For years, the English were known for their fierce and ruthless style of play, where the best players were the biggest players, and going in for every tackle was just part of the game. Anyone who remembers the glory days of Newcastle United knows that when it came to strength, it was extremely difficult to beat Alan Shearer, a player who has always been a hero of mine. The massive 6 foot tall forward would smash through defenses scoring goal after goal, netting a total of 379 goals in all competitions. Before the days of Shearer, Ray Clemence, Liverpool’s legendary keeper who was another strong man, would constantly put himself in front of anything to prevent a goal, and, playing every game without gloves on really defined the word ‘bravery’ in the sport.
Fast forward a few decades though, and a whole new game is at hand. The likes of Ray Clemence have been replaced by youngsters such as Joe Hart, known for having cat-like reflexes, and instead of Shearer, we see plenty of small and nimble strikers flying through like speeding bullets, slotting in just as many goals without difficulty.
This World Cup had some disappointing results, with Italy being one of the biggest let downs. The Italians tried to use the same basic team that won the previous tournament, 4 years ago, but realized a little too late that their older players were no match for the younger and much quicker players that were making their debuts for other countries. England had some of the quickest players of the tournament, but there were hardly any signs of communication between the younger players, which prevented them from progressing any further than they did. But with a new tournament on the horizon, the European Championships in 2012, England will really be hoping to do better than they have been doing so far internationally, and the new players that are being brought in seem qualified enough to get the job done.
Adam Johnson, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Lennon, and Theo Walcott are just some of the new up and coming stars that look likely to feature for England in the European Championships, giving the fans something to really look forward to. Whether it is this year, or in four years time, that this younger generation of players can truly shine, one thing is certain: England will once again become a main threat in the world of competitive football, and might finally lose their reputation as underachievers in the international game.
