In January 2010 Mikel Arteta completed five years UK residency, and having been ignored throughout his playing career by the country of his birth (Spain, for the ignoramuses out there) is now eligible to play for England. Just turning 28 Arteta could still enjoy a fruitful England career – and though this (2010) World Cup is too soon, he would only be 32 at the next. He’s not a player who relies on pace, and representing Eng-er-land could be his only chance to appear on the biggest stage.

It’s surprising that he has not been called up by Spain before – but not inexplicable. Players of his ilk – playmakers, silky passers – are relatively abundant in the country. Think Iniesta and Xavi, both similar ages to Arteta, then Fabregas who although younger is also blocking his path. Then you have Xabi Alonso, Diego Capel, Santi Cazorla… so Arteta is well down the queue.

England have no such riches. Players like Arteta are like gold-dust – Carrick is probably the current closest and he is quite different. Beckham isn’t miles off, but the most recent player who can genuinely be compared in styles (a playalike, if you will) is Jamie Redknapp. And what a player he could have been were it not for injury. That starkly illustrates the paucity.

When we have the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joleon Lescott in the England squad (and SWP indeed in the midfield), a player of the calibre and class of Arteta would walk in. And he would offer the side something different, something creative, something intelligent, something… Spanish.

The bandwagon starts here – Fabio Capello, sign him up.

Arteta has previously said he wouldn’t rule out playing for England (see here) – let’s jump on that. Why more isn’t being made of this I don’t know, but he is game, he is eligible, he is good enough, he would be a fantastic addition to the England squad. A genuine playmaker who can play out wide, in the centre, or off the striker is like manna from heaven. Don’t ignore it Don Fabio.

It had is moments; the opening game, Germany destroying England then Argentina, The 3/4th place play-off, Italy v Slovakia… but by and large the World Cup was disappointing. What is to blame?

• The Ball

Now officially called ‘the much maligned Jabulani’, there was so much plaintive wailing about the offical World Cup ball that there must be some truth in there. No smoke without fire and all that (that’s what all the best legal cases are built on…). I’ve played with one, and it is phenomenally light – difficult to control, and difficult to hit with any combination of pace and accuracy. Only Diego Forlan seemed able to master long range strikes with it, and Tevez’ goal was perhaps the only time it was hit 100% straight and true. That is never a good sign. In the desperate quest to make the games more exciting, contain more goals and attract more viewers Adidas/FIFA seem to have shot themselves in the foot. It was used with some success in the Bundesliga and the J-League prior to the tournament which suggests it’s ok once you get used to it – unfortunately the course of the tournament was not long enough for most sides.

• Vuvuzelas

Absolutely fucking shit. Ruined watching it on TV, ruined it even more inside the stadium (probably). By drowning out the crowd they made the games devoid of atmosphere despite the deafening hoots. Genuinely one of the worst inventions ever.

• Holding Midfielders

The 4-2-3-1 seems to have infected the game, with De Jong and Van Bommel the starkest proponents. Two players in the middle whose sole purpose is to break up play is never going to make for attractive games or a glut of goals. And when they do it by fouling left, right and centre it disrupts the flow to such an extent the game becomes nigh on unwatchable (re: the final…).

• Spain

I appreciate the technique behind what they do, but Spain are actually quite a boring side to watch. They pass sides to death, moving and switching the play but without ever creating more than a handful of clear cut opportunities. They wear their opponents out, wear them down, then when that elusive chance does come they rely on David Villa to stick it away. Spain only scored 7 goals in 6 matches, and only three players scored for them.

• The Punditry

It was just awful. I’ve already reprinted one excellent article from Tom English on just how bad – but ‘Lawro’ plunged it to new depths during the final. Abhorrent.

• Avarice

The prize money on offer was ludicrous – Spain were on £500k per man to win the tournament, and England received nearly £6m for their abject showing. With such enormous sums involved, no wonder tactics were defensive, teams were scared to lose, and as a result football suffered. Germany and Uruguay showed how could it could have been in their playoff game played without fear.

