Team Profile: Holland

Probable Starting XI: Van der Sar, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronkhorst, Krompamp, Van Bommel, Cocu, Van der Vaart, Van Persie, Robben, Van Nistelrooy

"Big names mean nothing to me, I am only interested in good players", announces Marco Van Basten in an interview.

Himself a big name - one of the two biggest names in dutch football history, together with his mentor Johann Cruyff - Van Basten's reign as national manager of Holland has been one of refreshing change. Gone are the player-power uprisings, the in-fighting, the prima-donna displays and the racial divide that always seem to cripple the orange army at the tail end of tournaments, if they get there at all.

It is no secret that whenever Holland qualify for a major tournament, they tend to do it on the back of a nervy and dramatic run, and then perform very well at the tournament, often getting as far as the semi-finals. They were runners up at two World Cups, semi-finalists of one. They reached the semi-finals of a whopping four of the last five Euro tournaments, winning the 1988 edition here in Germany. But Holland are also notorious for failing to even get there, as they missed world cups 82, 86 and 02, so when Van Basten touted his "big names mean nothing to me" ethos, and backed it up with the best qualification record in europe, dutch fans worldwide sat up and began to take note of this intriguing run.

Great player. Great coach?

So professional has Van Basten been that his bright orange men have gone completely under the radar, slipping beneath a plethora of metatarsal features, goalkeeping selection conundrums and a host of other miscellaneous world cup news. But if big names aren't on his agenda, who exactly are the 23 men, or at least the ones that matter, who figure in Van Basten's coup for glory?

Holland under Van Basten play a typical 4-3-3, with a lone striker supported by two out-and-out wingers. it is a typical dutch style that is familiar throughout the Eredivisie.

In goal, business runs as usual, as Edwin Van der Sar, now a veteran from France 98, retains his position. No drama there.

Andre Ooijer adds pace and experience to the dutch backline

In the heart of defence, we are likely to see the pairing of Joris Mathijsen and Andre Ooijer, the former a promising young centre-back and the latter, a benchwarming veteran from France 98. Between them, and Khalid Boulahrouz, the dutch centrebacks conceded only 3 goals in 12 qualifying games. Ooijer brings pace and experience to the backline while Mathijsen is recognised for his link play between defence and midfield.

The fullback positions are likely to be occupied by Barcelona's Giovanni Van Bronkhorst, and Liverpool man Jan Krompkamp. Both are adept at defending, but are notably better going forward, with pace and a good cross key qualities.

Mark Van Bommel scores from midfield

The midfield trio sees veteran Philip Cocu make a swansong as his vast experience - Cocu is a survivor from USA 94 - will be called upon in a first xi boasting many youngsters. Cocu's ability to spread play and read the game will be operated alongside Barcelona's Mark Van Bommel, the free-scoring midfielder who also adds bulk to the team. This will be needed especially as a foil for the third midfielder, possibly Rafael Van Der Vaart - the lightweight attacking midfielder who can score goals, drift to the left wing, cross and run at defenders.

Van Der Vaart plays best off the front striker, occupying the "hole" position between midfield and attack, where his pace and guile can cause defenders trouble. However, the 4-3-3 system suits him poorly, and though he has excelled as one of the midfield trio (Van Basten has spoken glowingly of his defensive contributions when played in midfield), you feel that the precocious VDV can be better employed elsewhere.

The VDV factor - will he play and where?

If Van Der Vaart doesn't in fact start, the benefactor might be Wesley Sneijder, who has recently impressed as a midfield general - dimunitive Sneiijder may be, yet he packs in the kind of tenacious midfield display that remind us of players like Gatusso or Davids. Added to that, Sneijder is also a free-kick specialist, a specialised role absent from any dutch team since Pierre Van Hooijdonk graced an orange top. Denny Landzaat, a midfielder with a penchant for converting penalties, is also an option for this position.

