Having grown up watching English football, I'm hoping England will have a good World Cup outing but I am not getting my hopes up as they have always disappointed in the past. There are 2 main reasons (or should I say excuses??) why England seldom do well in the World Cup or Euro Championships.
One factor is the weather. The majority of the English season is spent in cool or cold temperatures with wind and rain. Obviously the training sessions are done in the same weather. In order to stay warm in these cool temperatures, players have to practically run at 100mph all the time!! This is also a major factor why the EPL is played at such a quick and frantic pace. As most World Cups and Euro Championships are played in the summer and usually in hot temperatures, it is an unusual situation for England players. They can't run around at 100mph like they do in the EPL and this takes something away from their game. (NOTE: It will be winter in South Africa with temperatures in the 40s to 60s so this should be to England's advantage.)
The other factor is wear and tear. Most of the England players, if not all, play in the EPL. Anyone who has watched an EPL game and then a Serie A or La Liga game will see a big difference. The EPL games are much faster and more physical. This takes its toll over the season. In fact, it was often said that Patrick Viera used to purposely get red carded around Christmas / New Year so that he could take a much needed rest. The bottom line is that England players usually show up at the World Cup and Euro Championships worn out. Franz Beckenbaur used to say, "The English play like lions in the autumn and like lambs in the spring/summer."One factor is the weather. The majority of the English season is spent in cool or cold temperatures with wind and rain. Obviously the training sessions are done in the same weather. In order to stay warm in these cool temperatures, players have to practically run at 100mph all the time!! This is also a major factor why the EPL is played at such a quick and frantic pace. As most World Cups and Euro Championships are played in the summer and usually in hot temperatures, it is an unusual situation for England players. They can't run around at 100mph like they do in the EPL and this takes something away from their game. (NOTE: It will be winter in South Africa with temperatures in the 40s to 60s so this should be to England's advantage.)
So England has the weather on their side for this World Cup but nothing can be done about the players' wear and tear. However, a new factor has arisen that could even be more damaging than these 2 factors, and that is team chemistry. I haven't really followed the John Terry and Wayne Bridge situation but any scandal involving wives, girlfriends, friendship and infidelity can really wreck a team's chemistry. And when other players end up taking sides, cliques form, rifts start and the whole thing becomes messy. Potentially, I think this could be more damaging than anything else.
So how will England do this time? It wouldn't surprised me if they struggled in group play, barely advanced and struggled to win another game. As for me, I will stand by SPAIN. Ole!
