Can we win it!? - Probably not, but believe!!

I need to start this entry with an apology! Not sure how many of you have noticed (I like to think loads of you) but I haven't submitted a blog in over a month.

This is partly due to laziness, but also down to the fact that I was gearing myself up to leave my beloved Bournemouth and return to my homeland of Jersey. I have landed myself a job writing real news stories would you believe! Not quite as much freedom as I have here but its work!

Anyway, now that I’m settled, I’m back to writing my blog and hopefully in it for the long haul.

Where better to start than the trials and tribulations of the World Cup build up? It’s that time again when everyone in England goes doolally (sic??) about our country’s chances of lifting the famous trophy. I must admit I’m guilty of over-patriotism every time we enter a major tournament. It gets to the point where you just can’t see anyway England can lose. A bit like the feeling you get looking at your Saturday afternoon bet slip, where your ten game accumulator can pocket you £15,000 off of the single nugget you handed over the counter ‘it can’t lose’. With those bets there is always an anomaly and in terms of the World Cup, that’s us.


I remember once putting one of these mammoth accumulators on during the qualification process for Euro 2008. I attempted to predict the outcome of eight international games for a return of about £2,000. Much to my delight the first seven games came in without a blemish, it came down to the last game, a late afternoon kick-off between England and the almighty Israelis. Money in the bank I thought. Au contraire, this is England, and lo and behold, 90 minutes and no goals later I was left crying into my Strongbow as my beloved lions had let me down. (I’ll probably still stick a tenner on an England victory this year though…or should I say I’ll probably still give Mr Ladbroke a tenner and tell him to spend it wiser than I did.)

Anyway, the build up this year has been tumultuous. We’ve had the John Terry scandal and his subsequent loss of captaincy, which has raised question marks about the effect it will have on team spirit, we’ve had our Wayne Rooney, our only hope of glory, wounded in recent weeks and looking a shadow of what he was from August till April, there’s niggling injuries to key players like Rio Ferdinand, and the inclusion of Gareth Barry in the preliminary squad despite looking like he’ll never be fit in time. We even had Signor Capello prising the ageing Jamie Carragher out of retirement, stories of his failed attempts to lure back Paul Scholes – who hasn’t pulled on the national shirt for 6 years – and the near inclusion of Owen Hargreaves who had played one minute of football in 18 months. For a man we have given so much credit to in the last two years, these desperate stories hardly tell us he has confidence in every member of his 30 man squad. One shining light in the selection however was Adam Johnson, a revelation since joining Manchester City in January, the boy has gone from Championship to England squad in 5 months, and he certainly deserves it.


Training camp began this week with the squad taking to the Austrian Alps for a spot of high altitude training, before Capello narrows his 30 man. I think it’s pretty safe to assume who won’t be flying to South Africa. My thoughts are that Baines, Warnock, Parker, Huddlestone and Bent will be left out. As much as I feel both those central midfielders deserve to go over Carrick and Barry, Capello does have his favourites, even if he suggests otherwise. Then I think the other two removals could be a bit more tricky. If I was pushed I’d say no Gareth Barry due to his injury issue and if I had my way then Theo Walcott would stay at home, but his ability to play up front if needed might see him considered useful.

So we’re on the home straight now, two friendlies left and then its business time. Let’s forget all the crap that the FA has subjected us to this week with the whole Lord Triesman debacle, that saga will continue for a while yet, we can pick it up in August. Let’s forget the past 44 years of heartache that the national team have subjected us to. Let’s forget the fact that John Terry would probably bag your missus without a second thought. Let's also forget that Wayne Rooney - the great english hope - hasn't scored a goal since March 21st (yep, it's been that long). But most importantly, let’s f!@*ing pray.

And as the only World Cup themed advert I have so far enjoyed says ‘It’s time to join the immortals.’