Van Persie and Van Nistelrooy have something to cheer about

The front three can actually be broken up into two: the lone striker and the wingers. Of the wingers, Arjen Robben, the Chelsea left foward is surely the most notable. Having had a delightful spell in PSV and Chelsea, Robben's form has dipped after longstanding injuries. Nonetheless, an inspired Robben, playing regularly now in the dutch side, is still tipped to thrill the world with his ability to run at defenders, dribble and put in deadly crosses.

His right-sided alterego was for the largest time Feynoord's striker Dirk Kuyt - although Kuyt has recently been spoken of by Van Basten more as a deputy in the lone striker position. The task could fall to Robin Van Persie of Arsenal. Inexperienced by hugely talented, Van Persie is naturally left sided and left footed, though he has in recent friendlies begun games opposite Robben. In an recent interview, Robben expressed his interest in the floating wing system employed by Van Basten, where he and his wing partner would turn up on each others' flanks, interchanging in what must surely be reminiscent of the Total Football concept of the dutch in the 1970s.

In the target-man role, Ruud Van Nistelrooy needs little introduction - his size, strength, positional ability and finishing nuous makes him the perfect target man in a 3-man forward line. Nonetheless, his deputy, Dirk Kuyt, will be chasing him for a place, and should figure prominently, if not as a starter, then as a regular supersub.

Holland are pitted in the group of death: this means Argentina, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast. They will need to navigate the group carefully, ensuring that the draws that have crippled them are converted into those slender victories that they are currently chalking up in friendlies. Avoiding defeat against Argentina will be a major task, and that showdown should feature as the highlight of the first round.

Typically, Holland go to the world cup with a gliteratti of superstars. This time around, the only two legitimate superstars are Van Nistelrooy and Robben. 15 of their 23 man squad play in the Dutch Eredivisie, a sure sign that Marco Van Basten means what he says when he says "Big names mean nothing to me". Now, the world will wait and see if Van Basten's locally based Orenje can make a global impact.

Likely stars:
Ruud Van Nistelrooy

His goalscoring prowess has to be at its sharpest because as the lone striker, Holland will be depending on this man to score lots of goals. Anything less than 4 goals should be a failure for the master of the six-yard box.

Arjen Robben

His form has been dulled by injury, but at his best, can terrorise fullbacks all day with his trickery and pace. Will be seen as Van Nistelrooy's main suource of attacking support.

Mark Van Bommel

The midfield general was initially ostracised by Van Basten, but brought back into the fold to great effect. Van Bommel commands the center of the the park and contributes his fair share of goals from midfield.

Trivia:

Most likely to beat up a referee: This well-tempered dutch squad leaves little room for... oh wait. Robben. First he beats the referee, then he falls down and pretends to be injured.

Most likely to miss in a penalty in a shootout: Philip Cocu - he's missed them before. oh how he's missed them before!!!

Most likely to get a bigger contract after the tournament: If Holland do well, there will be a mass exodus out of the Dutch League in July. Many, many, many big contracts, everywhere. Ironically, the biggest mover will still be Van Nistelrooy.

Most likely to retire after the tournament: Cocu and maybe Van der Sar. Time's catching up for these veterans.

Click on the links for Team Profiles of the following: Argentina, England, France, Italy.

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5 Best World Cup Goal Celebrations

The world cup will be won and lost by goals. But often, it is not the goals themselves that we remember, but the celebrations that follow. We see more and more elaborate and memorable goal celebrations in league football, but at the highest level, it is still by and large a rarity. Nonetheless, there are enough good ones for us to compile a favourites. Some are are dramatic, some are cheeky and others are just outright goofy (though perhaps not as goofy as Christophe Dugarry's goal celebration against South Africa in France 98, where he stuck his tongue out, opened his eyes wide and jumped around like a clown!). Here, in no particular order, are five of the most memorable world cup goal celebrations.

