England here I come.

9 July 1 Permalink

Controversy over England’s disallowed second goal in their 4-1 World Cup loss to Germany sparks fresh calls for goal-line technology to be introduced. Controversy over England’s disallowed second goal in their 4-1 World Cup loss to Germany has sparked fresh calls for goal-line technology to be introduced.

Ex-England skipper Alan Shearer said: “All the managers and the stars of football are calling for it. Not everyone can be wrong, can they?”

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said Sepp Blatter, president of world governing body Fifa, should be “embarrassed”.

He added: “In the modern world we’ve got technology, let’s use it.”

England were 2-1 down in the last 16 World Cup clash when Frank Lampard hit the bar with an effort that, as TV replays confirmed, dropped well over the line.

It was a pivotal moment for England, who went on to be well beaten, as they had just pulled a goal back through Matthew Upson after falling behind to strikes from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.

Instead of going in at half-time all-square, Fabio Capello’s side were left to contemplate a 2-1 deficit, and their woes increased when Thomas Muller struck twice after the break to wrap up victory for Germany.

Redknapp added: “We’ve all seen it on the replay now - it was just amazing. That was a clear-cut goal and it was absolutely vital to England and it wasn’t given.

“Technology has got to come into games, we’ve seen that today.”

Redknapp’s sentiments were echoed by Shearer, who said: “It was over [the line] by a good yard, it was not even close.

“In fairness to the assistant, he cannot be in line with it because of where the ball has come from. It has come from the edge of the box so he can’t be in line with it.”

Fifa have consistently refused to entertain the idea of using goal-line technology and video replays, a position underlined less than four months ago by the International Football Association Board.

“The door is closed. The decision was not to use technology at all,” said Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke in March, shortly after the handball by Thierry Henry that secured France an equaliser against the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier.

“Technology should not enter into the game, it was a clear statement made by the majority of the IFAB,” added Valcke. “Let’s keep the game of football as it is.”

Few associated with England would share that view after events in Bloemfontein, but Germany could be forgiven a sense of schadenfreude.

The latest incident echoed the famous moment in the 1966 World Cup final between England West Germany when Geoff Hurst’s third goal was adjudged to have crossed the line after coming off the bar. England went on to win the game 4-2.

Regrettably for England, the referee on this occasion, Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay, did not show the latitude of his 1966 counterpart Gottfried Dienst.

Thxs BBC

27 June Permalink

We do not fear England

We do not fear England, says Loew Germany boss Joachim Loew insists his young team have no fear of facing England’s more experienced players. Germany boss Joachim Loew insists his young team have no fear of facing England’s more experienced players in Sunday’s World Cup second-round match.

Loew’s squad includes a number of youngsters who featured in last year’s European Under-21 Championships.

But he said: “Both teams will act with courage and while we have a young team, we will be able to hold our own.

“You can say it’s youth versus international class, Germany v England, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Loew has used the World Cup to blood several youngsters Loew believes England stars like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are among the best in Europe.

But Germany have quality players of their own, with 21-year-old midfielder Mesut Ozil catching the eye in their group matches.

“I think this is a type of game which both teams will approach with a great deal of respect,” stated Loew.

“But while there will be respect you won’t find fear in anyone’s eyes, neither on the English or German side.

“No matter how important matches have been in the past, Germany have never approached these games with fear.

“There is some tension, but I would call it healthy tension. So great respect, yes, but we won’t go into hiding or put our heads in the sand.”

The football rivalry between the two countries has been reinforced by some memorable encounters through the years, including England’s 1966 World Cup triumph to Germany’s elimination of Sir Alf Ramsay’s side in Mexico four years later.

Germany also enjoyed wins against England in penalty shoot-outs in the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and the 1996 European Championships. They went on to win both tournaments.

But England have since beaten the Germans twice.

Alan Shearer’s header secured a 1-0 victory against them in Euro 2000, and Michael Owen netted a hat-trick as England stormed to an amazing 5-1 win in Munich in a crucial World Cup qualifier in 2001.

Now another chapter is set to be written, and Loew expects Fabio Capello’s players to show the passion and fighting spirit associated with English sides.

“There are many chapters of the book of Anglo-German encounters on the pitch,” remarked Loew.

“We’ve had many games that were quite important. These games have always had a certain spice to them, as the Germans say, and full of sparks.

“England remain England. They can fight, they can run, they are mentally strong. They are also experienced and have class.

“The English have a never-say-die attitude, the great fight and commitment that they always bring to the fore and, despite the high tempo, they have a superb technical level as well.”

And Loew has dismissed suggestions that the quality of the England side has been affected by the large number of overseas players in the Premier League.

