Yes, but that doesn't explain why England can play so well in qualifying and yet sink when it comes to World Cup itself. Also, the pace theory, it would be valid if they weren't so slow on the ball tonight. Rooney regularly has to take the ball past some of the best defenders in the world week in and week out for united, and yet he struggled to get past the Algerian defence.
To be honest England seem like they're out of ideas. There were times tonight when they were playing the long ball and no one was even on the end, not even within a solid 20 yard radius. The better teams will punish you for not having the greater possession too; Algeria couldn't execute as perhaps they lack the quality of the better teams and the skill needed to break the back four, teams like Germany, Spain and even The Netherlands would make quick work of them however. You have to have players with solid ball control to play the long ball game too, and England seems to lack that. It's been shown time and time again that they play better with the ball on the ground and when they're making runs and passing play which break up the defence, all the long ball game ends up doing is giving the ball to the opposing back four who kick it straight back out.
Bookmarks