• English Fans

The tubthumping bandwagon that rolls into the country with every major tournament was particularly busy this time. St George’s flags everywhere, bare-shirted, tattooed thugs singing about the IRA, the relentless media exposure, the ridiculous over hyping of a decidedly average England side, the faux-patriotism – I was just glad when England went out. Roll on us not qualifying for Euro 2012.

It just wasn’t an enjoyable tournament. Don’t let the good moments in the later rounds cloud the torpor that was the first round of group matches – we waited four years for this, and it was a massive let-down. But only four years until the next one – and no doubt I will be as excited for that as I was for this.

Love the World Cup.

Enough has been written of England’s disappointing – nay abject – nay disgraceful – showing at the World Cup. I didn’t expect much, but a hell of a lot more than one average performance against Slovenia and three other dreadful ones. As always we collapsed as soon as we faced a genuinely good side (speaking of which, how good is Ozil? Amazing) but this time not on penalties, and without a whimper. Yes Lampard’s goal of course should have stood, but 4-2 would have flattered us.

Why?

We have a good side – not a great one, but a good one – a proven manager, and an excellent qualifying campaign under our belts. But the tournament itself was a disaster. Strange selections (Carragher, King, SWP?) strange tactics (No Carrick in the first game), rigidity in formation (at least try Gerrard/Rooney), strange substitutions (Heskey for Defoe when we desperately needed goals) a disharmonious camp (John Terry) the persistence with injured and unfit players (King, Barry, Rooney) and the bizarre cheerleading figure of David Beckham. And for all that the blame must lie with Capello. Magnificent as his club record is, the buck stops with him.

The FA seem to think the same, and have announced there will be an announcement on his future in 2 weeks. This seems sensible, no knee-jerk reactions. And it seems this will coincide with a wholesale change in the English football structure.

Rumours abound this will include a Svengali figure monitoring the pyramid and development of players from the  bottom up. What we also need is a huge push on and for qualified coaches – we only have around 20,000 at the top FIFA level compared to 80,000 for France – and Germany, Holland and Spain all have more. Indeed the latter (if my memory serves) have around 180,000. No wonder England and our top clubs are importing coaches and managers from abroad.

Is Capello the man to lead us into this new dawn? Club and country management is radically different, and you are only as good as your last game. Which in Capello’s case, is fucking shit.

I’m no chest beating Englishman, but for a radical overhaul I would prefer a proven international manager who knows international and club football, and speaks bloody English. I don’t care if he (or she) is from our shores, but it baffles me when the English side is managed by someone who cannot communicate with the players. Thank God we didn’t get Scolari, his English is even worse than Don Fabio’s.

Plus it irritated me when he defended our performances – I thought it was a decidedly English characteristic to blindly laud ourselves – it appears he is guilty of equally rose tinted retrospect. We were rubbish.

I’m intrigued what the FA will do – I suspect offer Capello the chance to oversee the restructure. It will save them £12m after all. And I suspect he will accept. But I don’t think that’s the right way to go. How must they regret removing THAT clause just before the World Cup.

Also – if not Fabio, then who? He at least now has experience of managing a squad at a major international tournament, and that will hopefully stand him and us in good stead at Euro 2012. There are at least no worries about our ability to qualify.

What we want is a world class English coach. And that simply doesn’t exist. Fabio will in all likelihood continue – but it reeks of compromise.

