The Inevitable.

Preparation is of course key to a successful World Cup campaign. By now England should have catered into their preparation last minute injuries to key players pre-tournament, a red-card to a key player during the tournament, and with any luck an open-top buss parade post-tournament.

This time has been no different but perhaps there is a tide in the ocean swinging in England’s favour. Rio Ferdinand is the big name casualty, injured by none other than Mr. ‘I shouldn’t be here anyway’ Heskey. Truth is, most England fans would have been hoping that it was the other way round and Emile was en route back to Heathrow. I’m still hopeful of this, but nonetheless I shall deal with the matter at hand.

The England captain has been denied of a once in a lifetime opportunity; to lead out his nation at a World Cup is an honour few given and rarely received. Yet if England fans are honest, it perhaps couldn’t have happened to a better player. Consensus at Old Trafford has been that Rio has had his worse season in professional football. Hampered by injuries, the skipper only started 13 league games for United and was decidedly shaky in many of those. We all remember Craig Bellamy’s taunts of “You’re finished” during the Carling Cup semi-final last season. England already had concerns over the form of John Terry after a much troubled second half of the season.

And this is where the tide has swung for England. Perhaps luck has changed. In tournaments gone by, it would have been an injury to Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard or Cole that would have prevented England from fielding their strongest 11. If the stars are shining on England with the target of the habitual injury, then they are shining even more so on our nation in that we have a brilliant and inform replacement to step in. in fact we are spoilt for riches in Ledley King and Michael Dawson. Off the back of their best ever season together; maybe England will be the inadvertent beneficiaries of Rio’s misfortune.

Next on our list of preparations is of course a red card to a key player. Let’s just hope this either doesn’t happen, or if it does, comes when England are winning comfortably and to a player who is as easily replaceable.

So as fans we can only wait. Wait with our fingers crossed, sweaty palms clasped, pint glasses full, three lions on our chest and, with a silent pause look to the heavens and hope that this time, in the first ever winter world cup, amongst the world’s finest footballers, the stars continue to shine and England win the most coveted prize of all.


Gavin Callaghn