Three games in, and this summer’s World Cup has already been one hell of a ride for England and their millions of supporters.
We’ve seen dramatic late winners, complete demolitions of opponents and countless pints of beer lovingly thrown over one another. There’s just something about this tournament, this current crop of players and this manager that feels different to those of years gone by, and after comfortably cruising his side through the group stage, Gareth Southgate’s next task is to earn England their first knockout win in a tournament since 2006 - when Sven-Göran Eriksson’s ‘Golden Generation’ beat Ecuador 1-0 in Germany in the round of sixteen. But how does the Class of 2018 compare to that of twelve years ago - a team that was seen as one of England’s best chances of reclaiming the trophy they won all those decades ago on home soil? The Players Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham. The list goes on. Back in 2006, all these men were well-known, highly talented professionals who were not only footballers for England, but celebrities within their own right. Since retiring, David Beckham has close to 50 million followers on Instagram, his own clothing line, and even does a bit of underwear modelling on the side whilst effectively being perceived as English royalty. Is someone like say, Kieran Trippier, going to wind down a similar route once his playing career ends? In a word, no, despite the fact the Tottenham full-back has probably got the best right foot we’ve seen in the England set-up since ‘Goldenballs’ all those years ago. But that is one of the big differences between the current crop and yesteryears. In 2006, you could ask someone who detests football about the England team, and they could probably have a good go at naming you the starting eleven regardless. If you were to pose the same question today, what kind of response would you get? Is a mother-of-three, with no interest in football whatsoever, really going to have heard of the likes of John Stones or Jesse Lingard? That’s not me stereotyping football fans, but for someone in that situation who doesn’t follow the game, it’s the truth. Something has changed, and it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly. A lot of those in the current side have had to graft, really graft, to get to where they are today. Some have come from difficult backgrounds or childhoods, whilst others were even playing non-league football as little as five years ago. Harry Maguire attended the French European Championships in 2016, but rather than representing England on the pitch, he was there purely as a fan in the stands with his mates. It’s perhaps stories like these, and the journey some of Gareth Southgate’s 23 players have gone on, that makes them a hell of a lot more relatable to society than the perhaps more fashionable sides of the past. And it is perhaps this that brings about mutual respect in the dressing room, leading to a stronger team bond. Not only can we as supporters relate to our heroes, they can relate to one another. A lot of these players have grown up together as friends rather than enemies, but that’s something else I’ll explore a little further down. First up, I feel there’s another man that deserves a lot of credit for how attitudes are shifting all over the country... The Manager The absolute pinnacle of English footballing heartbreak has got to be Euro 96 - semi-final, on our own turf, against Germany, penalties. It doesn’t really get more devastating than that. And the unfortunate soul at the centre of it all? A certain Gareth Southgate. 22 years ago in front of over 75,000 people at Wembley Stadium, a fresh-faced 25-year-old Southgate stepped up to take his side’s sixth penalty in the shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in which England had taken the lead after just three minutes. Prior to Southgate’s spot-kick, all ten penalties had been scored - five from either side. England were taking first, and Southgate needed to continue the 100% conversion rate to put England back in the driving seat. But as he ran up to take this vital penalty, disaster struck. Diving away low to his right, goalkeeper Andreas Köpke got a firm and decisive hand to Southgate’s penalty, and Andreas Möller stepped up to end England’s dreams of winning a first European Championship. And for Southgate, the pain has never left. 22 years on, having managed Middlesbrough and spent a lengthy spell with the under 21s set-up, Southgate is not only revolutionising his own image, but the English game as a whole. A largely uninspiring appointment following the Sam Allardyce scandal, Southgate is breaking the mould in terms of what the role as England manager entails, and is making all the right noises. He understands the importance of the role - not just in a footballing capacity, but for the country as a whole. The 47-year-old has spoken of how his side can put a positive spin on society, and how