Cesc Feels The Love, Campbell Feels The Way, Technology & Transfer Talk

Spain did not need Cesc last night to beat Portugal, David Villa providing the obligatory offside goal. Still, if he thinks Vincent del Bosque doesn’t love him, he knows that Arsenal fans do, the Spaniard winning the Player of the Season award by a comfortable margin, 27% ahead of Thomas Vermaelen.

To the disappointment of the Spanish media, Wenger was commentating on the match last night but the pair meeting up never happened with Arsene now officially a ‘hack’, using the tradesman’s entrance to get into the ground whilst beforehand, Cesc was 300m from the media, warming up. Arsene also refused to comment on the tedious activities of Barcelona.

Back to the Player of the Year award. The order was probably correct but the inclusion of Robin van Persie highlights the distinctly ordinary form of the rest of the squad towards the backend of the season. It would be interesting to see how much of the vote Sol Campbell received, possibly the best indicator of that.

Sepp Blatter has apologised as convincingly as Tony Hayward to FA and the Mexicans for poor officiating standards in the Round of 16 clashes over the weekend. Two good things might emerge. Firstly, England’s 2018 bid will no doubt garner some sympathy votes when push comes to shove but even Blatter has now admitted that technology is back on the agenda.

There is a place for goal-line technology in the game, the quickness of the decision over the ball’s position in relation to the goal is no hinderance to the flow of the match. However for offside and other decisions, the flow of the game is such that to implement technology is extremely difficult. An easier way to resolve that particular issue would be simplification of the Laws of the Game.

Poor positional sense by the official last night allowed David Villa’s goal to count when it should have been ruled out, something that can only be solved by improved standards. However, there is some light with regards to offside ‘goals’ as replays could be inspected whilst celebrations continue, the screens in most big stadia would allow the replay to be shown to quell anger which is of concern to Fifa.

Blatter has argued spuriously, that football at the top should be the same as amateur. That is never going to happen, especially with fourth and more officials on the agenda. There are enough problems finding referees for matches in Sunday leagues without the added pressure of finding three more to stand behind goals and manage the managers.

The role of the fourth official has long been open to different interpretations. Some countries allow him to meddle more than others; it is time for that to be standardised. Replay-watcher-in-Chief is a good starting point.

As England’s World Cup woes fade into the background, waiting for a quieter day, the transfer talk ups the pace with more stories and linkage to the fore. First up is Madjid Bougherra, the Algerian international who kept Wayne Rooney quiet in South Africa. Not that it took much as the United striker was determined to show just how badly a pub player would cope at the highest level.

Simon Kjaer has lots of admirers around Europe, Arsene reportedly among them. Not that he has done anything about it. As with the Cole saga, Spurs are in the driving seat having reportedly lodged a €35m bid with Palermo for Kjaer and Cavani although no-one has bothered to tell the Dane’s Mr20%, which strikes me as a fundamental flaw in the process.

Kjaer may yet become more prominent in Arsene’s attentions as Sol Campbell has reportedly been looking around Celtic’s facilities, seemingly serious intent on both parties to conclude a deal. Newcastle are reportedly waiting in the wings.

He may yet stay at Arsenal but will the prospect of  being a coach on the pitch appeal to him? It might as that was one of the selling points in his ill-fated spell at Notts County. One can only hope that Kjaer shakes the Danish debacle against Japan out of his system should he join.

Meanwhile, not joining Arsenal this summer is Mario Balotelli according his Mr20%. The player is currently studying for his exams having successfully passed his police entrance exam. Entrance to the local nick that is, following an incident where he fired a toy gun in a Milanese plaza at the weekend.

Equally convincing in the ‘missing the Arsenal boat’ this summer is Loic Remy whose club, Nice, rejected an approach from West Ham. The suitcase stuffed full of Euros was too light for the French club’s tastes, only €9.5m crammed in. However, should the West Ham laundry lady iron them nicely, it is believed that they will be able to cram in a few more. Still, that won’t be enough for Remy who only wants to play for Arsenal or Nice. Which is nice.

Actually, that is not so fanciful as Eduardo has apparently told his agent he wants to leave Arsenal with Aston Villa reportedly enquiring about his availability whilst Newcastle wanting Arsenal starlet, Sol Campbell, no wait, sorry, it’s Henri Lansbury on loan, as well. Oh, and Bolton want Jack Wilshire back but they’ve been saying that for months.

’til Tomorrow.

England’s Young Cubs, Koscielny On The 1st, Joe Wants Faith

The World Cup continues despite England’s exit, a shocking state of affairs I know, since this country is the centre of the football universe. Brazil set up a mouthwatering quarter-final with the Netherlands this weekend, thumping Chile 3-0, an inevitable result once the deadlock was broken. Both countries have found the right mix of flair and hard work and it is no surprise that they remain unbeaten, conceding few goals along the way. It may not be the goalfest that the media hope for but it promises to be no less absorbing.

Today sees the clash we have all been waiting for as Paraguay take on Japan, the winners take on Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal or Spain in the quarter finals. I kid you not when I observe that I hope the victorious team from today’s first match create a massive upset by getting to the semi-finals at the very least. It would perhaps stop the patronising claptrap about smaller nations from the various commentators and pundits for a short while at least, sending them into even bigger apoplexy about England.

The whole of the problem with England and the FA encapsulated in their snazzy title for anything to do with the national team? “Club England”. The name sums up the problems: a holiday club, great locations, hotels are fantastic but the organisers are absolutely useless.

Capello’s observation that Bobby Zamora is one for the future brought his own into question so The Sun decided to help him. Sir Trevor Brooking, long a lone voice of sanity at the FA, rightly questioned where the opportunities at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United lay for the young Englishmen ahead of Brazil 2014.

He then scuppered his own argument by including Arsenal in the equation. I would suggest he looks at the list produced and counts: two of them will be Arsenal regulars by then – Wilshere, Gibbs – whilst the third is already a first team choice – Walcott. This is before Arsene obeys the fantasy transfer window wishes and signs Richards, Hart and Rodwell.

Wilshere has a big season ahead of him. The loan spell at Bolton was preparation work for the 2010/11 campaign with Arsenal and I would expect Wenger to use Wilshere frequently this season, either from the bench or when rotation requires. There is an expectation that he would be the prime beneficiary if Fabregas left. I am not convinced that Wenger would put that weight on Wilshere’s shoulders, a new signing the preferred option if the captain leaving scenario comes to fruition.

It leaves Wenger with a season to prepare the youngster for the time of eventual departure be it in 12 months or two years time or whenever. At Bolton, Wilshere played mainly on the flanks and the left side would be the most obvious starting point for him. Wenger has options for the right in Walcott and Bendtner but no doubt there will be cries of ‘stifling youth’ if regular appearances are not made. Attacking options from midfield and attack at Arsenal are not in short supply and if – which is a very big if – fitness can be maintained the competition for places is certainly healthy.

Which is more than can be said of the defence. With Koscielny signing this week, there are still gaps to be plugged. Full back positions have cover on both sides with able deputies replacing the first choices. Centrally though, Vermaelen, Koscielny and Djourou are not sufficient for a season. Campbell is certainly an option but not for long spells, surely? Mention of other youngsters who have been on loan is all well and good but one more experienced centre back is required as well as the trio should Campbell not re-sign.

As for goalkeepers, I am unconvinced that anyone is incoming. Schwarzer does not inspire confidence, Green less so. Both are average at best and there are doubts that they would do anything other than put pressure on the current squad, starting places no certainty.

Were Wenger to invest, I would want someone who has proven themselves although there seems to be a drop in the number of world class goalkeepers over recent seasons, consistency eluding even the top players in this position. Whether ball design is influencing this – it is at the World Cup but that is an Adidas abomination and the Premier League us Nike balls – is unclear but mistakes seem to be plaguing all custodians. I guess the criteria applied would be who is likely to drop the least clangers over a season in those circumstances.

Onto real and imaginary transfer news, reports of Koscielny‘s impending arrival are confirmed by Lorient‘s website, the arrival date is 1st July 2010. Now that is what you call a Transfer Linked section.

