NO PAIN IN SPAIN

England’s defeat in Seville last week was no big deal as far as I’m concerned. As good as Spain were to watch, the slick incisive passing of Xavi, Iniesta and Alonso was what we’ve come to expect from them. Spain always had wonderfully gifted footballers. I can remember the teams they had between 1994 and 1998. They were always superb to watch, but fell at the quarter final hurdles in 1994 and 1996 and didn’t even get past the group stages in France 98.

It is only now that Spain have got that terrifying cutting edge with Torres and Villa, possibly the two best strikers in the world (although I happen to think Villa is a one trick pony, who is best remembered for being the top scorer in Euro 2008, but actually didn’t score after the first two games, and didn’t play in the final). Some of you reading this may point out that Spain had Raul in recent years, but I always felt he was spoilt at Real Madrid, where he was being fed delicious service by players such as Redondo, McManaman, Figo and Zidane. He has often flopped on the pressure cooker of the world stage.

It has to be remembered that England, despite being deservedly beaten 2-0, were without arguably their five best players. They were certainly without their three star players in Gerrard, Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, all of whom are world class, and also without Walcott and Joe Cole, the latter who is becoming worryingly injury prone. Both of these players are capable of running at players, making space or creating for others, whilst Gerrard and Rooney can win the game at the drop of a hat, with one piece of magic.

Whether these players would have made a difference in this game is of course, now, immaterial, but Spain were at virtual full strength (Fabregas doesn’t always start) and that doesn’t seem to have been mentioned much in the press over the last week. It’s not making excuses, it’s just a fact. If this game had been in the World Cup or a World Cup qualifier, at least four of those five players mentioned would have started the game for England.

England have come along way under Capello. They are playing with a lot of self belief and keeping possession a lot better, but how many of those players who started vs Spain would be in Capello’s first eleven? Jagielka, for all his good form, would not be in front of Ferdinand, whilst Downing, Wright Phillips and one of Barry and Carrick (who is in splendid form) would also probably drop out. Regarding the front two of Heskey and Abgbonlahor, again at least one would drop out, although it seems Heskey has become a firm Capello favourite. Also, Glen Johnson, as talented as he is, may struggle to keep his place following Gary Neville’s somewhat unexpected return to form and fitness.

The likelihood is that only five of that team would be in Capello’s first eleven which speaks volumes for the fact that England cannot be judged on this defeat. Capello has done all that’s been asked of him, winning all four of his World Cup qualifiers, including wins in Belarus and Croatia. The immediate future looks bright for England.

I am not saying we are going to win the World Cup in 2010, but I am pretty tired of the critics attacking the technical ability of English players. That is not the issue here. Argentina, for example, have flopped consistently in the World Cup since 1990, and they have an unrivalled pool of ‘technical’ players, according to many critics. They always enter the World Cup among the favourites, but in recent years have massively underachieved. The issue is harnessing the massive inflated ego’s and superstar status' of the players we have at our disposal. Capello is a man who can do that. He has worked with some of the greatest players of all time, as well as some of the biggest ego’s.

It is important to remember, that in last year’s Champions League Final, 10 of the 20 outfield players who started that game were English. Gerrard, Beckham, Rooney, Carrick and Joe Cole are technically as good as most players in the world. For instance, nobody can strike a ball like Steven Gerrard and nobody can deliver a cross as well as David Beckham. Rio Ferdinand is as comfortable on the ball as any defender in world football, whilst Michael Carrick is also a wonderfully accurate and natural passer of the ball.

So, I would like to make a suggestion. Do pundits and football fans alike, confuse keeping possession with technique? I think so. Technique is an individual trait, whereas keeping the ball is all about teamwork, positional sense and coaching. That is where Capello comes into the equation, and I for one, am optimistic that England will be a true world force under his guidance.