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The Three Lions are a notable absentee at this year’s European Championship, though some would say they were unlucky in the qualification rounds.
They drew eventual quarter finalist and group B winners Croatia, and the eye catching Russians, who under former Aussie maestro Guus Hiddink have been the undisputed highlight of the tournament, marching into the semi finals after a dramatic win over the red hot Dutch.
So how can the English, the owners of the probably the best league in the world, with three out of the four teams in the Champions League semi-finals, teams competing well in the second tier UEFA cup and a wealth of talent across all 20 EPL clubs, not make it to the biggest stage in Europe?
Some point to the influx of foreign players that dominate the league: Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres, Emmanuel Adebayor, Dider Drogba and Peter Cech confirm that.
Whilst the EPL does consist of a wealth of talent from around the globe, the major difference between these players and their English teammates comes down to the plain and simple fact that these players are world class, and a majority of the English are simply not.
Take for example England’s back five.
David James would not cut it at most of the teams present in the quarter finals (except Turkey, who are so desperate for players they would probably play him up front!)
Micah Richards is an up and comer and probably not fair to judge as yet.
Ashley Cole, despite his very questionable temperament, has improved greatly and holds his own.
Rio Ferdinand likewise, case in point being his great league form and performances against Roma and Chelsea in the Champions League.
The same cannot be said for his partner John Terry, who is so highly regarded by the English fans, media and coaching staff, but that is all. Terry is that old fashioned swashbuckling type of English player, the heart on the sleeve stuff; great if you’re playing in the cut and dry Premiership, but surely one needs more to succeed on the international stage.
In midfield, the lack of a quality wide player really hurts England.
Joe Cole has promised so much for so long, but has rarely delivered at both club and domestic level due to injuries and poor form.
Players down the left have been tried a dime a dozen: Nicky Shorey from Reading, Stuart Downing, and the right footed Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Again, none of whom would make it into a team in the quarter finals of this year’s competition.
Youngsters David Bentley and Ashley Young appear as though they will be some sort of long-term solution, with solid seasons at Blackburn and Aston Villa respectively.
The centre of the park is where England does have the players who can make a difference.
Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s talisman and skipper, has been slammed consistently for not performing as well in the White national shirt as the Red domestic one. However, his leadership, shooting from distance, and all round midfield hardness is a feature that new boss Fabio Capello must build his side around.
Along with Owen Hargreaves, this is a partnership that can definitely give England the much needed direction they desire.
Gareth Barry’s recent run of good form also sees him as a challenger for this spot, whilst Manchester United’s Michael Carrick seems a steady back up.
The prominence of Barry and Carrick must surely mean the end of Frank Lampard’s international career. For so long many have felt he and Gerrard simply do not fit in the same side.
Lampard backers, however, argue that his consistent 20 plus goals a season should put him ahead of the Merseyside man. This should not be the case when many goals are courtesy of tap-ins, deflected free kicks and penalties.
Lampard simply does not measure up as an international, and is held in high regard at Chelsea as he is not required to do the grunt work in midfield which is left to Makele, Essien and Mikel.
A big feature of this year’s European Championship has been the form of strikers and attacking midfielders.
Arshavin and Palvechenko for the Russians, Van Nisterlrooy, Snidjer , Robben and Van Persie from the Dutch, Villa, Iniesta, Silva, Torres and Fabregas for the Spanish, Schweinstiger, Ballack, Podolski and Klose for the Germans.
Could you see England’s front men such as Owen, Rooney, Ashton, Defoe, or Crouch producing similar standards of play? Not a chance.
Rooney is without doubt the pick of the lot. However, his club form even beside the on-fire Cristiano Ronaldo was patchy during the past season.
Whilst no team in the final eight of this year’s championship have world-class players in all positions, they have plenty more quality than the English.
If the hard questions are going to be asked, there are only three truly world class players in their ranks: Gerrard, Ferdinand and Ashley Cole.
England’s saving grace is that the young players they have coming through appear to have the qualities needed to succeed in international football.
South Africa in 2010 may be too soon to expect anything from this bunch, but Capello is a hard task master with proven success at club and international level.
It is not only the new talent that he must harness, but a change in playing style to one that is attacking and swift to make the Three Lions a competitor in world football once again.
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