Roger Milla dances at the corner flag



In Italia 90, Roger Milla scored a couple of braces, and each time he ran to the corner flag and did a dance that involved shaking his booty before his teammates clambered all over him. This would begin the trend of celebrating goals at corner flags, and would be reprised by Senegal at France 98, where the Senegalese would dance around Pape Bouba Diop's shirt hung on the corner flag after scoring against France in the opening game.

Vieri and Del Piero sit crossed-legged



When Christian Vieri scored in the 18th minute against Norway in their France 98 second round tie, Vieri and strike partner Alessandro Del Piero raced to the sideline and sat down crossed-legged facing each other, folding their arms. Their little performance lasted merely a few seconds before their compatriots crashed the act and a more conventional celebration ensued.

Ahn Jung-Hwan and Korea do ice skating



When Ahn Jung-Hwan scored his 78th minute equaliser against the USA in the group stage match, the entire Korean team decided to prove a point. Amid controversy that a speed skating medal was unfairly snatched from Korea just a short while prior at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Ahn led the Korean team to a speed-skating celebration at the corner flag to exact justice over Olympic host and benefactors USA.

Marco Tardelli's final euphoria



At the highest stage, the Espana 82 world cup final against Germany, with Italy leading 1-0, Marco Tardelli smashes home from the edge of the box, and begins a euphoric run that cannot be described but can only be appreciated. His sheer joy is a delight to watch in what is possibly the most earnest burst of emotional expression to be captured in football.

Bebeto and Brazil rock the cradle



Perhaps the greatest goal celebration at any world cup - when Bebeto beat the Dutch offside trap to make it 2-0 in the USA 94 quarter-final, he ran to the touchline rocking his hands as if rocking an imaginary baby, in honour of his newborn son back in Brazil. He is immediately joined by teammates Romario and Mazinho, in what must be one of the lasting memories, not just of USA 94, but of all world cup goal celebrations.

Do you have a world cup goal celebration that rivals these five? post a comment and tell us which one!

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Team Profile: France

Probable Starting XI: Barthez, Boumsong, Gallas, Thuram, Sagnol, Dhorasoo, Makelele, Vieira, Zidane(c), Henry, Trezeguet

There was a time when France was the most feared team in the world. Between 1998 and 2002, nothing the rest of the world did seemed to dent their confidence, as Le Bleus swept all that came before them. And then, Senegal happened. Their collossal meltdown at the last world cup has been well documented, yet it warrants mention again, because somewhere in the cracks separating their glory days and their June 13 date with Switzerland may lie the answer to their beguiling form right now.

Many of the players who marshalled the French success are still there: Zidane, Trezeguet, Thuram, Henry, Wiltord, Vieira... yet there is a niggling feeling that the French are outsiders in this world cup, and we need to understand why.

Barthez stands in Coupet's way

It came as a surprise to some sectors of the footballing community when Gregory Coupet was named second choice goalkeeper behind Fabien Barthez, veteran of four major tournaments now. Having been the last line of defence for a mighty Lyon side that only seems to get better, Coupet should rightly command the goalkeeping nod, yet, it is the experienced yet frustratingly erratic and unpredictable Barthez whom head coach Raymond Domenech chooses to start games. While big game know-how is crucial, Barthez in no way represents the wise old head that ought to come with the veteran tag. Instead, one remembers his ridiculous two-footed lunge in the UEFA Cup final two years ago that resulted in a sending off. Surely, France cannot afford any similar antics, not least of all after what we saw in the Parisian European Cup final just weeks ago.

In a way, the goalkeeping battle is a metaphor for a French team in transition. The awkward succession from Barthez to Coupet is mirrored throughout the team, with a possible exception in the striking department.

In defence, the old guard of Marcel Desailly, Lauren Blanc and Frank Lebeouf have made way for William Gallas, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Mikel Silvestre. That 36 year old Lilian Thuram has turned back from retirement suggests that all is not solid in this new backline.

Boumsong - defender from hell?

