England may be out of World Cup 2010, but all is not lost. WCC has access to a cyber-wormhole so that it can access articles from future years. Below you can see an article which is due to be written shortly before the World Cup final of Brazil 2014. It seems that there’s only four more years of hurt to go!
The appointment of Raymond Domenech as England coach surprised many following Fabio Capello’s departure back in 2010. But the FA have been vindicated in making this controversial appointment, and also for sticking with him following the disastrous Euro 2012 qualification campaign in which England finished bottom of their group below Luxembourg and Faroe Islands. In addition England fans and pundits demonstrated equanimity and patience towards the coach, figuratively putting their hands up and stating, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, let the man get on with his job.”
So here we are with the World Cup final tantalisingly close. England are riding a wave of euphoria following one of the most emphatic tournament campaigns that¬†a nation has ever threaded together. England sailed through the supposed “group of death” comprising Brazil, Italy and Egypt, and dismissed subsequent knock-out round rivals Peru, Montenegro, and Germany with similar aplomb.
There is therefore no reason why Domenech should dispense with the approach which has worked so effectively throughout World Cup 2014. What Domenech has done so well is to reintroduce Englishness to the England team. The traditional W-M formation will be deployed, and Domenech’s wing-backless wonders should wrap up this tournament in some style. International new boys and fierce local rivals Cornwall will be no pushovers, but England have scored substantially more goals (and conceded less) than the plucky Cornish superstars over this tournament. 36-year old Emile Heskey will continue to lead the line. His goal-shy days are all but forgotten and his prolific club form for Premier League overachievers Dagenham & Redbridge has been seamlessly transferred to World Cup 2014. Heskey has scored a new record of 29 goals in this tournament, although comparisons with former Golden Boot winners are rendered problematic since FIFA abolished the offside law and quadrupled the size of goals.
England v Cornwall (probable)
Wingers Glen Johnson and Adam Johnson will line up either side of Heskey. In midfield, Stephen Warnock and Barcelona’s Jamie O’Hara will provide attacking guile, bolstered by the holding pair Fabrice Muamba and Michael Mancienne. The solid defensive trio will remain Michael Dawson, Gary Cahill and Blackburn‚Äôs Phil Jones. Between the sticks, Joe Hart is a reassuring presence. Of course, Domenech has reconciled tradition with the requirements of contemporary football. Under this W-M approach the Johnson twins (as they are affectionately known), can force the opposition full-backs to retreat, whilst the four man central-midfield swamps the middle of the pitch enabling England to control games. But if an extra player is needed in defence then Mancienne can withdraw into the back-line so that the formation resembles 4-3-3. Whatever approach is deployed, England should win this game with some ease to be crowned World Cup winners 2014. WCC predicts: England 15 ‚ Cornwall 4.
Since they became an independent nation I’ve repeatedly stated that Montenegro would become big players on the international stage. I’m pleased to see that vindication is soon to arrive.
Can WCC access the cyber-wormhole again to let me know whether South Canada made the Finals?
Yes, yes, but what will be happening in ‘Wing-Back’ come 2014?
I’m looking forward to seeing whether Cornwall manager Lembit Opik will gamble with his starting XI. If he puts two midfielders on red, he could double up and then go for a 4-6-2 formation which will really give Domenech something to think about. This will also allow Opik to field his ‘dream midfield’ of all six members, past and present, of the Sugababes.