England Football Team

“Games for millions…”

Has, world cup action caught up at MS, if not, then let me wake everyone up, forget for Godsake cricket and let us see what is happening around the world.

There are some games which invoke your mind, there are some games which invoke your physical strength, there are some games, which invoke your mental and physical strength, but there are some games which is 11/2hrs of pure entertainment. Soccer or football falls into this category.

World’s most popular game is also my most favorite game.

Asyis’s…Nostalgic Journey to the game…

There are some moments in your life, which you wouldn’t like to forget, one of such moments of my life, is playing for my college football team. We were playing the inter-collegiate match(at the St. Xavier Ground, VT Mumbai))which was incidentally my first match in front of a very big crowd mixed with school students and the next team to play the match in the same ground. I used to play centre forward and to my bad-luck probably one my worst days of life, I must have missed so many balls right under my legs and at one instance (Feeling Embarrassed) even falling on the ground and kids laughing. So as expected I was not supposed to play the second match, but this time lady-luck was with me and I was in because the player who was supposed to be in, was not keeping well. Then what, surprisingly, I scored 3 goals and my team in fact won against a stronger team. Hence, you would know how patriotic I am about this game.

Road to my choosing favorite team…

The world cup fever is on and definitely to choose my favorite team wasn’t a difficult task. Since last decade, my favorite team had always been Germany, but I really seen the fall of German’s in various levels, hence started really loosing interest in the German game. No doubt, on the Club, matches, Bayer Luervkusan and Bayer Munich are still the stronger team. Apart, from Germany, I used to like the Italian team but again, the same story say’s for Italy, after Roberto Baggio, the team is not the same. For the entire South American fan’s(Just a Note), I was really never found of Brazil or Argentina. Some, how never liked their game, except for the time when Pele and Maradona Played for them. The new breed of players like Ronaldo(Over-Hyped) are not my favorite at least. As of now, my favorite team is definitely the Queen’s Warriors (Can I say them!!), England.

England’s misery in all games…

English team have a unique ability to play games at maximum at all level and still not winning any world cup(Except for 1966). Whether you take the game of cricket, where they have reached the world-cup finals at least three times and still not winning, or for that matter Wimbledon, they have not produced a Wimbledon winner since ages. England is the only country where Club game is played at the most highest level and has got the best clubs in the world, whether it is Manchester Utd(My fav.), or Arsenal or Liverpool. I agree to the fact that in most of these club’s you have international players, but still the game is played with such high standard, one would expect England to produce best of the players. Though we all know that the only world-cup England has won is in the year 1966.

England’s star…

England has always produced stars like Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker but very few have actually lived to their expectation. Like my Indian cricket team, which definitely looks good on paper, but when it comes to playing they have“fallen like a pack of Cards”. Similarly, England has a formidable side, on paper, whether you talk about the best free kick taker (David Beckham) or the ever agile Michael Owen.

the leader…

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson

Who would forget the thrashing of Germany in the qualifier by England, which made Sweden’s Eriksson, to a god status in England. Though, Eriksson is the first foreign coach to take the reign of the un-predictable English team. Eriksson is doing a very good job, lot of English team’s success in depended on this man.

The Team…Queen’s Warrior (Can I say that!!)

David Beckham... (Mid-Fielder)

Probably the hottest star and the best free kick taker of this game is D.B. In spite of various hick-ups, D.B has improved amazingly. Though, sometimes I feel that D.B is over-hyped, but still he is the corner stone of the English Team. None of the English fan will forget his world-cup 1998 disaster which led, to English team’s elimination. But, I feel the English media has been to harsh on him.

Owen Michael… (Forward)

Owen is the youngest player to cap the English team and one of the most agile player, is definitely the pick of the lot. My most favorite player in the team is definitely M.O, he is definitely to be watched out.

Ashley Cole… (Left Back)

Ashley. Cole play’s for Arsenal and definitely the strongest DF player for England.

David Seaman… (Goal Keeper)

If England has to save the goals, then this man has to play a very important role. This veteran GK has tough job in his hand. His age doesn’t stop Seaman from getting selected time and again for England.

Robbie Fowler… (FW)

Ex. Liverpool player is known to be the best finisher of all time. If the ball is with RF then it has to end in the Net that is his class, in spite of his rude behaviors off field, he cant missed in the English team.

Due, to space constraint, let me run through the player’s.

GOAL KEEPER

David Seamen (Arsenal)

James David ( West Ham Utd)

DEFENCE

Rio Ferdinand (Leeds United)

Bridge Wayne (Southampton)

MID-FIELD

Paul Scholes (Man United)

Hargreaves Owen (Bayer Munich)

FORWARDS

Robbie Fowler (Leeds Utd)

On paper, English team looks real solid, I hope they would win this world cup, because I would win nearly 10000Rs (250$) from all my friends, with whom I have a bet. Even, though they have won yesterday’s match against Argentina, it’s a long and Herculean task.

Best of Luck to my Lions!!!

Also, most important, this English team needs to believe in themselves, that they can ’’WIN’’.

©Asyis …2002