No surprise there then as I wouldn’t have been totally shocked to see Sven play Wayne Rooney against Trinidad and Tobago from the start either. It’s quite obvious that England (and by default, Sven) are pinning their entire hopes for achieving anything resembling success at this World Cup on Wayne Rooney and I think it’s both a kop out on everyone else’s behalf and a damning indictment of the Sven / Steve McLaren regime.

I’m not going to mention the Theo Walcott selection again because it doesn’t even start there, they’ve got a squad full of quality players. What World Cup squad wouldn’t be overjoyed to have the likes of John Terry, Gary Neville, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Michael OWen in their ranks? Quality players with the experience at the top level to make other teams hurt when it comes down to it but Sven, after so many eyars in the job, still has no idea how to make them function as an effective team and can owe the gratitude for not succumbing to another humiliating defeat to minnows Trinidad & Tobago to John Terry’s first half goal line clearance.

Frank Lampard looks like a world beater in his role for Chelsea, Steven Gerrard likewise for Liverpool, Michael Owen scores goals for fun wherever he’s played and yet Sven can find no way of playing these three men together to the best of their combined abilities. Brazil can incorporate the individual talents of Kaka, Robinho, Adriano, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo in an attacking quintet which works and Sven can’t quite juggle the tactics to get the best out of two hard working, goal scoring midfielders and a nippy goalscoring striker?

Don’t let the thought of Sven leaving give England fans hope for the future either. Remember who is the tactical brains behind the current England management team and then think of who is going to take over the England job.

Too much pressure on Wayne Rooney as an individual and nowhere near enough pressure on the idea-less coaches who are holding the side back from doing their best. I know who I’d be blaming once they do go out and it won’t be the Scouser with the looks of Shrek and the footballing touch of an angel.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 17th, 2006 at 9:23 am and is filed under World Cup 2006. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.