The World Cup is nearly upon us and millions of men around the world rejoice whilst millions of wives and girlfriends despair. This is the time of year when men become “incommunicado” with their female companions unless, of course, the female companion happens to like and understand football. Or they happen to be offering to get them a beer or food whilst a game in on.
I love the World Cup usually right up until the time England get knocked out at which point I then take a lesser interest in what then comes to pass. I like watching the Final and I always find Brazil entertaining but I had little interest in the semi-final between Germany and South Korea in 2002.
The England side this year has a genuine chance to win the tournament even if Rooney isn’t fit. In some ways I think Rooney not being fit might do us a favour. He is a fantastic player but if he is in the starting XI, then we always play 4-4-2, although the way Rooney drops off, it’s often a 4-4-1-1. The trouble is, the dozy Swede can’t seem to get Gerrard and Lampard to play well together and that leaves our back four exposed. If they can’t work out what to do between them then one of them has to give way to a defensive midfielder whilst the other pushes up but I can’t see Sven having the nads to do that.
Taking Theo Walcott was an odd decision. The lad doesn’t have any experience even at Premiership level and I would much rather have taken Darren Bent, who is used to playing in a 4-5-1 formation, in case Owen breaks down and Rooney isn’t fit. It just seems a huge, huge gamble to me. If you were going to take him, then at least have the prudence to name 5 strikers in your squad and include Bent in that 23.
If we had a manager such as Terry Venables, Arsene Wenger or Jose Mourinho I reckon we’d have a big, big chance to win. I just don’t think we have got a World Cup winning manager in Sven “Shagging” Eriksson.
Putting all that to one side though, it is now just 16 days to the World Cup and lots and lots and lots of beer drinking. Hurrah!