Rooney Magic Brighten England's Fut
England's quarter-final demise at Euro 2004 was probably responsible for the biggest collective hangover of the tournament.
But as they drowned their sorrows in the wake of yet another penalty shoot-out defeat, their supporters could at least console themselves with a vision of the future that does not have to be seen through the bottom of a glass to take on a rosy hue.
Injury and form permitting, every outfield player Sven-Goran Eriksson brought to Portugal should still be in contention for a place in his squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In the case of 18-year-old Wayne Rooney, that statement could just as easily be made about the 2020 World Cup while the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Michael Owen should all have at least three more major tournaments to look forward to.
Eriksson's squad will be fortified too by the return to the fold of Rio Ferdinand after the expiry of his ban for failing to take a doping test.
On paper at least it seems inconceivable that England will not arrive in Germany better equipped to end what will, by then, have been a 40-year wait to add another major trophy to the World Cup won on home soil in 1966.
An alternative view is that England have now enjoyed two fantastic opportunities to end that wait - here and at the last World Cup - and blown them both, largely as a result of the tactical errors of their four-million-pounds-a-year coach.
In his own defence, Eriksson can point to the fact that, since becoming England's first foreign coach three and a half years ago, his side have been beaten only three times in competitive matches.
As those defeats came against the eventual winners Brazil in Japan two years ago, against France in the first round here and on penalties against Portugal in the quarter-final, Eriksson would appear to deserve the benefit of the doubt he pleaded for in the wake of England's exit.
"If you think about how we lost all three of them, I know the difference between losing and winning is almost nothing," he said. "That gives me, and hopefully the players too, hope for the future."
A less optimistic conclusion could be drawn from the fact that England went ahead in all three of those matches only to come unstuck.
In the run-up to this tournament, Eriksson had been persuaded to abandon the habit of a lifetime by jettisoning the defensively minded Nicky Butt from his midfield in favour of the form and attacking flair of Lampard.
But when it came to the crunch, the Swede's faith in his own bold approach wilted and matches that England had under control slipped from their grasp.
Of course, the same might have happened had Eriksson used his substitutions to try and build on, rather than defend, 1-0 leads over both France and Portugal.
But it is hard to resist the conclusion that there is something fundamentally misguided about trying to get players educated in the have-a-go school of the Premiership to apply tactics made in Italy.
The doubts about whether Eriksson really does deserve to be the world's best paid coach are however outweighed by Euro 2004's positive legacy for England on the playing side.
Owen's goal against Portugal maintained his record of having scored in every major tournament. Gerrard and Lampard's central midfield double act looks like it could run and run and defenders Gary Neville, Sol Campbell and Cole all emerged with their reputations enhanced.
But there is no doubting who takes pride of place on any list of plus points from England's frustratingly short stay in Portugal.
Four goals from three and a bit games provided thrilling proof of Rooney's ability to turn matches against the world's best.
|
