In every pub and sitting room across the nation even the most optimistic of us thought the same thing on Saturday evening; 'typical bloody England'. A bright start, a couple of injuries, a goalkeeping blunder, wasted chances and a lack of ideas. Its not a curse and its not the fact that we haven't got the players - and these realities were confirmed in fact by our old enemy and the football side that we all love to hate. Many of us sat green with envy as we saw a Germany side who had been wrongly tipped by bookmakers and pundits alike to struggle in their fairly mediocre group stage and pose no threat to Jules Rimet this year. Well those of you who know me will know that I was not at all surprised to see the Germans finally kick this competition into action after an array of draws and tense affairs in the opening games. There's a lot of people in Britain who would have you believe that German football and the continental style is boring. Well actually I disagree and have done for a long time. I'm not bored of winning games 4-0. I'm bored of hearing people criticise Emile Heskey, or say Gerrard and Lampard don't work together or say Glen Johnson can't defend. Maybe we wouldn't still be doing it though, were we just to learn a few simple lessons and learn how to play a game of international football.


Not only is Germany's preparedness to keep the ball and keep their passing simple and safe before looking to move the ball more quickly in the final third more effective in terms of attacking, it also reduces the likelihood of pressure being built up on them. Every time Terry or Carragher whacks the ball up to Heskey's neck with little or no supprt we're not only wasting possession but we're giving it to our opponents and thus inviting them onto us. In turn we had a few scares from unnecessary set plays before Green's howler and if anything the goal had been coming. Nothing to do with the keeper, the defence, the midfield or the strikers. Its our style of play and our impatience that costs us and its been a problem for ever since I can remember. Every week at my own club at 1-0 down people start yelling garbage such as 'Get it forward' or complaining when players pass the ball backwards rather than loft it forwards. Well if you learn anything from a game of football learn this from the Germans. Chelsea might have won the Premier League playing a lot of perecentage football and grinding teams down with a solid defence. It might work against Burnley - but it won't work in a World Cup.
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