English soccer loses its dazzle<\/p>\n
By Arif Suryobuwono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Whatever predatory England has always been when
\nplaying on home soil, its chance of winning the European Soccer
\nChampionship final on June 30 seems as dim as the future of its
\nscandal-happy monarchy.<\/p>\n
The most glorious moment English soccer ever enjoyed was when
\nit won the eighth World Cup -- on home soil -- after beating
\nGermany 4-2 in 1966. But that was 20 years ago, with no other
\ngreat victories to follow. That makes the victory look just like
\na jolt in an oscillating readout.<\/p>\n
This is apparent in England's European Championship record:
\ntaking third place once (1968) and reaching quarterfinals once
\n(1972); having to exit first round four times (1964, 1980, 1988,
\n1992); and failing to qualify twice (1976, 1984).<\/p>\n
Manchester City manager Alan Ball, who was a 21-year-old
\nwinger in the England's 1966 World Cup winning team, points out
\nthat it is professionalism that differentiates English soccer in
\n1966 from that in 1996.<\/p>\n
\"When I played in the 1966 World Cup, England had five world-
\nclass players (Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Raymond
\nWilson, Jimmy Greaves). Today I can't say that,\" Ball told The
\nJakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
Hence, it is not surprising that Ball favors France and
\nHolland in Euro '96, which kicked off yesterday. Ball has been
\nhere since Tuesday, at the invitation of the British
\nInternational School, to attend a student soccer tournament at
\nBintaro, Tangerang, West Java, due to end today.<\/p>\n
Another difference that 20 years has wrought on English
\nsoccer, Ball noted, is that today's players rely much more on
\nstrength and power.<\/p>\n
\"This adds to the pace of the game,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ball declined to go into details as to what happened to
\nEnglish soccer since the 1966 World Cup triumph that charted its
\ndisappointing record despite England's good talent scouting
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Talent scouting in England begins right at the grassroots
\nlevel, said Ball.<\/p>\n
English football clubs, such as Ball's club, receive members
\nfrom school boys aged 10. They go to school as usual in the
\nmorning but train with professional coaches in the evening.<\/p>\n
Those who perform well are entitled to the government-run
\nYouth Development Training Scheme for two years after they leave
\nschool. \"The two-year period is a selection period in which they
\nplay nothing but soccer,\" Ball said. \"If they perform well, they
\ncan stay in the club (to become professional players), if not,
\nout.\"<\/p>\n
Ball, born in Farnsworth on May 12, 1945, was one of England's
\nfinest midfielders in the 1960s and 1970s.<\/p>\n
Ball started his career as an amateur with Bolton Wanderers,
\nwhere he played alongside Francis Lee, before joining Blackpool
\nas an apprentice in 1961.<\/p>\n
Five years later Ball signed with Everton for the then record
\ntransfer fee of 110,000 (US$167,200), gaining a League
\nChampionship medal in the 1969\/1970 season.<\/p>\n
Arsenal also paid him a record amount -- 220,000 -- in 1971.
\nHe spent five years with the Gunners before embarking on stints
\nwith Southampton, Blackpool and Bristol Rovers.<\/p>\n
Ball's managerial career began in 1984, when he occupied the
\nhot seat at Portsmouth. He then joined Colchester United as
\nassistant manager to Jock Wallace before heading north to Stoke
\nCity, taking over the reins after the sacking of Mick Mills. In
\n1991, Ball became manager of Exeter City.<\/p>\n
Three years later he moved to Premiership side Southampton to
\nreplace Ian Branfoot. Francis Lee, now Manchester City chairman,
\ninvited him to take the vacant manager's job at Maine Road in
\nJuly 1995.<\/p>\n
Alan regarded England's 1966 World Cup triumph, nailed by his
\nteam, as the most impressive moment during his career as a
\nplayer. The most disappointing time he has ever had was when his
\nteam, after leading 2-0, lost 3-2 to Germany in the 1970 World
\nCup's quarterfinals in Mexico.<\/p>\n
As manager, Alan took pride in his success of jacking up
\nPortsmouth from English second division to first division.<\/p>\n
\"That was the first time Portsmouth was able to move to the
\nfirst division after being 36 years in the second division,\" Alan
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
That was his success story in 1984. Early this month, however,
\nhis team, Manchester City, was relegated following a 1-3 defeat
\nto Arsenal in a decisive English premier league match at Highbury
\non March 5.<\/p>\n
Ball, however, remains confident that his team will improve as
\nthe new season goes on. \"We were far stronger at the end than in
\nthe beginning of the season,\" Ball said.<\/p>\n
\"We started badly,\" the new Manchester City manager said,
\n\"because we started everything anew. I am new and some of our
\nplayers are also new.\"<\/p>\n
Toward the end of the season, which ended last month, Ball
\nsaid, his team performed better and better. But that was too late
\n(\"we have drifted too far in the bottom\") to save it from
\nrelegation as his team had never won in the first 12 games.<\/p>\n
To improve the situation, Ball said he and his boss have been
\ndiscussing, on a day-to-day basis, recruiting an international
\nplayer. \"His name? I can't say it yet,\" Ball said.<\/p>",
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