"Golden Generation" Has Arrived
There is no doubt that their sharp-dressed Italian manager, fondly tagged as The Don, has transformed an England squad from a ragtag bunch of players under the hapless Steve McClaren two years ago into something that resembles a world class act.
But euphoria shouldn't get to their heads so soon after finishing their World Cup qualifying round with a 100 percent record that is only matched by Spain and the Netherlands.
England, their fans and the media have often in the past blew their trumpets about their greatness to win titles but each time they fell flat with "glorious failure."
Under The Don, England are playing with greater conviction and purpose. Granted, Capello is a man not easily prone to hyperbole, he can be excused his exhilaration and conviction that this present squad is seen as the birth of England's "golden generation".
In Aaron Lennon, Capello has found the Tottenham Hotspur player to be a revelation on a night when he made the Croatian defence look silly. Together with Arsenal's Theo Walcott, the England manager can be envied for having two bright young players he can depend on as an alternative to David Beckham who is probably on his last lap.
The other good news is that Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are capable of working in tandem, laying to rest the notion of their incompatibility in midfield. And so long as Wayne Rooney does not lose his temper, he is as good as gold in the England attack.
Capello, unlike Diego Maradona and the wretched Argentina team, is bringing cohesion, composure and confidence to the England squad, thanks to his vast experience as a football manager.
But nothing is won yet. England fans may be counting the chickens before the eggs are hatched. Only next summer in South Africa will Capello find out whether this England squad can rise to the occasion when confronted by the likes of Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy. - By Mark Khoo
1 comment:
It looks like Capello is shaping up the England boys and they might as well be one of the favourites in South Africa. But then, like before, the English media should not be full of euphoria at this stage, thinking they could conquer the world. There is always a Brazil, Spain or Germany to stop them in their tracks.
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