Ireland 1.
Germany 6.
The type of score line the Vidiprinter had to write in brackets to confirm it wasn’t a mistake.
Ireland 1.
Germany 6 (Six).
That hurt.
That really hurt.
No matter what way you look at it.
Even if the team was severely depleted.
Missing the big four of Shay, Richard, Damien and Robbie was always going to be tough to cope with.
Not to mention the withdrawals of James McClean, Sean St. Ledger, Glen Whelan, Darron Gibson and Kevin Doyle.
That’s nine players who would have all felt they could start had Giovanni been able to choose from a fully fit squad.
But that hurt.
It still hurt knowing that goal difference actually counts for little in this group.
And defeat to Germany was mathematically at least, just 3 points dropped against the team everybody expects to win the group.
It was unlikely we were ever going to challenge Germany for top spot anyway.
So the result for once, actually does sound worse than it is.
That still hurt.
But it also hurt to think that we have a world class manager and this was the best he could do.
I always felt Giovanni might have a problem utilising the players at his disposal.
He was extremely successful when the players executing his orders were Totti, Brady or Mattheus.
With Ireland he has only ever been able to call on players from the lower half of the Premier League and beyond.
Not World Players of the year like before.
Instead, hard grafters and honest professionals.
Gifted to a certain extent but not in the same league as Michel Platini for instance.
Giovanni was able to build successful team after successful team around some of the world’s greats.
Now he must rely on players from L.A. Galaxy, West Bromich Albion or Stoke City to form his focal point.
Meaning Irish players are extremely restricted when it comes to world class talent.
And this was never more evident then when faced against a giant like Germany.
But it is Giovanni’s job to make sure these players play above themselves.
Give more than they are capable of as a team than they are as individual parts.
Yet even lowly Premier League players have more than what we saw on Friday night.
Championship players too.
Even Toronto FC.
But none of this was evident at the Aviva.
And it hurt.
Teams like that shouldn’t lose so heavily.
But they do.
The Germans thumped a full strength England side 4-1 at the last World Cup.
Only this summer, Spain handed out a 4 goal drubbing to Italy.
As for losing 6-1 at home - that’s the same score line that occurred when both Manchester teams met at Old Trafford last season.
England, Italy and Manchester United can all boast far superior playing squads than Ireland.
Yet all succumbed to heavy defeats.
Just like Ireland.
Losing to Germany is not a travesty.
Losing to Germany 6-1 isn’t either.
But the way that Ireland lost was.
And that’s what hurt the most.
They may not have the level of ability of their opponents.
But they can match them for heart.
Match their fight and spirit - so synonymous with Irish teams of the past.
Not the spirit that underpinned so many moral victories.
But the spirit that let the supporters know they were giving it their all.
Playing above themselves.
The sort that has been sadly lacking from Giovanni’s team for some months now.
Whether or not he can find it again is a serious question.
And all this is making it hard to defend Giovanni of late.
But defend him we must.
He took us to a first major championships in 10 years.
He deserves the chance to take us to the next...
Showing posts with label World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Friday, 12 October 2012
Same Pitch. Different Playing Fields.
Ireland.
Germany.
Aviva Stadium.
The road to World Cup qualification has begun.
And tonight’s fixture will go a long way to deciding who qualifies from Group C.
Ireland have just come off the back of qualification for their first major tournament in 10 years.
Germany have failed to qualify for a major tournament just once.
Ever.
In all 29 tournaments they've entered.
Failed just once.
At this summers European Championships, Ireland of course, failed to win a single point.
Germany won every game in a group containing Holland, Portugal and Denmark before being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Their loss to Italy ending a run of 14 straight competitive victories.
Meaning in their last qualification campaign, the Germans won 10 out of 10.
In fact, Germany can boast such an impressive qualification record that they come to Dublin having never lost a World Cup qualification game away from home.
Let me repeat myself.
Since 1932, Germany have never lost an away game during qualification for the World Cup.
