The 2010 World cup was the last chance saloon for the 'Golden Generation' of English players to prove their worth, but as we all know they proved to be fake gold, aging and rusting with no proof of worth at international level. The questions has to be asked. Why were they ever dubbed the golden generation in the first place? and Will the next generation of players have such a hefty reputation to live up to?
Former FA chief Adam Crozier was the architect that labeled this generation back in 2001. And who could blame him? A Young Michael Owen bursting onto the scene of world football, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand both formidable Central defenders that know striker already didn't like facing and a central midfield of a young Steven Gerrard that broke through the Liverpool academy just like Michael Owen and Frank Lampard just one of many English talents coming through the impressive West Ham Academy.
But it was this tag that put this massive pressure on these professionals that have led us to be even more disappointed every World Cup. The 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup were all World Cups that English fans felt apprehensive about with the team growing more and more in experience together and becoming the world class players and club legends they are today. There is no excuse for the players as they have had the quality, there's no denying that but the 2010 world cup was the final curtain for these boys when they were outclassed by a young German side led by Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller, albeit for an obviously massive decision that could have changed the game dramatically where Frank Lampards 'goal' was disallowed... But maybe that just sums up the 'Golden generation'.
It is very upsetting to know that is very unlikely to see legends like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard etc to lift the World Cup trophy as it is highly unlikely that they will be involved in the next one at the age of roughly 35 an average. So do we look optimistic into the future of English football. Well in the same time as the World Cup was going the English U19s were enjoying a good run in the European U19 Championship were they were knocked out to an impressive Spain side in the semi-finals, who were unlucky to lose to France in the final.
Also this season has seen a mass break-through of young British talent in the premier league. The top sides has taken full advantage of the new rule in the league to blood homegrown talent into their squad with Manchester United and Liverpool doing just that with Chris Smalling a remarkable story, and Martin Kelly proving the Liverpool academy isn't dead at all coming out with performances knocking current England Right-Back to play Left-Back. A position that will be toughly competed in the future England team is the centre of midfield and wings.
Jack Wilshere has proved to be a dynamic midfielder at the tender age of 19, but the lion heart that English fans just love to see, much like a Paul Gascoigne figure, he stands out in his Arsenal surroundings as a bullish terrier that can run a park just to make a tackle. Jordan Henderson is another young English midfielder who has shone under a manager who has strong belief in his ability. Many other young British Centre midfielders have broke through into the Premier League first elevens that can only mean a lot of promise for the future. Strikers and wingers are always promising for England with every generation providing World Class strikers and with Wayne Rooney a rather young 25 and Andy Carroll seeming to be worth £35 million can't be a bad partnership for the next World Cup.
One thing we as fans have to learn from the last generation is the high expectations we CANNOT heap onto these youngsters. We are currently revelling in the prospects of a new start for England just like we did in 2001 and then beating an old Germany side 5-1 only enhanced our expectations and it was somewhat ironic that the opposite happened in 2010 to end the generation. One thing is for certain, the future of England is definitely all white.
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