The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes as England secure a 4-1 win in Zagreb, against Croatia.
Football: England - Munich Revisited
So, after last night's victory in Zagreb, hat-trick man Theo Walcott, is being hailed by the press, as a new England hero. It's right that Walcott and Fabio Capello get credit for England's success. But it must be remembered, that we have been here before.
It was seven years ago, that Sven Goran's Eriksson's England team, put Germany to the sword, 5-1, in Munich. It was to be the herald of a new era of English dominance in European and World football.
Sadly, it was a false dawn. A happy one-off. England never came near repeating that sort of Munich performance again, under Sven or Steve McClaren. So, Croatia1 - England 4, should be seen, as no more than a confidence booster, to Capello and his players. No more than that.
Croatia, had perhaps been unsettled, by pre-match speculation linking manager Slaven Bilic, with the vacancy at West Ham. Speculation not conducive, to lifting their renowned team-spirit and will to win. And they had a man sent off.
So Capello would be wise to beware, the English weakness for over-optimism, after one success. The sudden raising of expectations. Talk of winning the World Cup in South Africa.
There has been far too much expectancy and hype, surrounding the England team, leading to disappointment, over the years. They have failed to deliver on the main stage, tournament after tournament. Last night's win in Zagreb, will only mean anything, if it launches England on a confidence building, unbeaten run, right up to the World Cup final of 2010.
Then England 4 - Croatia 1, can be viewed in a proper perspective. Until then, it's nothing more than a good start to a long campaign.
