The atlases have been dragged down off the shelf and the predictable stampede for tickets has begun.But have we really seen anything to suggest that the thousands of England fans who travel to South Africa next summer will really witness anything more than the usual depressing cocktail of moments of hope laced with an overwhelming shot of disappointment?
Once again the squad will depart with glowing testimonies ringing in their ears - although the phrase 'golden generation' has been around for so long now it's beginning to show more than the odd sign of rust – and voice confident statements about ending 44 years of hurt.
This time, more than any other time, and all that.
Then the first group game will begin and all the euphoria generated by the 5-1 demolition of Croatia and any subsequent warm-up victories will be forgotten......and it's at that point when we will get our first real inclination of whether Fabio Capello really is messiah, the man who can finally transform England from tournament half-wits into ruthless champions.
The one thing we can say with a degree of certainty is that the squad that heads south next year will contain few surprises. Capello has shown he is not a man whose natural inclination is to experiment. And, in the areas where he would most like to switch things around, the Italian simply doesn't have the options available to him.
Capello was asked before the friendly with Slovenia whether it was possible to win a tournament without a world class goalkeeper and the coach's answer was nothing if not realistic. Where other managers might have attempted to launch into a morale-boosting declaration of support for their number one – whoever that may turn out to be, in England's case – Capello simply pointed out that England were stronger in other areas.
That is certainly true as the performance against Croatia showed. Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole would challenge for place in any team in the world. Then again, there were plenty of world class performances in the 5-1 victory in Germany in 2001, and where did that get England?
The problem for Capello, though, is whether England are stronger in enough areas to avoid their usual quarter-final disappointment. And with Glen Johnson looking as flakey at right back as Robert Green or David James do in goal, is it really realistic to expect a side where two-fifths of the defensive unit look under-par to win the World Cup?
Lots will happen between now and next June, and if recent tournaments are anything to go by, the top players who endure a gruelling season for their clubs may well be too tired to shine, levelling out the standard of competition.
In the meantime, though, England are entitled to enjoy this moment of glory. And they are also entitled to belief that with Capello at the helm, there is just the chance that the feeling will last a little longer than usual next summer.
But World champions? Now that's a different matter altogether.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
If we are going to seriously challenge beyond quarter final stage the defence needs sorting. We have become vunerable to set plays into the box and have also conceded goals in the last 20 minute periods of games recently. Fine at 3-0 + up but not in a tight game still level or just 1 goal difference.
Our players tired after a gruelling season?...same applies to all the foreign internationals playing in the World Cup that are over here, so should level out that issue a bit.
Comments about Capello being a genius manager...agree he's good but lets not go overboard. I'll tell you his secret when he started as follows:
Made it clear to all concerned that the fact they were millionaires idolised by their fans cut no ice with him, he didn't give a toss!
No poncing about...do as I say when I say...sort your form out or you'll won't even be in the squad...do the job(s) I tell you to do on the pitch or you will be dropped, and I WILL do this (SWP for Aaron Lennon the latest example...leads onto his next point....no one is safe.
I just knew this would happen. Yet again,the English media will build this up to a frenzy and the rest of the teams will think there's no point in turning up as Engerland will win the World Cup with its eyes closed. We Scots know we're rubbish but the English superiority complex lives on!
Looking forward to the usual tears from people like Ian Wright ( how does he manage to appear on TV?) when England inevitably exit the competition with the usual recriminations afterwards. Makes for good viewing!
yes they can do it ,IF they all look at it as a game to win, not just a extra wage. and a extended holliday. we have the right players and in the right places just need to forget the money and play the game and win,,,,,,,,,,,,,, who cares who the top scorer is or who the man of the match is its a team and the top team should be england , so come on lads you carnt win it alone ,,
It really makes me laugh when you hear all the praise about england. Not long ago all we heard was Lampard and Gerrad could not play in the same team, yet who scored two apiece on weds. How could you get rid of Swen and then put M,Claren in charge both had know idea. If you look at the second half we were being out played could not get the ball and chasing shadows. We have a long way to go but what i do like about this manager is the players do as there told or they are out. Bit like the manager as Chelsea when they who everthing. I wish and hope we do well but Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole world class i dont think so, anybody can go forward but if you cant defend we have no chance. last to games were did the goals come from Cole and Johnson and what was he doing in the first half with Terry that nearly cost us a goal. Brasil won the world cup with a dogey goalkeeper, in fact when hace they ever had a world class keeper. Still we all have to dream
Difficult to ignore the bitter & twisted comments of authors from other home nations, ironic that should Englnd hav not progressed then the majorty of us would have been backing Scotland, Wales, NI and we even have a soft spot for the ROI!
Win or lose we all live on the same little poxy rain sodden island and most of us have celtic and gaelic relatives so drop the 400 year old grudges cack open a few beers and enjoy the spectacle