Joe Cole, meanwhile, has told everyone that he is a huge George Michael fan, demaning Faith from any new manager. Whilst everyone gets excited, John Cross in the Mirror has steadfastly maintained that Cole is not going to Arsenal. Although he suggested Old Trafford first – no faith there – it’s been Tottenham for him for a while.

Delboy Redknapp has apparently been on the blower from his yellow Robin Reliant and observed, “Joe, me old mucker, I am your farver“, which is going to swing it for Joe as Arsenal won’t be able to match the £60k per week plus add-ons that the Tiny Tots are offering, unless they get shot of Rosicky and Eduardo first apparently.

‘Appy ‘Arry may have scuppered the deal by putting himself firmly forward as someone to replace Fabio Capello when the Italian is removed from his post in two weeks. The FA suits claim it was to consider their options and not make a knee-jerk decision. Heaven forbid that anyone suggest it is because the bigwigs do not want to interrupt their South African holiday. The end of the World Cup and the timescale in question were merely coincidental according to an FA insider as he slurped Pina Colada’s by the pool.

’til Tomorrow.

Have The FA The Guts To Make The Necessary Changes?

So England’s dismal World Cup campaign came crashing to a halt with a crushing defeat to Gerrmany. The players and coaches may cling to the view that their cause was fatally wounded by the horrific decision of the officials to disallow Frank Lampard’s “goal” seconds after Upson had reduced the deficit. To do so though masks the flaws in the squad, the manager and the English game generally.

But we have been here before. And like before, much navel gazing will take place. And like before, good intentions will be submerged in the pursuit of profit. And like before, neither profit or progress will be made. This was England’s self-proclaimed “Golden Generation“. They turned out to be the footballing equivalent of Pyrite.

For decades, English players were known to be technically deficient compared to the rest of the world. That was hidden with spirit and energy, compensating with little achieved. When these ‘assets’ were missing, the cupboard was bare and Germany humiliated them accordingly.

The players such as Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard do not, and have not, become bad overnight. Capello’s managerial skills have not deserted him. Yet there was little sign of squad togetherness save for the aftermath of Rooney being rightly lambasted for his arrogance. To enter a competition of this magnitude with a squad not pulling together is a recipe for disaster; it was duly delivered.

The over-riding sense of this campaign is of disharmony, disorganisation and disinterest. Given that it is the last World Cup some will play in, such a shambolic affair is unbelievable. The John Terry Rebellion summed it all up: driven by ego, shabbily played out in front of the media, half-hearted and disinterestingly organised.

As well as the players, Capello must shoulder blame. He chose the squad, he set the rules and the tactics. It was a horrible mess. Instead of instilling awareness, ball retention, he chose to play as a mid-table Premier League team. The limitations of the Bolton style are exposed on a weekly basis; they were exposed by the equally limited Americans and the Algerians should have beaten England rather than drawing.

Failure to focus on technique, substituting ability with the ball for ability to run forever has not brought forward any international improvement since 1970. Two semi-final appearances in that time, both ending in defeat to Germany, are scant reward for one of the World’s ‘biggest’ footballing nations. England are ranked eighth in the World at the moment by Fifa; of the top ten, Croatia are the only other country not to have reached a final since 1966. At least they have a good reason in their youthfulness as a nation.

The Premier League is touted as the best in the world. In respect of competitiveness that may be true but it is subjective and masks the fact that the technique is not comparable with elsewhere, from English players at least. No doubt that arguments will be put forward that foreign players are suppressing natural talent. This is vacuous; it is impossible to suppress what is not there.

Arsenal are frequently held to be a key example of this yet Wenger is doing more than other managers to prepare English youngsters for international football. The technique they require at that level has to be drilled into them from a young age. This is part of education they get at Arsenal, to treat the ball as a friend and to move it accurately, quickly. As opposed to the lumpen advances of the current national squad.

Wenger is not on his own. If you look at the current squad, none of the younger players have been developed by the ‘big four’. The apparent cyclical nature of youth development hinders the national team. That Crewe Alexandra are the only club in the country to consistently provide young players in quantity over the past two decades indicates the problems which beset the English game.

