I’m not sure there’s too much appetite for Norwich City talk after the events of yesterday – and it’s not often I write (or believe) that – but it’s not every day your country qualifies for a World Cup semi-final. At least not when your country is England.
(Our German contingent would disagree).
But here we are, with a World Cup semi just around the corner for the first time (in the men’s game) in 28 years and only the third time ever. Heady days indeed.
I’ve been one of the few it seems to resist the It’s Coming Home mantra – partly because I don’t want to jinx it and partly because I still don’t believe it’s going to happen – but having gone two games beyond what was considered a reasonable expectation, there really is now an element of ‘anything is possible’.
A FIFA ranking of 12 before the tournament started led us to believe that our natural resting place was the Round of 16 and, in fairness, the FA’s PR machine and the media had done such an excellent job in dampening down expectations, most would have accepted that if it had been accompanied by some positive signs going forward.
Gareth Southgate too played a blinder even before the tournament began. He selected a squad that was talented but young and knew that ‘young’ often equated to inconsistency. He knew it could go awry, despite the meticulous preparation, and that he needed to offer these lads a platform on which to play that would spare them the bi-annual media brickbat avalanche if it did go belly up.
There was no bravado from Southgate – there is no bravado from Southgate – and his calm, measured, considered approach sat perfectly with the ‘learning process’ mentality we took to Russia. And during the tournament itself, there has been little tub-thumping – except in victory – and he’s left the grand gestures and euphoria to those who back home and in the stands.
The players clearly hang on their manager’s every word and they too only feel the euphoria in the moments of triumph. The daily routine is more Barnsley than England and is free of bells and whistles.
For this tournament, the FA have used their YouTube channel to take us behind the scenes. It’s aimed at the young generation – it might as well be in a different language at times – but still it’s offered a fascinating insight into what goes one and the grounded mindset of those involved. The day after scoring the most important penalty of his career, they interviewed Eric Dier but you’d never have known this was a young man who a few hours earlier had written himself into the history books.
He was calm, relaxed and, most importantly, grounded – just how his manage wants it. Quite how Southgate has achieved that when the nation is on the cusp of spontaneously combusting is hard to fathom, but he has, and his ability to combine a cool head with burning national pride has been quite something to behold.
Of course, there are those who point out the fortuitous route that has taken England to the semi-final and there is no denying the defeat of England B by Belgium B did offer up a route that was free of the big names. But said big names have been knocked out. Knocked out by the ‘minnows’ who have been and are now in England’s path.
Few succeed without a little bit of luck along the way and, anyway, it’s long overdue. Let’s hope it continues.
Even the Croatians getting past the Russians may have played into England’s hands. While they’re technically a far better side than the hosts – and in Modrić and Rakitić they have surely the best central midfield combo in the world – a game against Russia would have sparked repercussions way beyond the sporting variety. And it would have also made it nigh impossible for England fans to snaffle some additional tickets.
So, while they’re a good team with good players who are more than capable of beating us, this still represents a chance – one that may not come along again for a very long time. And I suspect in the hours approaching kick-off on Wednesday, carpe diem will give It’s Coming Home a good run for its money.
Roll the clock back three weeks, and if anyone would have offered us a semi with Croatia for a place in the World Cup final we’d have declared them insane at the same time as whipping their hand off. It’s crazy.
The feelgood factor is something special though. Not since London 2012 has the nation come even close to uniting in this way, however temporarily it may be, and as we live through these troubled times – and the 5hitfest caused by a certain vote in June 2016 – this run has given at least part of the union something to unite behind.
The worries, stresses and strains won’t go away but for a few hours are tucked away in the recesses, and for that we must be thankful to Southgate and a group of young men who have restored faith where faith and belief had been eroded.
I’m not sure we have enough left in the tank to win this thing and I still can’t bring myself to believe it’s really coming home, but it’s been bloody fun. And how I’d love to be writing a 1000 word rallying cry next Sunday morning.
Some of us us have waited (cough) rather a lot of years for this. As I sat in my gran’s front room in 66 I fully expected this to be a regular occurrence. It’s never happened and I honestly believed it never would again in my lifetime.
You’re right, NCFC is firmly on the back boiler (although I did venture to the Walks on Friday night. It’s not often you can support Norwich City without a coat and it had to be done.
“England expects”, as one famous Norfolk son once said.
