Ghost of Gaetjens Awaits England

by Richard Fleming

Fleming’ doubts
Design by Brent Diskin

An Englishman’s Guide to the World Cup

By Richard Fleming

The phrase ‘England expects’, a shortened version of a quote from the famous British naval commander Admiral Horatio Nelson ahead of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, has often been used as a rally call for the nation’s sporting hopefuls.

But these are very different times for England’s soccer side, which has regularly punched below its over-bloated weight since lifting the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.

Following the draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a grey cloud swept across England’s green and pleasant land, positioned as they were in Group D alongside Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica,.

National team manager, Roy Hodgson, set the tone with his post-draw comments:

“It’s a tough group, there’s no doubt about that. In Italy and Uruguay it’s almost as though we have got two number one seeds in our group.”

England open their World Cup campaign in the heat and humidity of Manaus on June 14, against Italy, the side which knocked them out of the 2012 European Championships, and a nation which has won the World Cup on four previous occasions.

Both England and Italy emerged as group winners from their respective qualifying programs. Both remained unbeaten, winning six and tying four of their 10 games.

Hodgson’s men rattled in 31 goals, while conceding only four, yet only squeezed through automatically by a point, from Ukraine. A new, attacking style of play from Italy boss Cesare Prandelli produced a mere 19 goals from their qualifying campaign, but they were comfortable group winners by comparison and will offer a stern early test to England’s World Cup credentials.

The first game for England will take them on their longest journey of the group stage, a three-and-a-half thousand mile round-trip from their base in Rio de Janeiro to Manaus, in the north-west of the country and within the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Heat and humidity will be a factor, and it was the one place Hodgson had been keen to avoid when speaking to the British media ahead of the draw. A tough opponent in a tough environment.

This ‘gentle’ introduction to the 2014 soccer showpiece for England is then followed five days later with a contest that could well decide their fate. Uruguay await in Sao Paulo on June 19. The South American nation were winners of the first World Cup in 1930 (when hosts), and victorious the only other occasion that Brazil staged the event in 1950.

Uruguay’s journey to neighboring Brazil took them via Jordan and a playoff against the Asian nation, following a struggle through South American qualifying. As World Cup semi-finalists in 2010, and 2011 Copa America champions, plus with being more familiar with the climate, Uruguay will be no less a challenge to England’s chances of emerging from Group D.

By the time that England meets Costa Rica (for the first time), in Belo Horizonte on June 24 – with the ghost of Gaetjens hanging over them – the exit door could already be swinging open having faced fierce foes in the previous two games.

It was in Belo Horizonte in 1950 that England suffered their most humiliating World Cup defeat. Making their tournament debut, England were humbled 1-0 by the amateurs from the USA. A goal from Haiti-born Joe Gaetjens shocked the much-fancied English. Sixty-four years on and it could be a painful return to the Brazilian city.

After all, Costa Rica may not have the World Cup pedigree of either Italy or Uruguay, but they qualified comfortably from the CONCACAF region, second to the USA but with a 100 per cent home record.

Hodgson was at pains to play down England’s chances heading into the 2012 European Championships. An experienced coach, who was in charge of Switzerland at the 1994 World Cup and also held the reins in Finland and at Inter Milan, Udinese, Fulham, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, the 66-year-old has shown himself prepared to spring surprises in his selection.

Expect only a handful of survivors from the 2010 squad in South Africa, among them 28-year-old Wayne Rooney, who is running out of time to prove his worth on the biggest stage of all. Goalkeeper Joe Hart has been in and out of the Manchester City side – England’s first choice has not always been first choice for his club – while Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard are coming under increasing pressure from the likes of Leighton Baines, Andros Townsend and Jack Wilshere.

Hodgson’s calm demeanor has helped temper the hopes of a nation, which will have been dampened further with back-to-back Wembley losses last month, against Chile and Germany. It was the first time since 1977 that England had suffered two defeats in a row at the famous stadium, and will have offered a reality check to many after the euphoria of qualification. The fact that England failed to score in either game, having scored freely during qualifying, was also noted.

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s full quote was ‘England expects that every man will do his duty’.

Hodgson’s players will not shirk from their responsibilities in Brazil next summer but the soccer gods have not looked too kindly upon them. Yes, England expects that every man will do his duty. Sadly, that may still not be good enough to emerge from Group D.

Not since Sweden in 1958 have England fallen at the first hurdle, since when they have featured at 10 of the 13 World Cup finals. Their best showing, aside from winning on home soil in 1966, was 4^th place at the 1990 spectacle in Italy.

England have one international friendly lined up before Hodgson names his provisional 30-man squad, against Denmark on March 5.