Let’s build on World Cup success
So, the much-awaited rematches between England and Croatia’s football sides are here and have been billed as a chance for the Three Lions to restore some pride.
Of course, the last time the teams met was July’s encounter, when England lost 2-1 in the semi-final of the World Cup. It was a match that captivated the nation (at least for the first five minutes).
The chance to see England face Croatia twice more this autumn got me musing about what happened in the summer.
Ultimately finishing fourth, the tournament marked England’s best finish since 1990 – but what made it even more special for us fans? The tournament had it all from a footballing standpoint – plenty of highlight-reel goals, video-reffing drama, big upsets and polarising performances from the host nation Russia. England had numerous ‘curses’ broken, nabbing a stoppage-time winner, putting six goals on the board in one match, and finally winning a penalty shootout. Supporters were so used to disappointment that these achievements came as massive shocks.
England needs new fans, ones that cherish the team for what it is now
England’s so-called golden generation played a big part in the draining of public support. Performances for much of the 1980s and 90s had a different feel to them as the team was simply not that brilliant, failing to qualify completely for the 1994 competition. Despite this, they still had their moments, such as a late winner over Belgium in the 1990 World Cup, THAT semi-final and a 4-1 victory over the Netherlands at Euro ’96. A 5-1 thrashing of Germany in 2001 showed the class the Noughties vintage were capable of producing – midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were first on the team sheet for their clubs, and elite faces in the Premier League, but often lacked chemistry for the national team. Likewise, top strikers Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney both broke records for marksmanship at club level, but rarely played a large part in competitive England matches. Over a 10-year span these players gained a reputation for bullying smaller nations, but going missing in World Cup quarter-finals.
The question is, do we still over-scrutinise our national team? Many top countries, such as Brazil and Germany, have unwavering national pride, even in the face of defeat – so would a more relaxed approach from fans continue to benefit the Three Lions in future? The world’s greatest club sides attribute their success to a calm but controlled environment, where they can thrive without the pressure.
England needs new fans, ones that cherish the team for what it is now, and do not hark back to the failures that have preceded it. The place for this to start was the World Cup and the Nations League is a chance for it to continue. While not as important as the Euros or the World Cup, the tournament is still highly competitive, and England lost out to Spain in their first group match, making progression to the knockout round an uphill battle. The rematches with Croatia could be a turning point for the team – so please, pick up your flags and root for England!
