To be World Champs

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To be World Champs

I sat and watched the England v Sweden football match last night and concluded a few things mostly negative about England’s performance.

The biggest issue I have with the footballing prima donnas is the apparent complete lack of stamina to see out a full 90 minutes at a sustained performance momentum. In this, the fitness and stamina levels our rugby forwards (all nations) is a lesson the England soccer camp should take very good note of and learn and get right very, very fast.

Not only do rugby forwards, (average height and weight is way in excess of the scrawny soccer players) have to tackle and powermaul their way forward constantly for 80 minutes, they are also expected to run like antelopes being chased by lions.

The constant contact with other players is in itself an energy draining feat. To then have to scrummage and run and do line-outs etc proves to me that the fitness and stamina levels of rugby players is far, far superior to the soccer players.

Nobody doubts the skill of Becks to kick a ball with Exocet precision. Nobody doubts Rooney’s thuglike approach to push his way through to the six yard box nor his dribbling and ball skill, nobody doubts the defensive skill of Sol Campbell nor the brilliance of the player who more than any other in the UK squad, is for me the player’s player who England should revere and the World Cup’s ‘find’ - Mr Joe Cole.

What we can all doubt is their stamina level and ability to maintain the performance levels of the first half through to the final whistle.

For instance - that final equalising score by Sweden last night was a goal the Romford Comprehensive School’s 1st eleven would have stopped hitting the back of the net. Such was England’s complete lack of focus and ability to make simple marking and line defending decisions, I broke out laughing at the incompetance the Swedes were so taking advantage of.

Stamina is the key to becoming World Champions and I think England have missed their chance. They have the skill. They have the desire. But desire and skill need a platform and that platform is stamina. Trouble is guv, they ain’t got it. And they don’t have Owen no more either.

Cue: Twighlitght Zone theme music.