“We have to develop that mentality at make-or-break moments in tournaments”

The difference between underachieving and winning is scrupulous planning. According to The Guardian “England missed more penalties in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday night than Germany have missed in their entire World Cup history – that was the statistic in circulation at Germany’s camp in Berlin yesterday. Germany have taken part in four penalty shoot-outs in the World Cup, won them all and scored 16 of their 17 penalties in the process.” Gary Neville admitted “They are masters at it, masters of winning on penalties . . . we have to develop that mentality at make-or-break moments in tournaments.”

Is it just down to luck, I don’t think that is entirely true.

“The full story of Lehmann’s preparation emerged yesterday. He won the 1997 Uefa Cup with Schalke against Internazionale after making a penalty save. His manager at Schalke was Huub Stevens, who is responsible for a personal database of 13,000 penalty kicks. Lehmann used this archive against Inter and, prior to the Argentina game, he telephoned Stevens.”

and

“The 36-year-old goalkeeper already had the benefit of the German FA’s database – they had copied Stevens’ approach – and having collated the information about who takes Argentina’s penalties and how they take them, Germany’s goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke wrote it on a piece of paper ripped from a hotel notepad. On it was written details such as “[Julio] Cruz – stand tall, don’t move, dive right”.

It’s all hugs and kisses

According to (www.gestifute.com) Ronaldo says “I would also like to make it clear that there is no problem at all between me and Rooney. I insist: no problem at all. At the end of the game, we exchange a series of text messages just as we had on the day before. This reinforces that I have a fine relationship with Rooney. Between the two of us, everything is clear. In fact, he didn’t just send me congratulations for going forward in the World Cup, he also told me we have a great team, and if we carry on as we have, we will get a long way. He wasn’t angry with me, or about anything that happened. And more: he told me to ignore the things written in the English press on this subject, they only want to stir things up.” So we can discount the idea that Rooney wants to split him in two. Even if he did he wouldn’t have the chance, Ronaldo’s supposedly off to Real Madrid.

Update: Rooney denies deliberate stamp

Latest news on Team England (TM)

The tabloids give us the latest footie news, always a reliable source. An insider for The Sun says “Wayne said he would split him in two and smack him in the head. Who can blame him?” Charming Wayne. We have ourselves a lovable brute.

While the Mirror reveals that after the penalty defeat, “Swedish ice-man” Sven Goran Eriksson broke down and wept in the dressing room.

And it seems Becks has good reason to cry as The Star reveals new boss Steve McClaren may well drop him from the team altogether. Beckham won’t be available for the friendly against Greece on August 16th as scans revealed the ankle injury he suffered against Portugal will keep him out for six weeks. But even after that it is believed McClaren is keen to usher in a new era with the national team, and Goldenballs is not part of it.

Imagine if Sven stayed on for another penalty shoot out defeat, he’d be certifiably insane.

My predictions

When it comes to perdicting football results I can say, humbly, that I am usually spot on. Well my predictions for the world cup semi-finals, take it down now:

Italy to beat Germany by a single goal. Portugal to put one over France, after many flops and dives. The world cup winner: Italy.

A football cliche

If you go back to “What the papers say” on 23/6/06 you get this little gem ” Mid-World Cup and all ready the papers are losing interest in Sven’s England (presumably because they’ve watched them play), and are focusing on what happens after the national team are knocked out on penalties. And what happens is that cliches delivered in a monotone voice increase approximately 247% as Alan Shearer becomes Steve McClaren’s assistant. The Mirror details the ‘Three Lions Dream Team’ as Shearer, who is an England legend, joins McClaren, who isn’t. Terry Venables is set to be involved somehow too. Three’s company, eh fellas?”

Prophetic or what? Maybe not, England knocked out of a major tournament on penalties, now that is a football cliche. Five major tournaments and counting…

England aren’t cool enough from the spot – Tim Borowski and The view from abroad. I particulary like this one from the German tabloid “Bild-Zeitung”

England’s penalty fools are out! Once again Wayne Rooney weakened his team with his lack of self-control. Eriksson had to substitute “Giraffe” Crouch up front, and take Joe Cole off . . . When it comes to taking penalties England are the world’s idiots. Bild am Sonntag