England Team

Last week, world renowned football manager Jose Mourinho claimed that England have the potential to lift the biggest trophy in world football this coming June. Whilst his claim has baffled even the most experienced of tacticians, pundits and experts, the same people are now questioning whether the man is serious or whether it’s one of his usual mind games.

The Portuguese tactician stated, “England, everybody says no, no, no, no, no; I always say why not because I don’t understand why not. When I see the players and the experience of the players and the clubs where they play, I don’t understand why one day it cannot happen.”

Many Three Lions fans used to claim that England would go on to dominate every edition of the World Cup and Euros in recent history, yet when it came down to the actual football itself, the drab and depressing style of football incorporated shows that the fans may have been all talk. The subject has become so sensitive with EPL fans that they will also blame it on luck and injuries, but never on a lack of class. Many have ignored the fact that having a strong league does not necessarily mean that the national setup will benefit from it, as it has become normal for foreigners to be given preference over Englishmen in the Premier League.

Individually, England certainly do have some highly talented players who could trouble any opposition, but can they form a team together? In 2010, then captain John Terry blamed the nation’s poor showing on the fact that ‘players had little to do in between games’. The rest of the world obviously laughed at that claim, stating that a proper footballing nation focuses on the football during such a tournament and not on women and alcohol.

Both loyal and neutral fans will have to wait and see whether Mourinho’s claim will have any sense behind it. Shall the Three Lions whither away into nothingness like in recent tournaments, or shall Hodgson’s men turn out to be the tournament’s surprise package? Tune in and find out!