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Choking Is Wanting To Win Too Much
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England : A Recent History Of Chokers

26th November 2007

I've long felt England teams performed well when expectation was less. I hate this under dog mentality as it is basically a losing mentality. After all what do you do when you get the lead? Well I cover that craven history below.

Nonetheless when one considers how important one goal is in top flight football matches it is clear in just history from 96 onwards that England cannot hold onto a lead that they have less trouble than many getting.

At their best a few years ago Chelsea won something like 27 of 28 games they led in (Bolton came from 2 down to prevent the perfecto). In games against sides where England could be expected to lose to we have rarely been beaten/knocked out without getting the lead. That is not a failure of ability!

Anyway here is a run down of the leads lost and held knock out. Note the 2 worst sides we faced are the only 2 we won outright. We have not lost a game we did not lead in.

Group games against main rivals is more shocking.

So since 1996 in decisive games the only teams England have beaten is a divided Holland who did not have to win and those power houses Denmark and Ecuador. But they have led every other decisive game bar the Spain game they won on penalties and the Portugal 06 game which they lost on penalties. The 98 Romania game the only one lost without the lead (although we may well have won the group had we held out having equalised). This is the same mentality that failed to hold out against Russia and Croatia when qualification was much easier than not.

England has to face up to its mental weakness and consider getting psychologists and others who can help to work with our top players. If any don't want it then they are out. When such a clear weakness presents itself it cannot be ignored. It is also cheaper than re-structuring the whole of football or wasting vast amounts on white elephant academies.

Anyway here is the run down from 96 onwards...

  1. Euro 96

    Sure we beat a lethagic divided Dutch side who just had to avoid a stuffing. The ref saved England against Spain. England failed to hold a lead in 2 of the other 3 and Scotland had a penalty to equalise.

    Game 1 : England 1 Swiss 1 - Lost lead
    Game 2 : England 2 Scotland 0 - Draw Actually gave up a penalty to lose lead
    Game 3 : England 4 Holland 1 - A triumph
    Game 4 : England 0 Spain 0 - Penalty win
    Game 5 : England 1 Germany 1 - Lost lead

  2. France 98

    Not so bad albeit they got parity with Romania but gave lost in the last minute when a draw probably put us in the easiest half of a world cup draw ever. Argentina lost a criminal 2nd goal and the lead.

    Game 1 : England 2 Tunisia 0 - Win
    Game 2 : England 1 Romania 2 - equalised and lost late
    Game 3 : England 2 Columbia 0 - Win
    Game 4 : England 2 Argentina 2 - Lost lead

  3. Euro 2000

    Lost leads in 2 games against main rivals and beat a non vintage Germany.

    Game 1 : England 2 Portugal 3 - Lost 2 goal lead
    Game 2 : England 1 Germany 0 - Won
    Game 3 : England 2 Romania 3 - Lost 2-1 lead

  4. Korea Japan 02

    A horrible gut less rear guard kept out Argentina a toothless counter attacking side. However against the best 2 teams they faced they lost the lead. Denmark just about qualify as a side decent enough to beat.

    Game 1 : England 1 Sweden 1 - Draw Lost lead
    Game 2 : England 1 Argentina 0 - Win
    Game 3 : England 0 Nigeria 0 - Draw
    Game 4 : England 3 Denmark 0 - Win
    Game 5 : England 1 Brazil 2 - Lost lead

  5. Euro 04

    Talk about craven Beckham missed a pen for 2-0 and then a horrific choke led by Gerrard panicing. Against Portgal England scored every time they attacked including a disallowed effort. They beat the minnows well at least behind some youthful va va voom from Rooney.

    Game 1 : England 1 France 2 - Lost lead
    Game 2 : England 3 Switzerland 0 - a Win
    Game 3 : England 4 Croatia 2 - a Win
    Game 4 : England 2 Portugal 2 - Lost lead

  6. Germany 06

    In the biggest game they lost the lead not once but twice. They then played better with 10 men against a toothless Portugal they only had to score to win. They beat the minnows at least but horribly.

    Game 1 : England 1 Paraguay 0 - Win
    Game 2 : England 2 Trinidad 0 - Win
    Game 3 : England 2 Sweden 2 - Lost Lead twice
    Game 4 : England 1 Ecuador 0 - Win
    Game 5 : England 0 Portugal 0 - Draw Lost penalties

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