Who gives a sh*t that they went and lost to Netherlands, Â England’s win over Germany was concrete evidence that they are absolutely definitely 100% going to win Euro 2016, right?
While the meaningless friendly victory over the World Champions has left plenty of England fans salivating at the prospect of what their national team might achieve this summer, Steven Gerrard’s feet are firmly on the ground (insert your own highly-predictable slip-themed jokes here).
Acknowledging that the performances of several of England’s youngsters (particularly Dele Alli) in Berlin was cause for encouragement, Gerrard writes in his column for The Telegraph that things will only become more difficult for the inexperienced players in and around Roy Hodgson’s squad as Euro 2016 approaches.
Despite their impressive showings, the former Liverpool skipper doesn’t necessarily think it’s time for the England boss to start trading in some of his more experienced stars for some exciting young blood.
‘After so much negativity about how many players would be available to Roy Hodgson a few years ago, it’s encouraging we’re heading towards a debate about who should be left out rather than included in his final 22,’ Gerrad writes.
‘But we must take a step back before pressuring the England manager into handing out flight tickets to every impressive young player and dumping experienced members of the squad on the basis of a couple of friendlies.’
Drawing on his own experiences when breaking into the England set-up, Gerrard notes that English football fans have a tendency to pin all of their hopes on emerging youngsters, quickly forgetting the role played by more experienced players in the squad.
‘I had that when I made my England debut in 2000. Wayne Rooney had the same in the build up to 2004. It’s part of our culture to pounce on young players and become their biggest champions because it seems a fresher, more dynamic and forward-thinking approach.
‘There are hundreds of England managers whenever a tournament comes around and most of them are attracted to the idea of change rather than sticking by those who worked hard to earn qualification.
‘As a country we can’t wait to discard those who’ve been around for a long-time no matter how invaluable their experience.
‘We grow tired and unappreciative of players too quickly. Exciting youngsters seem to offer a ready-made solution.’
And just in case it wasn’t already blatantly obvious who his previous comments were referring to, Gerrard uses the recent Wayne Rooney debate to illustrate his point.
‘We talk about a ‘build ’em up and knock ’em down’ culture in English football, and there is no doubt we feel that as international players.
‘We certainly worship our young players when they do well, and you only have to hear the calls for Rooney to be left out of the England team to understand why many of us have felt over the years the support is not always there when it is needed most.
‘I’m sure all those who demanded Wayne be in the England squad as a 17-year-old are still out there somewhere, but he must be asking himself if they’ll ever speak up for him now he has turned 30.’
Of course, he’s not exactly demanding that his fellow Scouser is immediately booked onto the plane to France, but it’s clear that Gerrard thinks that any talk of drawing a line under Rooney’s England career is a little bit premature.