Ireland’s last notable away victory came in 1987.
And it was Scotland who won it for them.
They also go into this match without their 4 most influential players of the last decade.
They will start a competitive match without one of Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff or Robbie Keane for the first time in 13 seasons.
In fact, their squad has been so decimated with injuries and retirement that it contains only 3 players from the top half of the Premier League.
It has a grand total of 1 player from this seasons Champions League.
15 less than their counterparts.
Ireland will start the match with Sunderland’s reserve team goalkeeper.
Germany will have the second most expensive keeper of all time between the posts.
The home sides defence will be made up from Everton, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Toronto FC.
The away side will include players from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.
Midfield will pith Bolton Wanderers against Real Madrid.
Birmingham City against Bayern Munich.
And Nottingham Forest against even more Real Madrid.
In attack, one notable absentee will be a L.A. Galaxy centre forward.
No such worries on the other side with options from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal to choose from.
The type of clubs that Germany usually pick their players from.
The type of clubs that has allowed Germany finish at least 3rd in the last 3 World Cups.
The type that has them ranked as the second best team in the world.
Second only to Spain.
The team that punished the Irish so severely when Ireland had their full strength side out.
A team that will line up tonight against a nation who are on a different playing field.
But this game doesn’t take place on a playing field.
It takes place on a pitch.
A pitch where strange things occur.
A pitch where anything can happen.
Where teams ranked 28th defeat teams ranked much higher.
Where 1 goal is all it takes.
A deflection.
An own goal.
A set-piece.
Where one team can completely dominate a game and fail to score.
The same sort of pitch that Greece prevailed on.
Same sort that saw Switzerland put 5 past Germany just a couple of months ago.
The sort that has seen Ireland defeat Italians and Dutch and English and Spanish.
Defeat Germans even.
We may not be on the same playing field tonight.
But we are on the same pitch.
It’s time to believe...
Germany.
Aviva Stadium.
The road to World Cup qualification has begun.
And tonight’s fixture will go a long way to deciding who qualifies from Group C.
Ireland have just come off the back of qualification for their first major tournament in 10 years.
Germany have failed to qualify for a major tournament just once.
Ever.
In all 29 tournaments they've entered.
Failed just once.
At this summers European Championships, Ireland of course, failed to win a single point.
Germany won every game in a group containing Holland, Portugal and Denmark before being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Their loss to Italy ending a run of 14 straight competitive victories.
Meaning in their last qualification campaign, the Germans won 10 out of 10.
In fact, Germany can boast such an impressive qualification record that they come to Dublin having never lost a World Cup qualification game away from home.
Let me repeat myself.
Since 1932, Germany have never lost an away game during qualification for the World Cup.
Ireland’s last notable away victory came in 1987.
And it was Scotland who won it for them.
They also go into this match without their 4 most influential players of the last decade.
They will start a competitive match without one of Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff or Robbie Keane for the first time in 13 seasons.
In fact, their squad has been so decimated with injuries and retirement that it contains only 3 players from the top half of the Premier League.
It has a grand total of 1 player from this seasons Champions League.
15 less than their counterparts.
Ireland will start the match with Sunderland’s reserve team goalkeeper.
Germany will have the second most expensive keeper of all time between the posts.
The home sides defence will be made up from Everton, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Toronto FC.
The away side will include players from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.
Midfield will pith Bolton Wanderers against Real Madrid.
Birmingham City against Bayern Munich.
And Nottingham Forest against even more Real Madrid.
In attack, one notable absentee will be a L.A. Galaxy centre forward.
No such worries on the other side with options from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal to choose from.
The type of clubs that Germany usually pick their players from.
The type of clubs that has allowed Germany finish at least 3rd in the last 3 World Cups.
The type that has them ranked as the second best team in the world.
Second only to Spain.
The team that punished the Irish so severely when Ireland had their full strength side out.
A team that will line up tonight against a nation who are on a different playing field.
But this game doesn’t take place on a playing field.
It takes place on a pitch.
