Article by Steven Cronin
The moment once more England’s impressive inability from spot kicks has expense them a spot in the semi-finals of the Planet Cup.
The 3-one shoot out defeat to Portugal was a repeat of the European Championship exit two years earlier when the Portuguese in which on property soil.
Owen Hargreaves was the only Englishman to convert his penalty as the England curse continued.
England have now lost six of the 7 penalty shootouts they have been concerned in.
Contrast this to Germany, who considering that defeat to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championships have won every shootout they have been involved in.
That document gets to be even far more outstanding when you think about they have also scored each and every particular person penalty within the shootout.
But England’s demise could have been averted had Sven-Goran Eriksson employed far better use of the players at his disposal.
His choice to stick with David Beckham when the England captain is clearly past his best has caused frustration for many followers.
This was compounded by the overall performance of Aaron Lennon when he finally acquired his possibility in spot of Beckham in the course of the 2nd 50 percent of the quarterfinal.
His tempo and dribbling triggered panic in the Portuguese defence, some thing Beckham seldom achieved, and followers can only wonder how England would have faired had he been used earlier.
England’s chances were more inhibited when their one particular genuine planet class star Wayne Rooney was played out of his best place and employed as a lone front guy.
Rooney is at his devastating finest taking part in behind a major striker and operating at defences from thirty yards out.
England’s strategies of hitting him with prolonged balls was a total waste of his talents and a allow off for the Portuguese defence.
But with Eriksson now departed, the reigns of the England manager’s task are handed on to Steve McClaren, Eriksson’s assistant for the previous five many years.
Enthusiasts can only hope McClaren introduces a new attacking brand name of football to excite the supporters and break with far more defensive instincts of Eriksson.
We await with baited breath.
About the Author
Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks internet site featuring metropolis break specific presents from luxury hotels to spending budget accommodations. For far more data please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk