Chelsea – Sat, 5th March
Chelsea v Man City – Sat, 19th March
Liverpool v Man City – Sat, 9th April
Blackpool v Arsenal – Sat, 9th April
Arsenal v Liverpool – Sat, 16th April
Man City v Tottenham – Sat, 16th April
Arsenal v Man Utd – Sat, 30th April
Man Utd v Chelsea – Sat, 7th May
Liverpool v Tottenham – Sat, 14th May
Man Utd v Blackpool – Sun, 22nd May

Liverpool face tough start to new Premier League campaign

Liverpool have drawn the short straw has far as the start of the 2010/11 Premier League season is concerned. Many felt that on the back of such a disastrous season last term, a good start to the new campaign was essential.

Now, that will prove difficult as Liverpool open the new season with a clash with Arsenal at Anfield, before making the trip to Eastlands to take on Roberto Mancini’s title hopefuls Manchester City on August 21st. Following ties against two of the Premier League’s Midlands clubs, West Brom (H) and Birmingham (A), the Reds then return to Manchester to take on Sir Alex Ferguson and his men, the fixture that all Liverpool fans will be looking out for. Keep the date September 18th free in your diary.

The two Merseyside derbys are scheduled for October 16th at Goodison Park and January 15th at Anfield and Liverpool end their season with a tough visit to Aston Villa May 22nd.

England v Algeria: Redemption day

Fabio Capello faces some tough selection issues

The usual questions will be, and have been placed in front of Fabio Capello ahead of England’s crucial Group C encounter with Algeria on Friday night. On the back of the disappointment of England’s performance and result against USA on Saturday, the 3 Lions will have to put in a shift worthy of progression to the last 16 of the World Cup.

Robert Green’s embarrassing howler in Rustenburg has somewhat masked what we all know was a below-par performance from Capello’s men, but his place as England’s no.1 goalkeeper is still very much undecided. Capello himself has admitted that he is unsure whether to keep faith in the West Ham man or to replace him with David James or Joe Hart, who have both been impressing in training. The only doubt over either of those two is David James’ fitness, as the Portsmouth custodian has been struggling with a knee injury since arriving at England’s training base.

One can’t criticise Capello for being unsure about who his goalkeeper will be in Cape Town on Friday. The emission of Green could ultimately spell the end of his entire England career, and who knows what it will do for his confidence. England captain Steven Gerrard has stuck by Green, saying that “everybody makes mistakes” and it is “just one of those things”. But you cannot deny that error, that came to prove so costly for England, is still playing on the mind of Green.

The obvious selection, for me, would be Joe Hart. The Manchester City ‘keeper spent the entirety of last season on loan at Birmingham City, and proved himself to be England’s brightest young goalkeeping hope. Therefore, if you’re confident and bold enough to make him a part of your squad, why not make the most of his talents? His form is superb, his confidence is sky-high, and his temperament is second to none.

David James’ experience is the one thing that may thrust him into the Cape Town limelight in 2 days time, and whilst the nickname ‘calamity James’ tells you everything about his tendency to let the odd clanger slip out of his grasp, his attitude and mindset going into such a big game may prove vital.

As the goalkeeping quandary keeps one half of Fabio Capello’s brain busy, you have to feel that England’s formation is weighing on the other. 4-4-2 clearly didn’t work against the USA, as England were often outnumbered in the midfield and the wide players had little effect. Capello has confirmed that Manchester City anchor man Gareth Barry will definitely start against Algeria on Friday, and that leads me to believe that he could go one of two ways. 4-1-4-1 is certainly an option that the Italian will consider. Barry’s presence in front of the back 4 will add extra protection and meat to the midfield, whilst it would mean that Steven Gerrard could continue in his favoured, and best position, through the centre. James Milner looks unlikely to make his 2nd start of the competition, with the obvious replacement being Joe Cole, who’s exclusion from the side for the USA game left everybody flummoxed.

The 2nd potential formation for Capello to use is the 4-4-1-1. Unfortunately, this would mean that Gerrard would be pushed out to the left side of midfield, a position that doesn’t bring out the best in the Liverpool skipper, and certainly doesn’t benefit England to any extent. Frank Lampard’s form warrants a place on the substitutes bench, but we all know that is as likely as North Korea going on to win the World Cup. It’s seems his reputation goes before him when it comes to his England selection.