A pitch where strange things occur.
A pitch where anything can happen.
Where teams ranked 28th defeat teams ranked much higher.
Where 1 goal is all it takes.
A deflection.
An own goal.
A set-piece.
Where one team can completely dominate a game and fail to score.
The same sort of pitch that Greece prevailed on.
Same sort that saw Switzerland put 5 past Germany just a couple of months ago.
The sort that has seen Ireland defeat Italians and Dutch and English and Spanish.
Defeat Germans even.
We may not be on the same playing field tonight.
But we are on the same pitch.
It’s time to believe...
Monday, 10 September 2012
Good Memories Were Had In Kazakhstan
World Cup qualification begun on Friday for Ireland.
A boost was needed to erase the memories of the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
A resounding victory over the lowly ranked Kazakhstan and we could all start to move on from those 3 heavy defeats from the summer.
A resounding victory and we may all start to believe again.
Not only believe in Brazil.
But believe in Giovanni once more.
Cut to the 89th minute in Astana on Friday night and calls for Giovanni’s head could be heard all the way back to Ireland.
What transpired over the next 2 minutes had a big effect on our qualification hopes.
But no doubt, it also had major consequences on the next 2 years of Irish football.
Lost, and we may already have had to give up the chase for qualification.
Worse still - lost, and we may have had to find a new manager.
The pressure Giovanni would have brought upon himself following a 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan, coupled with the memory of the summer, may have proved too much even for the greatest of Italian managers to survive.
So although appreciative Robbie and Kevin’s double got us 3 points, it’s the ramifications they’ve had on Giovanni that we should be most thankful for.
You see, memory in football these days is shorter than it’s ever been.
Calls for Giovanni’s head, despite 3 points in Astana, is no greater proof of this.
Irish supporters seem to forget, that although the performance in both the Euros and on the astro pitch on Friday night were poor - they were a far cry from where we were before Giovanni’s appointment.
Being placed in a tough group containing the 2 finalists in Euro 2012 has been discussed before.
With our squad of players it was very difficult to see us with Giovanni, or any other manager for that matter, getting out of the group.
As for Kazakhstan, the supporters need to realise this was something of a new beginning.
Missing through retirement or suspension was Shay Given, Damien Duff and Richard Dunne.
That’s 201 caps that would usually have been there.
That’s a lot of memories for the Irish supporters.
Keith Andrews was also suspended meaning James McCarthy was starting his first competitive game.
Our defense had 2 players from the Championship, 1 from the MLS and a reserve goalkeeper.
Add to this an astro pitch, a 6,000 km journey and the fact it was the start of the season, meant a 2-1 victory, no matter how we got it, was actually a terrific result.
A bad performance alright.
But a much better result.
A much better result than the 5-2 drubbing received at the hands of Cyprus.
A result which should live long in the memory.
A result which occurred under the reign of the last manager before Giovanni.
The sort of manager we could expect to attract had the FAI decided to rid our nation of this trophy laden Italian.
It’s one thing ridding us of Giovanni after a few bad results.
It’s another finding a manager to replace him.
With us being in somewhat of a decline, it will be tough to attract a manager as successful as Giovanni again.
Losing players such as Damien and Shay coupled with father time catching up on John, Robbie and Richard means this position is hardly the most attractive of propositions.
Not for a manager as successful as Giovanni anyway.
More like a Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton or caretaker Don Givens.
All of who failed to even make a play-off.
Not once.
In 6 long years.
Giovanni of course got us to within extra time of the World Cup in 2010.
Giovanni of course got us to the European Championships in 2012.
The man that could have been out of a job had Robbie and Kevin not intervened late on in a disappointing performance.
Not a memorable performance.
But a memorable result.
As memory in football is very short alright.
Just short of being a disaster this time...
A boost was needed to erase the memories of the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
A resounding victory over the lowly ranked Kazakhstan and we could all start to move on from those 3 heavy defeats from the summer.
A resounding victory and we may all start to believe again.