This is also a watershed for the so called ‘Golden Generation’ that began with Michael Owen and David Beckham precociously lighting up World Cup ’98 and ended in ignominy for Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as they crashed out to Germany. Owen and Beckham have probably already seen the last of international football – but what worth is there in persisting with Gerrard, Lampard, Ferdinand, Terry, Heskey, Barry, even Ashley Cole? They will all be too old for the next World Cup – Lampard is already 32. And the summary of their achievements are two quarter final defeats to Portugal. Oh for the salad days of Sven…

As well as a soup to nuts restructure the FA should also take this an opportunity to build a new England side, one that will get us to Euro 2012 and then be primed for WC 2014. Some of the current crop will be integral to that – Rooney, G Johnson, Joe Hart, perhaps Ashley Cole, Walcott and Lennon; then the likes of Adam Johnson, Tom Huddlestone, Jack Wilshere, Jonjo Shelvey, Connor Wickham, Fabian Delph and other young starlets should be accelerated. It may not pay dividends immediately but building a strong, stable squad that will stay together over the next four years and grow into a team must be the way forward.

Germany should be our paradigm. And hopefully we can find an Ozil.

An up to date list of the Premier League players who will be missing this summer. Click the names for more news on the injury…

John Obi Mikel – knee injury

Didier Drogba – fractured elbow

Rio Ferdinand – left knee ligament damage

Michael Essien – hamstring & knee

Michael Ballack – right ankle ligament damaget

Jozy Altidore – Ankle

Martin Skrtel – Ankle

Valon Behrami – doubtful, Hamstring

Nani – doubtful, Shoulder

Nicklas Bendtner – Thigh

We wrote about this before, but now it’s even worse. A quick run through…

Goalkeeper

David James has spent most of the season injured, and even when fit is a concern. He is always liable to make a calamitous error. And the back-ups inspire no confidence – West Ham fans hate Rob Green he’s that bad, Joe Hart is young and inexperienced (and when a Premier League club loans out your international goalkeeper as he’s not as good as Shay Given, you know you have a problem). And then we have Paul Robinson. ‘Nuff said.

Defenders

We don’t have a left back anymore. We don’t have a right back. One of our centre-backs has just been stripped of the captaincy and the other is never fit. Their back ups are Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott. That is literally terrifying.

Midfielders

We don’t have a left midfielder. Our best right midfielder (Lennon) has succumbed to the injury curse leaving the archaic David Beckham next in line. Our best defensive centre midfielder (Hargreaves) is on the verge of being put down. Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick are not world class midfielders. Gerrard has not played well all season and never really for England. Joe Cole has been out for a year. Only Lampard can we be content with. And the form of Milner, who may not even play.

Forwards

There is an unhealthily total burden on Wayne Rooney. Good as he is and has been, if he gets injured we are in a world of trouble. Crouch hasn’t scored for seven games. Heskey never scores. Defoe can only come off the bench. Carlton Cole is just shit. Owen looks good for 20 minutes every couple of weeks then gets injured.

So…

The outlook is bleak. There are problems all over the park. It’s not out of the question that our right side consists of Gary Neville and David Beckham, one or both of our Centre Backs are Upson/Lescott, our left back is Stephen Warnock, our left mid is an out of form Gerrard, our holding midfielder is an out of depth Carrick, and – God forbid – Rooney gets injured leaving Defoe and Heskey upfront. Christ.

I’ve resisted writing on this as literally EVERYONE else is already – but with Wayne Bridge today announcing he is not available for England, just who will fill the injured philanderer Ashley Cole’s polygamous boots?

Bear in mind that he could recover in time and Capello could break from his mantra and select him despite lack of game time (I think that’s what will actually happen) but in case it doesn’t, the contenders…

Wayne Bridge

Bridge was the favourite to replace Cashley – although a far less accomplished defender, he is solid and has 30 odd caps. However he removed himself from the running citing his ‘untenable and potentially divisive’ position (clearly a quote from the PR men, that…). Which throws the door wide open…

Stephen Warnock

Probably next in line, just. Warnock has impressed for Villa this season, is reasonably reliable, and gets forward well. He played centre midfield for Blackburn on several occasions showing both versatility and all round ability. Lack of experience is a concern, as is lack of game time against any world class opponents.

