Another Battle Royal Looms Between England, Argentina
Lurching from the Paul Gascoigne crisis to the hooligan crisis to the Romania crisis to the Michael Owen crisis, England’s soccer team moved to the second round of the World Cup on Friday as the home country loaded up on the aspirin and the nerve medicine, bracing for the greatest crisis yet:
Argentina, in the round of 16, Tuesday at Saint-Etienne.
After concluding Group G play with a resounding 2-0 victory over Colombia in Lens, England begins the knockout stage of the tournament against its nemesis, Argentina, reviled in pubs throughout the land for the underhanded way (actually, it was overhanded) in which the Argentines dispatched England in the 1986 World Cup.
That was when Diego Maradona eliminated the English with the most infamous World Cup goal of them all--the so-called “Hand of God” goal, which entailed Maradona leaping into the England penalty area and spiking the ball, volleyball-style, past goalkeeper Peter Shilton into the net.
England could have avoided, or at least delayed, a rematch with Argentina by winning its group, which was the expectation when this tournament began 17 days ago. But by losing on a 90th-minute goal to Romania on Monday, England (2-1-0) consigned itself to second place in Group G with six points--one behind Romania (2-0-1), which tied Tunisia, 1-1, Friday.
England needed to at least tie Colombia to advance, a task assured within the first half-hour after goals by Darren Anderton and David Beckham in the 20th and 30th minutes.
The match marked the first World Cup start for 18-year-old striker Michael Owen after a nationwide lobbying campaign that finally broke the will of Coach Glenn Hoddle. Owen squandered two prime chances by sending point-blank shots right at Colombia goalkeeper Farid Mondragon, but his dangerous runs caused the Colombia defense great distress all evening.
England outshot Colombia, 24-13, and, in the estimation of Hoddle, should have won by “four or five” goals.
“Overall, it was a terrific performance,” Hoddle said. “The lads were very, very positive, the way they were focused in the dressing room and responded to the challenge. I never really expected any other result.
“We’re on our way, but let’s not get carried away.”
Hoddle knows, all too well, that England never does anything in moderation when it comes to its football.
Its media overreact to every victory and every defeat, leaving the coach in perpetual limbo between canonization and crucifixion.
Its supporters are loyal and nationalistic to a fault, too many lapsing into the violent hooliganism that has put every French city to have hosted an English match on riot-police alert. Once again Friday, more than 50 fans were arrested around the stadium for pelting police and photographers with bottles and beer cans.
When Hoddle dropped popular playmaker Paul Gascoigne just before the World Cup, it was cause for near anarchy in the UK. When England lost to Romania, despite Owen’s goal as a second-half substitute, the panicked cry for Hoddle to start the Liverpool teenager against Colombia consumed the nation for four days, overshadowing even Wimbledon.
For once it appears the public had it right. Hoddle’s decision to start Owen alongside Alan Shearer--as well as his choice of Beckham in midfield over the one-dimensional David Batty--gave the England attack a charge of energy that had been sorely lacking in its first two matches.
And when Hoddle finally brought on winger Steve McManaman as a second-half substitute, England, of all teams, looked positively brimming with creative offensive talent--if only for 17 minutes.
Colombia Coach Hernan Dario Gomez conceded that England was “better than us” and believes England “has a lot of potential for the games that follow. . . . But there is also Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany and the Netherlands.”
Said Hoddle: “In a way, I’m looking forward to playing Argentina. We had a great performance tonight, but we can still do better.”
In the meantime, all of England awaits three more nights of restless sleep and countless television replays of the “Hand of God” goal, that cursed piece of 12-year-old videotape sure to be unearthed again.