Arsenal are the most advanced Premier League club in terms of replicating that success; others are following but even so, we are behind our continental counterparts. To emphasise the problem, a decade and a half has passed since Euro96 and the National Football Centre still does not exist.

There are some very good youngsters, not just at Arsenal. The ‘now’ mentality of clubs prevents all but the elite coming through and gaining experience. Successive England managers have made a complete pig’s ear of promoting youth, Theo Walcott being the prime example. That he was not deemed good enough this time reflects his club form, impeded by injuries which were in part as a result of being called on by the Under-21s and full squad last summer.

Will English football change? A change of manager is required. The squad which went to South Africa needs to be rebuilt with a core of experience supporting youth promoted from the Under-21s. The Germans proved that this is possible; the media will not allow the Football Association to do so yet they know as well as anyone that there is no magic wand to be waved. The next England manager needs to be prepared to take journalists on and present the case for rebuilding.

’til Tomorrow.

England Expects As RvP Chills, Catalan Maths & Eduardo Out?

Club football in England has taken a back seat this morning as the nation gets set for BBQ’s and football, beers lined up in celebration or commiseration. Germany awaits in the tougher part of the World Cup draw; Robert Green’s error against the USA! USA! USA!, general ineptitude against Algeria and a failure to convert chances against Slovenia are all put into context.

Front pages use lions to ram home the message of expectation, even conniving a picture of three lions on a safari with a jeep full of German tourists. Not really that surprising that the newspapers were able to conjure up such an image for the lions probably recognised the hacks as more deadly predators than themselves.

On the pitch, England are expected to be unchanged from the team that beat Slovenia, buried under an avalanche of reminders of glory days past. The two teams are reasonably matched, the Germans more technically adept as always, the English overcoming their deficiencies with spirit. The winner will probably have the dubious pleasure of meeting Argentina in the quarter-finals with Spain in the last four. Tabloid military heaven.

Fabio Capello is wrestling with defensive choices but Matthew Upson is believed to be ahead of Ledley King and Jamie Carragher in the current pecking order. Experience would put the latter ahead of his two rivals but his slow turning speed and Upson’s aerial ability will probably see him preferred.

The match is much like that of Euro2000; neither side outstanding, neither fancied to win the tournament, the fuel is rivallry borne from 1966 onwards. It was one of the worst games in that competition but no Englishman cared when Alan Shearer buried the winning header.

This time, as then, evenly matched sides and Capello is taking no chances with the squad practising penalties. In recent tournaments, regular penalty takers have been the ones who have failed; hopefully Capello is not going to rely on John Terry if that situation arises.

In the first two Round of 16 games, Uruguay and Ghana both deservedly beat their opponents with Suarez scoring a cracking goal as defences went AWOL for three of the six goals scored. The USA! USA! USA! were exposed by frailties at the back which means we won’t have to listen to any more of Landon Donovan’s whining. Thank heaven for small mercies.

Congratulations to both winning sides and I suspect the Chilean support has just increased by about 30 million ahead of their clash with Brazil tomorrow.

Taking a more relaxed approach is Robin van Persie. The Dutch won their group with ease, perhaps more comfort than they expected, and have an emminently winnable match against Slovakia tomorrow. Of the European teams left in the competition, they are the ones who are in the best form. Their strengths are similar to that of the Spaniards but they appear to have more goalscorers in the side with the same defensive weaknesses. A tough encounter with Brazil awaits in the next round should both progress but if they get through that, it would be a major surprise if they did not reach the final.

This morning’s transfer gossip is incoming and outgoing in equal measure. Robert Green is apparently rivalling David James for a move to Fulham to replace Mark Schwarzer who is apparently ‘closing in’ on a move to Arsenal. The curse of Transfer Linked may yet see that prove to be a circle squared too far.

To be honest, I do not see that signing either Green or Schwarzer is going to improve the defence much over the current quartet of goalkeepers. Schwarzer fits into the theory of having a temporary custodian until Szczesny, or Fabianski, is ready. Should either join, there appears to be no place for Almunia as his retention would block the path for both of the Poles.