Not only believe in Brazil.
But believe in Giovanni once more.
Cut to the 89th minute in Astana on Friday night and calls for Giovanni’s head could be heard all the way back to Ireland.
What transpired over the next 2 minutes had a big effect on our qualification hopes.
But no doubt, it also had major consequences on the next 2 years of Irish football.
Lost, and we may already have had to give up the chase for qualification.
Worse still - lost, and we may have had to find a new manager.
The pressure Giovanni would have brought upon himself following a 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan, coupled with the memory of the summer, may have proved too much even for the greatest of Italian managers to survive.
So although appreciative Robbie and Kevin’s double got us 3 points, it’s the ramifications they’ve had on Giovanni that we should be most thankful for.
You see, memory in football these days is shorter than it’s ever been.
Calls for Giovanni’s head, despite 3 points in Astana, is no greater proof of this.
Irish supporters seem to forget, that although the performance in both the Euros and on the astro pitch on Friday night were poor - they were a far cry from where we were before Giovanni’s appointment.
Being placed in a tough group containing the 2 finalists in Euro 2012 has been discussed before.
With our squad of players it was very difficult to see us with Giovanni, or any other manager for that matter, getting out of the group.
As for Kazakhstan, the supporters need to realise this was something of a new beginning.
Missing through retirement or suspension was Shay Given, Damien Duff and Richard Dunne.
That’s 201 caps that would usually have been there.
That’s a lot of memories for the Irish supporters.
Keith Andrews was also suspended meaning James McCarthy was starting his first competitive game.
Our defense had 2 players from the Championship, 1 from the MLS and a reserve goalkeeper.
Add to this an astro pitch, a 6,000 km journey and the fact it was the start of the season, meant a 2-1 victory, no matter how we got it, was actually a terrific result.
A bad performance alright.
But a much better result.
A much better result than the 5-2 drubbing received at the hands of Cyprus.
A result which should live long in the memory.
A result which occurred under the reign of the last manager before Giovanni.
The sort of manager we could expect to attract had the FAI decided to rid our nation of this trophy laden Italian.
It’s one thing ridding us of Giovanni after a few bad results.
It’s another finding a manager to replace him.
With us being in somewhat of a decline, it will be tough to attract a manager as successful as Giovanni again.
Losing players such as Damien and Shay coupled with father time catching up on John, Robbie and Richard means this position is hardly the most attractive of propositions.
Not for a manager as successful as Giovanni anyway.
More like a Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton or caretaker Don Givens.
All of who failed to even make a play-off.
Not once.
In 6 long years.
Giovanni of course got us to within extra time of the World Cup in 2010.
Giovanni of course got us to the European Championships in 2012.
The man that could have been out of a job had Robbie and Kevin not intervened late on in a disappointing performance.
Not a memorable performance.
But a memorable result.
As memory in football is very short alright.
Just short of being a disaster this time...
Monday, 9 July 2012
Ireland’s Performances Are Not the Peak of the Problem
Ireland’s performance at the European Championships in Poland was a harsh reality.
But a review of the players decline in the squad brings forth a reality even harsher.
Talk of retirements usually surface after era ending markers such as this.
The big 5 getting a constant mention at the moment.
Shay Given in goal had an extremely poor tournament by his own highest of standards.
Always considered one of the top keepers in the English Premier League, if never the top, his decline in form has coincided with father time and his inability to recover sufficiently from ever increasing injuries.
The first signs came when Shay finally landed himself at a big club only to find after 1 season, he was demoted to the reserves to allow the returning Joe Hart claim first choice.
His decline cemented when he sealed his transfer to Aston Villa a year later.
While Manchester City were being crowned champions of England last month - Shay had to look back on a season that saw his new team finish 16th.
The same team of course, in which Richard Dunne played.
Similar to Shay, when Man City started getting big, they realised they could afford to bring in whoever they wanted.
Despite 4 player of the season awards at the Ethiad in a row, it wasn’t long before Richard was replaced with players the calibre of Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure.
