Jamie Vardy’s brilliant improvisation and first England goal
There is the usual plethora of opposing reactions to the Three Lions before a major competition, the media always big them up, while a more mixed public reflect at a series of banana skins that have tripped up their side historically. Usually it is those dastardly South Americans and Europeans. The hand of god goal with Maradona outrunning a hapless English defence, or a peeved David Beckham stepping on a prostate Diego Simeone and getting his marching orders, or a winking Cristiano Ronaldo craftily exploiting Wayne Rooney, his Man Utd team mate’s famous hair trigger temper to end his World Cup. Even when the side finally makes a match out of it, the referees add to the masochism. More usually, England fail to live up to the hype. The scintilla is all too occasional in the post 1966 world, the euphoria long evaporated.
The context provided, what has changed after yesterday’s come from behind victory over World Cup champions Germany? Yes, it was a friendly before we get too ahead. Maybe it was the resilience, the feeling that for the first time, England was not putting their eggs on individual talent like Paul Gascoigne, Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan, David Beckham, or Wayne Rooney to see them through but on a collective of youthful, energetic talent without awe of their more storied opponents. England pressed on undeterred by the adverse scoreline seeking actively to exploit weaknesses in the German midfield and defence to launch punishing counterattacks.
Where have we seen this before? Oh yes, Leicester and Tottenham, the two best sides in the league at doing just that and ably represented by Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Rose, and Eric Dier. Even the horrendous injury to Jack Butland, yet another talent, failed to dampen their spirits. Kane’s version of a Cruyff turn and accomplished finish was the answer England were looking for. Suddenly, Germany were looking vulnerable penned back into their own half by a swarming England – just the cue to bring on Vardy and Ross Barkley in place of Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana. The comeback was complete as Nathaniel Clyne (this wasn’t just a Foxes- Spur show) whipped in a cross which Vardy superbly flicked behind his standing leg into goal. Alli missed a golden chance for the victory but he did not have long to feel sorry for himself as team mate Dier stunned the Germans with a stoppage time header off a corner. Roy Hodgson had no hesitation rating the night his best so far.
Why does this not feel like a false dawn? A start to something more tangible. The answer can be found at club level, more specifically with the coaches. Leicester was supposed to fold feeling the pressure of being built up as the most unlikely of champions. Vardy’s first England goal comes after a relative scoring lull in the league but Claudio Ranieri has instilled the Foxes with the discipline of taking on matches one by one. They managed a tricky February beating Liverpool and Man City and their Arsenal loss proved a blip. Even when not looking particularly good, Ranieri’s men have found ways to win. The Frenchman was taking over a club which managed the great escape under Nigel Pearson – so a player like Vardy, finding his second wind at a late age is well experienced to the dizzying falls and meteoric rises of the English league. So too his team mate in resilience, Danny Drinkwater, a late addition to the England squad.
The Tottenham nucleus of Kane, Alli, and Dier, fledglings in comparison to the Leicester league veterans, can look to Mauricio Pochettino for their blueprint. The Argentinian was damage control mode for a club on the defensive for squandering all the Modric and Bale riches on a bloated and under performing side. Pochettino saw the utility in shifting Dier, a Portugese league youth player vetted at Sporting CP, to the holding midfielder where he has excelled. Alli all of 17 years discovered at MK Dons and fast tracked to the senior squad within a year of his loan back. Pochettino’s faith in him has been vindicated. He must be the oldest 19 year old, so polished have been his appearances for Spurs. 7 goals and 12 assists, taking over Mesut Oezil as assist leader in the second half of the season. His favourite outlet, Kane overcame a slow start to post his second 20 goal season and Spurs lead the league in attacking potency. When it is not through the centre, in Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, the side have marauding wing backs who look for Kane with their whipped crosses. Tottenham pose the league’s greatest threat through late game stings and come back wins. The dreaded implosion, a club characteristic and the cause for much self deprecation has not occurred.
Add Ross Barkley, Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge, and Danny Welbeck and you get an England squad with a huge motor. The coaches (Martinez, Klopp, and Wenger) of these players are well known mavens of relentless attack who like to press high. Hodgson’s concerns are the defensive aspect of the game might get short shrift. Indeed, apart from Tottenham, the league overall seems to have suffered a decline in standards as injuries and age have consumed the best defenders. Clyne and Rose continue an English tradition of bombing wing backs with questionable tracking instincts. In goalkeeping, Joe Hart has had his share of inconsistent performances and England must be awaiting on Butland’s injuries with anxiety.