Eduardo is the one whom the press deem to be surplus to requirements at The Emirates. This morning it is believed – wiithout any substance to back up the report – that Wenger has told him that he will not be part of the first team this season. That is believed to mean he would prefer to move to a less physically arduous continental league.

Whilst he may not be part of the ‘starting XI’ if everyone is fit, Chamakh is probably ahead of him in the queue, recovery from the niggling injuries which have plagued him since his return from the broken leg, would see him in a position to challenge for a place when rotation is required.

More importantly, he would be in a position to recover his confidence in front of goal. At the club, he is possibly the most natural finisher but like all forwards, he thrives when playing in his preferred central position. With van Persie being the first choice, Eduardo’s chances of playing centrally are diminished but we have seen the horrific injury levels of recent seasons which would surely demand the Croat’s retention, in the short term at least.

Rumours of William Gallas pricing himself out of a move to Juventus are given some, ahem, credibility with the Catalan press reporting that the Old Lady is fluttering her eyelashes seductively at Marquez, the Mexican deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona. In that city, the Catalan government is apparently launching a full-scale investigation into an apparent outbreak of sanity over the Cesc operation, as they like to call it.

With Toure and Ibrahimovic seemingly out of the club, it seems that €58m can be added to the €40m already bid, money left over to sign Van der Weil as back-up to Alves – I’m sure that the Dutchman will be thrilled to be thought of as a reserve player – and Mata to augment the forward line. Wenger has reportedly told confidantes that Arsenal will not sell, even at the right price.

’til Tomorrow.

World Cup Enters KO Phase As Transfer Talk Gets Tied Up

The final group phase matches passed without much incident last night, no surprise that Spain beat Chile nor that Switzerland failed to score the goal which would have taken them into a Round of 16 encounter with Brazil. Cesc once more had a substitute appearance for the Spaniards as they weathered a Chilean storm to win 2 – 1. Villa and Iniesta both provided finishing lessons, the former opportunistic and well-executed, the latter passing the ball into the net.

Cesc arrived with Spain determined to play ‘keep ball’ and he duly delivered. Chile’s ten men gave them a fright at the start of the second half with a deserved goal but the last twenty minutes was reminiscent of Germany v Austria in 1982, no meaningful attacks, lots of passes with the sole intention of keeping the ball and little else.

Elsewhere, number eight of the eleven Arsenal players who travelled to the World Cup is on his way home. Ivory Coast failed to reach half of the nine goal swing they needed to stay in the competition, a target rendered irrelevant as the media anticipated clash between Brazil and Portugal was a display in how not to play the beautiful game.

Of the remaning three Arsenal squad members, Carlos Vela will probably be returning home on Monday whilst Cesc and Robin van Persie could conceivably be on their summer holidays by next weekend. Spain has a trickier Round of 16 fixture with Portugal whilst the Netherlands should progress to the quarter-finals where they will most likely meet Brazil. If Spain win, they meet Argentina a week on Monday who on tournament form should probably progress.

Onto matters Arsenal. It seems that age is catching up with Arsene, he has apparently left his Blackberry in London whilst in South Africa and cannot review the new deal which has been emailed to him and the club from Lorient, seeking to reach agreement for the transfer of Laurent Koscielny. As excuses for longing out a transfer deal go, that is by far the weakest to date.

Is it beyond the wit of any one at Arsenal to walk to his secretary and ask her to fax the details to his hotel? Yes, I know faxes are “old-hat” but they do serve a purpose. I am sure that there is more to it than old Mr Forget-My-Head-If-It-Wasn’t-Screwed-On‘s supposed mistake. And let’s not overlook the fact that it is Koscielny’s Mr20% who is the source of the story so a touch of salt may be advisable.

Whilst on the subject of central defenders, it seems that the future of Sol Campbell has not yet been resolved which is hardly surprising since the player himself said in the last fortnight that he wanted to talk to Wenger when he returned from South Africa. Which he has not yet done so said meeting cannot have taken place.