Leighton Baines

Coming into form just as Everton are, Baines has a gorgeous left foot. However, he lacks pace and if you took away his admittedly excellent dead ball delivery there is a distinct suspicion that he is actually a fairly average footballer.

Joleon Lescott

Worf should make the squad largely because of his ability to play centre back or left back – but surely Capello cannot go with an out of position out of form centre back as first choice left back?

James Milner

Again, not his natural position, and it’s extremely unlikely Capello will bodge someone into the starting eleven. Plus Milner has been playing CM for Villa this year, further distancing himself from his experience at full back. Would be very risky.

Matthew Upson and Wes Brown

Two centre backs who could be shoe-horned in at left back if we were absolutely desperate. A terrifying proposition.

Nicky Shorey

As wonky_knee points out: ‘Since signing for Fulham they have kept 4 clean sheets in 5 games. No coincidence…’ – fair point. But until recently Shorey was plying his trade in the Championship, and his defending has always been suspect, hence Villa releasing him. Would you be confident with him lining up against… well, anyone?

And that’s it.

SkyBet have Ashley Cole at 1/3 to start against the USA (see here) and the bookies are rarely far wrong; there’s a strong possibility that this is all pointless conjecture and surmise, and Cheryl’s erstwhile husband will be fit to take to the pitch in England’s first game.

Let’s hope he is.

Adam Johnson put in a virtuoso Man of the Match performance as Man City beat Bolton 2-0 last night. He’s young, he’s English, and he’s good. Could he sneak into Fabio’s plans…?

Johnson started off in the hole and was then moved out right, where he terrorised Paul Robinson. He’s been doing it in the Championship this season (he was Boro’s top scorer before leaving) and has now proved he can do it in the Premier League (admittedly only in one game).

He’s certainly a talented lad, with two good, quick feet, vision, and finishing ability. Says Roberto Mancini:

He is a young player who wants to do well. He can play on both the left and the right and he can also play behind the main striker.

What will obviously stand out to England fans is his ability to play on the left, a perennial problem for the international side. Steven Gerrard is currently the man in possession with Joe Cole behind him – but Johnson is arguably already next in line, leapfrogging the likes of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.

He is exciting and unpredictable as well, qualities severely lacking in the England side (Rooney and arguably Cole aside). Capello has spoken of his admiration for Johnson, but was initially against his move to Man City:

‘I like Johnson – but all these players have to play. At the moment Gibbs and Walcott are not playing.

‘You’ve seen what has happened to Joe Hart now he is playing at Birmingham. This year he has improved a lot because he plays.’

However, if Johnson continues to get game time at City and continues to play as well as he did last night, he’s in with a massive chance. After all, it’s not like the current England squad are making themselves undroppable or filling their manager with confidence (see here).

We’re putting our necks out here – Adam Johnson will be in Capello’s 23 for South Africa. And unlike the last young surprise inclusion Theo Walcott, he will play…

The excitement starts now… 17.00 BST sees the draw made for the groups in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. England could end up with New Zealand, Algeria, and Greece – or we could get Australia, Ivory Coast, and Portugal…

The draw will be made at 17.00 and is scheduled to take 90 minutes; though the actual draw itself will only take around 10 minutes. We would guess tune in at around 17.30 for the balls being drawn – but don’t hold us responsible if you miss it. Here are the pots from which the groups will be drawn – one from each:

Pot 1 (seeds): South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England

Pot 2 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America): Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Mexico, Honduras

Pot 3 (Africa and South America): Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay

Pot 4 (Europe): France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia

The seeds should be ok, though whichever of them draws France or Portugal in their group will be shifting nervously. South Africa will pray it’s not them – the host team remaining in as long as possible is to pretty much everyone’s benefit, and as a seeded team they do have a good chance of progressing.

England should be ok in the groups – but a must win game against the Ivory Coast, Drogba et al, sends a shiver down the spine.