Probably started out more in hope, than expectation, but the most refreshing aspect is the humility of the approach from the manager and players alike, something that was completely lacking from the so called ‘Golden generation’ with the accompanying WAGs.
This England is far more likeable. ???????
Watching the game yesterday and sorry to say I am confused by all the hipe around Henderson and Striling.
1 comment says that Striling was scaring the Swedish defences
Why was that when he got the ball he didn’t shoot, ran in to a block of 2 or 3 Swedish defenders, never passed to another player thst had a clearer shot on goal.
It was all about him looking good even when he dives he looks around to see if anyones is looking.
Sorry to say he is well over rated.
2 Henderson the modern day Wilkins
So far after every game the amount of tweets about from Liverpool supporters about an average players is fetting boring.
Controllers the game
Defence couldn’t cope without him
Drivers the team on
IMHO he never passes the ball forward only backwards or sideways just like Ray Wilkins.
Loses the ball more times than any other players then screams at the nearest player for his mistake
Hasn’t had mire than 1 shot at goal
Gets chest butted and chinned goes down holding his head no where near where Barrio caught him
Could gave got set off for retaliation when he head buttered Barrio
Never stops moaning at the ref
As before over rated
Southgates has got the team doing well so lets win the World Cup but the sweaty socks up north will say:
Never played one of the top teams
Lost a game to get into weaker half of the draw
Lucky with the penalty shootout
And many more moans and the biggest moan will be stop reminding us you one the world cup but it is mainly them thst reminds us.
Will Scotland ever win the Football World Cup no but they could be the the world cup winners of whingeing.
Now for the Cricket and then the Croatians on Wednesdays
Stirling is a bit like marmite! But I have to disagree with your comments about Henderson, harsh, I suggest you have another look at the highlights and Danny Murphy’s analysis.
Dust off a pair of rose tinted glasses and get with the programme, it’s highly unlikely we’re going see an England side in the semi finals of the world cup again and just enjoy our good fortune it’s such a welcome change from bemoaning the Germans being better at penalties or just better or Brazil’s dodgy free kick or ‘ the hand of god’!!
Who knows this could be England’s Leicester moment! ?
John F
The game is of opinions and mine are what they are and I don’t expect everyone to agree.
If a you say I should dust of my rose tinted glasses then we would all see the same things ans what a sad workd it will be.
I would love to see England go the whole way as I can remember watching the 66 final and even as a school boy got to an early game at White city v France then hone of QPR.
I agree with John F. I’ll start with Henderson because he is easier to defend. He is in the team to do the sleeves rolled up dirty work and hold positions that make the side harder to beat. This roll often is unsung, but is vital in any high performing team. Look at our own Tettey (OK not a particularly high performing team), a very limited footballer in many ways, often derided for sideways passing but City’s record with or without him last season was stark. Henderson plays a vital cog in the team and has done so well so far this WC.
Stirling, OK I don’t like him, I don’t really think he’s that good, he hasn’t performed that well in most of his games for England, none of the previous 3 he played in this world cup. But I thought for the first time he actually lived up to some of his potential, he was a real handful, he really pulled the Swedes defence around. If he had only got the final ball or finish right, he could have been looking at man of the match. I get that we all like a scape goat, in all the games so far I have groaned too when he has been on the team sheet. But lets be fair, he had a decent game, not out standing, the mistakes and decision making put pay to that, but can you remember the much Vaunted Harry Kane doing anything in that game? For the first time in the tournament, if Sterling is picked again against the Croatians, I will not groan. For the first time this tounament he wasn’t clearly our worst player. Lets show a little positivity, it doesn’t matter who we play to get there, if we win the final, are you so thin skinned that a sweaty can take away the joy by saying we had an easy ride? Remind them that they too, could have had an easy ride had they of qualified or generally been a little less pony!
The irony of course is that Scotland would probably get pipped to the WC of Whinging by your goodself.
Bah!
p.s. Come on Gary, lets keep the Brexit business for political forums, otherwise half the comments section will end up being moderated in to the ether.
General yes I want England to do well and just as you I have my opinions and I also don’t like Sterling yes he is in the team and for a certain job and is slowly improving it is just his final ball and he said in an interview his thought process is slower than his action and at times he keeps the ball to long,
As for Henderson he is like a carbon copy of Ray Wilkins and I never liked him as a player.