“There are many many foreign players with prominent positions in their [Premier League] teams, but even so, the England national team’s quality is beyond question,” he said.

“Look at [John] Terry, Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard… these players count among the best in Europe. England have always had players of international calibre.

“But I think not qualifying for Euro 2008 was the turning point, because Capello was hired. He injected a new sense of discipline, a clear path and a clear organisation to the team.

“They had some fantastic games during qualification, so even prior to the 2010 World Cup, England in my eyes were one of the favourites for the trophy.”

Loew added: “I think the game against Slovenia got them back on the right track and we mustn’t ever underestimate these players.

“Because those players have had so many matches down the years in the Champions League, in the Premier League, they have a wealth of experience. So that team will not be at 100, but 110%.”

Meanwhile, Germany have injury doubts over playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger and left-back Jerome Boateng, who both picked up knocks during the 1-0 Group D victory against Ghana and are battling to be fit in time for this weekend’s match.

Schweinsteiger has a hamstring problem and Boateng, who recently signed for Manchester City, is nursing a calf injury.

The absence of Schweinsteiger would be a particularly big blow for the Germans, as he has been a key player for them since skipper Michael Ballack was ruled out of the tournament through injury.

Loew admitted: “There is simply no way I can say at this stage whether one, or both for that matter, will be on the pitch on Sunday.

26 June 1 Permalink

Capello defends delaying decision

Fabio Capello defended his decision not to name his goalkeeper until a couple of hours before kick-off after seeing Robert Green make a howler in the 1-1 draw against the USA in England’s opening FIFA World Cup™ encounter.

Green fumbled a 25-yard shot from Clint Dempsey and watched the ball spin behind him and trickle agonisingly over the line. It stopped England in their tracks after they had got off to the best possible start with a goal from captain Steven Gerrard in the fourth minute.

And there was more bad news for England when Capello revealed that Ledley King had been substituted at half-time for Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher because the Tottenham Hotspur defender has an abductor injury which will keep him out of Friday’s game against Algeria.

This is the problem of the goalkeeper. We have to accept the mistakes of goalkeepers and of referees and of forwards. This is football.

England manager Fabio Capello sympathises with goalkeeper Robert Green after his mistake cost England victory.

Capello, however, insisted his decision to keep his goalkeepers guessing until two hours before kick off at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium was not a mistake.

“No, absolutely not,” he said. “I decided Green would be the goalkeeper because he played the last game very well and at Wembley (against Mexico) the performance was very good too. He made one mistake, but in the second half he made a good save. This is the problem of the goalkeeper. We have to accept the mistakes of goalkeepers and of referees and of forwards. This is football.”

Capello, however, refused to say whether he would stand by Green against Algeria, saying: “We have time to decide and to speak with him and I will decide.”

The England manager also substituted James Milner after half an hour, bringing on Shaun Wright-Phillips, explaining that he was worried the Aston Villa midfielder would get sent off after receiving an early yellow card.

But Capello insisted: “We played a good match and created a lot of chances. But the result is not okay for us. We played better than USA but the USA are very good. I saw the spirit of England and the team. They fight every time to win back the ball.

“I am not worried for the next game about their physical condition. We ran better in the second half than the USA. But now we have to look forward for the next game.”

They will have to do so without King whose injury-prone body was always a gamble for Capello. On Wayne Rooney’s performance, Capello said: “I think his movement was good. He shot once very well and his movement was very important.”

USA goalkeeper Tim Howard, meanwhile, admitted he had sympathy for Green after witnessing his howler. “I feel terrible for him, but in goalkeeping you have to have broad shoulders,” he said.

On being caught cold by Gerrard’s early opener, Howard, who was involved in a heavy challenge with Emile Heskey in the first half, said: “We weren’t sharp early on especially with the goal. The marking was too lax, but you can’t dwell on it with 90 minutes to play. It deflated us but we responded well and when we calmed down and got in the flow of the game we did well.

“It was backs to the wall. It wasn’t pretty but I am happy overall. We’re glad it’s over. There’s been a lot of hype and pressure. I’m just glad we put in a performance we can be proud of.”

USA coach Bob Bradley said: “It was important for us to take a point. The reponse from the team was strong and there are good things we can take away from the match. There was a big battle in midfield and I felt ours as a whole did a good job. It was a fast, hard game and we were pleased at how we competed with England.”

On Gerrard’s goal he added: “There was a big hole in our back line. England made us pay but it forced us to get ourselves going very quickly. It was a good team effort defensively. Wayne Rooney is a good mobile player. Our back line was a bit out of sync in the first half but we got better in the second. We had a good focus all the time. We came away with positives to get ready against Slovenia.”

Thxs FIFA

13 June Permalink