influential they can be on the nation and its inhabitants, both young and old. Despite all the doom and gloom surrounding political affairs, namely Brexit, Southgate’s squad has brought a sense of optimism to a country that more often than not thrives on bad news. For the first time in a long time, England has a manager who is brave, and not afraid to shake things up. Southgate has completely shifted the playing style of the national side by implementing what may be seen as an entirely new system that consists of three at the back, although it’s one he is extremely familiar with from his time as an international player. There is a strong emphasis on youth in the squad, as you’d expect from a manager who has been promoted from his previous role as under-21 manager. Southgate knows exactly what his team are about having worked with a large number of them at youth level, and in a way he has almost grown into his role in the senior side alongside them. Every test posed to the former defender has been passed with flying colours thus far, but what must be remembered is that this is only the beginning of a long process. England fans may fancy their chances of going all the way in Russia under Southgate’s stewardship, but even if they don’t, what we’ve seen on the continent this summer has laid the foundations for an exciting future under this manager. The Premier League A major talking point regarding past failures of the English national team has been our self-proclaimed “greatest league in the world”, the Premier League. Back in 2006, we were in the midst of total dominance - not from one club, but four. In five out of six seasons spanning from 2004 through to 2009, the top four spots in England’s first tier were occupied by Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in varying order. The only exception came in 2005 when Everton trumped their city rivals to fourth, although it was the Reds who had the last laugh with their historic Istanbul success. With almost all of England’s national players coming from those four clubs during the Golden Generation era - four teams that were enemies on the pitch for years - is it really that much of a surprise that the eleven that were chosen to represent their country failed to gel? In a discussion with BT Sport surrounding their England careers, Ferdinand, Gerrard and Lampard have spoken of how at England team meetings, clubmates would sit at their own tables as opposed to mingling with the rest of the squad. The trio claim that there was no real bond or togetherness that ran throughout the team, and that is something the likes of Southgate have been looking to rectify in more recent times. Our Class of 2018 have shown on the pitch as well as off it that they are a tight-knit group with one common goal - to make their country proud, and whilst we may not have the number of superstars that Sven-Goran Eriksson had at his disposal twelve years ago, there is character within this team that outshines the Golden Generation. The concept of fierce club rivalries appears as though it may be starting to hinder others too. In 2010, Spain were a formidable force, but despite still possessing a squad as strong as any on paper, they’re a shadow of their former World Cup-winning selves. Could the dominance of mortal enemies Barcelona and Real Madrid - both domestically and on the European stage - be a factor in this downfall? Whilst old rivalries still stand in the Premier League, it’s not all about the big four of years gone by. The top four has since become the top six with the additions of Manchester City and Tottenham, and of course who can forget Leicester City’s fairytale season in 2015-16? The improvement in Premier League competition may be easing these rivalries to some extent, bringing about more of a team ethic in the England squad as a result. The Philosophy The FA have been searching for ways to incorporate this team ethic and togetherness within the England squad for years, but may have finally found a solution which is beginning to see us reap the benefits. Now more than ever, there is a strong emphasis on youth within the England set-up. The philosophy is there which holds the belief that our younger squads are equally as important as the senior side. Since the opening of the FA’s England base, St George’s Park, in 2012, the country has finally had a hub to develop and nurture its young talent, and having had a few years with the current system, we are starting to see clear evidence of the progress that has been made. 2017 was somewhat of a golden year for England at youth level, and one that has done nothing but raise optimism levels that there really is a bright future for the country on the international stage. Four trophies across the board for England. The u19 side won the European Championships, a secondary u20 team won the Toulon Tournament whilst there were two World Cups brought home by the u20s and u17s. England’s philosophy is clear. They’re very much following the blueprint of successful international sides Spain and Germany, who in recent years have laid the foundations for their tournament victories through the work done with players during the early stages of their careers. The fact that the FA are also looking to build teams from a younger age also allows more freedom for relationships to be formed and bonds to be made, which will hopefully carry all the way through to when these players earn their first senior caps. Because the environment these young men can become accustomed to each other in is one with very little pressure, it means the club rivalry element is eliminated. These guys see their teammates as England players first and foremost, rather than identifying them by their respective clubs. Not only this, but the FA are also promoting from within. Gareth Southgate is the first who comes to mind, having been accelerated to the country’s top job from his u21 role, and another prime example is ex-Premier League manager Aidy Boothroyd who has now managed at u19, u20 and u21 level for England. The FA, like those previously mentioned countries before them, are laying the foundations for a successful future for England. Our youngsters are taught of the pride in representing your country from an early age, and that can only help going forward. The Social Media And one thing that continues to help these young English prospects forming friendships off the pitch is the technology of social media. Platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have become incredibly prominent among footballers in recent years, particularly younger ones who are looking to build their profiles, in and outside of the beautiful game. Not only does social media enable players to connect with each other more freely, it also allows them to engage with supporters and vice-versa. It bridges the gap between fans and their heroes, and as mentioned earlier - it makes our footballers more relatable to the wider society. And whilst it may divide us on certain topics - Brexit, I’m looking at you - it also brings us together in ways not possible before. We’ve all seen the videos of England supporters drowning each other in beer, and mosh pits ensuing to celebrate goals. Even after a penalty to go 5-0 up against Panama, fans across the country rejoiced as one, partying as if they had just seen their side score a last-minute winner in the final. It’s scenes such as these that show just how much football means to this country, and it appears that love for the Three Lions has been rekindled after a difficult period. In fact it’s almost impossible to go anywhere without being faced by the cross of St George. Homes, bars, shops and even cars are proudly waving their flags in support of the nation. It’s something I personally don’t recall seeing since the Golden Generation took on the world in 2006. Club football is special, don’t get me wrong, and the majority would claim that they’re club over country every time. But despite that, there’s just something special about seeing millions come together as one to drive their country on to success. It’s something that only international tournaments can do, and England finally feels united. Club differences have been put aside for supporters as well as players, and it truly is a beautiful sight. The Lessons Plenty of people over the years have searched for answers regarding the never ending England conundrum, and as mentioned earlier, many have pointed towards the Premier League, stating that our desire to hold the best domestic club competition in the world is hindering our national team. Some say that an influx of foreign players and managers as a bid to do this is the problem, but flip the argument - could these imports perhaps have a positive impact on the England squad? There are a vast number of managers out there, even in the Premier League now, that we can learn from, none perhaps more so than Manchester City’s brilliant Pep Guardiola. Largely renowned as the best coach in world football, the 47-year-old is so meticulous with his approach and has improved each player within his squad tenfold, with City’s English boys potentially being top of that particular list. Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Kyle Walker have been coached by Guardiola in the exact way Gareth Southgate would want them to be. The way the Spaniard’s side perform - you’d be a fool for not wanting your own side to put on displays like that every week. So rather than become frustrated at a seemingly lack of opportunities that English players and coaches get in the Premier League, perhaps it’s time to embrace the change and learn from the very best that the footballing world has to offer? Much can be taken from Jose Mourinho’s defensive approach at Manchester United, whilst Mauricio Pochettino has also played a vital part in the development of some of England’s core players; none more so than captain Harry Kane. The added competition that the brilliant foreign talent in our Premier League brings can only spur our English footballers on, and if they aren’t inspired by playing with or against the best, then are they really the characters we want in our national team’s set-up? Going back to Guardiola - when he was managing Barcelona in Spain eight years ago, their national side won the World Cup. Fast forward four years and he’s with Bayern Munich when Germany lift the trophy. