Exposed by an early exit

By Joe Behan

It was obvious that the devastated Kevin Keegan would not bother joining ITV’s panel after his English side threw away two leads in Euro 2000 just gone. That was enough exposure for one tournament, in which they were knocked off by Romania, 3-2, on June 20 after beating Germany, 1-0. While it was nice of Keegan to knock claims by TV that the early exit would benefit him financially as a panelist, Keegan was more concerned in facing Europe as English boss. Keegan left Europe to spend time with his family, an alternative trend that high-profile stars use to get away from it all.

There is, however, no escaping the skill factor that has taken over from the die-hard attitude and passion of football, something we all know was about to happen. Ability to read the game alongside the mechanics was even more evident than ever in Euro 2000. Team tactics are now a big eyesore if you don’t get them right. Euro 2000 presented this new-age scenario to Keegan. It’s not about nationality here; it’s about football and it’s definitely about Mr. Keegan. While we enjoy the premier league week after week, it is worth a look at what Keegan and his players faced during the competition.

What’s the problem? It’s easy to pick on different aspects of the English game. The most important being, playing too many players over the top and overrated. For starters Paul Ince stated that he would not play for his country if he were left out of Euro 2000. So, based on this ridiculous attitude, he’s retired as he was missing anyway. His desire can be very easily misunderstood for arrogance. After Keegan claimed that Alan Shearer could be the next manager, suspicions have arisen that Keegan gives special treatment to the likes of Ince and Shearer and perhaps he’s already feeling the pressure.

Although Martin Keown continues to play good stuff for Arsenal, the average age of these three players raises questions. The rest of the world has moved on to trying youth out. It is where Keegan is going, but he perhaps should have made those moves earlier. While it is crucial to bring experience to big tournaments, the old timers, excluding Keown, were all over the press while Michael Owen was on a trip of his own.

After scoring against Brazil in a warmup to the competition, Owen was harping on about being one of the best and that he felt he was back. He didn’t get a kick of the ball in Euro. Opposition were commenting that the English were unable to pass sufficiently enough and maintaining possession was not a part of their game. Indeed, it is their inability to find space smartly that stops them from mixing up tactics. Beckham and Scholes were praised by opponents and panels for their contributions, but their fellow United teammates, the Neville brothers, seemed to be out of their league. While most full backs in the competition were comfortable on the ball and could playmake, too, the Nevilles seemed to have a very defined roll.

Picking on all the players is easy, as it is now obvious that homegrown English players were out of their league and Euro 2000 was a different class of football. Can Keegan get it right? Well, he didn’t do so at halftime in two games when he squandered two leads. He contradicted himself when he said that his team did their best and then that they were not good enough. He was all jokes and laughter before the competition and his passion is second to none in the camp. But does he have what it takes?

The offensiveness and openness of Euro 2000 is the kind of football Keegan is known for. He is a big fan of attacking football. This style of soccer was evident in the Latin countries. The Northern European nations, on the other hand, had noticeably struggled. The Germans, England, the Norwegians and the Scandinavian countries were shown up with flair and a better understanding of the subtleties in the game. A gap has also appeared with the Latin countries being mentally stronger and more mature with regards to the demands before, during and after the game.

Physical presence is no longer sufficient at international level. While this attribute is important to have as part of the team make-up, technical ability is more important to have throughout the team.

The open football displayed in the tournament indicates soccer is taking on the American influence of more goals and more excitement. That would seem to be in Kevin Keegan’s ballpark. Nonetheless, bet that team defense is the foundation of good attack and that coaches across the world might not necessarily admit that. The biggest difference with the English game and the stars of Euro 2000 was that continental players are able to position themselves to attack or defend with a step of two. The English, however, have to work their socks off, or at least think they have to.