World Cup 2006
Site Sponsored by William Hill
Harry Harris - Chief Football Writer - The Express
There's only one Metatarsal
The metatarsal issue
There’s only one metatarsal....there’s only one metatarsal.
Well, in fact there are many. David Beckham, Stephen Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, and now Michael Owen, they’ve all been afflicted by a disease that seems to strike at key England internationals.
And, that’s a major concern for all of us who believe England have a chance of ending 40 years of hurt and finally winning the World Cup for the first time since those Boys of 66.
My view is simple - if all of Sven Goran Eriksson’s team turn up in peak fitness and god shape then England are among my final four and could even go onto to win the tournament.
If there are any lingering doubts about the well being of any of the main components of the team, then I am afraid it ain’t going to happen. Remember how Becks came a cropper against Brazil having gone into the last tournament struggling to reach his maximum output because of lingering worries about his broken foot.
Now, it’s the turn of Owen. And Owen has been turning the screw on our chances as he has been forced to go back to hospital to have the screw tightened and lengthened in his broken metatarsal, hoping that he can still make a comeback before the end of the season (although didn¹t Newcastle's season when they got knocked of the FA Cup?)
A screw loose! Well, we will all have a screw loose if we are conned into thinking that England have a fantastic squad with all the right back up players ready and able to move smoothly into the side.
Don’t kid yourself, that is way off target. England have an outstanding First XI and not much back up. If Owen doesn't make it I don't think any of the stand by strikers are world class.
Peter Crouch is useful coming off the bench to confuse defences, and while they stare up at him, Owen and Rooney can nip in for some vital goals. Jermaine Defoe should have been the sharpest striker around but hasn't fulfilled all of his vast potential and promise. Darren Brent is alright for Charlton but no where near ready to take on the best defenders in the world. Its the same in virtually every department.
Goalkeeper. Would you trust Calamity if Paul Robinson was injured or ill the way Gordon Banks dropped out and Peter Bonetti deputised against the Germans in 1970.
At full back there isn't anyone in the same class as Ashley Cole on the left, and whereas it seemed there was a profusion of centre-backs there are now grave concerns over Sol Campbell, and although John Terry is a wonderful inspirational club captain, there are question marks when he came up against Ronaldinho in the Champions League. Joe Cole is about the only hope of someone on the left side of the attack, even though he can hardly kick the ball with his left foot.
In midfield it all depends on Gerrard’s form and whether Lampard comes to the finals as the second best player in the world.
There you are. Enough to make you want to give up? Don’t. Let’s prey, though, that all of this so-called Golden Generation turn up and put on the performances of their lives and win it for England.
But, of course, we all know that World Cup football is a game of two halves of 45 minutes each, eleven against eleven, and then the Germans win on penalties.
Related Links
Harry Harris archive
- 1. Harry Harris writes for ntlworld
- 2. Can England do it This Time?
- 3. There's only one Metatarsal
- 4. England best for talent
- 5. Bags packed, fingers crossed
- 6. Thrills, spills and intrigue
- 7. Prawn sarnies, cap controversy and Swedish sentiment
- 8. Swedish endurance in Soho
- 9. Scolari has some explaining to do
- 10. Give Rooney the armband
- 11. A triumph for Germany