THE U19 EUROPEAN CHAMPS....

First of all let me begin by revealing how annoyed at myself i am. I was rather oblivious to the start of this tournament and as a result have missed most of the games up to this point. The last U19 Euro's and youth World Cups all held me captivated not only as great matches ensued, but as the stars of the future exposed their talents and - perhaps more in importantly in this day and age of consumerism - names to the world.

Before i go on, let me quickly mention that if you missed Calvente's penalty against Italy, do yourself a favour and give this piece of genius and confidence the attention it deserves.

Now then, England. England, England, England.
This post comes as a response to my homelands well deserved 3-1 loss against a silky smooth Spanish side.
Yes the year group competing in this years competition is actually my own. I know a few of the players in the team on a local level. Therefore i also know that this group of players is, to be blunt, nothing special. It's years like these that make me rue the fact that I quit the beautiful game. I was a technical player who literally grew up with a ball at his feet. Alas, i lost confidence at a crucial age so I have no one to blame but myself really. What can i say, maybe i should have attended a continental academy such as Lille or various other Spanish and French centers because it seems that, to grow up in England as a technician of the game, is virtually impossible.

Anyway this isn't about me. This is about England's lack of ability to produce a quality team and great players. I was one of the loudest voices post-World Cup in suggesting that there are fundamental problems in England's coaching and academy system. Problems that are halting the Junior, and more importantly Senior teams from lifting the World Cup once again. The 'get your foot in' and 'long ball culture' that has become ingrained in England's attitude towards the game is really beginning to expose us as a talentless nation. Especially i hasten to add, in a day and age when the speed of the game has increased to a rapid rate. The one touch football, quick feet and speedy counter-attacking school of thought perfected by Barcelona, seems to be the general direction the game is heading in. After all, it is the superior tactic, be it a tactic that requires much technical ability and intelligence. Slower less skillful teams and Nations are being left behind, unable to compare when it comes to actually getting the ball down and playing. Speed and strength will never out-do creativity, intelligence and skill. Skill that can only be learnt from playing the game at a very early age, all day everyday.

To relate back to the title and theme of this post, Spain's U19's really gave England's team of the same age a masterclass in how the beautiful game should be played. What's more, the second goal scored was a good shout for one of the best goals witnessed this year. This being a World Cup year, that's saying a lot.

The inspiration for me to make this post came in the form of a quote from The Guardian Newspaper's website. Perfectly depicting the game and England's lack of 'game' in general, Owen Scrivens had this to say:

"All game I've just been thinking that the English have picked a squad
of athletes and roughly organised them into a football team. In comparison
the Spanish are not especially big, strong or fast, but they look like they
have been playing football all their lives. In fact this sums up the problems
in the English league's youth systems, scouts favour pace, strength and organisation
flair and technique."

Re-read that quote, but this time bear in mind that English press actually hyped this team up as a possible surprise bet to redeem the efforts of the Senior team earlier this Summer. Ridiculous.

I grew up playing alongside a young man named Anthony Edgar. I say that not as a name drop, but to give credibility to what i'm about to say. Anthony is in the West Ham Reserve team. For a skinny short kid, that's further than most his size could ever achieve in the English system, even if they do happen to be cousin to Tottenham player and England International, Jermaine Defoe.
From the age of 6/7 it was already clear that Anthony was ahead of the game. He could do more kick-ups than any other kid his age and dribble past a whole team with ease. It seemed as if he could do no wrong.
I actually recall one time as 7 year olds we were 5-0 down at half time. Anthony arrived late, came straight on in the second half and banged 5 goals in one after the other. He quickly drew the attention of West Ham who snapped him up that same year. Having the pleasure of playing against him years down the line at various school matches and trials for England's youth team, i was able to witness the progression in him as a player. Not standing for his greed on the ball, West Ham forced him to pass or face not playing. Eventually, he managed to evolve in to one of the best passers of the ball i've ever seen. His game had matured. At 16 he was looking like a young Fabregas with vision surpassing any other of his age.

What I'm trying to get at here is, why the hell is our National team not packed with players like Ant? As opposed to these fumbling idiots who look like they've only been playing the game a few years, if that. Any decent footballer can tell how experienced another man is with the game within seconds of seeing him play. The majority of the current England U19 squad control the ball with a hesitation and uncomfortable nature that betrays their lack of playing years. The elite players; the Ronaldo's, Messi's and Zidane's all had a ball at their feet virtually since they could stand on their own two, and it shows. Rarely, if ever, will you see a Spanish or Brasilian player tripping over the ball or getting caught in possession with the ball trapped under his feet. Their technique and touch is such that they create time and space for themselves through their fundamentals.

The solution. Well in my opinion that comes in the form of culture and training. Watching a few of the World Cup matches with my friend's 'typically English' family, it's easy to see that the English attitude of calls to 'hoof it!' or 'kick it keeper!' need to change. In England the 7 a-side game is played until the age of 11 at which point the youngsters move to the standard 11 a-side pitch. This needs to change. In most continental and Latin countries football is played in the streets on small 2 a-side goals, and in the school and club systems 7 a-side is played until the ages of 16 in some cases. This teaches quick feet and short passing in a small confined spaces with limited time availability. This system and culture aids in greatly advancing a player's technical ability.
Football needs to be played more widely on a street, local level. Everywhere i went in Brasil, the nation was obssessed with fiddling around with a ball at their feet. If we could turn football in to a city game like basketball is in the States, increasing the number of PowerLeague and other specialised football courts dotted around, then we're in business. A culture of street football will, eventually, breed a culture of fast paced technical players. This, i think is the solution, not their hair brained government schemes, constantly given air time on the BBC, about increasing competition in school sports. That can and most likely will, work for sports such as Athletics. Increased inter-school competition and school pride out on the track will give birth to more interest in track events. The proof there is in Jamaica. Though with a sport so culture orientated as Football whereby, the best teams are more likely club teams than school, increasing competition in school will do little to increase quality outside of school.

That's just my humble piece of opinion on the quality and nature of football being played in England at the moment. I may have to come back and add to this ramble as and when i see fit.

Feel free to comment about anything football related.