Jimmy Bullard achieved more than most during his footballing career, playing in the Premier League for three different clubs, scoring many free kicks along the way. But he’s no stranger to disappointment. In an exclusive interview with JOE, he spoke about England’s chances going into the 2018 World Cup.
More than anyone, Jimmy Bullard knows the disappointment of missing out on the chance to represent his country. He was called up by Fabio Capello in 2008, but wasn’t granted the honour of representing the Three Lions on the pitch; an experience he describes as “gutting.” He can therefore sympathise with Jack Wilshere, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
“I can sort of see why he’s upset. If he’s sitting at home, Jack will be thinking ‘I’ve got a lot more [to give].’ Especially the way Gareth wants to play, he wants to play football, he wants to play the right way, with possession – I think Jack could be our best player,” he says.
However, with time to reflect, he understands the decision to omit the Arsenal midfielder, given his record. “Jack’s been given a lot of chances in the Arsenal shirt, a few chances in the England shirt and he’s never really grabbed them. Before when I analysed it, I thought he should be going, but then I thought hang on… Ruben Loftus-Cheek, he’s in better form and he’s more of an athlete. And I think these days an athlete counts for a lot,” Bullard says.
England squads always divide opinion. You can’t please everyone all of the time, but the general consensus around Southgate’s selection is positive, and Bullard agrees.
“I think he’s made a sound choice. We’ve got such a fit, young, energised team and full of ambition,” he says. Although, despite the positivity surrounding the team at the minute, he insists that England are going into this tournament with no expectations.
“It’s the first time we’ve gone to a world cup with no expectation and a young squad as well. There’s nothing hanging over us,” he says, optimistically.
That insistence that there is no pressure on this England team to deliver may in itself create expectations, but there is certainly a revived feeling of hope around the England side that the same cycle of disappointment won’t repeat itself this time around.
For years, midfielders like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who kept Bullard out the England squad, raised expectations only to be shackled by tactics that made them incompatible.
“The thing is, we always said ‘they play unbelievably for Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, they put an England jersey on and go to pieces’. That’s pressure, expectation. I think a lot of them [in the current squad] feel more pressure for their clubs.” Looking at Marcus Rashford’s struggles at Manchester United this season, compared to the confidence and freedom with which he plays in an England jersey, it’s hard to disagree.
Frank Lampard recently opened up about the division within the England squads that he featured in, explaining that the Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool players would almost exclusively spend their free time with their club teammates, citing it as one of many factors that prevented the England team from succeeding. In contrast, Bullard “never saw evidence of that.”
“Once you go away with England, you’ve got to put that aside. In the Spain squad, Ramos plays with Barcelona players, but once they put a Spanish shirt on, it’s forgotten about.”
Team spirit can only get you so far though. If England are to make it to the latter stages of this World Cup, they will have to play to the best of their ability, which hasn’t happened for years. Ever since the Sven era, and possibly before, England fans have bemoaned the national team’s predictability, both in terms of style and results, their lack of invention and the miserable atmosphere at Wembley. Bullard feels change is on the horizon though.
“I’ve heard loads of people say that they’re fed up of watching England get there and fail, but I think they’ll surprise us. They’re better than what they’re given credit for.”
There is a strong probability that England will end up coming up against Germany, who Bullard could have played for, should they make it to the quarter-finals.
“My nan was German, I could’ve played for Germany, if they came calling. But I spoke to my agent and he said ‘I’m not sure they know about that’, so we got it out there somehow and then months later England come calling, so… It worked in a good way. I’m not sure that was the reason why they came calling but yeah there was definitely a possibility that I could’ve played for Germany.”
“I hope we don’t meet them in the knockout stages,” he says, unbeknown to the likelihood of that exact situation. Upon being reminded, he replies “oh bloody hell” with his signature chuckle.
The draw dictates that Brazil, who look a much more organised unit than the team that capitulated under the force of Germany four years ago, are the other likely opponents for England in the last eight.
“Oh my god. I forgot about the Brazilians, they’re not bad are they?”
A short but sweet assessment of the Seleçao.
In spite of the obstacles that stand England’s way this summer, a hopeful Bullard is backing them to cause an upset. “I think they’ll give it a right good bash and surprise a few people.” Sensing the vibe around the country at the moment, you sense he’s not alone in that belief.
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