The woes of England’s national soccer team

What a week it has been for soccer fans in England. Losing to Croatia was a disaster, ending our quest for qualification for the 2008 European championships. As an avid fan of my home country, I shared the incredible disappointment felt by the entire nation. Not only did we lose, but it was the manner in which we lost the game. I was angry at the managerial decisions, notably playing Scott Carson ahead of my old roommate at Leeds United Paul Robinson, and not starting David Beckham from the beginning. Israel answered our prayers by beating Russia, but the stars on the field last Wednesday failed to show up and played well below par (to speak kindly). As a player myself, I understand that bad performances occur, but it appeared there was a complete lack of effort and emotion. The players looked tight, entranced by fear, and void of quality. Winning your 1v1 battles, closing the ball down, and outworking the opposition is the foundation for any successful team. Croatia never seemed under pressure, never ruffled, never thrown off their game. I could go on and on.

My question now is simple. Where does soccer in England go from here?

A focus on youth development and a commitment to the grassroots level has to be addressed again. The Premier league was devised as a platform to create a strong national team. This focus has now gone, replaced by the league and clubs desire for money and power. We do have great players, and on paper we should win tournaments. But why, with the incredible amount of resources available to the English players and the English soccer establishment, have we not won an international tournament since 1966?