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that these proud nations are swallowing their pride and learning from the best. And maybe that could be one final, good omen for England in 2018. Whether Southgate’s side are to continue that trend and make it a Guardiola hat-trick remains to be seen. But even should they not, or even if they do crash out against Colombia this evening, positive steps have been taken, and this is just the beginning of a bright and prosperous future for England on the international stage. I just know it, and you should too.
0 Comments
In England, football supporters around the country rejoiced at the news that spread. “Germany are out of the World Cup”, said the commentator on the television coverage. The country collectively punched the air screaming with joy as South Korea won by two goals to nil to send the tournament giants home. This was the textbook definition of ‘schadenfreude’ - the German word which literally means ‘satisfaction or pleasure at someone else’s misfortune’. This word described the response of much of the watching world. Why, a non-football fan may ask? Why was everyone so pleased about Germany’s exit? The reason is simple. This is the great Germany. The four time champions of the world, Die Mannschaft. The current holders of the World Cup were out at the first time of asking, in dramatic fashion. But, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Empires rise and fall in a cyclical nature. In medieval history this was apparent, as it is in an economical outlook of a state - an economic ‘boom’ is almost always followed by an economic recession, due to loosening of monetary policy. The nature is different, but the overarching theme is applicable to sport. In 2002, the previous winners France crashed out at the group stage. In 2010, Italy did the same. Spain in 2014 and now Germany 2018 added to this list. Coincidence? I think not. This asks serious questions of the best teams in the world and casts doubts on sports psychology methods after victory. Rewind four years. It was a sunny evening in Belo Horizonte. This was the night the football world fell in love for Germany, as they left hosts Brazil in deep mourning with a 7-1 victory. This was the result of a decade of planning - a revamp that began a decade previous. In Euro 2004, Rudi Völler’s Germany were knocked out in the group stage. From that moment, German football changed. It was a bit like knocking down an old building and starting from scratch. The DFB built 336 youth training centres across the country for teenagers, and demanded that referees at youth level were not just referees, but scouts. The blueprint was scrunched up and thrown in the bin. A new one was drawn. Part of this included the rule that no club has a single owner or foreign billionaire in charge (the 49% rule). This meant, the 50% of foreign talent that was in the Bundesliga in 2002 could not remain. German clubs would have to source from their academies due to the lack of money. Rewards were realised in 2009, when Germany beat England 4-0 to win the European U-21 title. Six members of that team played in the thrashing of Brazil. Whilst Spain and Brazil only had the models of fast football, Germany had a number of tactics at their disposal. Germany changed things at the bottom, the rewards were felt at the top. Götze’s goal against Argentina with seven minutes remaining of the 2014 World Cup final was that reward. So, what went drastically wrong in Russia? We take a look at some of the reasons for the German downfall in 2018, both on and off the pitch, and try to conclude some reasons why Germany have gone from the best team in world football to one of the most mocked. Bayern’s six year dominance German football was at a peak in the years prior to 2014. Bayern Munich had won the Bundesliga and Pokal for two successive years, they won the 2013 Champions League in an all Bundesliga final with Borussia Dortmund, the hottest managerial property in club football was appointed at Bayern in 2013 - Pep Guardiola. The Catalan breathed fresh air in the Bundesliga, propelling Bayern back to an easy ride to the title. It was a good time to be a Bayern fan, an equally good time to be a fan of German football in general. Yet, in 2014, Borussia Dortmund were at the top of their game, under the management of Klopp then Tuchel. Wolfsburg were serious candidates for the title. Bayern had competition. It wasn’t quite level but they had to be on the top of their