Finally, Wayne Rooney’s role in the team, no matter what formation Capello adopts on Friday, is crucial to the way England play. We saw against USA that he likes to drop deep to receive the ball and dictate the play. In a 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-1-1 it is important that Rooney doesn’t leave his strike partner (likely to be Emile Heskey again) isolated. Heskey’s job as a target man was effective to an extent against the Americans but his task was made all the much harder by the fact that Rooney constantly left him all on his own up front. For England to get the right result, and perhaps more importantly play well, Rooney needs to stay close to Heskey, feed off his strong back-to-goal play, and look to push the team forward from there.

Capello’s job as England manager got a little bit tougher after the USA match, and it’s now up to him to revitalise England and get them playing the way every England fan wants to see.

Chelsea yet to approach Liverpool over Benayoun deal

Despite some reports speculating that a deal for Israel International Yossi Benayoun has been confirmed, Liverpool officials insist that they are yet to receive an approach from Chelsea for the dynamic midfielder.

Those reports, claiming the deal is around the £6m mark, are premature at this stage, but Yossi himself has hinted that he wants to leave Anfield this summer. This comes just a year after Benayoun signed an improved contract with the Merseyside club, although even before the departure of Rafael Benitez, Benayoun has suggested he would be on the move in the summer transfer window.

The 30-year old has been nothing short of a star for the Reds since joining from West Ham United in 2007. But, with Liverpool’s poor performance in the League and Champions League last season, and with their current financial situation the way it is, it’s inevitable that the American owners will have to take the cash on one or two of their big names if any major signings are to be made before the start of the new campaign.

Vuvuzelas cause a rumble

‘A blowing horn of up to approximately 3ft 3in in length, commonly blown at football matches in South Africa’. That is the definition of the vuvuzela (provided by Wikipedia), the instrument that has not only caused a number of spectators to go deaf over the course of the last couple of weeks, but has caused a small rift between the players of the World Cup’s representative nations and the governing body, FIFA.

The vuvuzela is deemed by some players to be far too loud, as they claim that they are unable to communicate with their teammates and their coaches during the matches, to such an extent that the noise made by the traditional African horn is now being used as a common excuse for players who either kick the ball away in anger after the referee has blown his whistle, or for misplaced passes intended for their teammates. Robin van Persie is the latest star to claim that the bee-like noise prevented him from hearing the referee stop play for offside in the Netherland’s Group E opener against Denmark on Monday.

Despite the obvious fact that the vuvuzelas are extremely loud, banning them would be a tragedy on the same scale as the confiscation of all horns during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Just as they are in Africa, the horns were ideal to add to the festival atmosphere in the Caribbean, and is part and parcel of sporting life in that part of the world. The catalyst for such an atmosphere and spirit in Africa is also the use of horns, and other musical instruments, such as drums. The question I’d like to ask is; How many less people would turn out to watch the World Cup games if they were not allowed to create any atmosphere with the use of the vuvuzela?

So far, in the 5 days of tournament that we have watched, the football hasn’t set the world alight. With the exception of Germany and perhaps Argentina, no team has played exhilarating football to the extent that the atmosphere inside the ground has been ferocious anyway. We’ve had a number of extremely dull, and sometimes extremely poor matches, and the grounds haven’t been completely full all of the time. One has to think that the banning of the vuvuzela and other such instruments would hinder the World Cup’s spirit, something that has made the African tournament so special.

The authorities have stated that they will not be banning the vuvuzela, and I firmly hope that they don’t make a u-turn on this decision and potentially ruin one of the most special World Cup tournaments in history.

Hodgson set for talks with Liverpool

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is set to open negotiations with Liverpool officials regarding the top job at the Anfield club. Since Rafael Benitez’s departure from Merseyside, Hodgson has been touted to succeed the Spaniard having led the Cottagers to the Europa League final last season.

However, Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed is prepared to offer Hodgson a lucrative pay rise and a hefty transfer budget to temp the 62-year old to remain at Craven Cottage for the foreseeable future. Despite this, Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow is ready to make his move in a bid to get Liverpool Football Club back on track following a disastrous 2009/10 campaign, both domestically and in Europe.

Hodgson has never ruled out a move to Liverpool, neither has he said he definitely wants to leave his current employers. However, having confessed that a move to a bigger club, or even the England national team would be too good to turn down, it seems probably that Hodgson will make the move north to join Steven Gerrard and friends.

The swoop for Hodgson has ultimately spelled the end of Kenny Dalglish’s ambitious attempt to land the hotseat at Anfield, and even though the Liverpool faithful would be more than happy to see their beloved legend make the step back into management, Hodgson remains the favoured choice amongst supporters.

There is no great hurry for Liverpool to install a new manager, as Rafa’s ex-assistant Sammy Lee has been placed in charge of First Team affairs until a no.1 is named. The Liverpool players are scheduled to be back in training on July 5th, in readiness for their Europe League qualifier later that month. Of course, those players performing at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa may be allowed extra time to recover in time for the new season.

South Africa & Mexico share the spoils in World Cup curtain raiser

Sip Tshabalala celebrates scoring the first goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Whatever your assumption or opinion on Africa’s social and economic status within the world, you cannot deny that they know how to party. Even without the presence of South Africa’s inspirational ex-President Nelson Mandela (his absence was due to the tragic death of his great grand-daughter in a motorway accident on Thursday night), the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg had a typical carnival feel about it, a true representation of the spirit and joy that Africa is so famous for.

As for the football, you couldn’t have wished for a better spectacle to mark the opening of what is sure to be the most special World Cup in its 80-year history. The hosts entered the game on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run, which stretched back to November of last year. In Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, Bafana Bafana have a man who knows how it feels to lift the World Cup trophy, having led his home nation to victory in the 1994 tournament. The message from Parreira; Relax and enjoy the moment.

No matter how wise his words or how calming his presence, South Africa started the Group A match like rabbits in the headlights. Ex-Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos looked to be the most threatening, and any concerns that Parreira was reported to have had over his left-back were duly confirmed. Lucas Thwala looked sickeningly out of his depth, and was ultimately replaced at half-time by the more experienced Tsepo Masilela.

Despite having the best of the opening quarter, Mexico gradually allowed South Africa, led by Portsmouth’s Aaron Mokoena, back into the match, and although chances were few and far between, the threat of national star Steven Pienaar and Kaizer Chiefs’ Siphiwe Tshabalala was becoming more and more prominent. However, you can never let slip against a flair-ridden South American nation, and recently-released West Ham striker Guillermo Franco showed exactly why as he forced a superb one-handed save out of charismatic shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune, after Arsenal’s Carlos Vela had neatly fashioned himself a yard of space. That remained the best chance of the first 45, and both sides went into the interval relatively happy with their first-half work.

The second period started much the same as the first, with both sides reluctant to take any undue risks, or push too many men forward. However, 10 minutes in, a lovely flowing South African move, arguably the best of the match, resulted in Tshabalala finding himself one-on-one with Mexico’s bald-headed custodian Oscar Perez, and in typical emphatic style smashed the ball into the top left corner of Perez’s net, only to set 70,000 Bafana supporters inside the stadium, and millions outside absolutely wild. Cue the dancing.

For a while Mexico seemed shellshocked, either by the unexpected South African counter-attack, or most probably by the eruption of noise primarily made by the traditional vuvuzelas (an African horn). But, as the shock wore off, Mexico slowly but surely got themselves a foothold in the game, and after Giovani brought out another wonderful save from Khune, and Teko Modise had a rather soft penalty appeal turned down, the moment everybody in Africa feared arrived. Substitute Andres Guardado crossed, the South Africa defence pushed out, and Rafael Marquez found himself onside and unmarked at the back post. With the whole world watching on, the Barcelona anchor man pushed the ball past the helpless Khune, and silenced the thousands of Africans who had clamoured to see their heroes in action.

The stuffing had well and truly been knocked out of the spirited hosts, and there seemed no way back. That was until the 91st minute, of course. South African Premier League top-scorer, and Bafana’s talisman, Katlego Mphela, made one last hopeful burst forward with only Francisco Rodriguez to shrug off and Perez to beat. As Soccer City held one last deep breath, Mphela poked the ball past Perez, only for the right-hand post to stand in the way of Mphela’s inevitable glory. The whole nation put hands to head, and that was game over. 6 years of hype and excitement and the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was over in 90 minutes of enthralling football.

As Adrian Chiles quite rightly put it; “63 more of those please boys”.

Inter confirm Benitez as manager

Inter will be expecting silverware next season under new manager Benitez

They say if plan A fails, give plan B a try. In the case of Inter Milan and their president Massimo Moratti, forget plans A, B, and even C. Rafael Benitez, the club’s 4th choice to succeed Jose Mourinho as manager, is expected to confirm his appointment tomorrow morning following his exit from Liverpool just last week.

Ever since the news that Jose Mourinho had practically pre-signed a deal to join Real Madrid as head coach emerged, speculation had been rife that Benitez would become his successor at San Siro, but with names such as Manuel Pellegrini and Fabio Capello also being bandied around, it seemed unlikely that Benitez would be the man to eventually land Milan’s top job. But, against most people’s expectations, he will be named as Inter Milan manager at a press conference in the morning.

Benitez’s troubles throughout the last season at Anfield have been much talked about, and he will be the first man to admit that he underachieved in his time at the club, especially since the 2005 Champions League triumph. a 7th place finish in the Premier League last season was the final straw for the Spaniard and the American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks sought to find a new man to lead the Reds forward. Despite a drought of silverware in the last 3 seasons however, Rafa Benitez will still be held in high regard by the Anfield faithful, and there’s no doubt that it’s the owners and not the manager who have felt the full force of the supporters’ brunt in recent months.

So, the time has come to predict how well, or more importantly, how long Benitez will last at Inter, and as with all great journalists, a chance to criticise a boardroom decision shall not pass me by. Whilst I’m a great fan of Benitez, admittedly I did call for his sacking on a number of occasions last season. Not because I don’t like the man, not because I don’t think he’s up to the task of managing a big club, but because I thought his time had come and gone, and it was a chance for a new, fresh face to come in and shake things up. Now, for me, Inter Milan is not the right club for Benitez to join. Jose Mourinho is ‘The Special One’, for obvious reasons. A domestic double and European glory last campaign was a remarkable achievement, arguably an achievement that no other manager in the world could deliver. The expectations at San Siro are now at an all-time high, and for Benitez to replicate or even get within touching distance of Mourinho’s honours would be a miraculous achievement.

For me, a case of one-season-wonder (one-season-no-wonder may be more of an appropriate name) is probable. A failure to win the Champions League and lets say Italian Cup, even with a Serie ‘A’ title may not be enough to keep Benitez in his job, as is the current footballing climate. The European Cup is more valuable and more financially lucrative to clubs these days, and as we’ve seen at Real Madrid, failure in that competition effectively leads to the removal of the boss. I believe that Benitez should have taken a bit of time out of the game, assessed his options and moved to a club with expectations and ambitions that he could realistically deliver. Unfortunately, I do not think Rafa can deliver the goods at Inter, and I’m certain that he’ll be finding himself a new club come this time next year.

I hope I’m wrong as I’d love to see Rafa succeed in management wherever he goes, but I just don’t see it. I wonder what Inter Milan fans think about their new gaffer?

Ferdinand injury paves the way for true heroes to show their colours

Gazza crying at Italia ’90, Beckham’s red card at France ’98, and Rooney stamping on Carvalho’s prized possessions at Germany ’06. It’s moments like these which epitomise the World Cup for England, and are the catalyst for some very painful memories amongst the masses. Rio Ferdinand’s injured knee doesn’t fall into the same category as Gazza’s crying shame, or Beckham and Rooney’s petulant acts of violent conduct, but I get the feeling it’s going to cast a rather dark cloud over England’s 2010 campaign in South Africa and fuel the pessimism amongst many England supporters. Not for me, however. In fact, it has the opposite effect.