The most publicly vilified of these defenders is Boumsong. That his season at Newcastle has perhaps been worse than Titus Bramble's is evidence of the terrible year he has had. Strong and fast Boumsong is, yet his inability to make good decisions at breakneck speed and a bewilderingly poor sense of positioning exposes his frailty when deployed against the best. And while his time at Auxerre and Rangers may have established a reputation as a tough physical presence at the back, his Premiership experience has been nothing short of a nightmare. Can this man, who still seems to start all of France's games, withstand the pressure-cooker of the very highest level?

William Gallas, France's defensive all-rounder, can plug the leak in the heart of defence, yet his failure to hold down that position in Chelsea means that he is most likely played down the left as a fullback. Elsewhere, Mikel Silvestre barely instills confidence and Pascal Chimbonda is largely untested internationally.

Can Makelele single-handedly protect a shaky backline?

For all their suicidal failings, France's backline is buffered by two of the most fearsome defensive midfielders in the world: Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira. Makelele, first at Madrid then at Chelsea, has thorughly made the holding midfield "Makelele" position his own - putting in tackles, breaking up play and playing simple balls to his attack-minded colleagues. He single-handedly masked the frailties of a Real Madrid side devoid of defensive solidity, and he will be relied on to do the same again for France.

Vieira is the midfield general, the box-to-box authoritarian whose form should dictate how well France plays. In an awkward time of transition, Vieira's maturity is more than ever needed if France are to hold their candle against the superpowers of the world. But the explosive midfielder has a disciplinary record that would make any thug blush, and Vieira must be extremely disciplined to avoid the cards that will see him sit out of big games.

Au revoir, Zizou!

Up front, it's business as usual. Zinedine Zidane, also returning from retirement, supports best friends Henry and Trezeguet in attack. This glittering strike force should be mouth-watering if you see the glass as half full of French wine: Zidane in his swansong tournament, Henry and Trezeguet with buckets of goals between them. Their to score rivals their ability to entertain. But the glass can also be half empty: Zidane has looked tired in Madrid, and at 34, surely a shadow of his former self. Henry is almost faultless, yet his performances in a blue shirt have rarely come close to matching those in the red of Arsenal. If Henry is indeed the key player of this team, then what do the rest of his teammates need to do to help him replicate his Arsenal form?

Thierry & Trez: best friends, strike partners, goal scorers

The verdict overwhelmingly favours the French going forward. One look at their squad tells you that the bulk of the quality lies midfield and up. But remove a few key pieces, and the French immediately look exposed - just as how the removal of Zidane and Henry from the last world cup (Zidane was shaking off an injury, Henry was sent off) as sure as killed them off four years ago, their lack of depth and ability to adequately replace key players is a concern. Frank Riberry is an option in midfield, but never having won a cap, how much can Domenech actually expect from the youngster? Djibril Cisse is an option up front, yet his poor attitude makes him merely a pauper's Henry. A marked out Henry is a French team not resembling anything close to world beaters. A crocked Vieira could very well end their entire midfield enterprise.

Domenech's France is uninspiring

Hence the big names on the French team sheet deceives. With this set of players, they will undoubtedly still start as favourites for a quarter-final, or even a semi-final berth. Yet, not all is well, and anyone backing France should only do so having calculated the risks. Raymond Domenech is a manager who has failed to inspire a talented team - or for that matter, instill any form of discipline and self-assurance - and their qualification and friendly results show this. France's failure to see off opposition like Ireland, Switzerland, Israel and Slovakia exposes this big name as one short on inspiration, creativity, industry, spark or even goals.

Nonetheless, theirs is a relatively uncomplicated group. France's bedfellows are Switzerland, Korea and Togo. Victory against either the Swiss or the Koreans should see them top their group, though it won't come as a surprise if either team held Le Bleus to a draw. If the opening game against Switzerland goes against France, then surely fears of a 2002 repeat will be rife.

