ENGLAND'S WARM-UPS LEFT ME LUKEWARM
England 1:1 Uruguay and England 0:1 Japan
I was back at Wembley in London twice last week as England played their last two home games before the World Cup.
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| 80,000 saw England draw with Uruguay at Wembley |
Our national stadium is a 90,000-seat cathedral since its expensive reconstruction in the early noughties and a quantum leap from the previous Empire Stadium built in 1923, although the Norman Foster design lacks the majestic focal point the old Twin Towers provided, the arch notwithstanding.
Getting to Wembley
It is fairly easy to get to with two Tube lines and an overground train connection, but unless you happen to live in the drab north-western borough of Brent, it still feels a bit of a trek within London, especially if you live south of the River Thames. But when you come out of Wembley Park station you have a majestic view along Olympic (Wembley) Way up to the sports city on the hill and you know you are in for a big experience. Unfortunately so does everyone else who stops at the top of the stairs to take photos and blocks your way.
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| Olympic Way to Wembley Stadium |
Improved
I noticed how Wembley Way had been much improved since I was last there with the addition of more snack bars and souvenir stalls, and how there was a rigid alcohol ban in place, doubtless due to the debauched chaos of the Euro 2020 final day. You can buy beer inside Wembley's corridors but not bring it into the arena, and this was the first time I had encountered the hi-tech but disconcerting system of tapping in one's payment card upon entry to the bar and then walking out with whatever beverages one chooses. You can't help feeling you have been overcharged. The cameras follow you and charge you accordingly I was told. I only wanted a mineral water.
Taking escalators to the upper tiers is welcome and unusual for a stadium, although I still prefer the spiral ramps of San Siro and you have to take the stairs on the way down. That is Wembley.
Uruguay
Anyway, the football: England's send-offs were damp squibs. A 1-1 draw with Uruguay and a 0-1 loss to Japan did not suggest the Three Lions are about to lift the trophy in New Jersey in July, but these were experimental games and pre-tournament friendlies are soon forgotten.
80,000 had turned up at Wembley for both matches, understanding it was Thomas Tuchel's right and need to try different things, but everyone must have felt a little disappointed he had effectively picked second-string starting elevens, with only perhaps two or three possibles for the summer.
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| Fans heading to the stadium |
Uruguay had not appeared to have read the memo and arrived with a strong selection who got stuck into England early on. Their tackling seemed out of kilter for the occasion and eventually got the better of Phil Foden and Noni Madueke, who had to hobble off.
But their approach came back to bite them as Celeste defender Joaquin Piquerez was stretchered off in the first half with an ankle injury, which could rule him out of the World Cup.
It all made sense once you realised manager Marcelo Bielsa was feeling the heat from a dismal 5-1 loss to the USA in their previous match. England bundled in a late goal to put Bielsa on death watch only for Uruguay to convert a stoppage-time penalty to send the legendary coach to the finals. I was glad. Bielsa is a charismatic personality and a legendary name, whom Pep Guardiola has called the best coach in the world. It was worth the trip just to see him perched on his famous bucket on the touchline.
There were Leeds fans sporting Bielsa's name on their shirts, turning up in tribute to their former idol who won them the Championship in 2020 and gave them a crazy season and a half in the Premier League playing fabulously cavalier football.
It had been a bizarre evening for the local fans and the general consensus was that little had been learned from fielding a disjointed and irregular lineup, other than the first-choice eleven do not have much to worry about.
Four days later I was back up the Jubilee Line from Waterloo for Japan's visit. I have always loved watching Samurai Blue's technical and measured football and spending time with their lovely fans. Everyone must admit that Asian national teams have the most fun-loving and happy supporters, a real breath of fresh air to jaded fans of the Old and New Worlds.
It felt familiar watching Japan's crisp passing game, a distinctive national style, again and it was no surprise to me when they took the lead thanks to Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma's sidefooted finish to a typically geometrical counter-attack. In the days of rampant globalisation, it is nice to see any nation hold back the tide, and Japan play football firmly on the grass, true to their Brazilian mentors.
Half-Ghanaian goalie Zion Suzuki looked competent and Junya Ito caught my eye too, and not just because of his platinum mane. It was refreshing to see a traditional winger take on and frequently beat a pedestrian full back to forge chances.
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| Japan celebrate Mitoma's winner at Wembley |
Samurai Blue
Japan's performance gives hope that they will do well in the summer, when they will have to face two other northern European sides - the Netherlands and Sweden. Tunisia is their other Group F opponent. I still remember leaving the stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa in 2010 having watched Japan dismiss Denmark 3-1 thinking I had seen the Asian takeover of football begin. Three World Cups since, Japan have still failed to hurdle the Round of 16, like Mexico obsessed with reaching 'the fifth game'. Maybe this year they will.
As for England, they look as dependent on Harry Kane as Wales were on Gareth Bale, and yet at Euro 2024, the Bayern striker was being pelted with criticisms. England still have a quiver of arrows to support him but Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, supposedly two of the best options, were muted and subdued at Wembley in both games.
We did not see any new faces shine so with effectively no time left to dabble, Tuchel will probably field a team in June that looks much like Gareth Southgate's did. One only hopes he will be braver when it comes to big moments in key matches and unleash England's attacking potential better.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile