I didnt watch the game last night live but saw the highlights. Some of the passing was pretty good but the massive hole in the centre will be ripped apart by better teams. Capello appears to have bottled it and gone with the “best players” route. Changes have to be made, here are two teams.

Hart

Brown Ferdinand Woodgate Lescott

Hargreaves Carrick Barry

J.Cole

Rooney Bent

Against the better teams we need to be able to keep the ball and not be too desperate to go forward and produce the “killer ball”. Players like Lampard, Terry, Gerrard, Beckham and Rooney (who yes I have added to my team but only out of lack of options) are sooo desperate to get the glory, score the goal, sell the papers, replica shirts and football boots that they have lost focus.

Kirkland

Johnson King Ferdinand Cole

Hargreaves Barry
Bentley                      Downing
J.Cole
Agbonlahor

Downing gets so much slack from England fans, I just don’t understand it? He’s the second best left footed player in England after Barry, scores and assists usually around double figures for Boro. Always impresses when he gets on and get this… Can cross with his LEFT foot. Players like him David Dunn, Carrick, Bent will never get a decent run of games for England as they dont possess the necessary “greedy-look at me gene” Because of this when they get a chance to play they usually buckle under the pressure of knowing that anything less than brilliant is more than likely to get them abused by the media which will usually go onto exile.

The teams above aren’t perfect by any stretch but i’d love to see Capello have the balls to do things his own way. If he expects this current crop to get to future world cup soccer tournaments he’s severely deluded.

©2009 Soccer Tournaments. All Rights Reserved.

This Euro 2008 Soccer Tournaments proved to be one of the finest championships in recent years. With this in mind here is my team of Euro 2008.

1 - Artur Boruc - Poland - Yes he only played three games and yes they were for Poland but how many saves did he make? Strachan will do well to keep him at Celtic next season.

2 - Jose Bosingwa - Portugal - Proved in Portugal’s campaign that he will be a good buy in a problematic position for Chelsea. Great going forward, effectively like another winger (like Portugal need another!)

3 - Yuri Zhirkov - Russia - Swashbuckling full back with a great pass and shot, no little skill and is also an accomplished defender when called upon.

4 - Carlos Puyol - Spain - One of the best players at the Euro’s. Not originally my favourite defender but has shown his class in this soccer tournament leading a questionable defence to Euro glory. (even if he did nearly let the Germans back in it in the final!)

5 - Robert Kovac - Croatia - Solid and a great leader at the back for Croatia. Lacks pace but plays with a real intelligence that few can match. Unfortunately for England will still be about for World Cup Qualification.

6 - Xavi Hernandez - Spain - Makes Spain and Barcelona tick whilst keeping possession unlike any player on the planet. Gets on with his business without wanting the attention and plaudits that lesser players demand. Exceptional movement off of the ball.

7 - Wesley Sneijder - Holland - The scorer of the best two goals of the Euro’s and a real livewire. Was the only player in the defeat to Russia who could walk off the pitch with his head held high.

8 - Deco - Portugal - Controls and passes like the South American he is. Supremely gifted player who was never blessed with pace but can see the game unfold in front of him and do as he pleases.

9 - Lukas Podolski - Germany - Arrived at the tournament out of form and lacking match fitness but it didn’t show. Scoring 3 goals and assisting on 2 for Schweinsteiger showed that even out on the left wing he can be a threat.

10 - David Villa - Spain - Golden boot winner and probably the best striker on show in a tournament lacking a real striking sensation. Great with both feet and an intelligent, instinctive finisher it would be a surprise to see him still at Valencia come September.

11 - Roman Pavlyuchenko - Russia - Probably not the Russian expected in this dream team but he scored the goals in Arshavin’s absence and also showed that he deserves a move to a bigger league this summer. Previously linked with a move to Real Madrid and if he can perfect his finishing will score a bag full for any team. Technically excellent and deceptively quick for a tall striker.

©2009 Soccer Tournaments. All Rights Reserved.