Much like Ireland in Poland - he never stood a chance.
Damian Duff was once a diamond in Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea dynasty.
Valued as high as €17 at one stage - it wasn’t long before he took a step down too.
The dizzying heights of Champions League football and Premier League titles were replaced with relegation involving Newcastle and his current spell at the never threatening Fulham.
John O’Shea spent 12 seasons at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
11 major honours in total - including the Champions League.
Only 3 Irish players have ever won more.
Yet last summer it was pastures new for John and the not so dizzying heights of the Stadium of Light.
And of course, our Captain and talisman, Robbie Keane.
After finding his home at White Hart Lane, one last big money move looked on the cards when Liverpool came calling.
But after only 4 months at Anfield, it was back to Tottenham and soon a drop further to West Ham on loan in double quick time.
For the amount of goals Robbie has got in the Premier League over the years, it’s tough to think our greatest goal threat is spending his early 30’s in the less than impressive Major League.
Outside the senior 5 there are plenty of examples of decline in the Irish squad too.
With the exception of Aiden McGeady, most of the squad are in worse shape than they were when Giovanni took over.
Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Stephen Ward will all begin next season in the Championship with Wolves.
Kevin had been linked with Arsenal not so long ago.
Sean St. Ledger has gone from promising young defender on the cusp of the Premier League to a Championship regular.
Keith Andrews has had a lot of ups and downs in the past 3 seasons culminating in him currently being without a club.
And the reserves don’t fare off much better either.
Kieron Westwood has gone from being in the Championship team of the year 2 seasons in a row to warming the bench of Sunderland.
Paul McShane has dropped out of the top flight.
Darren O’Dea and Paul Green are both unattached.
And Darron Gibson followed John out the Old Trafford door.
It could be argued that Shane Long, Glen Whelan and Jon Walters have improved.
But in truth, their talents have - their club status has remained the same.
That just leaves us with the young James McClean, who could do nothing but rise if he was to make the squad.
And it is with this youth that the next campaign may lye.
So many of this squads are no longer heading skyward - with this summers Championships seen as one of their peaks.
2 years from now when Brazil comes around, it’s hard to see many of the squad being in a better position.
But perhaps it is this reason alone that Giovanni should look for new blood.
The next generation are already looking better off than they were when Giovanni took over.
James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Ciaran Clark to name a few.
Indeed Brazil in 2014 might be a peak for some of these players.
Let’s just hope it’s not their highest peak...
But a review of the players decline in the squad brings forth a reality even harsher.
Talk of retirements usually surface after era ending markers such as this.
The big 5 getting a constant mention at the moment.
Shay Given in goal had an extremely poor tournament by his own highest of standards.
Always considered one of the top keepers in the English Premier League, if never the top, his decline in form has coincided with father time and his inability to recover sufficiently from ever increasing injuries.
The first signs came when Shay finally landed himself at a big club only to find after 1 season, he was demoted to the reserves to allow the returning Joe Hart claim first choice.
His decline cemented when he sealed his transfer to Aston Villa a year later.
While Manchester City were being crowned champions of England last month - Shay had to look back on a season that saw his new team finish 16th.
The same team of course, in which Richard Dunne played.
Similar to Shay, when Man City started getting big, they realised they could afford to bring in whoever they wanted.
Despite 4 player of the season awards at the Ethiad in a row, it wasn’t long before Richard was replaced with players the calibre of Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure.
Much like Ireland in Poland - he never stood a chance.
Damian Duff was once a diamond in Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea dynasty.
Valued as high as €17 at one stage - it wasn’t long before he took a step down too.
The dizzying heights of Champions League football and Premier League titles were replaced with relegation involving Newcastle and his current spell at the never threatening Fulham.
John O’Shea spent 12 seasons at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
11 major honours in total - including the Champions League.
Only 3 Irish players have ever won more.
Yet last summer it was pastures new for John and the not so dizzying heights of the Stadium of Light.
And of course, our Captain and talisman, Robbie Keane.
After finding his home at White Hart Lane, one last big money move looked on the cards when Liverpool came calling.
But after only 4 months at Anfield, it was back to Tottenham and soon a drop further to West Ham on loan in double quick time.
For the amount of goals Robbie has got in the Premier League over the years, it’s tough to think our greatest goal threat is spending his early 30’s in the less than impressive Major League.
Outside the senior 5 there are plenty of examples of decline in the Irish squad too.
With the exception of Aiden McGeady, most of the squad are in worse shape than they were when Giovanni took over.
Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Stephen Ward will all begin next season in the Championship with Wolves.
Kevin had been linked with Arsenal not so long ago.
Sean St. Ledger has gone from promising young defender on the cusp of the Premier League to a Championship regular.
Keith Andrews has had a lot of ups and downs in the past 3 seasons culminating in him currently being without a club.
And the reserves don’t fare off much better either.
Kieron Westwood has gone from being in the Championship team of the year 2 seasons in a row to warming the bench of Sunderland.
Paul McShane has dropped out of the top flight.
Darren O’Dea and Paul Green are both unattached.
And Darron Gibson followed John out the Old Trafford door.
It could be argued that Shane Long, Glen Whelan and Jon Walters have improved.
But in truth, their talents have - their club status has remained the same.
That just leaves us with the young James McClean, who could do nothing but rise if he was to make the squad.
And it is with this youth that the next campaign may lye.
So many of this squads are no longer heading skyward - with this summers Championships seen as one of their peaks.
2 years from now when Brazil comes around, it’s hard to see many of the squad being in a better position.
But perhaps it is this reason alone that Giovanni should look for new blood.
The next generation are already looking better off than they were when Giovanni took over.
James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Ciaran Clark to name a few.
Indeed Brazil in 2014 might be a peak for some of these players.
Let’s just hope it’s not their highest peak...
Monday, 7 November 2011
A look back on the glorious international career of Kevin Prince Boateng (2010-2011)
Alan Shearer.
29.
Retires from International football.
Jamie Carragher.
29 the first time he retired.
Paul Scholes.
29 as well.
Each a great loss to their country.
Each bowing out just a little too early.
However, if any country can cope with the loss of one player, then a country with a pool the size of Englands to choose from can.
I’ve never really had a problem with players retiring from the larger nations, even if the above bowed out prematurely.
There is usually a couple of great young players just behind them bursting to take their place.
Think Michael Owen after Alan with Wayne Rooney not too far behind.
Or else quality established stars that are keeping them out of the first team anyway.
Think John Terry and Rio Ferdinand when Jamie went.
But when a player is retiring from a smaller nation such as Ireland, South Korea or Ghana, it is invariably going to leave a massive hole.
The depth of talent that these lesser nations produce, means they could easily go 10 years without producing a left back that’s better than Championship level.
We have seen such countries produce 4 great strikers and not a centre midfielder in sight.
3 left wingers and no right.
That is why it is paramount that when they do produce a player of quality, the player makes it his prerogative to play as long as he can for his country.
When Paul left England, they brought in Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
When Roy Keane left Ireland, it was Steven Reid with Kevin Kilbane.
Cut to this weekends news of Kevin Prince Boateng.
A player who had represented Germany 41 times as a youth team player.
Yet never quite good enough for the senior squad.
And in 2009, things weren’t going well for him at club level either.
He was heading for the Championship with Portsmouth.
However, he also qualified to play for Ghana.
A Ghana side that had reached the upcoming World Cup.
One switch of allegiance later and despite not playing a single World Cup qualifier, he was on the plane to South Africa in 2010.
Making his debut less than a week before the tournament started.
He used Ghana to get into the World Cup shop window and thus secured a move to AC Milan.
Fast forward one year - and only three games outside that month of June - Kevin announces his retirement from international football.
At the age of 24.
Alan had at least amassed 63 caps before he left England prematurely.
Paul had 66.