When it comes to transfers, it seems that He who shouts loudest becomes the favourite to sign Joe Cole following England’s inevitable exit on penalties come Sunday. ‘Appy ‘Arry has ascended to that throne with reports suggesting that the formerly ‘Appy ‘Ammer will sign for the formerly ‘Appy ‘Ammer. We shall see but it would be no surprise for an announcement to be made on Wednesday or Thursday of next week when Cole’s contract with Chelsea formally expires.

Also donning their best Rent-A-Gob garb are Internazionale, newly emerging as favourites to sign Felipe Melo. No, I don’t think Wenger is interested either. Similarly, Mesut Ozil is apparently on Wenger’s radar but Barcelona are looking to offload the pup that Arsenal sold them in the shape of Alexander Hleb and want to use him to knock down the fee by probably 90% because they are skint think Hleb is a highly valued player. He might have been before he joined Barcelona but his stock has fallen considerably since then.

Barely has he joined Arsenal than Maruoane Chamakh has told Arsene to go and get Yoann Gorcuff. You don’t have to possess a vivid imagination to guess what sort of reception a fax from Arsenal will get in Bordeaux after the courtship of Chamakh. The minds of journalists are in overdrive with Mark Schwarzer seemingly set to replaced by David James when the former draws his pension at The Emirates. A scary thought for the Australian is that legally some of the Arsenal starting line-up are young enough to be his children.

On the subject of imaginations, a portion of the transfer speculation surrounding the club is based on Cesc leaving, a rare word of sense emerged from Catalunya yesterday. Rodolf Borrell, currently at Liverpool but formerly a coach at Barcelona put the reason for Arsenal’s intransigence into words for those Catalans who cannot fathom how anyone can turn the club away: selling him disrupts the club, parts can be replaced by other players but not the whole and it would be like Barcelona selling Messi right now. Not that it stopped Borrell saying he thought Cesc would eventually go, just not right now.

That’s it for today as we wait to see if the defensive shackles have really been cast aside by the coaches of the quartet of teams in the first knockout matches in South Africa. Don’t hold your breath.

’til Tomorrow.

Azzurri Buried, van Persie Strikes & Gossip

When the ball hits the net
The World Cup’s over, you bet
For the Azzurri

- with apologies to Dean Martin

The twists and turns of this World Cup continued yesterday with the reigning champions joining France in the airport lounge. It might have been different with chances squandered but ultimately the fabled Italian method of playing poorly and then winning the tournament foundered, the basis of the exit a turgid performance against New Zealand.

Spain may yet join them although that would be the equivalent of giving this blogger a sugar overload. Their match against Chile is by no means certain to garner the necessary three points for qualifications although the feeling must be that they will probably sneak a win by the odd goal. That would leave Switzerland needing a two-goal victory to oust the South Americans from the Round of 16, not unlikely other than the fact that they have shown little attacking invention thus far.

Yesterday continued the good fortune for Arsene. This World Cup had been threatening to seriously disrupt his pre-season; now he should have all bar Fabregas and van Persie – possibly Joe Cole – in training by the end of July. Nicklas Bendtner joined Alex Song on the next flight home as Denmark capitulated to a spirited and well-drilled Japanese side whose mastery of the ball from set-pieces put supposedly more talented players to shame.

van Persie scored his first World Cup goal in 2010 with a well taken finish to break the deadlock in a dead rubber, rubbing salt somewhat in the Arsenal wounds. It was the sort of finish that might well have been key to improving on a third place finish last season.

Today should seed Emmanuel Eboue booking his ticket home as well. A nine goal swing in the two matches will probably prove too much for Ivory Coast as Brazil and Portugal will no doubt settle for the goalless draw that will see both qualify.

Onto the transfer gossip. A link sent to me the other day has actually been taken vaguely seriously by a notorious gossip site. It beggars belief that anyone would believe Arsene would sell Alex Song or if he did, accept €4.5m for the Cameroonian. Mind you, I didn’t think that I would see the day when Arsene would be strongly tipped to buy a 37 year old goalkeeper for £3.5m; it’s been a strange old summer so far.

