It's Just Not the Same without England ... is it? Euro 2008

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As Euro 2008 reaches its climax, does it feel like anything’s missing? Where is the mass hysteria; the fawning media hype; the sickening images of rioting ‘fans’; that heartbreaking penalty miss? Jamie Lombard reviews Euro 2008 and argues that it has been better without England!

For better or worse, it’s just not the same without England…is it?

To be frank, I haven’t missed any of it. Not this year. At the risk of sounding anything but the Englishman I’m proud to be, thank goodness for Steve McClaren, Slaven Bilic and Guus Hiddink. This trio ensured England would not be present in Austria and Switzerland, and to them must go our thanks. The blinkers of bias have been peeled from our eyes and at last we can see what we’ve been missing out on.

Would I really have preferred to see England bore their way through the group stage only to be knocked out by an embarrassingly superior side in the quarter-finals? Would you?

If McClaren’s men had managed to overcome Bilic’s Croatia at Wembley in November, it would have surely been more of the same. Instead, Russia and Croatia rightfully earned their place at these finals, and boy have they grasped their opportunity.

Both of these sides have impressed and, whilst falling short of the final, both looked capable of beating any team put in front of them. Indeed both beat sides considered as favourites at some point in the last few weeks. Even the unfancied host nations performed admirably, given the enormity of their task.

And it is us, English football fans in the red and white tinted sunglasses (at least those open-minded enough to bother watching an ‘EN-GER-LAND’-less tournament), that have benefited. At last we can see international football as it should be played, by men that wear the shirt with the pride, and more importantly, with confidence and conviction.

Never with such determination have I laboured to ensure the baby is in bed in time for the 7.45 kick-off, nor been so compelled to join the mass exodus from the office at 5.30. These championships have become essential viewing on a nightly basis – who needs ‘The Apprentice’ when you have Arshavin?

Look at the eventual finalists: Spain, unstoppable in the group stages and resilient enough to overcome the negative Italians without pushing the panic button, even with a penalty shootout to negotiate. And whilst this German side isn’t the finest they’ve ever produced, there is a visible team spirit and common focus (a feature of their unexpected success in 2002), not to mention a surprisingly high level of technical ability.

The Dutch were fantastic for three games, but sadly lacked the heart their conquerors showed. If it is heart that was needed, the unbelievable Turks showed it in spades – lacking in world-class talent, but brimming with the never-say-die attitude that can actually make the difference against technically superior, albeit complacent, opponents. Ah yes, complacency - remind you of anyone?

Would we really have noticed all of these virtues, and recognised the real quality of those sides competing over the past few weeks if England had been present? Maybe to a lesser extent, but I doubt it. It has been proved that technical ability and talent counts for a great deal, but without the right attitude no side can truly succeed at this level.

Capello, Rooney & Co take note: arrogance has had no place in Austria & Switzerland this summer. It takes a lot more than skill and reputation to win such a tournament and the English football fans have seen it with their own eyes. We will be watching the coming months with intense interest.

Jamie Lombard

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