Soccer: Moscow final filled with English talent
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5/5/2008 - 5/6/08
LONDON — Who says there is no English talent in English soccer?The head coach of the country's national team, Fabio Capello, bemoans the fact that only 37 percent of players in the Premier League were born in the country. But look at the potential combined lineup that Champions League finalists Manchester United and Chelsea could field when they play in Moscow on May 21.
Goalkeeper: Ben Foster (Manchester United). (He may be United's third choice behind Netherlands goalkepeer Edwin van der Sar and Poland backup Tomasz Kuszczak, but he's considered one of England's best young stars.)
Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea).
Midfielders: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United).
Forwards: Joe Cole (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
That would be a useful England lineup, and it comes from only two clubs. But now comes the down side.
Although these players are taking part in the final of European soccer's most prestigious club competition, they won't be going to next month's European Championship because England failed to qualify.
It's a strange twist to another season of contradictions in English soccer.
For the second year in a row, three Premier League clubs made it to the last four of the Champions League, and for the fourth season in a row English clubs have made it to the final.
Now English soccer followers are looking forward to the first-ever final between two of their teams in European soccer's most prestigious club competition.
So why is the national team always lagging behind when it comes to the major championships?
Technical ability is one answer. There's little doubt the arrival of foreign talent has enriched the quality of the game in the Premier League and the divisions below. It's up to the home-grown players to learn from these stars, and coaches like Capello to blend overseas skills with the traditional, more predictable fast and physical styles of the domestic players.
Today, Capello will line up alongside Football Association chairman David Triesman, chief executive Brian Barwick and director of soccer development Trevor Brooking at Wembley Stadium, where those in charge of England's national team will outline their blueprint for future success.
It's called the FA's Strategic Vision and it is aimed at developing the game in England, especially over the next four years.
Capello, who led AC Milan, AS Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid to multiple title successes at club level, says he can't understand why England has flopped so many times.
"This is my toughest job, understanding why this happens and solving the problem," he said. "This is the problem that all my predecessors have had. I'm hoping I will be able to understand why and rectify it.
"Because looking at the performance of the English teams in the Champions League, then at the moment the Premier League is the best in the world. Absolutely."
Capello replaced Steve McClaren, who was fired after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. His first games are at Andorra and Croatia in September when the qualifying campaign starts for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"I can't perform miracles. These are the players we have and I can only call up the players we have," said the Italian, who started with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland and a 1-0 loss to France in friendlies.
"Creating new players is a long process. It takes a lot of time and you need talent to begin with. It's not going to be fast."
Maybe the Champions League final will be part of English soccer's answer to critics who say the nation credited with developing the game isn't in the same league as Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany and France. All of them have won World Cups since England's only title, in 1966.