game. Four years later, Bayern won the league by 21 points, with Schalke their closest threat in second, but the rest severely off the mark. Third placed Hoffenheim finished 29 points behind the leaders. The competition the league had in the years of 2011 to 2014 just no longer exists. When a national team is made up of a spine of the best team in that country, it often leads to good results on the pitch, but not in the case of Germany 2018. Boateng, Hummels, Neuer, Muller, Sule - the Bayern players looked shadows of their best and severely off the mark in Russia. The concept of winning has become so normalised for players of the Bavarian club that the first sign of resistance or things not going their way could not be coped with. We see this in the English Premier League - Manchester City went to Anfield on a winning run that stretched back four months, but looked shell-shocked when they went a goal down. The players couldn’t cope as they didn’t know how to respond from not automatically winning. Thomas Müller was perhaps the most disappointing - the Bayern man looked disinterested and miles away from the young prodigy he was in 2010 and then the exciting raumdeuter (translator of space) that he was in 2014. Back then, he had the ability to, despite not being the fastest or most technically gifted player in the world, arrive in the right space at the right time to help his side. He looked lost on the pitch in Russia. This was the case with Germany - the players were not used to not having it all their own way and failed to deliver. Sentimentality and loyalty Loyalty in football is the notion of going down the route of ‘tried and trusted’. In some instances, this is beneficial for all parties. In Germany’s instance, it worked the opposite. Since the 2014 win, Thomas Müller hasn’t been the same player, Semi Khedira has declined, Mario Gomez is now 32. Yet, Joachim Löw is still heavily reliant on this core group of players. In the 2017/18 Bundesliga season, aside from the Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, many of the top scorers were German strikers: Nils Petersen (Freiburg; 15 goals), Mark Uth (Hoffenheim, 14 goals, 8 assists), Niclas Füllkrug (Hannover, 14 goals), Kevin Volland (Leverkusen, 14 goals), Sandro Wagner (Bayern/Hoffenheim, 12 goals). None of the above were selected for the national team in Russia. In a team that looked lacking in ideas, reliant on Toni Kroos magic to carve chances, Löw did not have one of the fore mentioned at least on his bench as a Plan B. Instead he had Mario Gomez, who managed little over 1000 minutes for VfB Stuttgart in the season just gone. It has even been suggested that Gomez was picked merely as a cheerleader in the dressing room, given his experience. It is not just the strikers, however. Löw often opted with Semi Khedira in midfield, leaving Juventus-bound Emre Can at home and ignoring the impressive Leon Goretzka, who is joining Bayern in the summer. Manuel Neuer, the great goalkeeper he is, was given the nod over Marc Andre ter Stegen, who headed to Russia following a double-winning season with Barcelona, where he has been heralded as one of the best goalkeepers in world football. Neuer, on the other hand, had not played competitive football since September 2017. The point being: Löw was too reliant on his 2014 winning players that he ignored fresher talents. The warning signs were there in Euro 2016, but the fact they were world champions and made a semi-final in France paved over these cracks. Löw heavily relied on Bastian Schweinsteiger, who hadn’t played since February of that year with a knee injury. The then Manchester United player was at fault for the goal in the semi final that ultimately saw Germany crash out at the hands of holders France. There are better talents out there, but it seems to earn the trust of Jogi Löw is not an easy feat. This cost Germany in Russia. Jogi Löw’s arrogance and refusal to evolve The arrogance of the coach and the lack of discipline and urgency from his players cost Germany. The nature of Löw’s attitude was felt long before the tournament began, and continued both on and off the pitch until their elimination on Wednesday. It is a surprise that we have got to this point in this article, or probably better described as a rant, without mentioning a certain German prodigy known as Leroy Sané. The winger who made his name at FC Schalke 04, then announced himself as a world class player at Manchester City, was left out of the squad. Sané was quite literally the poster boy for Germany, after being one of the best players in Manchester City’s breathtaking campaign which saw him win the Young Player of the Year Award for the 2017/18 season. I concede that Sané may not have fit Löw’s system, maybe the same with Sandro Wagner of Bayern, but there is no system in the world that doesn’t allow for the skillset of Leroy Sané even as a super-sub. Mexico were great, but as Sweden proved, they aren’t the best