As for Kane in the last game he spent most of the last game he spent in midfield and possibly only one shot so yes a poor game
It is still a little too soon to ask Carp Diem, but fingers crossed may it be so.
Sir Gareth Southgate,sounds good.
This will not be a popular view but England have had the easiest draw in World Cup history so far. To be honest NCFC could have beaten Panama and Tunisia. Columbia without their best player? Sweden? Poor. It is true that you can only beat what is in front of you but they have been exceptionally fortunate so far to avoid all the big hitters. The hype is out of all proportion to the scale of the achievement.
But surely these supposed “lesser” teams England are beating had already disposed of some of the more fancied teams in the group stages and then the round of the last 16??
You can only beat what’s put in front of you, and, let’s face it, a better referee would have had Colombia down to only 8 or 9 players before half-time.
Why can we not just glory in what has so far been achieved but a group of players, AND a management team who were not given a chance at the beginning of June??
And how refreshing is it to see the whole team not only knowing our national anthem, but singing it too!
Come on England, oh, and
O T B C
It’s nice to see a remoaner believing again in his country even if it’s just in the National football team, rather than causing the 5hitfest by not accepting what the country voted for in 2016. Maybe it’s time more of the minority recognised with enough positive thinking and a cool head like Mr. Southgate has shown on the world stage there is nothing to fear but fear itself. It’s refreshing to see some of my fellow countrymen showing some guts, belief and determination that’s for sure in this world cup. The troubled times you mentioned is only for those weak minded individuals in need mothering and scared their own abilities don’t measure up in a competitive world. Those snide remarks referring to ‘troubled times’ in your column were not necessary to what was otherwise a good read.
Noted Steven ?
Oh dear Steven it is a rosy tinted world you live in. Personally I find your comments rather more objectionable than Gary’s since you question the integrity of all those that don’t support your dubious views.
Ah but more people watched England against Columbia than voted for the b*****d brexit. Wanting the country to do well is not the preserve of those who wish to return to Empire of Jacob Rees Mogg
Well said!
Fish of the day?
Just because we haven’t faced an Ozil, Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez or Neymar, everyone assumes we’ve had it easy. That’s nonsense.
It’s a team game, and we’ve showed we are by far the better side in all our matches except the Belgian fixture. That’s what matters, not relying on a couple of superstars.
Of the 4 left neither France or Belgium are one-man teams – they each have a number of very big names, so it’s likely one of them will win it and the other finish 3rd. I’m delighted with what Southgate’s achieved with such a young side and hope we can carry it on into the Euros 2020.
With the next WC being played exclusively in searing heat it’s unlikely the north European teams will have as much impact as this time.
Totally agree with this. Southgate has done a truely excellent job thus far. His predacessors have managed to make it look like miracle work. Think back 2 years. Two draws against perceived poor teams (Russia and Serbia) a nervous scrap past a welsh team that would go on to better things and dire defeat against Iceland.
I think Sweden might feel hard done by if you suggest they are a worse team then any of those teams were.
As for the next Euros and WC, I think the Euros will be very exciting to see where this young team can be, add in some more promising youth from some of these recent age group successes and Stars like James Maddison.
As for the next WC, I wouldn’t write of the European’s for Qatar just yet. A number of the games in Russia have been played in stiffling temperatures and Europe has prevailed. It’s the sides like Spain who hold the ball best that will likely prevail, although it was pretty toasty in Brazil when a certain northern European team beat all comers. This will now be 4 tournaments on the trot for Europe, c’mon rest of the world, let’s be having you!
Bah!
Didn’t realise a brief mention of a vote that took place in June 2016 would provoke a reaction! The ‘stresses and strains’ were a reference to life-2018 style, not anything political, and the worries that come with ill relatives. I’ll take the name calling from the Brexiteers on the chin just this once.
It’s most unlike me not to comment on a thread mate – but I swerved this one as politics leaves me stone cold.
Hope all ends up well with the relatives situation – I’ve been there more than once and it’s never easy especially if you’ve no help and it’s all down to you.
Thanks mate
Martin, you had left us stunned with your lack of response. I guess thats the bottom line if its not your bag.
I am sick to death of the whole Brexit thing, which ever way the vote went, the politicians would continue to serve themselves and their pay masters, damned which ever way it went in my book.
Bah!