English soccer loses its dazzle

English soccer loses its dazzle

By Arif Suryobuwono

JAKARTA (JP): Whatever predatory England has always been when
playing on home soil, its chance of winning the European Soccer
Championship final on June 30 seems as dim as the future of its
scandal-happy monarchy.

The most glorious moment English soccer ever enjoyed was when
it won the eighth World Cup -- on home soil -- after beating
Germany 4-2 in 1966. But that was 20 years ago, with no other
great victories to follow. That makes the victory look just like
a jolt in an oscillating readout.

This is apparent in England's European Championship record:
taking third place once (1968) and reaching quarterfinals once
(1972); having to exit first round four times (1964, 1980, 1988,
1992); and failing to qualify twice (1976, 1984).

Manchester City manager Alan Ball, who was a 21-year-old
winger in the England's 1966 World Cup winning team, points out
that it is professionalism that differentiates English soccer in
1966 from that in 1996.

"When I played in the 1966 World Cup, England had five world-
class players (Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Raymond
Wilson, Jimmy Greaves). Today I can't say that," Ball told The
Jakarta Post recently.

Hence, it is not surprising that Ball favors France and
Holland in Euro '96, which kicked off yesterday. Ball has been
here since Tuesday, at the invitation of the British
International School, to attend a student soccer tournament at
Bintaro, Tangerang, West Java, due to end today.

Another difference that 20 years has wrought on English
soccer, Ball noted, is that today's players rely much more on
strength and power.

"This adds to the pace of the game," he said.

Ball declined to go into details as to what happened to
English soccer since the 1966 World Cup triumph that charted its
disappointing record despite England's good talent scouting
system.

Talent scouting in England begins right at the grassroots
level, said Ball.

English football clubs, such as Ball's club, receive members
from school boys aged 10. They go to school as usual in the
morning but train with professional coaches in the evening.

Those who perform well are entitled to the government-run
Youth Development Training Scheme for two years after they leave
school. "The two-year period is a selection period in which they
play nothing but soccer," Ball said. "If they perform well, they
can stay in the club (to become professional players), if not,
out."

Ball, born in Farnsworth on May 12, 1945, was one of England's
finest midfielders in the 1960s and 1970s.

Ball started his career as an amateur with Bolton Wanderers,
where he played alongside Francis Lee, before joining Blackpool
as an apprentice in 1961.

Five years later Ball signed with Everton for the then record
transfer fee of 110,000 (US$167,200), gaining a League
Championship medal in the 1969/1970 season.

Arsenal also paid him a record amount -- 220,000 -- in 1971.
He spent five years with the Gunners before embarking on stints
with Southampton, Blackpool and Bristol Rovers.

Ball's managerial career began in 1984, when he occupied the
hot seat at Portsmouth. He then joined Colchester United as
assistant manager to Jock Wallace before heading north to Stoke
City, taking over the reins after the sacking of Mick Mills. In
1991, Ball became manager of Exeter City.

Three years later he moved to Premiership side Southampton to
replace Ian Branfoot. Francis Lee, now Manchester City chairman,
invited him to take the vacant manager's job at Maine Road in
July 1995.

Alan regarded England's 1966 World Cup triumph, nailed by his
team, as the most impressive moment during his career as a
player. The most disappointing time he has ever had was when his
team, after leading 2-0, lost 3-2 to Germany in the 1970 World
Cup's quarterfinals in Mexico.

As manager, Alan took pride in his success of jacking up
Portsmouth from English second division to first division.

"That was the first time Portsmouth was able to move to the
first division after being 36 years in the second division," Alan
said.

That was his success story in 1984. Early this month, however,
his team, Manchester City, was relegated following a 1-3 defeat
to Arsenal in a decisive English premier league match at Highbury
on March 5.

Ball, however, remains confident that his team will improve as
the new season goes on. "We were far stronger at the end than in
the beginning of the season," Ball said.

"We started badly," the new Manchester City manager said,
"because we started everything anew. I am new and some of our
players are also new."

Toward the end of the season, which ended last month, Ball
said, his team performed better and better. But that was too late
("we have drifted too far in the bottom") to save it from
relegation as his team had never won in the first 12 games.

To improve the situation, Ball said he and his boss have been
discussing, on a day-to-day basis, recruiting an international
player. "His name? I can't say it yet," Ball said.