defensively. The same with South Korea, there was space in behind them. Sané would have been perfect off the bench. We have seen what he has done to the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Napoli with his devastating runs inside the fullback. The omission of Sané can be put down to arrogance, or to prove a point. Sané missed the Confederations Cup of 2017 for an operation, it would seem the German manager punished him for this. He had chance to put this right in Russia though, but his arrogance got the better of him again. In the first game against Mexico, he decided to ‘rest’ Marco Reus, because Germany “had a lot of games to go”. Against South Korea, Löw opted again for the out of form Khedira and Özil, along with Leon Goretzka (as in, the central midfielder) on the wing. He was trying to tell the world he was the smart coach with a modern tactical nous. That arrogance ultimately betrayed Germany. The German national team had even booked their hotel for the days leading up to and after the final on July 15, showing again, arrogance. On and off the pitch, decisions were made that backfired on Germany big time in Russia. Players simply not performing “The hunger is not the same, the desire is not the same”, said Jürgen Klinsmann, following Germany’s exit. The 1990 World Cup winner admitted the team deserved to go home, who blames the defeat in Russia on complacency. Against Mexico, Germany were poor whilst Mexico were brilliant. Toni Kroos magic helped them against Sweden in a very lucky way. But the Real Madrid midfielder conceded that a side that cannot score against Korea deserves to go home. Every game was a festival of ponderously dull football, every pass looked predictable, which is not what €1bn of youth development is supposed to bring. There was a lack of team spirit, and certainly a lack of leadership. The German identity was missing on the pitch. Whilst Timo Werner is an exciting young talent that played well at the Confederations Cup, he looked lost of ideas on the pitch. He showed glimpses as he danced past players against Sweden, but he is not the typical German forward, a typical no.9. Germany lacked a focal point or box threat that they once had - a Klinsmann, a Klose, a Voller, a Gerd Müller. This is perhaps why it is so surprising that Sandro Wagner was sat at home. It was all about possession, possession, possession. But like we saw with Spain in the game against Russia, possession means nothing. It is what you do with the ball that is important. Most passes were sideward, with no intent of breaking the lines of opponents. Be it inept managerial decisions, lack of application on the pitch, or missing the leadership Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Klose brought, Germany were downright dreadful in Russia, and the future is uncertain. Where from here? “Turniermannschaft”: Germany were quite literally supposed to be the ‘tournament team’. Despite their poor preparation friendlies, when the tournament came around, Germany would turn up - Germany always turn up. Not this time. Germany were knocked out at the group stage for the first time in eighty years. But it is not disastrous for Germany. They won the U21 European Championships just last summer, to add to the Confederations Cup win for the first team which was fairly second string. Kimmich, Rudy and Werner were supposed to replace the Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Klose of the previous generation. It wasn’t to be in Russia, but with two years more game time under their respective belts, they can form the crux of a formidable force for years to come. Jupp Heynckes, Jürgen Klopp and Jürgen Klinsmann are three names that have been mooted in the German press to replace Löw, but the German FA have said that they want Löw to lead the revival. Yet, a few days on, the German FA have surely already started their plan to put things right before the European Championship campaign begins. For me, despite the obvious talents of Löw, it is time for a change. There are many good reasons why he should stay on, but there is an unwritten rule of thumb that a failure in a tournament should lead to the sacking. Should Germany have crashed out against a tough Brazil in the knockout rounds, it may have been different. But to be knocked out in a group with no previous champion, there is no chance he should remain. But, appointing a new manager won’t automatically bring success. There needs to be a radical rethinking off the pitch - not as radical as the complete restructure of the blueprint of a the early 2000’s, but a change nonetheless. German media outlets have compared the sorry state of German football to the political landscape in Germany: in need of a change. I am no German politics expert, but in footballing terms - I agree that a change is needed. The group stage is over at the 2018 World Cup. We have had fifteen days filled with goals, action, VAR drama and much more. Holders