Ji-Sung Park had 100 caps when he retired from South Korea at the age of 29.
Yet here was Kevin Prince Boateng, not good enough for Germany, giving the chance to play in a World Cup by Ghana, repaying them by retiring after a whole 9 appearances.
A small nation loses one of their stars just short of their participation in the African Nations Cup.
A 6 week disruption he can do without in his Serie ‘A’ career with AC Milan no doubt.
But no hint of loyalty to the country that helped get him to Serie ‘A’ in the first place.
Had done so much for a young 23 year old struggling in a relegation battle to make sure he could represent their country.
And without the depth of pool that an England has to choose from.
Has it really gone so far that players can now ‘use’ countries as well as clubs.
Kevin used an entire nation as a stepping stone.
And didn’t even hang around long enough to say thanks.
Whatever else Alan ‘might’ have achieved on the international stage was unfortunately lost to his early retirement.
But at least he gave a massive amount to his country in the 9 years he did play.
Sadly though, that’s 1 year for every game Kevin had...
29.
Retires from International football.
Jamie Carragher.
29 the first time he retired.
Paul Scholes.
29 as well.
Each a great loss to their country.
Each bowing out just a little too early.
However, if any country can cope with the loss of one player, then a country with a pool the size of Englands to choose from can.
I’ve never really had a problem with players retiring from the larger nations, even if the above bowed out prematurely.
There is usually a couple of great young players just behind them bursting to take their place.
Think Michael Owen after Alan with Wayne Rooney not too far behind.
Or else quality established stars that are keeping them out of the first team anyway.
Think John Terry and Rio Ferdinand when Jamie went.
But when a player is retiring from a smaller nation such as Ireland, South Korea or Ghana, it is invariably going to leave a massive hole.
The depth of talent that these lesser nations produce, means they could easily go 10 years without producing a left back that’s better than Championship level.
We have seen such countries produce 4 great strikers and not a centre midfielder in sight.
3 left wingers and no right.
That is why it is paramount that when they do produce a player of quality, the player makes it his prerogative to play as long as he can for his country.
When Paul left England, they brought in Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
When Roy Keane left Ireland, it was Steven Reid with Kevin Kilbane.
Cut to this weekends news of Kevin Prince Boateng.
A player who had represented Germany 41 times as a youth team player.
Yet never quite good enough for the senior squad.
And in 2009, things weren’t going well for him at club level either.
He was heading for the Championship with Portsmouth.
However, he also qualified to play for Ghana.
A Ghana side that had reached the upcoming World Cup.
One switch of allegiance later and despite not playing a single World Cup qualifier, he was on the plane to South Africa in 2010.
Making his debut less than a week before the tournament started.
He used Ghana to get into the World Cup shop window and thus secured a move to AC Milan.
Fast forward one year - and only three games outside that month of June - Kevin announces his retirement from international football.
At the age of 24.
Alan had at least amassed 63 caps before he left England prematurely.
Paul had 66.
Ji-Sung Park had 100 caps when he retired from South Korea at the age of 29.
Yet here was Kevin Prince Boateng, not good enough for Germany, giving the chance to play in a World Cup by Ghana, repaying them by retiring after a whole 9 appearances.
A small nation loses one of their stars just short of their participation in the African Nations Cup.
A 6 week disruption he can do without in his Serie ‘A’ career with AC Milan no doubt.
But no hint of loyalty to the country that helped get him to Serie ‘A’ in the first place.
Had done so much for a young 23 year old struggling in a relegation battle to make sure he could represent their country.
And without the depth of pool that an England has to choose from.
Has it really gone so far that players can now ‘use’ countries as well as clubs.
Kevin used an entire nation as a stepping stone.
And didn’t even hang around long enough to say thanks.
Whatever else Alan ‘might’ have achieved on the international stage was unfortunately lost to his early retirement.
But at least he gave a massive amount to his country in the 9 years he did play.
Sadly though, that’s 1 year for every game Kevin had...
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