World Cup

England's problem hidden by cultural arrogance

Ben Blackmore June 29, 2010

Wayne Rooney has never scored a competitive international goal against one of the world's top nine nations © Getty Images

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So England are out, without even needing the heartache of penalties that Sven Goran Eriksson's teams always guaranteed, and now the inevitable post mortems will begin.

How was England's 'Golden Generation' hammered 4-1 by a Germany side who did not even have their skipper on the pitch? How did a coach earning £6 million lead England to their worst ever World Cup result?

Was it the fault of the Uruguayan linesman for failing to spot Frank Lampard's equaliser? Was Wayne Rooney to blame for booking his holiday bang in the middle of the most important summer in England's calendar? Should Fabio Capello take the blame for making an abundance of tactical errors, not least playing his captain out of position on the left wing?

Certainly all three factors did not help.

But just for once, let's not allow the multiple fingers of blame paper over the real problem, the problem that has existed for decades and stands the test of time far better than any disallowed goal or poor managerial decision, the problem of English arrogance (call it blind faith if you will) when it comes to football.

The air of superiority that allows England players to claim they can win the World Cup after clinging on desperately for a 1-0 victory over international minnows Slovenia, who have only ever won one game in a major international competition. The arrogance that sees TV pundits insist England 'should beat' a 'poor German side' prior to kick-off. And the arrogance that sees Rooney regularly compared to Lionel Messi, despite possessing only a fraction of the talent carried in the Argentinian's magical left foot.

Diego Milito, the man who won the UEFA Champions League for Inter Milan, sums it up perfectly.

When we hear the English or anybody else in the world of football trying to compare Wayne Rooney with Messi, we find it laughable

"When we hear the English or anybody else in the world of football trying to compare Wayne Rooney with Messi, we find it laughable," Milito told the Daily Star Sunday. "Rooney is a very good player there is no doubt about that - but to put him on the same level as Messi is wrong. It's not up for debate, it's just wrong.

"We are looking at a player in Messi who, when he retires, may very well be the best player to have graced the game. How can he be compared to anybody currently playing, let alone a player who has never ever won World Player of the Year?

"While I don't agree with it, I can understand Messi being compared to Kaka and Ronaldo, but Rooney? No, no, no. Like I said, I think Rooney is a very good player, maybe even a top 20 player in the world - but that doesn't make him Messi, it doesn't even make him close to Messi."

Milito is bang on the button. While Rooney is an exceptional talent who plundered 40+ goals for Manchester United this season, he is not Lionel Messi. Much like Steven Gerrard is not Xavi, and Frank Lampard is not Andres Iniesta. English players, to a man, struggle to keep the ball. They cannot retain possession for long periods, and they cannot play a patient game, as international football demands. Just look at how much Liverpool and Gerrard struggled to control matches without the presence of Xabi Alonso last season.

Miroslav Klose began the disaster in Bloemfontein © Getty Images

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Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard are top players, capable of performing at the highest level of club football. They are players that would have made many a man's first XI when picking a World Cup dream team ahead of the tournament. Yet once again their performances in South Africa were not even worthy of a second XI. International icons they may be, but none of them have ever produced a sustained argument to suggest they are top international footballers. Rooney has never scored a competitive international goal against one of the top nine countries in world football, Gerrard likewise since his maiden England goal against Germany back in 2001.

International football, when you get to a business end of a World Cup, is a level for players who can trap a ball effortlessly and shift it to his closest team-mate, a level where technique and intelligence is a necessity much more valued than the ability to 'put in a shift'. It is an understanding of football that will never see a Barcelona or Real Madrid side attempt to spend £28 million on James Milner - as has been touted in connection with Manchester City.

Spanish, Portuguese and South American players in particular have these values ingrained from birth. You can guarantee Cesc Fabregas will never have been applauded for 'getting the ball in the mixer' during his spell in the Barcelona Academy. By contrast, walk down to any park in England on a Sunday afternoon and count how many times the next generation are encouraged to 'get stuck in'.

Capello can take all the blame the media care to throw at him after he picked Rob Green, overlooked Joe Cole, misused Gerrard and failed to get the best out of Rooney, but the truth is he will only join a long list of scapegoats covering up England's major problem.

Arrogance breeds denial and superiority, yet the culture of English football is not one to be proud of.