England Vs Germany The Verdict

After an horrific result for England and their fans the post match analysis looks set to continue into the coming weeks and months. Losing 4-1 to arch rivals Germany is about as harsh as it gets for the English and it still remains to be seen as to who will become the inevitable scape-goat.

Firstly, let’s clear something up. That ‘goal’ Lampard was not given changed the game. People who think that regardless of the decision we still would have lost 4-2 are looking at this from a very narrow minded and illogical position. If England went into half-time at 2-2 the whole game would have changed. Capello would have demanded a more defensive approach and would have not thrown everybody forward looking for an equalizer. The Germans in turn would perhaps have felt the pressure and disappointment of giving away a two-goal lead and could have crumbled. Technology must be introduced, it is used in most other top sports including rugby, tennis and cricket and this does not take anything away from the greatness of these sports. This clanger cannot be ignored, now is the time to act FIFA.

This is not to say England fans should not be angry about their teams performance. Whilst many will point to ‘overpayed’ players who don’t care enough about the game anymore, the biggest disappiontment was probably the team’s head coach. Fabio Capello has to all extents and purposes has had an extremely poor World Cup. Capello never looked in control of his team and the in camp unrest should have signaled the obvious failings of the

England manager. Questions that will be asked such as; why Heskey, why no Joe Cole, and perhaps the most intriguing one of all, why keep playing players out of position, will probably never be answered.

For a man with the record of Capello England fans expected much more and rightly so.  An Italian coach with a tragically poor back-line was before today unthinkable to many football fans in the world. Capello has to go now, it is time for an English manager who can fire up the troops, this time hopefully one who has plenty of experience at the top level unlike the unwise appointment of Steve MaClaren.

Roy Hodgson is the obvious choice having managed at Inter Milan and having worked wonders at lowly Fulham. A man who gets the best out of a relatively poor squad week in week out could give the England team the lift they need in order to perform at the highest level.

As for now England fans can look forward to a summer of inquests and many nervous times wondering what the inadequate FA will do to change things. Given recent history, however, I don’t think many fans will be getting their hopes up too soon.

The Psychology of Choking

Ever since sport began athletes who have been expected to win have failed. Top class performers week in week out can let themselves down on the big occasion for no obvious reason. The term ‘choking’ in sport has nothing to do with a lack of oxygen to the lungs and brain but rather an apparent mental breakdown from an athlete completely incoherent with their previous form.

Some of the most memorable ‘chokes’ are heartbreaking to watch. Any England fan will tell you that penalties are not their friend and you would expect top professional footballers like Beckham, Waddle and Pearce to slot home from 12 yards. So why are so many penalties missed in the professional game?

Tennis player Dinara Safina is also known as a ‘choker’, Safina races to a grand slam final time after time looking untouchable until in the final she capitulates and looks no more than a very average player and is thrashed.

Perhaps the most dramatic ‘choke’ of the past few years was Jean Van Der Velde. The French golfer only needed a six on a par four hole to win the British open. Something every pro golfer would be expected to do in their sleep. Somehow though after a perfect drive he managed to get it into the water and after continual mistakes ended up getting a 7 and eventually losing the open on a play-off.

So why do such talented professional athletes ‘choke’, some people thing that it is a result of pressure getting to them and throwing them off their game. This may be true as scientists have started to conclude that ‘choking’ is the result of thinking too much. Over stimulating the thought process seems to encourage doubt and a sense of vulnerability. The obvious solution seems to be to think less, to focus and get in the zone of playing rather than notice the external distractions. Although theories such as these are hard to prove they do seem to add up.

Whilst it is a bit much to suggest that less intelligent people who do not think will be good at sport under pressure. Let me leave you with one interesting stat. Of the 35 England players who have been selected for the past three world cups, only 5 had had fathers with more than ‘basic formal education’.