Fingers crossed…

Heartbreak for Ireland as Thierry Henry’s handball – well, handballs – deny them a place in South Africa next year. Read on for videos, gifs (hopefully), and obviously incredibly perceptive analysis and amazingly entertaining comment.

Here it is:

As you can see, not only does he control the ball with his hand but takes another touch to adjust the ball to cross for Gallas. Once could possibly be an accident – twice is definitely cheating. To the Irish, this is the equivalent of the ‘Hand of God’. I wonder how Irish Arsenal fans are feeling…

It’s a terrible decision by the ref, who was generally good throughout. He denied what looked a penalty to France correctly, picking that Anelka dived (in fact he probably should have been booked) but this error will never be forgotten.

Scenes at the end of the game showed Henry sitting next to a distraught Richard Dunne, which is kind of like someone coming to sit next to you after they’ve just slept with your wife.

It’s just so incredibly hard on Trapattoni’s men, who played really well and fully deserved the 1-0 victory in normal time. It’s a horrible game sometimes. No Irish eyes will be smiling tonight.

That may sound like a stupid question. But think about it.

Personally (I’m 26) I’m glad England didn’t win the World Cup when I was younger (say 12, 16, 20). I don’t think I would have appreciated it properly, and it would have changed my perception of future tournaments; having already seen a victory, I wouldn’t anticipate them as much, have such a keen sense of hope, or that blind faith built on patriotism.

If I had seen us crowned World Champions I would have a completely different view of the England side – we see them as perennial under-achievers, the team that’s never quite there, sometimes going down like lions (Argentina ’98) and sometimes without a whimper (Brazil 2002). The team that’s always a false price at the bookies, backed to the hilt by jingoistic delusionists. Not the erstwhile World Champions. Of course we won it in ’66 – a fantastic achievement – but I only know of that second or third hand – it’s a story, not a real event I’ve been a part of.

We’re not a polished, successful, achieving footballing country – we are the nearly men, the what might have been or what could be’s. And personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Continued success is boring, it blunts the emotion and fosters complacency and arrogance. With England, there’s always that chance we might succeed, the possibility we might win it – and although we probably won’t, it’s far more exciting.

But how far can you extrapolate this? Yes, I am (kind of) ‘pleased’ we haven’t won it yet, as I have something immense to (hopefully) look forward to, and my excitement increases with every tournament. I’m pleased, as I said, we didn’t win it when I was 12, or 16, or 20. But what about when I was 24? Of course, at the time, I wanted England to win the World Cup more than anything – but now, because we didn’t, the next tournament is another notch higher on the scale of fervour, hope and desperation.

So if we don’t win in 2010 (which is highly likely) will I be relieved? Of course not. Once the tournament gets going, all I want is for England to win. But objectively, if we don’t win it in 2010, imagine how I’ll feel going into 2014…

This cannot last forever, though. You still need to be able to appreciate and celebrate the victory if and when it comes. I don’t want to be elderly and infirm, celebrating our winning goal by wetting myself. We need that balance of the passing of time, the build up of anticipation, and the ability to still enjoy it.

I think 50 is the time you start to lose your mojo; approaching retirement, old, grey and tired, you’re not going to paint the town red when some callow youth scores the winning goal. So I want it before then. But I want to build up the anticipation – so I don’t want to win it for a few years yet. I’d like to think I’ll still have a drink and party with the best (or at least rest) of them in my early forties.

When the World Cup 2026 comes round, I’ll be 43. That’s a good age. I’ll be weary of England’s continual failures but hope will spring eternal – and I’ll be positively frenetic after all the near and not so near misses from 2010 – 2022. Considering how excited I was last time (2006) I’ll be a shivering wreck by 2026.

That’s when I want us to win it. England for the World Cup 2026. I’ll be young enough to celebrate, but old enough for it to be supreme relief and ultimate joy.

And I’ll stand by that. Until 2010, when I’ll be cheering England at the top of my voice, from the bottom of my heart.