Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(Midsummer 2004)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Euro 2004. The International Soccer Scene.
Sorry Guys and Gals, but if you are not football (soccer) supporters
then this paragraph will not be of interest to you.
 I watched the opening game of the English Euro 2004
International football program on BBC television - France
versus England, which for 90 minutes with England holding
a comfortable 1-0 lead, was touching upon sheer boredom.
The real excitement occurred when the English defence
panicked in the two minutes, (or was it three minutes),
of stoppage time and conceded two goals, allowing France
to win 2-1.
I will not go into details, for I’m sure that most of the viewers would
agree with me that this was not the most thrilling game on record with the
exception of the stoppage time incidents. In the next match, England easily
beat Switzerland 3-0.
Not to drag out the agony, England were defeated by Portugal, (the host country),
in the quarter finals after an extra time penalty shoot-out where David Beckham
and Darius Vassel both missed their kicks from the penalty spot and therefore
the England team were ousted from the tournament.
Analysis: The England team was just not good enough
and their performance does not bode well for World Cup
2006. I believe that on the day, any one of England’s
top three Premiership teams could have beaten them.
 David Beckham appeared
jaded and perhaps had off-the-field problems on his mind.
Michael Owen looked tired and listless and besides getting
very little midfield support did not play up to his past
potential.
David James was not of the international standard
that I expected for the choice as the England goalkeeper.
Sol Campbell deserves
recognition as being one of the better players of the England side in the
matches that I watched, and although Rooney scored goals
and was extolled in the British press as the "Future
Pele", I personally feel that to compare him
with Pele is an insult to the great Brazilian soccer player as Rooney at
this time in his career is definitely not in the same
class.
Comment:
 Oh
how I yearn for the days of yesteryear football with
its two fullbacks, three half backs, two midfielders,
and three forwards, with great players such as Stanley
Matthews, Stan Mortenson, Albert Finney, in the forward
line with the ever dependable Billy Wright at center
half and England’s captain.
Seeing this is a Huddersfield website I would never be
forgiven if I didn’t mention
and give recognition to Alf Young the stalwart centerhalf
who  captained Huddersfield and England in the late 1930s.
Ok, I admit that the game of football is very different
in today’s arena and is now a game of tactical team plays and
supreme physical fitness and today’s teams would probably run rings around
the teams of yesteryear but I still say that the football players of the past
provided a higher degree of entertainment for their supporters than the players
of today with perhaps the exception of the brilliant Ronaldo.
We welcome feedback about any of the contents of these
newsletters. Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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