The England Football team, dare to believe. With the three lions roaring on their chests, they will proudly step out on the Donbass Arena in Donetsk in Ukraine against the mighty French contingency. With a new era in English football under the experienced Roy Hodgson and Gerrard leading the team forward, every English fan looks ahead in hope towards the EURO 2012 fever. The fear still remains in their eyes as they book their tickets to Ukraine. It might be the same old story after all.
On 1st may 2012, when it was announced that the ex-West Bromwich Albion manager had beaten Harry Redknapp to the race of becoming the next England man, a few people looked at their television sets with utter disbelief. The stats were clear. Roy Hodgson didn’t only prove his capabilities through the 2010-11 and 2011-12 season in the West Brom dugout, but also helped them secure a 11th and 10th finish in the premier league which was a commendable achievement for a newly promoted team who had lost 13 out of their first 18 matches under Di Matteo. Yes, the same man who has taken Chelsea to the Champions League final single handedly.
The experience he brings to the English camp is exceptional through his years in Internazionale, Switzerland, Fulham and his brief stint as the Liverpool Manager. When these stats were presented to the English hopefuls their faces beamed with excitement. The expectancy rose and they dared to believe that a change was coming. A new look young England team would tear the opposition apart. Every eye in England was awaiting 16 May 2012 for the team news. Who would be in? Who would give way to younger players? What new surprises will be thrown up this time in the team sheet?
So the England team was announced, and yes it was full of surprises as expected. The struggling John Terry was selected. Micah Richards gave way to Phil Jones. The improved Rio Ferdinand (at least in the second half of the season), was not handed a ticket for the Euros and the struggling Andy Carroll actually found a place in the 23 man squad. Michael Carrick who sparkled in the united shirt this season was not even mentioned in the standby list and even Jordon Henderson got his nod ahead of him who might just play if Scott Parker doesn’t recover from his injury. As the team sheet rolled, the inclusion of Stewart Downing came as a shock to the world. Even Everton Keeper Tim Howard has scored more goal than the Stewart ‘disastrous’ Downing this season. And where did Peter Crouch go? Hodgson says that Caroll is strong in the air but did he forget that Peter Crouch is around 6’7?
No matter how much we might criticize the selections, Roy Hodgson still has taken up a tedious job of reconstructing a broken down puzzle with pretty much the same old pieces who have not fit properly for the past few years. He needs a tape, he needs scissors and he needs a lot of patience to actually make the three lions roar again and fight the Swedes, French and the also mighty Ukranians in their own backyard.
We wish luck to Roy Hodgson and hope that with Gary Neville as the coach of this ‘NEW’ England squad they at least get past the group stage unlike last time. Oh!! I forgot. They weren’t even playing the Euros four years back. They have already exceeded our expectations. Bravo!!
Signing off
An English fan since Birth (With a heavy heart I admit, I have been a fan forever and I hope one day, one day these sleeping lions roar past the world and make this world their own. Even though it’s painful, It’s always good to be optimistic. Right?)
Lonelyreaders 