The inevitable nit-picking that follows any England defeat is sure to kick in over the next few days, after Holland ran out 3-2 winners on Wednesday night. In truth, England could well have won the game, and there would still be sections of the media looking to take the edge off things.
However it must be remembered that this game was only a friendly, and while that may sound like an excuse, it is the inescapable reality. If Steven Gerrard and Chris Smalling's injuries do not turn out to be as bad as some may first have feared, it will all have been a productive night for Stuart Pearce and his men.
Indeed, a lot can be taken from the game. First of all, it was clear that Holland meant business, fielding a side that was close to full strength, with a number of truly world class players like Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder all adding a formidable look to their starting line-up.
England, meanwhile, were only able to put out a side that was a mere shadow of the one fans will perhaps have been hoping to see at this summer's European Championships. Key players like Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Darren Bent were all missing – along with a whole host of others.
"... an English manager... and the gutsy midfield determination that comes in the form of Scott Parker."
In such circumstances, then, you could argue there was no better man to lead England on the night than the man who had been in charge of the under-21s team for the last five years. There would be no one better to guide a team filled with youngsters.
As it turned out, they put in the sort of shift that most fans will have been encouraged by. They often showed the sort of composure that belied their years, the sort of pace that England supporters had only seen the briefest of glimpses of in years gone by, and above all, the heart that the team seemed to be so desperately lacking during the Capello era.
Without wanting to draw too many conclusions, you would have to assume that the latter aspect of their performances all boiled down to two key reasons: the leadership of an English manager who had all the experience of playing at the highest level with his country, and the gutsy midfield determination that comes in the form of Scott Parker.
Parker's playing style has been much talked about this season, since his £8 million move from West Ham to Tottenham. While some players can sometimes be seen to hide when given the added pressure of the captain's armband, Parker seemed to thrive – much like his manager Pearce. There hardly seems a better candidate to lead the England team into this summer's tournament.
Another positive that can be taken from the game was the performance of Gary Cahill at the back. People will no doubt remember his goal, taken like a true striker, above all else, but defensively he was as solid as a rock. Chelsea clearly see him as the long-term replacement for John Terry – some might say he is already good enough to keep him out of both club and country teams.
Lastly, but by absolutely no means least, there was the contribution of Daniel Sturridge. Coming on as a replacement for Steven Gerrard in the first half, he appeared to be the first England player of the night really willing to take on the Dutch defence and cause them problems.
Until he was eventually taken off himself, he did that all night long and could almost have had a goal. Of the up-and-coming young England strikers, he certainly looks to be the best. He is a regular in the Chelsea team, and should go on to have a great international career. He was deservedly named the Vauxhall Man of the Match.
So while it is never nice to be on the losing side, there is certainly some solace to be taken in the fact that a hugely depleted England side took a full-strength team of World Cup finalists all the way in this game. There are signs of encouragement, so lets not jump on this young team's back just yet.
A full-time England manager probably will not be appointed until after the European Championships, but with Pearce in charge, you know the team will give it a real go.
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Please leave comments below.
Parker is an average player who cannot pass forward and is often out of position.
ReplyDeleteFair assessment, but can you think of a better defensively minded midfielder available to England at the moment? I would argue he is worth his place in the team when you look at the competition...
ReplyDeleteYes until wilshere (not a holding mid but still) is fit he is worth a place in the team. but not as skipper.
ReplyDeleteI don't really see why people moan about Parker like Mr Anonymous above. He is a far superior holding midfielder to Gareth Barry who was shown up horrendously in South Africa as his lack of pace was capitalised on by Germany.
ReplyDeleteParker may not be able to pass forward but he had a 97% completion rate in first half so is effective at moving the ball to more talented members of the team and this is his job. I think he is the perfect choice for captain, an unassuming member of the team and looks like a good bloke - who isn't up his own a**e like the so called 'golden generation'.
Only two other candidates are Rooney, who has never even captained a club side and is suspended for first 2 games for needlessly booting an opponent.....or Gerrard who selfishly plays his own game whatever the circumstances rather than following coaches instruction - see his performances as a left midfielder in a 442 in last world cup
I've got to agree itfcjoe. Parker is by far the best player we have in that position at the moment, and the fact he gives his everything whenever he plays has to be a bonus. If only the same could be said for Mr Gerrard, Mr Lampard, Mr Terry...
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