Rio is recognised as a senior player in the England squad, and one that Capello would rely upon to lead the side with pride, strength and more importantly an example to follow for the other, less senior players in the 23, both on and off the pitch. That isn’t available anymore, and people will be questioning where that will come from. Well, I can see plenty of players bursting at the seams with determination and inspiration, two qualities that are essential for a successful World Cup campaign.

Now that the captaincy has been handed over to the correct man, Steven Gerrard, we not only have a person capable of invigorating a group of overpaid showmen to perform like they’ve never performed before in an England shirt, we have a footballer who knows what being a captain means. Since he took over the Liverpool armband from Sami Hyypia back in 2003, Gerrard has led the Reds as if he was Regimental Sergeant Major of the British Army. His desire to win and determination to be the man to bring success home makes him the perfect choice to lead England into their 11th World Cup since the 1966 triumph on home soil.

As for Wayne Rooney, he’s a bulldog and a true fighter. He will never give up, no matter what the situation and no matter how poorly the team are performing as a unit and as a group of individuals. He showed signs of that in the turgid friendly victory over Japan, with crunching tackles and a dogged work-rate which delivered him the man-of-the-match award. His goals will be crucial for the team, and his attitude on both sides of the touchline will be priceless. He’s Capello’s prize asset, and one that should be wrapped in cotton wool until the big kick-off in Rustenburg on 12th June.

Rooney has shown on numerous occasions for Manchester United his will and hunger to play football and achieve at the highest level,  and he matches and even lies superior to Gerrard in that respect.

Finally, Joe Cole becomes the 3rd member of a trio that will be so important to England’s World Cup hopes this Summer. He’s been out of action for 90% of the season but has returned, and returned to form at just the right time for Capello and England. He’s a fantastic trickster on the ball, has the ability to beat any defender in the world, has scored more than his fair share of important goals for both Chelsea and the national team, and remains a fans’ favourite. He’s another one, like Rooney and Gerrard, who will give his left leg to win the World Cup and whether it’s Brazil or Honduras standing in their way, 110% is what will be given. Forget Ferdinand, who I don’t think knows the true meaning of being a leader and being an inspiration, and forget Terry who’s shown exactly what kind of man he is in the past 6 or 7 months. The country’s hopes of winning the World Cup rest on the shoulders of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Joe Cole.

Don’t get me wrong, the other 20 players in the squad will play a big role if we were to lift the trophy for the first time in 44 years. It takes a team, a unit, an entity to win such a massive tournament. What I’m saying is, just as Messi, Tevez and Aguero will be a fundamental part of Argentina’s formula, Gerrard, Rooney, and Joe Cole will be the same for England.

So, with Ferdinand out of the World Cup and bemoaning his luck, or lack of, with injuries this season, it brings about the opportunity for someone else to step up and be a hero for their country. A chance to embed their name in the hearts of every single person supporting England forever. Ferdinand’s replacement will be Michael Dawson, arguably Tottenham’s main man in their successful quest for 4th spot in the Premier League. He arrives in Africa with confidence at an all-time high, and the overriding emotion of jubilation evident on his pale, blonde-haired exterior. Whilst it’s probable that Dawson won’t start a single game in SA, Ledley King’s fitness is still under question, and this may leave him in the frame for a call-up alongside Jamie Carragher, who will also act as Glen Johnson’s understudy.

If King is fit enough to participate in the best part of the tournament, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would be the perfect man to do the job alongside Terry at the heart of England’s defence. Carragher would be next in line for me, with Dawson behind him, and Matthew Upson even further down the pecking order. Upson, for me, just doesn’t have it at International level, and I don’t even think he’s done a particularly solid job for West Ham this year. Whilst it’s unfair and irrational to blame one man for a club’s downfall, Upson does make up a very important part of the West Ham side, and some of the blame for their disappointing form this year has to be dealt out to him. However, as Owen Hargreaves showed in Germany 4 years ago, previous form and reputation go out of the window in such a high-pressured environment, and a World Cup may just be the making of Matthew Upson, provided he gets a chance in the limelight.

So, no Ferdinand could be a blessing in disguise in my mind, and as a Liverpool fan and a Gerrard fanatic, the prospect of him leading out England in the World Cup is something I’m very much looking forward to.