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Tough road England facing difficult test against Germans
Posted: Wednesday June 14, 2000 11:52 AM
SPA, Belgium (AP) -- The English are traditionally late starters, so often left scrambling for results or relying on others. They've never won an opening game at the European Championships, rarely have good starts at World Cups, and only limped into Euro 2000 through the playoffs. They only got that far after Sweden beat Poland -- and the galvanizing appointment of coach Kevin Keegan half-way through the qualifiers when all seemed lost. But after a morale-sapping defeat against Portugal, there's now no margin for error: Another defeat against Germany on Saturday would mean elimination. "I hope the game against Portugal has been a wake-up call for us," said Arsenal center back Martin Keown, who looks set for a call-up to replace clubmate Tony Adams who has been ruled out for at least two games with a calf injury. "Only a win now will really be good enough. I think we can learn and grow as a team as we go through the tournament." Kevin Keegan, rocked after England threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against the Portuguese on Monday, has tried to ease the mounting pressure on his squad by saying a draw against the Germans would be acceptable. But that would leave England needing a win in its tricky final group match against Romania -- and for other results to go in its favor. His players, who held "a brainstorming session" during training Wednesday to air their views, will contemplate nothing but victory against their archrivals in Charleroi on Saturday. A win over the Germans has been a long time coming -- England's last joy in official play was in the 1996 World Cup final. "We watched the Germany-Romania game and we will be looking to capitalize on what we saw and et a few goals," leftback Phil Neville said. "Germany was always going to be the big game and nothing has changed. The spirits are still high and we believe that we can still beat them. "I think you could see from our performance against Portugal that there are definitely goals in the team. I can see us scoring goals in any game we play." Another England trait is that few lineups that begin tournaments actually end them, with faces and even formations often changing. At the 1998 World Cup, Michael Owen and David Beckham couldn't even get into the starting lineup for the opening match against Tunisia. Keegan is already without Adams and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman, who should be back from injury in time for Romania. And he said going into the tournament that he would maybe ditch his favored 4-4-2 lineup and play 3-5-2 if a win was needed at all costs. Seeing how England's midfield was overrun against the Portuguese, Keegan may well make changes. But the loss of McManaman has come as a major blow, and another potential incoming midfielder, 20-year-old Steven Gerrard, sat out of training on Wednesday with a groin complaint. Keegan played five in the middle in May's 2-0 win over Ukraine, giving McManaman license to roam. After a shaky start in defense, England looked a more threatening unit. Keegan is pinning hopes on Manchester United star David Beckham, England's best performer against Portugal, and backing him to become one of the tournament's top players. "He's only started something like 22 or 23 internationals and he's had three different managers, but now he is really on fire," Keegan said. England's technical development manager, Les Reed, said the players will be holding two sessions Wednesday and Thursday to analyze Germany's likely tactical approach, including watching a video of its 1-1 draw with Romania. "We will have a good look at what Germany are all about," Reed said. "We will highlight their weaknesses. Overall we feel it is a good time to play them. They haven't got off to the start they would have liked." Reed believes the ageing German side isn't "as well endowed with players as they have been in the past," and hopes 39-year-old Lothar Matthaus will play -- so that his lack of pace can be exploited. "We think he will play -- and we will play accordingy," he said.
End to Beckham bashing called forLONDON (AP) -- The head of a soccer supporters' organization has called for an end to the bashing of England's celebrity midfielder David Beckham. Beckman and other English players were verbally abused by English fans after Monday's 3-2 loss to Portugal in Eindhoven, Netherlands, in the European 2000 Championship. The Manchester United midfielder responded as he left the pitch by flashing a one-finger gesture toward the stands. Photographs of Beckham's gesture were splashed all over British newspapers. "There is no excuse for [the taunting]," said Ian Todd, chairman of the National Federation of Football Supporters' Clubs. "I feel for him -- in fact anybody who has to suffer such abuse." "It seemingly went beyond the sort of personal abuse players get on a regular basis, which is equally wrong. When it gets to the stage that your family is being abused that is completely out of order." Beckham, who is married to Spice Girl pop star Victoria Adams and lives a high-profile, celebrity life, has been subject to abuse ever since he was sent off in the '98 World Cup in a match against Argentina, which England eventually lost. "Frankly I don't understand the minds of people who do such things," Todd said. "I suppose it starts with people being anti the team he plays for and because he's the main personality there, they turn on him." Rogan Taylor, head of the football research unit at Liverpool University, blamed the taunting on "envy." "David Beckham gives everything for his country, he's an outstanding player and he shouldn't have to put up with things like this anywhere," Taylor said. "When I was younger I always wondered why envy was considered a sin. But when you see it in operation like this you realize just why it's a sin. It's what caused the hatred and it's very much a sin."
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