Little expectation is a good thing for England this summer

The obsession with England’s famous victory in 1966 where they defeated a Eusebio-led Portugal in the semi-final and then Der Kaiser, Uwe Seeler and their fellow German’s in the final has long since haunted the English national team.  Since their triumph at Wembley, England has produced some fantastic footballers and some star-studded teams, but none were ever able to replicate the miracle in ’66.

Often reputed as the nation that spawned the modern game, England has lagged behind the rest of Europe when it comes to her football.  Despite the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Bryan Robson, Kenny Sansom and so many others, England have always fallen short of the repeated glory they have craved.

Frank Lampard – one of many legendary English players at club level, but not for the national team. Mandatory Credit: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sports

Does it ever make you wonder however, how the likes of Brazil, Germany and Italy have consistently wowed both neutral and partisan spectators alike each and every summer, despite dealing with more pressure than any other team?  Even if they do not win the World Cup, they always make you believe they can, right up till the part where they do not.  With England however, there has never truly been may instances where you can sit back and say “this is our year”, and more often than not, the public are waiting for the inevitable choke.  Perhaps that has been the problem all along.

Depending on who you ask, you just might come across a rather large pocket of people who subscribe to the notion of “England always claim to be better than they are.” – truthfully, that thought process is not completely random or as over-the-top as it sounds.

Despite the rip-roaring success of English players domestically, it is noteworthy to realize that very few have had success when playing in leagues on the continent.  Despite their hard working and nose to the grind qualities, for so long now, English players have far lagged behind the rest of the continent when it came to technical ability.  Don’t believe me? Just look at so many players who have played in the Premier League since it’s inception – the vast majority of the players who rose above the rest were foreigners.  This was then amplified in the national team set up, where England would always fail at their attempts to use route one football against technically superior teams.

"“England can’t win the World Cup, so they’re not really our rivals. We have World Cup champions, they don’t have one player who knows what it means to get past the quarter’s” – Mario Balotelli"

Truth be told, England has certainly come with higher expectations than warranted over the years – players that have been fantastic in name, but not necessarily fantastic in ability when it comes to the worlds biggest stage.  But given that fact, that is what makes this summer the moment England may have been waiting for all along.

Everyone from the government down to a supporter at the local pub in Leicester as been doubting the national team, and many yet still they may not even get out of the group.  Ironic though isnt it? This is, for me, actually England’s best team in  a very long time, when you consider their technical ability, pace, cohesion at club level, attacking threat and balance throughout the side – yes, this is truly the perfect time for England to not have any expectations of success at all.

Ross Barkley (L) is one of many of a new breed of English footballers to emerge. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Let me just be clear however, I do not think this England team has what it takes to actually emerge from the Amazonian nation victorious come July, but I do truly believe that they finally have the tools to make supporters watch and believe that this team could actually make an appearance in the quarter finals, but do it with style and grace.

This is not an England team for this summer, Roy Hodgson is trying to build an England team for the future.  The task this summer?  To make the people believe in them again, and if they can do that, then perhaps the next time they are saddled with expectations, they will respond in kind.