William Gallas‘ options were strongly rumoured to have diminished yesterday with Juventus reportedly baulking at his wage demands. Not so according to his Mr20%; the deal is very much alive and Gallas is very interested in signing for them. Well, he would say that really, wouldn’t he? I would have no issue with Gallas remaining at the club and Koscienly coming in. Add into that Campbell to guide the younger players in the cup competitions. With Djourou fit and Vermaelen the mainstay, it is decent cover in the centre of defence.

Daily Mail hacks are trying to stir up more on Fabregas but not even the Spanish media are giving their claims that Fabregas has spoken with Arsene to tell him that he wants to leave any credibility. Not when there are millions of pounds in bonuses to forfeit if he ever says anything like that. And about £20m short in the supposed £35m bid that the Catalans are about to make.

Arsene is apparently interested in signing Pablo Sarabia from Real Madrid. Yep, he’s a youngster whose never appeared for the first XI; yep, he’s got a contract renewal coming up. Before my cyncism totally engulfs this part of the post, it should be noted that the hint of truth comes from the suppression of natural talent via the Galacticos policy of Perez’s reign. But it would be no surprise at all to find out that he signs a new deal with Madrid in the next few weeks.

’til Tomorrow.

England Through, Schwarzer Risk & Cesc Denies Spanish Media

The rag tag rabble of an England squad got their act together yesterday and put in a half decent performance to qualify for a Round of 16 meeting with Germany. Whether it was the players or Capello who resolved the issues which had plagued their earlier performances, well, both will take credit in their own way but the offering played to England’s strengths and for once, the ball was not ceded to their opponents cheaply. Or not as cheaply as before.

The care with which the England players controlled the ball suggested a lack of confidence and a determination not to get this result wrong. Few attempted first time passes, most settled for one touch to control and then to look for their options. The margin of victory should perhaps have been more and could have been wiped out but for some resolute, last ditch defending.

Joe Cole was omitted once more, James Milner preferred and in fairness to the soon to be ex-Aston Villa player, put in a good shift. Cole emerged as a second half substitute for Wayne Rooney and playing in the advanced midfield role was unable to influence the game as the rest of his team-mates retreated to defend the lead. The introduction of Emile Heskey lessened the goal threat but at least offered an outlet in the final minutes.

So Germany await on Sunday, a chance for some nationalistic fervour, with gnashing and wailing about penalties, presumptuous because England will need to raise their game a notch further to win this time around. Ozil added €5m to his price tag with a good performance and topped it off with a cracking goal. Serbia blew it with a miss of UYakubu proportions which mean Ghana go through although they will need to find some shooting boots if they want to get to the quarter-finals.

Neuer in goal looked secure by comparison to his peers in this competition but coming through quietly on the rails in this ‘Goalkeeping Grand National’ is  Handanovic who has quietly gone about his work for Slovenia but will it be enough?

Not according to the Daily Mirror. Mark Schwarzer is Emirates-bound for £3.5m with his World Cup now over – confirmed at least officially last night with Serbia marginally failing to get their point – and Fulham seemingly resigned to losing their goalkeeper. However, this is one that is a huge risk for Wenger, the question being does he deem it worth taking.

The primary concern is the Australian’s age. He has probably got two seasons in him which suggests he is but a stopgap. Will Fabianski or Szczesny be ready in two years time? Further, a genuine question is whether Schwarzer is better, more consistent than Almunia? Certainly, at times, he appears to be but then Fulham’s defence was marginally more porous than Arsenal’s last season, 46 conceded to 41.

Can he make the difference? Perhaps although like most of this World Cup’s goalkeepers, he has not covered himself in glory. Even for £3.5m, this would be a risky signing and presumably not on a one-year contract which begs the question why Wenger will not break this policy for others. That alone brings doubt to the deal.

Elsewhere, Cesc has denied the Catalan media the chance to crow some more, fending off questions designed to get him to say that he wants to leave Arsenal by claiming to be focussed only on the World Cup. Pedro stepped up to the plate and offered more open desires that fabregas sign for Barcelona. No mention specifically of DNA but it was that kind of comment. The amount of time they must have spent investigating human DNA at the Camp Nou makes you wonder why there are any genetic diseases since they appear to have all of the answers.

’til Tomorrow.