What has Happened to England's Men's Football Team?

Last Thursday night, England's Men's National Team (EMNT) qualified for their sixth World Cup on the trot with a 1-0 victory over Slovenia. Almost 16 years previous to the day, England qualified for the 2002 World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Greece at Old Trafford. Both involved an inform, inspirational captain scoring a last minute goal to get England over the line. But the games could not have felt more different.

If you simply look at the size of the crowd's at both games, it is easy to tell that the popularity of EMNT appears in a steady decline. Wembley had several empty seats, as well as entire sections missing fans, last Thursday night. Compare to Old Trafford in 2001, the crowd couldn't be more packed in. The crowds look like they've gone from one of sheer passion, patriotism and belief, to one that is there for a day out, rather than a chance to watch England.


I can't remember the last time I was excited for an International break, and it looks like everyone has the same feeling. England will always qualify with an unbeaten record to the point where it doesn't feel like an achievement anymore.

The qualification is easy, but we all know what will happen when summer comes along. Out in the group stage. Out to an apparent 'easy' team. Out of another major competition without leaving a mark. 

We are all waiting for the International fortnight to finish. It's boring. We should be celebrating qualification for the World Cup, but should we when if comes from a last minute winner against Slovenia - a team we should be beating 4/5-0?

The players say it isn't true, but many of them don't look like they care. Would they rather play in a World Cup or Champions League, it feels like more would choose Champions League. Would they prefer to pull on an England shirt or pull on the shirt of their team, the latter feels more likely. 

There was a real sense of achievement when EMNT qualified for the World Cup in Japan & South Korea. A 2-2 draw against Greece sounds possibly less impressive, if it's possible, than a 1-0 win over Slovenia, but that qualification included a beating of Germany 5-1 in Munich, a team that would go on to finish second at the upcoming World Cup. 

EMNT were in the middle of the 'golden generation' of English football - apparently. David Beckham. Paul Scholes. Steven Gerrard. Frank Lampard. Michael Owen. Rio Ferdinand. Ashley Cole. You give any team in the world those players at their peak and they would (should) become unstoppable. Yet this England team failed. But, we still had fun watching them. We enjoyed when the International breaks came along. 

This is different now. England aren't fun. I find much more enjoyment from watching Scotland internationals as there is a sense that something is on the line for these players. By the time EMNT have that feeling, they're already knocked out of a tournament. 

Yes, you can only beat who if put in front of you. And in that sense, EMNT complete that task to perfection every time. They haven't lost a qualifier since 2009 and under Roy Hodgson in their last campaign, they won ten out of ten. But on the stage that really counts, England haven't reached a quarter-final since Sven Goran Ericksson's, a man who was sacked because England wanted to go further than the quarters - awkward. 

In my opinion, there is an ego in the EMNT that isn't nice. It's one reason I wasn't a fan of the England Men's rugby team for a bit. They think they deserve to win without achieving anything. That doesn't go for all the players, but there are those in the set up that think they can turn up and go home with a win without putting all their effort in. 

If not, why are we struggling to 1-0 wins over Slovenia and Lithuania? Why have we failed at World Cup's and Euro's against team's we should otherwise beat? Why is it now ingrained in every England fan's mind that we should expect failure?

England Women's team played in the Euro's this summer in The Netherlands. They fell at the semi-final stage for the second successive major tournament, but everyone saw what it meant to them at every stage.

They dominated their qualification like EMNT did, but on the big stage they looked like they cared. They fought for every ball. They weren't going to be beaten in any run, tackle or battle. They were going to leave everything out there. It was refreshing to see an national team take such pride in their performance, knowing what it meant to people watching back home. 

If only EMNT could show that passion as well. 

A wins a win. But if those small victories don't translate to success at major tournaments, is it any wonder why the love for the EMNT is slowly fading away?  

What are your thoughts on the Men's National Team? Share and comment.

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