Germany crashed out, underdogs such as Croatia and Sweden have shocked a few, whilst some of the big guns haven't really got past second gear yet. Players have shone, whilst some have flopped. Price tags have been raised, whilst youngsters have put themselves in the proverbial shop window. Editor Lewis Steele has watched every game and has had the task of narrowing down many performances to a 'Team of the Group Stage' with one player per position, in the most used formation at the tournament - 4-3-3. Goalkeeper - Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark) The Schmeichel family have made vast history during their glittering goalkeeping careers. A man-of-the-match performance for Denmark against Peru took Kasper to 533 minutes without conceding for Denmark, meaning he edged past a record set by his father two-and-a-half decades ago. Schmeichel’s Denmark progressed in a group that could be tricky, managing a clean sheet against Peru and France, both of which possess frightening attackers. Kasper will take the plaudits for his performances - he has the best save percentage (92.3%) and also managed to cover more distance than Lionel Messi. He has been the best goalkeeper at the World Cup thus far and his performances have attracted attention from Liverpool, who are in the hunt for a top level goalkeeper. Right Back - Kieran Trippier (England) The standings for most key passes at the World Cup may contain a couple of expected names - Kevin De Bruyne, Philippe Coutinho, Andres Iniesta. The names you’d expect to be up there - midfield magicians in their own right. But then, sitting just behind Kevin De Bruyne, is Bury lad Kieran Trippier. Kept out of the Spurs side by Serge Aurier for a lot of the league season, Trippier was chosen by Southgate as one of his most important players in Russia. On free kicks and corners, the pacy wing-back has played a huge part in England’s qualification for the knockouts, in which six of their eight goals have come from set pieces. Trippier probably has the best cross England fans have seen since David Beckham’s wand of a right foot. John Stones at the back is nicknamed ‘The Barnsley Beckenbauer’, so Trippier is more than deserving of being coined ‘The Bury Beckham’, if he carries on. Should England go far, Trippier will hold one of Southgate’s keys to success. Centre Back - Diego Godin (Uruguay) Atletico fans cherish Diego Godin, calling him ‘El God’ or ‘The God’. A play on words maybe, God-like defending no doubt. Uruguay conceded zero goals in their three group games, but this is no surprise for a defence with Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez at the heart of it. It is in their nature from being drilled by Diego Simeone. In the first game, Godin was the star of the show, putting his body on the line at the back and even leading attacks. His performance was key to setting the ball rolling for Uruguay against a stubborn Egypt. With the most clearances (12), most tackles won (8) and equal most aerial duels won (8), Godin was an easy decision for this team. Centre Back - John Stones (England) John Stones, you either love him or hate him. Ever since his big money move to Manchester City, he has had lovers and haters - people love him for his character and his abilities on the ball, but others take a dislike to him because his risky yet effective style of play can lead to mistakes. The best anyone can put it is his club football boss Pep Guardiola, who notes that playing out from the back will inevitably lead to losing the ball and perhaps conceding, but over the course of the season, it will create more goals than lead to conceding them. John Stones is one of England’s most important players, with his fantastic passing range key to starting many attacks, rather than the typical England (of the last decade) way of just passing sideways in a boring way. As the youngest of England’s back line, John Stones shows maturity beyond his years, being the leader figure of the back three. Not just defensively, Stones got two goals against Panama from corners and was very unlucky against Tunisia not to score, but getting an assist as Kane scored the first. Left Back - Ludwig Augustinsson (Sweden) The Werder Bremen full-back has been an ever-present in the rock-solid foundations of Sweden’s defence.
Without Zlatan, questions were asked about Sweden’s chances in Russia, but they have answered every single one of those, qualifying from the group and setting up a winnable Last 16 tie with Switzerland. Ludwig Augustinsson was key to those successes, with his steady defensive work and his ability to offer a useful outlet down the left when his side attacked. Against Mexico he did just that, racing into the final third before lashing home the opener which proved decisive in Sweden’s final group game, which helped them top the group. |
CommentCatch the thoughts of our editorial team and contributors on all things Russia 2018 here on our Opinion page. |