Expect quarter-final place. But anything beyond that needs inspiration that just isn't there right now.

Likely stars:

Henry

The bulk of Frane's goalscoring onus will fall on this majestic striker, whose speed, ball control and guile can beat - literally - any defence in the world. He must finally find blue form.

Vieira

An inspiring leader from the engine room - Vieira's task is to lift up a lethargic French outfit and will them into producing results. Very influential, but must absolutely keep his cool.

Makelele

His signature role as the protector of defenders will be pivotal. If France are to concede fewer goals than they score, this tenacious midfielder will have to be at his tough-tackling best.

Trivia:

Most likely to beat up a referee: Vieira, with a clean blow from his left fist, but only after a bout of torrential screaming.

Most likely to miss in a penalty in a shootout: Silvestre or Boumsong, with a miskick that rolls gently to the keeper.

Most likely to get a bigger contract after the tournament: Franck Riberry, young lad... the 247th "next Zidane".

Most likely to retire after the tournament: Zidane and Thuram's are confirmed... expect Barthez to go soon too.

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Case For Underdogs

Everyone loves an underdog.

Well, not everyone. All the newly baptized Chelsea fans probably don’t. And neither do Brazilians, I guess. But underdogs are a wonderful part of any World Cup, and almost as surely to feature significantly as are their glamourous nemeses. And as much as you can safely predict a superpower winning the world cup, you can also safely predict an underdog or two causing some upsets and possibly getting up to the semi-finals.

If like me you believe that you can tell the future by looking at the past, then big teams beware. There’s a dark horse lurking in one of your groups, waiting to rise from its unfancied slumber.

In 1982 it was Poland, guided by the mercurial Zbigniew Boniek. His hattrick against Belgium midway through the World Cup not only drew the attention of clubs like Juventus, where he was to transfer, but also highlighted the solid tournament play of the Poles. Poland eventually went out to a Paolo Rossi double, but a trend had been set in modern World Cups.

Four years on, it was the Belgians who turned on the surprise, taking out stronger oppositions in the USSR and Spain with grit in defence. At the heart of the Belgium backline was their inspiring goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, who was eventually beaten in the semi-finals, this time to a double by Maradona.

Italia 90 would feature no dark horses in the semi-finals, but who can ever forget the incredible Cameroon side that delighted the world with its brand of attacking African football? Cameroon would stun Argentina and Colombia before barely losing to England in the quarter finals.

The dark horse trend escalated in USA 94, when the Bulgarian and Swedish teams, spearheaded respectively by Hristo Stoichkov and Thomas Brolin clawed their way into the semi-finals. Along the way, these unfancied nations defeated powers like Germany and Argentina before capitulating again, both to slender defeats by Italy and Brazil in the semi finals.

The pattern would continue in 1998, when the surprise package of the World Cup turned out to be debutants Croatia. Blessed with a generation of players like Davor Suker and Zvonimir Boban, the Croats notoriously trashed Germany 3-0 at the climax of a dramatic World Cup run that was halted only by eventual champions France, but ended on a high note, defeating a mighty Dutch side for third place.

If the Asian World Cup four years later did nothing else, it confirmed once and for all that the powers of the world had shifted, and that the traditional strongholds no longer held the oligarchy of footballing dominance. From as early as the curtain raiser, Senegal shocked defending champions France to begin a delightful run, taking out Scandinavian giants Denmark and Sweden before bowing out to another newcomer, Turkey. Elsewhere, USA was fast stamping its mark, defeating Portugal and Mexico en route to the quarter finals.

It could very well have been Turkey’s World Cup. Like Croatia before them, this Turkey team was the product of a generation of players at their peak: Rustu Recber, Umit Davala, Hasan Sukur and Ilhan Mansiz… these are just some of the names that will be remembered for displaying great dark horse football: big on heart, excitement and individual talent. Turkey eventually lost to a mighty Brazil, but like Croatia again, finished third on a high.

