The insularity of English football
Recently I followed a discussion on Gareth Southgate’s selected squad for the forthcoming Euros presented on Radio 5 by Steve Grossman.
For over an hour a panel of so-called experts – including Karen Carney who took the safe option of agreeing with everyone else, possibly in order to avoid the mauling on social media many analysts fear.
No one mentioned England have yet to win the Euros, have only won one international competition to date (and that was 55 years ago) and how the English squad compares in quality to other competitors so I will do that job for them.
Let’s start with the players who really made an impact last season in the Premier and for the countries they play.
Ruben Dias of Manchester City is generally hailed as the best defender in the Premier.
He plays for Portugal who also have Bruno Fernandes, the Wolves players Patricio as goalkeeper and Neves.
Add to that City’s full back Cancelo, Atletico Madrid’s forward Joao Felix – one of the most regarded and sought young strikers in Europe – and Ronaldo and the current champions Portugal have a strong team, stronger than us.
Then there is France who can field Konte and Pogba in midfield, Mbappe and Benzema up front and have so many options in defence that another star of this season – Leicester’s Wes Fonfana – does not even make the squad.
Germany have recalled Hummels and Thomas Muller and, as they say, never write them off.
None of the analysts offered the view that many in Gareth Southgate’s squad would struggle for selection in the three countries I have mentioned above – and Spain or Italy.
As further evidence of insularity I cite the coverage of last night’s final between Manchester United and Villarreal.
In the final 10 minute build-up to the match there was little reference to Villarreal. The ex-United analysts Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand could only big up their former club.
No less an expert than our own Pargie had bet against Manchester Utd on the basis that Villarreal’s manager Unal Emery had won this trophy 3 times with Sevilla, is a shrewder tactician and game manager then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and that Villareal were unbeaten in this year ‘s competition, claiming the scalp of Arsenal in the semi-final.
They won an undistinguished match last night in which United defender Lundelof was at fault with the Villarreal goal and Bruno Fernandes never shone.
In extra time United conspicuously failed to ignite.