But Korea/Japan 2002 belonged truly to only one team: co-host Korea. Backed by a sea of fanatical red supporters, “The Mighty Reds” went on a massive giant slaughter spree, killing off the hopes of Portugal, then Italy, then Spain. Sheer grit, indefatigable football, disciplined organisation and bewildering fitness were the chief reasons for their success. Theirs was truly the romance story of the World Cup.

The monopoly of the superpowers has never really recovered since the last World Cup. The big teams can fall to anyone nowadays, and the likelihood of upsets has risen to the point where even the idea of an upset should fast become a dubious one. To think that the Big Eight teams (Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England, Italy, France, Holland and Spain) will all occupy the quarter-final berths in some imagined dream draw is nothing short of ridiculous naiveté. Judging from past world cups, it is safe to say that only half of those powerhouses will survive the round of sixteen.

But exactly who are these unusual suspects? What Davids are there who boast Goliath slaying prowess? Will it be the Czechs, on the back of a strong Euro 04 showing? Will it be Ukraine, led by the inspiring Andreiy Shevchenko? What about Ivory Coast, the strongest of the African nations? Surely, surviving the group of death with Argentina and Holland will be a feat of majestic proportions in its own right. Or Mexico, seeded as a top-8 for their strong performances in qualifying and friendlies? Can Korea repeat its feat of four years old? Or will the Socceroos from Down Under stun both Europe and South America alike? Paraguay? USA? Ghana?

The World Cup is unlikely to fall into the hands of these nations. As much as history favours underdogs for a strong run, that same kind history is also most cruel at the closing stages, and the Big Eight countries have an overwhelmingly superior record in the semi-final stage. But while winning the World Cup may not be the realistic goal, setting the world alight might.

Excitement, romance, thrill, unpredictability, new stars and new dreams… why wouldn’t everyone love an underdog? I guess Chelsea fans wouldn’t. And neither would Brazilians. But for the rest of us, there is an exciting month of upturning tables ahead of us. Even right now, as I look at the names of the 32 countries, a wild thrill fills the pits of my stomach: someone is going to surprise us all BIG TIME – BUT WHO?

Follow the links for other stories in the series.
Case for Europe
Case against Favourites

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Gerrardmania Vs Rooneymania

I am more and more convinced everyday that the skirt-chasing outgoing England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been replaced by an alienoid doppleganger sometime between his sacking a month or two ago and today.

With the sensational Theo Walcott saga winding down slightly, Eriksson has now claimed that Steven Gerrard could possibly be moved to an advanced striking position to fill in for Rooney, should the MU starlet miss the World Cup boat due to injury.

"I've known for many years Steven Gerrard can play a lot of positions and one is second striker. I'm sure he could also play as a first striker, and he's also excellent at right-back."

This a manager that thinks sending Owen Hargreaves on with 15 minutes to go to defend a 1-0 lead is the most revolutionary thing since the Bible went to print. What next? Sending Terry up front because he is good in the air? This of course because Gerrard top scored for Liverpool with a 23-goal haul this season. But that's probably only because his strikers up front, for a large part of the season, appear more accustomed to having a tea at half time rather than putting the ball into the net.

Sigh, gamble gamble gamble. Risky business.

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Watching from home

The wait is over. All 32 23-man squads have been submitted to FIFA, and barring last minute injuries, the 736 men who will take the stage in Germany are confirmed. Along with this announcement, some dreams are born, but some dreams also fade away. Here are some of the players who will not be gracing the world cup.

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A Good Feeling?

There's been muted shocks all over England and parts of the world where transplanted England fans reside. Theo Walcott, the 17-year old Arsenal player has been named in Eriksson's provisional squad, ahead of Spurs' ever present Jermain Defoe and Charlton's free-scoring Darren Bent (who wasn't even named in the back-up list). Not that both were shoo-ins to begin with Defoe clocking in plenty of bench-warming time at club level and Bent terribly unimpressive in the Uruguay friendly. But Walcott hasn't even made his first team debut for the Gunners.

But I must say I am terribly excited. It's like learning that your prudish father was a closet Stones' nut and watches art-house films. It marks a terribly exciting move that should make Eriksson football history's most brilliant outgoing manager or one of the worst gamblers in history. With 19-year old Aaron Lennon of Spurs and Boro's left-wing wizard Downing adding fire to a fat boiling stew, Eriksson has discarded his cautious robe in one quick and daring swoop.

But England has had a good streak with blooding young strikers in recent tournaments. Owen in 98 and Rooney in Euro 2004 has proven that when England decides to gamble, it usually pays off. But While Owen came from the back of a smashing season with Liverpool and Rooney on the back of a smashing goal scored against Arsenal, Walcott has been playing sandbox with the reserves for the past 4-5 months.

It's nice to see the Three Lions coaching team finally letting their hair down to accommodate some danger. Now for the Beckham thing ...

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World Cup Memory: Zico and Platini miss penalties

Match: France v Brazil
Stage: Mexico 86 Quarter-Final

Mexico 86 could very well have belonged to two other number 10s. Brazil's Zico and France's Platini were every bit as tipped for glory as Maradonna, and they locked horns memorably in the quarter finals. With the game tied in the second half, Zico is fouled in the box by French keeper Joel Bats. With a semi-final firmly in his grasp, Zico fluffs the spot kick, and the game goes into extra time.

Penalties ensue, and again, with the spot kicks tied at 3-3, Platini steps up... kisses the ball... and bangs his penalty over the bar. France go on to win the shootout, yet we will always remember this quarter-final as a nervy one, where two of the world's best number 10s lost their cool from the spot.

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England Appoint English

Steve McLaren: England manager 2006-2010

They finally got it. England have finally got what they want.

No it's not the world cup, that one can wait. But with the FA's appointment of Steve McLaren as head coach, England have finally got themselves an English manager.

To the anglophiles, this probably restores some vague idea of national pride - in an era when England can take little patriotic joy even though Arsenal have scaled the dizzying heights of European glory, it must surely come as a balm to purists and nationalists alike that the new face of the three lions is a true blue Englishman.

To the England fan uninterested in passports or tradition - as is the case with the many abroad who have made England their footballing motherland - this appointment will come with mixed feelings and lukewarm love. For all the FA's propaganda, McLaren's tenure at Middlesborough has surely been at best a decent CV for the England job; at worst, it is a catalogue of a man who has repeatedly failed to bring the best out of a misfit collection of senior and talented players.

Season after season, McLaren's Middlesborough has been tipped to finish strong - top six has been a word spoken in the same breath as names like Viduka, Hasselbaink, Mendieta. Yet, the former Man United assistant manager has on each occaassion come unstuck. His transfer policy is what cynics will call shabby - and while buying players is a thing of the past for him now, identifying potential and ability to spot ability isn't.

Still, international management is hugely different from its club variation, and the hopeful among us might go as far as to say that McLaren's average club record suggests he might be better suited for the international stage. Eriksson himself was a heavily decorated club manager before his troublesome tenure as the English boss. Managers like Wanderley Luxemburgo and Giovanni Trappatonni are evidence that success in domestic leagues does not necessarily translate into international nuous. That having been said, there isn't much of a flipside: managers who have excelled internationally (and by excelled, I mean reaching the final of an international tournament) in spite of a boring club record are extremely few and far between.

The jury is of course still out on McLaren - it should be until the curtain falls on his Euro 08 campaign. At least, for now, we can all go to sleep easy and read football stories other than who is gonna be the next manager. Perhaps when Arsenal field a team with no Englishmen for the Champions League final, and should they win that way, the pundits won't scald them so heavily. Perhaps if the Premier League continues to welcome a glut of international journeymen, the papers won't chide them so fiercely. And perhaps if all the managers in English clubs one by one became French and Spanish and Portuguese and Dutch, the writers won't bite at them so violently. Perhaps because they know, at the back of their minds, that somewhere in the backrooms of the English FA, England is still represented somewhere.

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Don't panic.

Without Wayne Rooney, England have no hope of success at the World Cup. This seems to be new consensus in light of England’s latest metatarsal mishap. This is the opinion of Britain’s best sports writer. Despair has enveloped both Englishmen and the Anglophile fans of the Premiership’s global satellite TV empire.

I beg to differ.

In 1978 the Dutch went to Argentina without their best player, Johan Cruyff. Despite that they made it to the final against hosts Argentina and came within a few dodgy refereeing decisions of winning. Of course had Cruyff been there they probably would have won, but point is they did not go from potential winners to no-hopers in with the loss of one player, no matter how irreplaceable.

When assessing how bad a loss is, you shouldn’t focus on the quality of the first option that is no longer available; instead look at the quality of the next best option and the gap to first. Holland sans Cruyff were still a team which had made the final four years earlier and England sans Rooney are still a better team than in 2002, when they lost only to eventual winners Brazil (which you could say is sort of like losing in the final) . Viewed like that, England’s situation is far from desperate.

Arguably the loss of Owen would be at least, if not more, harmful to England’s chances. Owen may not have Rooney’s all-round genius, but he is their only proven goalscorer. England can still turn to Cole, Gerrard and Lampard to supply most of, if not all, of the drive, creativity and goals Rooney would have provided; together they have scored more than 50 goals for club and country this season. By contrast Owen’s 33 career international goals are almost greater than the current England squad’s combined total, to say nothing of the other striking options (Bent, Defoe, Crouch).

With Rooney (realistically) out and Owen a question mark, England should instead look to maximize their remaining strengths; namely, a defence marshaled by John Terry and a midfield which features two players (Lampard and Gerrard) who trailed only Ronaldinho in voting for the European Player of the Year award.

Such thinking suggests a 4-5-1 formation, with Beckham abandoning his pretensions of dictating play in the center to hug the right flank and bringing in Konchesky or Downing to do likewise on the left. This would leave Gerrard and Lampard to operate in the centre, with Cole playing behind a lone striker. Alternatively a holding midfield player, preferably Carrick, could slot in behind Gerrard and Lampard with Cole shifting out to the left.

If Owen’s recover is deemed insufficient for him to start the initial group stage matches his place should be filled by Crouch. Crouch is no replacement for Rooney or Owen, but his 6ft 7in frame and oft-noted good touch would be effective in winning possession upfront to feed the on-rushing midfield attackers. If Owen’s fitness and sharpness return by the knockout stages, or indeed the opening match against Paraguay, the option comes in of playing him and Crouch in a traditional “little ‘n large” partnership.

While such is Rooney’s talent that it’s scarcely possible to exaggerate what England have lost, it is certainly possible to exaggerate the extent to which it has damaged their World Cup prospects. The consensus a week ago was that this England team is the best since 1966 and has a real chance of winning this summer; the loss of Rooney should not have changed either of these views.

And if nothing else, England fans can still cling to the words “Greece” and “Euro 2004” for hope.

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Over?

Probably. As much as I would love to spin an Olympifying yarn about how England triumphed over the lost of Rooney as Peter Crouch tormented defenders with his ability to win air balls and his frightening set of bunny teeth, I am inclined to say that the dream was probably 60% crushed when Ferrerira got his foot in. With Owen not as sharp as he was post-injury. England would have to probably rely on Crouch and possibly a toss up between Defoe and Bent to wing it. I really don't see it happening.

They say football has little to do with luck and fate. I agree. The gods of fortune are not to be blamed should England return with their tails and cockles between their boots. But the inability of Sven to groom a decent successor to the magical pair as well as he grooms and prepares mistresses for consumption, is and will be the cause.

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